Ronald Neil Thorson

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Ronald Neil Thorson announces his passing at the Pleasant View Lodge in Bow Island, on March 11th, 2024, at the age of 90 years. Ron was born in the nurses’ residence in Bow Island on July 6th, 1933, to Arthur and Edith (Hodgson) Thorson of the Winnifred district. Ron is survived by his children, Deanna, Douglas, Barb, and Darrel (Christina); as well as his grandchildren, Todd, Jackie (Beau), Morgan (Chad), Stacy (Jennifer), Jimmy (Rachel), Alexandra, and Emily (Blake); nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild! Ron lived on the family farm with his brother, Harold, and sister, Shirley (Mclean), located five miles south of Winnifred, Alberta. Ron was raised in a home without running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, telephone, or television – but with an electric fence telephone amongst neighbours!

Ron attended school at a one-room school, Fairlight, located ¾ of a mile away. One year, the school didn’t have a teacher so Ron and his siblings attended the Catholic Convent School in Medicine Hat, living in the residence there. When school buses started running, Ron and his siblings attended Bow Island High School. Everyone worked hard on the farm, including Ron despite his very young age. Ron became a self-taught carpenter, electrician, and machinery operator by the age of 14. Also, at age 14, he won the Governor General’s Award for having the highest marks in the Provincial Exams in the County of 40 Mile. But, at the age of 16, he quit school, bought a water truck, and went up north to Redwater to haul water for the oil rigs and all earnings were sent home to help pay the farm bills.

Ron met his future wife, Marilyn, at the age of 20 and they married two years later in 1955. They raised their four children and continued living in the original family house without any modern amenities until 1962. Ron and Marilyn built up a very successful farming operation with their son, Doug, until they sold the entire farm in 2017. At age 82, Ron finally retired. Ron and Marilyn were married for 63 years until Marilyn’s passing in 2018.

Ron was an avid fisherman and fish farmer, stocking the famous Thorson dam every year from 1982 until 2020. Ron harvested as many as 1,700 trout one year and he and Marilyn did all the canning, smoking, and freezing and gave away these delicious treats to family and friends. He, along with help from family members and friends, built a beautiful campground at the dam complete with an irrigation system for grass and trees. Ron and Marilyn spent many summers there and hosted numerous parties and events for friends and families. Everybody who knew Ron and Marilyn have memories at “the dam”.

Ron was a very good farmer but always said it was a little too dry or the prices could be a little bit better. He and Doug exceeded the area average for many years with diligence and good farming practices.

Ron will always be remembered for his dedication to family, work, and community. His gentle spirit and generosity to friends and family were a hallmark of his life and legacy. In his later years, Ron loved to drive around the area checking out crops, walking out to assess moisture levels by poking his finger in the ground and shooting gophers. The country roads around Bow Island will be a little quieter this spring without Ron’s sharp eyes and 22 rifle instilling fear in the rodent community.

A Celebration of Ron’s Life will be held at ST. ANDREW'S UNITED CHURCH, 139 – 2nd Avenue West, Bow Island, on Saturday, March 30th, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Bob Wallace officiating. A private interment will take place at Bow Island Cemetery. Memorial gifts in Ron’s memory may be made to the Bow Island and District Health Foundation, P.O. Bag 3990, Bow Island AB, T0K 0G0. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Ron Thorson.