The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1981, Side 29

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
27
SIXTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
OF
DR. AND MRS. PAUL H.T. THORLAKSON
by Dr. T. Kenneth Thorlakson
The reception was held at Briarmeade,
the home of the Thorlaksons’ son-in-law
and daughter, George and Tannis Richard-
son, 9th of November, 1980. The following
is the tribute to his parents by Dr. T. Ken-
neth Thorlakson:
On behalf of the fam-
ily, I wish to thank you
all for coming out to
Briarmeade this after-
noon to share with our
family this celebration
of Mother’s and Dad’s
60th Wedding Anniver-
Dr. and Mrs. Paul sary
H. T. Thorlakson Sixty years ago, the
young Manitoba couple, Dr. “Thor” from
Selkirk and Gladys Maree Henry from Kil-
lamey were married in Calgary, Alberta at
the home of the bride’s parents, Robert and
Elizabeth Henry. The groom’s parents, the
Reverend Neil and Erica Thorlakson, had
travelled from Selkirk to be present. The
groom’s father performed the holy rites of
matrimony. This was the beginning of one
of the happiest and most successful mar-
riages, as everyone here today can attest.
There are so many similarities between
today’s celebration and the one on that after-
noon so many years ago. For instance we are
gathered in a family home, one as noted by
the warmth of its hospitality as was the
home of the Henry s.
Today the weatherman has arranged a
little snow, a gentle reminder of the blizzard
which struck Calgary on that day in 1920,
but he has also provided a little Manitoba
sunshine to grace the occasion.
According to this morning’s forecast,
Winnipeg is the only city in Canada where
the sun is shining today. Pierre Trudeau
must have arranged this especially for us
Westerners!
The Stampeders are in town today to rep-
resent the city of Calgary; a city which has
exploded into prominence, but which on
that day in 1920, because of the blizzard,
could generate only enough gas pressure to
barely heat its homes and hotels.
There are some differences in the two
events. In 1920, western pioneer parents
were there, in 1980, the great-grandchildren
of these pioneers are here. Also, today’s
celebration is on the 9th of November (one
day early). After all, as Karen’s husband
Frank Somers points out, Dr. Thor has to be
down at the clinic seeing patients tomorrow!
I know that Mother and Dad treasure the
statement made by David Richardson when
he spoke on behalf of the grandchildren on
the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anni-
versary. What he said in part, I am sure he
would agree, should be said again today,
and I quote:
“We have been very fortunate that our
grandparents live in the same city. Through-
out the years they have played an active part
in our lives and aided our development.
They have attended school closing, sports
events, and out of school activities. Even
when it was not convenient they made us
feel that it was the very thing they wanted to
be doing at that time.”
It is small wonder that these past sixty
years have been happy and rewarding years.
Those of us here today admire the thought-
fulness and devotion which Mother and Dad
have had for each other.
There were other qualities which they
shared with their family and their many