Orville Alexander Peterson
July 21, 1930 - December 6, 2013
As published in the January 20, 2014 World-Spectator
Orville Alexander Peterson passed away peacefully December 6, 2013 at the South East Integrated Care Centre, with his family at his side.
Orville was born July 21, 1930 in Carberry, Manitoba to Walter and Edna (nee Hope) Peterson, the second of four children. Orville moved several times growing up but considered his childhood spent in Dryden, Ontario. He often told stories of his wonderful summers spent at clear blue Lake Agimak, swimming and fishing.
Orville worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1950 to 1986, starting on the telegraph gang and working his way through the company in various positions, retiring as a train master. Dad learned telegraphy early in his career and we all remember listening to the clicking of Morse code from the office while dad was the station agent at Welwyn, Saskatchewan. Dad was a third generation railroader.
After retiring from the railway, Orville worked for the Rain and Hail Insurance Company for 25 years doing hail adjusting, promotional work, teaching and umpiring. Dad loved this work. He loved the interaction with all the people he worked with and met while working with the company.
Orville had many interests, with the main one being sports. Dad played hockey from an early age and played with teams in each community he lived in until moving to Brandon in 1971. He was very proud of being part of the Wapella Black Hawks Provincial B win in 1953 and of being voted Most Valuable Player and Best Defenceman in the Parkland Hockey League in 1963 when he played for the Bredenbury Cougars. Orville also played baseball in his younger years and spoke of pitching a no hitter in Grade 12 at St. Joseph’s College in Yorkton. Dad curled and golfed as well. Dad enjoyed coaching both ball and hockey as his sons were growing up.
Orville also did woodworking, building and construction, stonework, and gardening. We have all benefited from dad’s assistance on some project or another. He would arrive with his tools and get the job done. One of his proudest achievements was a freestanding stone fireplace he built at the cabin at Pelican Lake. He and mom built the cabin around this fireplace. The cabin was sold several years ago when keeping up two places became too much but dad was thrilled to be invited into the cabin this past August by the present owners to view his beloved fireplace once more.
Dad met and married Ruth Nixon, while working in Wapella, Saskatchewan. This loving union began April 25, 1955 and lasted 51 years. Together they raised four children, Shelley Taylor, Bradley Peterson, Sharon Currie, and Lloyd Peterson. Mom and dad moved several times as adults-we counted 10 different communities. They moved to Brandon three times, as they loved the "big small town" feel they got from this city.
Dad enjoyed taking mom to Mesa, Arizona each winter for 10 years where dad could play slo-pitch and golf, and mom could escape the winter. They also enjoyed trips such as a train trip on the Rocky Mountaineer, a boat trip on the Campbell River as well as attending a Brier and the Craven Country Music Festival. Dad and his two daughters went on a bus tour of the east coast in 2009 where dad got to dip his feet in the Atlantic Ocean.
After losing Ruth in 2007, dad was fortunate to find a kindred spirit in Shirley Cuthill, a special friend with whom he could cheer for his (and her) beloved Blue Jays. They spent the past five years together.
Orville is survived by his special friend, Shirley; his four children, Shelley (Ron), Brad, Sharon, and Lloyd; 12 grandchildren, Shannon (Dan) Miller, Jaime Taylor, Cindie (Chad) Jarvis, Owen Peterson, Ben (Stephanie Derraugh) Peterson, Darryl (Stephanie Lees) Peterson, Rory Peterson, Trever Peterson, Coner Peterson, Season Clyne, Sally (Shaun Grice) Currie, and Allison Currie; six great-grandchildren, Ryder Miller, Reid Jarvis, Francisco Clyne, Parker Grice, Cole Grice, and the lastest addition, Makena Grice.
Orville is also survived by two sisters, Margaret Kruger and Marion (Clarence) Billard and one brother, Lloyd Peterson, as well as brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Martin (Carrie) Nixon, Eleanor Sedgwick, and Florence Dolman as well as many nieces and nephews.
Orville was predeceased by his loving wife, Ruth, parents Walter and Edna Peterson, parents-in-law Alvin and Flora Nixon, son-in-law Steven Currie, grandson Thomas Currie, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law David Kruger, Shirley Peterson, Freda and Joe McIntyre, Verna and Gerry Ulmer, Gerry Sedgwick, and Lyle Dolman.
The funeral service was held at Memories Funeral Chapel in Brandon, Manitoba on December 18, 2013 with Delta Kelly officiating. Interment will be held at a later date.
Dad, grandpa, GG, we will miss you.
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