KENNETH HALLGRIMUR HALLSON

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KENNETH HALLGRIMUR HALLSON Peacefully, on Monday, December 18, 2006 at Rivereast Personal Care Home, Ken Hallson passed away at the age of 83 years. Ken was born July 28, 1923 to Paul Hallson and Maria, nee Buason, also of Winnipeg. He attended Daniel Mac High School before going on to the University of Manitoba where he graduated in 1945 with his BSc in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating he immediately went into the Signal Corps of the Canadian Army. He went into the officer training program in Vernon, BC and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant along with his papers to ship out to the South Pacific, but before he left the war ended. He enjoyed his life in the army and always had a lot of stories and jokes to tell of his life there. Nevertheless he was not interested in an army career and left to join the Winnipeg Electric System. In 1950 he married Dorothea, nee Koss, with whom he enjoyed a long marriage until she predeceased him on September 9, 2001. He stayed with the city's electric system for his entire career and through several corporate changes. He became General Manager of Winnipeg Hydro in 1978. He took the smooth running of Winnipeg's distribution system personally and it was like a member of the family for many years. He retired in 1988 only because he was developing macular degeneration and could no longer perform as he wished. He loved children and we all remember fondly the activities he enjoyed with us. The whole family, Afi, Uncle and cousins went to the zoo every Sunday from the time we were infants. We were such regulars that the animals grew to know us. He was also a favourite with his grandchildren and he met them in Gimli every year for a week of holidays where they got a taste of the Icelandic heritage of which he was proud. He was intelligent, well-read, extremely generous and very soft-hearted and could tell stories and jokes with the best. His many physical problems made it difficult for him in his last years but last we saw he was still flirting with the nurses. He will be missed with heavy hearts by all of us. He is survived by his daughter Aldis Hallson (Bill Leach) and his two grandchildren, Brandur and Thorin of Calgary, as well as his daughter Hilary Hallson (Ian Wilson) of Winnipeg and his son Paul Hallson of Toronto. He also is survived by his brother Norman Hallson of Saskatoon and his sister Linda Friedman of Austin, Texas. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m. in Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 301 - 352 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H8. Thomson Funeral Home 669 Broadway, 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 23, 2006