Edward 'Eddie' Lasson

The service will be live streamed on Monday, November 7, 2022 at 1:00 pm, please click on the link to register and view the service. https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=3500a48d-4991-45a6-8935-58287958d733

After a brief stay at St. Boniface Hospital, Eddie passed away at the age of 81.

A Celebration of Eddie’s Life was held on Monday, November 7th, 2022 with Rev. John Dolloff officiating.  Urn Bearer was Leigh Skaftfeld. Honorary Pallbearers were: Ken Bowman and Diane Labossiere, Choch (Craig) Hourie, Art Lilyholm, Del Walker, Deanne Griffiths, Roland Gauthier, Don Orton, Dave Neudorf, Willi Foth, Larry Nichol and Larry Harder.

Left to cherish Eddie’s Memory are his loving wife of 58 Years, Helga, son Dale, brother Frank Lasson, sister-in-law Edythe Sigurdson, brother-in-law Asgar Sigurdson, nephews Rob Lasson (Alana) and Bryan Lasson (Mari-Cris) along with many other nieces and nephews and their families and all Eddie’s closest friends and neighbours.

Eddie was predeceased by his son Ian, infant daughter Katherine Yvonne, daughter-in-law Cheryl, brother Joey Lasson, parents Fina and Joe Lasson, and parents-in-law Runa and Skapti Sigurdson . . .

He was raised on the family farm just south of Langruth with his two brothers Joey and Frank. Around the age of 18, after being at a 4H Bonspiel with his buddies, Eddie met Helga Sigurdson. From that moment on, the two were inseparable and six years later, they were married on August 8th, 1964.  They began their married life together in a small mobile home just across the road from his parents farm.  On February 27th, 1967 Helga and Eddie were blessed with twins, Dale and Katherine Yvonne.  The babies were born nearly three months premature and sadly, their little daughter passed away less than a day later.  On December 11th, 1970 their second son, Ian was born.  The young family remained there until they purchased their first house in Langruth and moved into town in 1973.

While Eddie would have loved to have remained on the farm, he accepted a job with the R.M. of Lakeview as their grader and snowplough operator. Dad always believed that physical labour was the only REAL work and he was a hard worker.  Many of his family and friends recall one blustery Manitoba winter when Dad snowploughed until 3AM and all the following day just so that the roads were open and everyone could get to the CFRY Talent Show and enjoy the evening’s entertainment . . . That’s what you call dedication!

After years of bouncing around on the grader took its toll on his poor back and joints, Eddie left this job to go and deliver fuel for ESSO for Robert and Lloyd Emberley.  There, again, he’d be on the roads long into the night delivering heating oil in the winter to make certain nobody ran out and was without a warm home.

From the time they were 18 and 16 years old, Mom and Dad were together for 64 Years, an eternity by anyone’s standards.  From Friday Night dates in Langruth sitting in his Dad’s car in front of Johnny’s Quik Lunch to celebrating their 58th Wedding Anniversary, they shared a Love that stood the test of time.  Being there for one another during all the many tough times in their lives only made their Love stronger.  Now, to walk into our home and know Dad’s nowhere to be seen is the hardest thing of all . . .

Dad loved Old Tyme Country Music and especially, the fiddle tunes.  From Wilf Carter and Hank Snow to Reg Bouvette, there were many late nights that Mom and Dad spent listening to their music, ear to ear in bed with either the radio playing just overhead or sharing the same pair of earphones, one for each of them.  For years and years, he and Mom would drive all over Manitoba to the Fiddling Contests and the Old Tyme Dance that followed. They were terrific dancers and enjoyed them so much.

The old saying that “You can take the boy out of the Country, but can’t take the Country out of the boy . . . “ never rang more truly than for Dad.

With Ian right there by his side, Dad was never happier than when they were riding the combine or tearing apart machinery and getting them working, again.  When they’d come home covered in grease from head to toe, that was when Dad figured they’d had A Great Day.  I know the guys learned a lot from Uncle Eddie and will have all those memories to hold on to.

His other passion was Deer Hunting. These last few years, for Dad to not at least try to go and sit in the truck with them as the guys bagged their bucks . . . you knew Dad just was not up to it any longer.

Eddie spent many an afternoon skidoo-ing and riding his quad.  I remember the time he convinced Mom to come along for a ride. They went with Carl and Heather along the trails after The Flood. Then, they all returned covered in mud from head to toe laughing at the top of their lungs about all the fun they’d had flying over the bumps and through ditches.  Dad also loved all the years we spent camping in The Old School Bus!  I’ll never forget the time we picked up Uncle Vinnie and all of us: Mom, Dad, Ian and I with the Lindal Cousins: Bob, Gerry, Margaret-Ann, Buddy, Frank and Kristine headed out to the cabin in Lac du Bonnet for some great times together:  those are the best times!  He’d be so proud Eyvi and Donnie Smith, after blowing out the carburetor and giving the engine, got the Old Bus purring, again!

During these past 3 months, I believe Dad knew that his remaining days with us were few. He had not been feeling well at all.  To those other than Mom and I, Dad never let on that his pain was much, much worse. He was asking things and saying things that showed he realized it, too . . . Dad knew he was nearing the end and he just never spoke that way before. I truly believe that days or weeks before they are about to pass away, patients do come to realize it on whatever level.

I’m glad that my last memory of Dad will be a happy one.  He and our Collie PJ were inseparable.  For the gruff, Old School guy who claimed he would never have a dog in the house, that changed in a hurry once we brought this bundle of fluff home.  That even included sneaking PJ goodies at the Dinner Table and sharing ripple chips up on the bed.

During his final three days in St. Boniface Hospital, Mom and I could only be with him one at a time in his room on the Critical Care Unit.  Dad was really missing PJ . While Mom was spending time with him, I was down in the car with PJ and I FaceTime’d with Dad. That last time Sunday, PJ was really playing in up, talking with Dad looking straight into the camera and thumping his tail loudly on the back of the car seat.  Dad was smiling and laughing so hard which was something we had not seen him do for a very long time . . .

We are so blessed to have such wonderful neighbours over the years.  We had so many terrific afternoons sitting on the patio next door with Carl and Heather or joking downstairs at the Apartment with Wendy Nicholl.  At least Dad got to spend a few weeks at our home on Radisson and meet our new friends, Dave and Sheila Mitchell and our newest friends and neighbors, Dave and Eunice Vanstone.  They have taken Mom and I under their wing and are so gracious. . . You could not ask for two more kind and caring couples, genuinely good people.   I know it brings so much peace to Dad knowing that Mom and I are in such good hands.

Our heartfelt appreciation go out to Dr. Price, Dr. Finney, the nurses on Medical in Portage, and Dr. Kahrdem, Dr. Mike, Dr. Meaghan, and Nurse Heidi: You took such great care of Dad for the short time he was with you did your very best to get him a few more months with us, but it was just not meant to be . . .

In his last days with us, Dad taught us two final Lessons:

relationships and spending time with one another are what matter the most; and

through all the toughest times in your Life, hold on to the great memories that will give you the Strength to make it through.

In lieu of flowers, people may make a donation in Eddie’s name to The Drop-In Program and House of Hope c/o CMHA Portage, 140 Lorne Ave, Portage La Prairie, MB    R1N 1Y9.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com