Obituary of Herman Simon Skavlebo

Mr.Herman Simon Skavlebo, age 84, late of Shellbrook, passed away in Shellbrook Union Hospital on September 25, 2008 with family at his side. Herman was born August 10, 1924 on the family farm in the Ordale district, where he lived and farmed all of his life. Herman took his schooling in Byland School. Over the years he did many different jobs along with farming. He worked the sawmill for Gunter Thompson. In 1946 he rented his Uncle Sam Kvinlaug's land and began farming his own. Herman farmed with horses until he bought a John Deere tractor from Adolf Streleau. He farmed through all conditions good and bad, from crop yields of eight to ten bushels per acre, through the drought at five bushels per acre and through good crop yields. In 1949, Herman bought his first quarter of land across from Concordia Lutheran Church. In 1953, the best year of his life, he married his lifelong friend and partner, Lois Lorraine Odegaard on January 10. They were married for 55 years. In 1954 he worked for Carl Danberg in Canwood, over hauling tractors and setting up machinery, he also set up machinery for Carl Anderson in spring breakup. In the winters of 1955 and 1956, there was the most snow ever experienced, snow drifts topped power poles. Herman had a team of horses and hauled hay and straw five miles every day, he shoveled snow to get to the hay and forked it into the wagon. He used the horses to get mail and groceries. Herman and Lois had eight children: Marion, Valerie, Gordon, Shirley, Sheila, Kathy, Gail and Stanley. In 1973 Herman became councilor for Division #1 of Canwood RM for eight years; he was also on the original board for the Parkland Terrace Nursing home for eight years, four years of which he was vice chairman. His son Stanley started farming with him in the 1980's. Herman was also an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church until it closed. He was janitor of the church for many years. Every Saturday night he would go and dust the church and check the furnace so it was ready for Sunday. Lois and Herman attended church at St.John's Lutheran Church, in Shellbrook. In 2005 the Skavlebo farm celebrated 100 years of being in the Skavlebo family. Herman was very proud that there was a fifth generation being raised on the farm, that being Kyle, Stanley's son. Herman would always say, "Ask a busy man if you want something done, and it will get done. Be honest, work hard for things and they should work out". Herman worked with lightening speed. His children grew up running beside him; because that was the pace he walked. Work, church, singing, coffee time and Christmas Eve, were all important to the Skavlebo family. The family was brought up singing and playing the organ. They say music is good for the soul, and the family believed it. Herman and Lois had a huge family, it grew and grew and it's still growing. It was nothing to need to butcher for summer company, regularly a hog or kill two chickens for Sunday dinner. The family Sunday roasts were probably fifteen to twenty pounds, they were specially marked "Sunday Roast". Herman's latest mode of transportation was a golf cart that he used to tour around the farm. He loved bull chasing, and also loved to drive the combine, everyone else had to haul the grain. Herman left this earth to a better place with the song of "I'll Fly Away". Herman will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Lois Skavlebo of Shellbrook, Sk. His children; Marion (Hubert) Linke of Kelvington, Sk, Valerie (David) Burton of Vanguard, Sk, Gordon (Gail) Skavlebo of Shellbrook, Sk, Shirley (Dale) Baumgartner of Morinville, Ab, Sheila (Leslie) Smith of Shellbrook, Sk, Katheryn (Jim) Buckingham of Shellbrook, Sk, Gail (Wayne) Diehl of Shellbrook, Sk, Stanley (Sheri) Skavlebo of Shellbrook, Sk. His grandchildren; Vanessa, Dion, Dustin, Blake, Trevor, Tyson, Tennille, Joshua, Zachary, Meghan, Barrett, Aaron, Samantha, Adam, Sabrina, Jerad, Sasha, Jordan, Joel, Marcus, Charmaine, Mathew, Rachel, Luke, Kyle, Ashley, and Marissa. His great grandchildren; Morgan, Tegan, Leah, Petra, Kale, Carter, Aleah, Haylie, and Ashton. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Herman was predeceased by; His parents Steen and Mary Skavlebo; His siblings Hilma (Ed) Mickelson, Leonard Skavlebo, Selma (Walter) Nielson, Margaret (Cornie) Schock, Peter (Elvina) Skavlebo, Ernest Skavlebo, Evelyn Baun; One sister and one brother who died as infants; His sister- in law Ilene Derr; His mother and father-in-law Mable & Arnold Adamson and Henry Odegaard. The Funeral Service was held at St.John's Lutheran Church, Shellbrook, Sk on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 11:00 a.m with Pastor Doug Schmirler as officiant. The Eulogists were Sheila Smith, Stanley Skavlebo, and Marion Linke. The organist was Nicole Philip. Special Music by Vivian Taylor, Marion Linke, Valerie Burton, Shirley Baumgartner, Sheila Smith, Kathy Buckingham, Gail Diehl, Gordan Skavlebo, Stanley Skavlebo. The Honorary Pallbearers were "Herman's very special support Friends over the years". The Pallbearers were Hubert Linke, Dale Baumgartner, Wayne Diehl, David Burton, Leslie Smith and Jim Buckingham. Memorial Donations may be made to the Evangelical Lutheran Broadcast, Box 1717, Prince Albert, Sk, S6V 5T3, or the Concordia Church / Heritage Site Care of Stanley Skavlebo, Box 262 Shellbrook, Sk S0J 2E0. The interment was in North Concordia Cemetery.