Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.09.2005, Blaðsíða 13

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 9. september 2005 • 13
Oli Narfason celebrates 80 years
Evelyn Thorvaldson
Minerva Hall, just south of Gimli, was filled
to capacity on Sunday, August 28 in celebra-
tion and honour of Oli Narfason’s 80th birth-
day. More than 200 guests were in attendance
throughout the afternoon.
Oli actually took “time off,” coming in
from the fields to satisfy his family. One could
see the time was well spent and Oli was over-
whelmed.
Old friends, new friends, neighbours and
colleagues along with his large family came to
wish him well.
Dilla Narfason presented a brief speech of
humourous memories of the siblings in their
younger days. As well, Dilla introduced those
of Oli’s family in attendance. Some travelled
from Australia to be with their dad and afi for
his special day.
Oli was the only boy in the family — and
needless to say, the favourite brother to five sis-
ters. Oli’s children are Candace, Janice, Laureen
Siblings Olan Isfeld, Alda Mackenzie, Dilla
Narfason, Oli Narfason, Emma Wilkinson
and Gerdur (Gerry) Harris.
and Clifford. He is afi to nine grandchildren and
Iangafi to five great-grandchildren.
Oli replied to Dilla’s speech and addressed
the guests with thanks and appreciation for a
wonderful day, in particular, his wife Marjorie.
BIRTHDAYS
GeraldineThorlakson
Geraldine Thorlakson is celebrat-
ing her 90th birthday this September
22. Geraldine was born in 1915 and
has four children, 11 grandchildren, and
11 great-grandchildren. Geraldine cur-
rently resides in Whiterock, BC and will
be celebrating her birthday with family in
Winnipeg.
GRADUATI0NS
Kent Lárus Björnsson
PHOTO: STEFAN HELGIVALSSON
lcelandTour Guide School
Kent Láruí Björnsson, our man in
lceland, graduated from Leiðsöguskóli
íslands, lceland Tour Guide School May
26, 2005. Now instead of just being a
professional tourist he is also a profes-
sionalTour Guide.
He is seen here with Magnús Odd-
sson, Director General of the lcelandic
Tourist Board.
OBITUARIES
Tribute to Leo Kristjanson
1932-2005
My first contact with Leo was a
phone call I received in Madison, Wis-
consin in June 1970. At the suggestion
of my friend Harold (Halli) Bjarnason,
I had written to several universities in
Western Canada about teaching eco-
nomics, with a view to do so for a couple
of years before returning to lceland.
Leo phoned the day he received
the letter and invited me for an interview
in Winnipeg, where the annual Learned
Societies of Canada conference was be-
ing held.
I asked how I would recognize him
and he asked how he would recognize
me. Leo said he was fairly tall and I said I
was bearded and long haired. Needless
to say, we had no problem recognizing
each other at the Winnipeg airport.
The result of that meeting was that
I was hired as visiting professor of eco-
nomics for two years at the U of S, where
Leo was then chairman of the Econom-
ics and Political Science Department.
The fact that I was lcelandic and
studying economics and that Leo had
also done his economics at the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin probably had some-
thing to do with his quick response and
my hiring.
This was the beginning of a life
long friendship between the Kristjanson
and Jónsson families.
Úlú and I of course knew no one
when we moved to Saskatoon, but Leo
and Jean took us under their wing and
did everything to make us feel welcome
and comfortable like spending our
Christmases with them.
As mentioned earlier, the intention
was to spend two years in Canada and
then go back to lceland. I had replaced
a priest at St.Thomas More College who
went on a sabbatical to Newfoundland,
but instead of returning he got married.
As a result, the department needed a
professor, so that was another two years
with chairman Leo. At the end of those
two years, the Saskatchewan Natural
Products Marketing Council that Leo
chaired needed a director in Regina, so
in 1974 we moved to Regina and Leo
was still my boss.
A better boss no one could ask for.
Leo’s guidance and tutelage was invalu-
able to me as I moved through the ranks
of the Saskatchewan civil service.
His social conscience and com-
munity spirit was inspiring and led him
to take on untold responsibilities on top
of serving as department chairman, vice
president and then President of the U of
S. If something needed to be done, such
as raising a few million dollars for the
'College of Agriculture, the development
of the Meewasin Valley or the establish-
ment of Innovation Place in Saskatoon,
the refrain was, “let’s get Leo to do it.” His
legacy at the U of S is unsurpassed, and
so is his legacy in Gimli.
The elementary school in Gimli
that was on the verge of being torn down
now houses the town offices, an art gal-
lery and of course the home of Snorri
and Snæbjörn. The Unitarian Church,
the Harbour Museum and the Waterfront
Museum. I daresay that few people have
done more to preserve Gimli’s lcelandic
heritage than Leo, by working on the
restorations himself, with others helping,
as well as raising thousands of dollars.
All this he did while wrestling with
the debilitating Parkinson’s disease he
was diagnosed with in 1978. How he
kept his equanimity and his delightful
sense of self-deprecating humour is be-
yond my comprehension.
I recall a story about when he was
working on the elementary school. An
old-timer came upon Leo and his broth-
er Larry and a couple of fellows digging
around the foundation. After observing
them he said, “You fellows should have
listened to your mothers and gone to
school and you would not have to be dig-
ging ditches at your age.” To ^hich Leo
replied, “You are right, we should have
listened.” Never mind that among the
diggers were a former university presi-
dent and assistant chief commissioner
of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Words fáil to express Úlú’s, Hau-
kur’s and my feelings of loss, and the
admiration, respect and affection we had
for Leo. We have lost a wonderful car-
ing friend, but his memory will be with us
always. Our heartfelt condolences and
sympathy go to Jean, Darryl, Johanne,
Brenda, Terri and their families.
— Úlú and Jón Örn Jónsson, Con-
sul for lceland in Saskatchewan
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