Orville Lyle Off was born in 1933 to Clara Kvame, a single mother, two months after Clara’s eighteenth birthday. In those days that was not an easy thing for a young mother. His early years were spent living in Colgate, SK with his maternal grandparents until age 4 when Orville and his mother moved to Regina, SK, to live with Clara’s sister. Clara supported the family by working as a housekeeper in the boarding house where they lived, it was there that she met her future husband Larry Off. Clara and Larry were married shortly after Orville’s ninth birthday. Larry was dependable, supportive, humorous and even tempered, a sports fan and great guy. However, he was not the disciplinarian; that job fell to Clara, and she was tough! Orville only remembers lying to her once; that was enough. Shortly after they were married Larry served overseas for 3 years.

Orville loved sports, with baseball and hockey being his favourites. He considered himself fortunate to have had Gordon Currie as his High School baseball and hockey coach. He also played for Gord with the Regina Red Sox when they won the South Saskatchewan Sr. Baseball Championships. Orville also played for the Pats under Coach Murray Armstrong. He held both coaches in the highest regard saying, “they were great mentors that taught you life lessons that were relevant to this day. I remained friends with both until their passing’s.”

During High School Orville met Dorothy, his future wife, courtesy of Shirley Ciz who introduced them. Dorothy attended Luther College High School and Orville Balfour Collegiate; chances are they would never have met were it not for Shirley.

Following High School, Orville was fortunate enough to be awarded a hockey scholarship to the University of Denver (DU) and was honoured to be named Captain in his senior year. Orville’s senior year was Murray Armstrong’s first year as Coach at DU; Bill Nixon, John Hudson, Ken Raymond and Orville were instrumental in encouraging the Athletic Director at DU to hire Murray as Coach. This resulted in a very successful career over 20 years at DU for Murray and included several NCAA Championships.

Dorothy and Orville were married prior to his final year at DU. The Tool, Milligan and Railey families, who were so kind to them during their years at DU by inviting them to their homes on many occasions, remained lifelong friends. Whenever the Regina group was in Denver, passing through for skiing or reunions, Orville and Dorothy made a point of hosting a gathering.

Following Orville’s graduation from DU, he and Dorothy moved to Calgary. Orville worked for Sun Oil and Dorothy at Bailey Selburn Oil & Gas. In 1959 Orville was transferred to Regina and this was where they would live for the remainder of their lives. Orville joined Manpower Inc. and soon became business partners with local franchisee Jack Fulton. Unfortunately, Jack passed away at a young age. Dorothy also worked part-time for Manpower Inc. for over 20 years and became a partner. Manpower Inc. is an international company with over 1400 offices worldwide with its headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. Orville was privileged to sit in on the Association of Manpower Franchise Owners (AMFO) representing Canada. He and Dorothy also acquired the Winnipeg franchise and eventually established Transpersonnel, a division of Manpower Inc., supplying highway truck drivers for Western Canada. Sears was their main customer, and they drove 25,000 miles a day for them. Orville retired in 1979 after a 33-year career.

It was a tradition to host the Manpower Inc. Christmas Party on the first Friday of December at The Diplomat and after retirement Dorothy and Orville continued that tradition. They would host Don and Floydey Woolley (former accountant), and staff members Debbie and Dale Matt and Iris and Murray Beitel, at their home for dinner; later they moved this gathering to The Lakeshore Steakhouse. This tradition continued for about 20 years and was always a fun filled enjoyable event.

Orville was also very involved in the community. He served on the Board of the Regina Pats for 20 years when they were a community owned team. He also coached Midget hockey teams for several years. The Pats were sponsored by the Montreal Canadiens during that time and Orville was fortunate to meet several Montreal officials including Frank Selke Sr. as well as Maurice Richard and several other Canadiens players.

Orville was a member of the Queen City Kinsmen, the Regina K40 and Regina Rotary. He served as Chair of the Regina General Hospital for nine years and on the Board of Group Medical Services for 20 years with two terms as Chair. He also was a member of the Executives Association of Regina, serving as President and was eventually appointed a lifetime member.

Dorothy and Orville had the good fortune to travel extensively across Canada and the United States for both business and pleasure. Scottsdale became their second home, and they enjoyed their membership at the Camelback Golf Club for over 20 years. Since 1972 they had also been members at the Wascana Country Club in Regina.

Orville was predeceased by the love of his life Dorothy, his wife of over 63 years, on February 7, 2020. He was also predeceased by his parents Larry and Clara Off and his in-laws Ed and Mary Halwachs. Orville leaves behind his family Murray and Iris Beitel; Mike, Caroline and Brielle Beitel; Danny and Mae Beitel; Dale and Debbie Matt as well as close friend Nick Kaufman.

Orville shared these sentiments as his life neared its end:

“I thank God for the privileged life he granted me and for the countless people I have been able to call friends over my lifetime.”

“I leave you with this thought…Please do someone a favour on a regular basis and you will make two people feel much better.”

“When you have to make an important decision…don’t make the easy one, make the right one.”

Those wishing to donate in Orville’s memory may do so to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation or the Regina Humane Society.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3510 Queen Street, Regina, SK, at 10:00 AM. Reception to follow at the Wascana Country Club, 6500 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, at 1:00 PM.