Archibald NORRIE

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

NORRIE: Archibald (Archie) Cecil Norrie died Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010, at the Reston Health Centre at the age of 82, following a long illness with congestive heart failure. Archie was the beloved husband of Jean and loving father to Joanne, Janice and Denise. Born on a farm near Decker, Manitoba, on October 30th, 1927, Archie was the seventh child in a family of ten born to John and Helen Norrie. In 1942, the family moved to a farm near Isabella, Manitoba, where Archie, at age fourteen, took over the management with the help of his younger brothers, Cyril and Gordon. Their father’s suffering from the after-effects of World War I was the reason for his prolonged absences from the farm, as he would often need to stay in the Deere Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg because of his ill health.In 1947, Archie worked as a farmhand around Midnapore, AB. In 1950, he returned to Manitoba and worked on the Alexander farm near Decker and on a farm near Isabella for Jack Finkbeiner and his son, Johnny.On November 14th, 1953, Archie married Jean Harrison of Isabella and together they raised three daughters. His love of farming lead to the purchase of the farm homesteaded by Jean’s maternal grandparents, Charles and Jane Craig, where he lived with Jean until 2005 when they moved to Virden, MB. Archie was predeceased by his parents John and Helen, brothers George (killed in World War II), Bill (Lois), Gordon, Charlie (Phyllis and Eunice) and sisters Thelma (Don) Carnegie, Eleanor (Mel) Begg, Cora (Ted) Shier and nephew Don Norrie. He was also predeceased by Jean’s parents Harry and Mary, brothers Jim, Doug, Charlie (Verna and Isobel), sister Margaret (Allan) Dickie, Jean’s niece Lynne Harrison Dunitz and great-niece Cathy-Jo Harrison. Archie is survived by his wife Jean of fifty-six years and their daughters Joanne (Ron) Huberdeau of Isabella, Janice Norrie of Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Denise (Bernard) Simard of St. Lazare, Manitoba. Also left to mourn are his grandchildren and their families: Leigh (Margaret), Bree- Anne, Jodan, Aanick Huberdeau of Rainbow Lake, AB; Joel Huberdeau (Barb Kowalzik) of Airdrie, Alberta; Daniel (Sylvia), Jonah, Jaicee, Jax Huberdeau of Winnipeg; Jamie (Tana) and Acadia Huberdeau of Isabella; Andrea Klassen of Nelson, B.C.; Brian and Jared Simard of Brandon, Manitoba and Jenna Simard of St. Lazare. He is also survived by brothers Frank (Ruth) Norrie of Surrey, B.C., Cyril (Doreen) Norrie of Isabella and sisters-in-law Gloria Norrie of High River, Alberta, and Jeannine Harrison of Hamiota, Manitoba, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The celebration of Archie’s life was held in the Isabella Community Church with Reverend Heather Robbins officiating on Saturday, August 7th. His six grandsons were pallbearers and the organist was friend Linda Clark. His grandchildren Daniel and Andrea gave the eulogy which captured Archie’s unique sense of humour. The choir consisted of friends from surrounding communities. The internment was in the Isabella cemetery followed by a reception in the Isabella Hall served by the ladies of the community. Braendle- Bruce Funeral Services of Russell, Manitoba, was in care of arrangements.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 11, 2010