Obituary of Laurie Ronald Thorsen

 Laurie Ronald Thorsen

August 15, 1951 to September 23, 2024

With heavy hearts we share the sudden passing of our partner, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, friend and employer, Laurie Ronald Thorsen.

Laurie is survived by his partner and friend June Derby, his two sons Shane Miller and Shawn Thorsen (Anatasia and her two children Chris and Eliana), his grandchildren Ainsley McKnight and Jett Miller, his two brothers Donnie (Donna) and Kelly (Catherine), his four sisters Marlene Thorsen, Brenda Bond (Richard), Cindy MacDonald (Kenny), Pat Kachur (Don Best), his many nieces and nephews, his lifelong friends, Russell Nelson and Peder Skotheim, his longtime business manager, Elaine Herzog, his many friends, and his many employees from the community, the Philippines,  and the Ukraine.

Laurie was predeceased by his Mom and Dad, Gusta (2022) and Laurence (1969) Thorsen, his sister and brother-in-law, Bertha and Charlie Wright (1977), and his close friends, Jim Anderson and Don Wozniak.

Laurie was the third child born to Gusta and Laurence Thorsen, and he grew up on the family farm near Northside. He attended Christopher Lake School, but formal school was not “his bag,” so he struck out at an early age and learned so many talents by watching, doing, and working hard.

At the age of 15 he started working on a road crew near Regina. He then worked for Corbin Tractors in Saskatoon as a mechanic.

He worked for Woodlands/Sask Pulp cutting trees, and then he went on to work in road construction, mechanics and large machine operations.  With Euclids he worked on the road crew to build the road to Besnard Lake. Rod Sexsmith (his supervisor) liked him because he was always willing to work overtime, and he worked steady and hard.

In 1974 Laurie’s dear Mom backed a loan for him, and he bought the garage from Harold Martodam at Northside. He worked “flat out” to make this venture a success. Laurie then leased the Halfway House and worked in both places. He often slept in the booth at Halfway House so he’d be ready for the next day of work.

With Laurie’s mechanical skills, he bought and fixed stock cars. He then sponsored and raced stock cars in crash derbies with his buddies for another adventure. We all remember his unique sign at the Northside corner – a stock car on top of a tall pole.

Laurie also operated a store at Deer Ridge, and he bought a Lounge/Nightclub, Little Willies at Williams Lake. He then found time to fill in the slough where the first Northside Curling Rink was situated and built a restaurant, gas bar, store, motel units, and bar. He named it, The Homestead.

 In the 1990s Laurie worked as a “line cutter” for Sask Tel in the Meadow Lake area. He bought an air boat and farmed wild rice in the Ile-a-la-Crosse area, and he bought the Wapaweka Pulp Camp and made condos out of the shop.

Laurie loved the bush, and so he became the owner/operator of Thunder Mountain Outfitters. Each year Laurie, sometimes with his sons, prepared bear bait sites with tree stands, cut trails, supplied guides, provided transportation to and from the Saskatoon airport to the camp for hunters from Canada and the USA. June was often the cook for the hunters, helpers, and guides. Laurie made many friendships with hunters who came for the experience multiple times.

In the 2000s, Laurie sold The Homestead at Northside and started LTs, another venture that was located at the Waskesui turnoff. He built a new structure around the kitchen and hauled in two bunk trailers from the Wapawekka Pulp Camp. Laurie was just finishing the building when 9/11 shook the world.

LT’s became a favorite spot for truckers and travelers heading to LaRonge and the North. Laurie and his son, Shawn, offered coffee, lodging, a good meal, and a joke or two. He then built a similar truck stop and hotel at Mile 147. Laurie needed more employees, so he travelled to the Ukraine and brought back Olga, Ivanna, Iryna, and Vadym who are still living and working in our community.

Laurie liked his hometown community of Northside, so he decided to expand and build a restaurant, store and gas bar at Northside. He appropriately named it the Full Circle Service Centre as he had made the full circle back to his first garage.

When the bar (his former Homestead) across the road came for sale, Laurie bought the bar back and added the liquor store which is now known as Mr. T’s Pub and Off Sale. He continued to need employees at his businesses, so he sponsored many dedicated workers from the Philippines.

During the Covid shutdown, Laurie, June and Vadym completely renovated the bar and established Log Cabin Cannabis. He said that he had situated all the vices in one place.

In 2018 Laurie decided that he’d like to farm and to raise buffalo. He bought more land and farm equipment, and he built fences, gates, buildings and bale shelters that were strong enough to hold and withstand these powerful animals. June painted the gates all different colours that symbolized his family’s birthstones. His dear Mom’s gate was emerald green, symbolizing her May birthday.

Laurie developed health issues, but with the help of his doctors, June’s care along with some rest, some help from his sons, and some spiritual help from his friend Dave from Pennsylvania, Laurie was able to follow a daily medicine regimen, and he returned to work on his farm and at his businesses.

 When Laurie started his farming project, Nick Baro, a former employee at Mile 147, became Laurie’s trusted and reliable farm hand and dear friend. Together they worked on the land, with the animals, with the Bear Camp operations, and with the machines.

Laurie was an innovator, problem solver and entrepreneur.  He possessed a life-long dedication to striving for new challenges and new ventures.

Laurie’s partner June, his sons, his family, his dear friends, his community, and his dedicated employees will all miss him immensely.

A Celebration of Laurie’s Life will be officiated by Reverend Nora Vedress, and it will be held on Thursday, October 3^rd at 1:00 at the Rothenburg Family Park, Christopher Lake.  Lunch will follow after the service with the interment at the Paddockwood Cemetery after the lunch.

In lieu of other tributes donations in Laurie’s memory may be made to St Christopher Anglican Church. Cheques can be mailed to PO Box 7, Christopher Lake ,S0J 0N0.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.