Obituary of Brian Torgunrud

In November of 2019, I was diagnosed with ALS.  Bulbar Onset ALS - the fast progressing kind.  I knew it was serious, because Aldona was crying. I’m writing this while I’m still alive, but it eventually got me. 

I am survived by my wife Aldona (nee Stonkus), dog Sally, son Stan and his wife Aimee (Saul), daughters Anna and her husband Warren (Hazel and Louie) and Iris and her husband Jon (Rose); sister Brenda and her husband Ward; sister-in-law Maya and her husband Keith; nieces Kylie (Chris), Katherine (Julian), and nephew Jeff (Taylor). I was predeceased by my parents Gerry and Iris Torgunrud and my dear niece Kaelyn MacKenzie.

Enough boilerplate.

On a more positive note, I had a fabulous life.  Let me brag a little bit about it:

I was born and raised in Yorkton. We lived in a neighborhood that was just being developed and almost every family had kids.  My sister Brenda and I were free range (everyone was back then) and we are still close.  Many from those early days have remained lifelong friends. 

I married the woman of my dreams.  I met Aldona in 1974, on the grass outside Marquis Hall at the U of S and was immediately in love, though it was a few years before I made my move.  I was floundering at University, changing programs every year.  She took charge and got me to enroll in Engineering at the age of 26.  I graduated with a BSc in Civil Engineering in 1982 and married her in September of that year. Degree, job, wife.  

I worked for SaskPower and then SaskEnergy my whole career.  It was a wonderful company to work for and, as I progressed, my path moved from engineering design to managing.  I was once told that to be a good manager I had to use both my head and my heart.  I really hope I did that. If I didn’t, I missed the mark. 

In 1985, my son Stan was born, followed by Anna 19 months later and Iris 19 months after that.  Raising them was a happy blur of basketball, baseball, softball, track - sometimes I think us parents had more fun than the kids.  I even got to spend 2 terms as a Beaver leader, where I got to study under a master of last minute planning (remember, Moose?). The kids now all live within walking distance of our place, they are all married to people I love, we share the same sense of humour, and I see a lot of them. They’ve been there for me every step of the way these last 16 months and I love them so much.

Babysitting the grandchildren has been a big part of my life these last few years. We did full time daycare for Anna’s kids, and we loved it. I was working when my kids were that age, so I never appreciated how hard it is to keep those little ones busy day after day. Aldona will be daycaring Iris’s Rosie in April and perhaps Saul later on. I wish I could be there. 

I’ve had a lot of adventures. I got to see the world (Aldona style).  Traveling with Aldona was done with a small carry on backpack, constantly moving, sleeping in airports when necessary, local transportation, washing underwear in the bathroom sink, etc..  It also means going to places that aren’t necessarily the “popular” destinations such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Myanmar, India, Bolivia, Equador, Nepal, Guatemala….. We’ve had countless bike tours and ski trips in the mountains, many with Aldona’s sister and another good friend - my harem of 3. The outdoor adventures continued on bikes, skis, and kayaks after we bought our rustic cabin at Madge Lake 6 years ago on a whim. We still high-five each other on that impulsive move.

I got to bike with some of the best bikers in town (in their draft of course).  I rode with two bike clubs in Regina - The Regina Cycle Club and Spokesmen.  While I wasn’t a particularly talented rider, I could pretend I was.  I peaked at 14 bikes, mostly from Dutch Cycle, who always treated me well, even better after I got ALS lol.  Love those guys. 

I’ve known the love of a good dog.  Sally is a 13 year-old lab golden retriever cross.  As I’m writing this, she’s in bed with me, laying right up against me and snoring, like every night.  Shout out to all the dog walker friends I’ve made in the neighborhood. 

I could go on and on, but I’ll sign off here.  In lieu of flowers, be kind and get that climate change thing solved. I’ve never wanted a funeral - there’s a pandemic out there anyway. 

Thanks to the cast of characters who’ve been part of my life.