Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2008, Page 13

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. janúar 2008 • 13
Lorraine Vopnfjord Bjornsson
22 March 1937 – 28 December 2007
Lorraine Bjornsson of Seattle, WA,
70 years old, died 28 December 2007 in
Seattle. She was born 22 March 1937 in
Selkirk, the daughter of Axel and Lottie
Vopnfjord. She grew up on Dominion
Street in Winnipeg and graduated from
Daniel McIntyre Collegiate in 1954.
In 1958 she moved to Seattle,
where she was employed in the Univer-
sity of Washington Medical School, and
where she quickly became the Adminis-
trative Secretary in the Department of
Pediatrics. Also in 1958 she and Henry
Bjornsson met and fell in love. They were
married in July 1959.
Lorraine completed her bachelor’s
degree in 1969 at the University of
Washington, graduating with honours
and being elected to the scholastic hon-
orary Phi Beta Kappa. She received her
master’s degree in educational psychol-
ogy in 1971, also from the University of
Washington.
Lorraine and Henry were childless
for the first 17 years of their marriage.
Then, in 1976, she gave birth to their only
child, Dale Axel, who has now adopted
the first name Axel. Prior to his birth
she had returned to work at the Medical
School. She took a maternity leave, then
decided not to continue employment,
and became a full-time mother.
Four years prior to her death she
was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dis-
ease, which had progressed significantly.
She died in a nursing facility of an acute
lung infection acquired incidental to her
treatment for a sacral fracture secondary
to a fall.
Lorraine is survived by Henry, her
husband of 48 years, and their son Axel
Bjornsson; by her brother Leonard (Kar-
en) Vopnfjord of Saanich BC; her neph-
ews Kris (Charlene) Vopnfjord of Dun-
can, BC, and Lindy (Sally) Vopnfjord of
Toronto; and by her aunt Sophie Wallace
of Ferndale, WA. She is also survived by
numerous cousins in the U.S. and Cana-
da, and many wonderful friends.
A memorial gathering will be held
in Seattle at a time and place to be an-
nounced.
Donations in her memory are sug-
gested to the Alzheimer’s Association or
any favourite charity.
* * *
Gudmundur (Mundi) Myrdal
8 April 1923 – 6 December 2007

A legacy of kindness, hard work
and achievement began in a small brick
siding house on Railway Avenue in Lun-
dar, MB when Mundi, eldest brother to
Ethel, Jon, Valdi and Dorothy, was born
to Gudni and Jona Myrdal.
When he was two, the family fol-
lowed work to Chicago, but after several
years returned to purchase a two-storey
house and farm in Otto, 14 miles east of
Lundar.
Having completed his early educa-
tion in Lundar in 1941, Mundi applied for
a Permit Teacher’s Certificate from the
Department of Education and was em-
ployed by the Vestfold School Board. The
following year he entered the University
of Manitoba pre-med program. He joined
the University Air Training Corps, serving
with the Royal Canadian Air Force as
navigator/bombardier. He received his
Honourable Discharge in 1945 and then
re-entered the Faculty of Science, study-
ing honours botany, zoology and chem-
istry. He obtained his B.Sc. and then his
B. Ed. at U of M.
In late 1947 he met the love of his
life, Thelma Johnson, at a dance at the
IOGT Hall on Sargent Avenue. Together
they spent 59 years creating a storybook
life of love and ultimate devotion to one
and other. Theirs was a love that was
undying and true. The harmony between
them was evident when they floated
across the dance floor.
Mundi and his new bride moved to
Glenboro, MB where he assumed the
position of Assistant Principal and teach-
er at the high school teaching chemistry,
physics and mathematics.
His dedication to the health care
system in Manitoba began when Mundi
graduated in 1955 as a Registered Lab
and X-ray Technician. In this capacity he
worked in Neepawa, Brandon, Portage
La Prairie and Selkirk. After five years as
Chief Technician in Portage, he attended
a successful job interview for a vacancy
as Selkirk General’s new Hospital Admin-
istrator. In 1961, one year after accepting
the new responsibility, he was called to
Winnipeg and offered the position of
Consultant in Diagnostic Procedures
with the Manitoba Health Services Com-
mission where he became thoroughly
familiar with every aspect of hospital
operations and planning. In 1964 he was
awarded a bursary to pursue his Masters
Degree in Hospital Administration. With
a few possessions loaded into the1960
Chevy, the entire family made a move to
Toronto where Mundi attended Univer-
sity of Toronto and interned at the New
Mount Sinai Hospital. Upon his return
Mundi was promoted to Chief Hospital
Consultant and shortly thereafter to As-
sistant Director of the Hospital Services
Division.
In 1972, the position of Executive
Director of the proposed new Seven
Oaks General Hospital was advertised.
Who better than Mundi for the job? From
the time before the first shovel was in the
ground until the hospital’s official open-
ing Mundi enthusiastically rose to the
challenge of becoming the first CEO of
SOGH. The first patient was admitted
in January of 1981. His dedication and
direction from the initial functional plan
created a world-class healthcare facility
ahead of its time. Not many had heard
of a running track for employee wellness
in a hospital. Mundi consulted on many
provincial projects including the commit-
tee that brought the first CT scanner to
Winnipeg. He retired in 1985.
He was a charter Founder and
Decade Club member of the Canadian
College for Health Services Executives,
active from 1971 until 1984.
He was a lifelong member of the
Board of Betel Home Foundation and
after retiring Mundi became Office Man-
ager of the Betelstadur Housing Co-op.
He was closely involved in the planning
and construction of a senior citizens’
housing complex. In 1988 Mundi was
also appointed part-time Administrator
of the Rehabilitation Hospital for Chil-
dren, retiring in 1991. His involvement
with Betelstadur ended in 1989 when he
decided that, in “retirement,” it was just
too much to hold two part-time jobs.
He was active with the Boy Scouts,
Masons and Shriners.
Mundi loved to read. He always
said that no home was complete with-
out books and music. His baritone voice
graced the Icelandic and Scandinavian
male voice choirs for many years. He
was his children’s number one supporter
in their pursuit of music. He was proud of
his Icelandic heritage and involved in the
Icelandic community.
While interests included hunting,
gardening, and woodworking, he was a
carpenter and man of all trades. Mundi
somehow found the time to build five
houses and renovate many more. His
heaven on earth was Clear Water Bay,
ON where he cleared the land, built
a road, swam with logs and built a log
cabin completed by a yard beautifully
landscaped with fruit trees and flowers.
Countless, undying memories were cre-
ated there and will last forever.
Mundi was a gentleman, a man
of incredible kindness, patience, wis-
dom and generosity. His guidance was
constant and sure. His acceptance and
interest in others was evident until the
day he died.
Dad truly loved life and most of all
his family. His untiring, selfless spirit will
forever remain in the hearts of his beloved
and dedicated wife Thelma; children Ran-
dy, Joan (Greg Carter), Patrick (Julie née
Rossol), Norma Jane (David Brett) and
Jon (Betty née Harrison);grandchildren
Chelsa and Ian Carter, Alex and Katie
Brett; sisters Dorothy (Ray Sawchuck)
and Ethel (Richard Lowe); sisters- and
brothers-in-law, Audrey and Bill Norberg,
Norma Kristjansson, Dr. Herman John-
son, Joey and Verna Johnson, and Dr.
Ken and Lois Young as well as many ex-
tended family members and friends.
He was predeceased by his par-
ents Gudni and Jona, brothers Jon and
Valdi, and brother in law Dr. Gestur Krist-
jansson.
Many thanks to Dr. Ken Van Amey-
de whom Dad trusted and respected.
A private family service was held
on 11 December 2007.
Mundi, Dad, Afi, you will be forever
in our hearts. We miss you
Góða nótt elskan.

Neil Bardal Inc., in care of arrange-
ments.
* * *
Donna Lorraine Skardal
Donna passed away at the Baldur
Health Centre on Sunday 2 December
2007 at the age of 73, Donna Lorraine
Skardal (nee Christopherson) of Baldur,
MB.
Donna grew up at Grund in the RM
of Argyle, a daughter to John & Laura
Christopherson. Her knowledge of the
Icelandic settlers of Argyle was exten-
sive, and she kept the history alive in her
stories, poems and paintings. Not only an
artist, she became the resident historian
for the area. Many of her poems were
published in the Lögberg-Heimskringla,
and in 2003 she captured first place in
Íslendingadagurinn’s poetry contest.
Donna leaves to mourn her passing
her loving husband Norman, son Alan
(Belinda), daughter Lauren (Gordon)
Jones, daughter-in-law Donna Skardal,
all of Baldur, as well as six grandchil-
dren and one great grandchild. She is
survived by her brother Bob (Jeannine)
Christopherson of Edmonton, AB, as
well as numerous extended relatives and
friends. Donna was predeceased by her
son Stan in 2000.
Memoriams may be made in Don-
na’s memory to the National Ovarian
Cancer Assoc., #101-145 Front St. E.,
Toronto, ON, M5A 1E3 or to the Grund
Frelsis Lutheran Church or Cemetery
Funds, Baldur, MB R0K 0B0.
IN MEMORIAM
In Loving Memory of
Bjornheidur Sigurveig “Hatha”
Abramson (nee Halldorson)
18 May 1924 – 14 January 2004
Your loving memory will always be
strong in our hearts. You are always in
our thoughts.
We miss you and love you forever.
Love, your children, Ralph, Karen,
David, Christine, Janice and Richard,
and your many grandchildren.