Einar Loveseth (1930 – 2023)

It is with great sadness and a lifetime of fond memories, that the family of Einar Loveseth announce his passing on December 26, 2023, at the age of 93 years. Einar will be lovingly remembered by Ellen, his devoted wife of 70 years, and their life spent together raising a family, and building and working on the Big "E" Ranch.

Einar was born on June 4, 1930 in Viking, Alberta and went to school at Maple Lodge School. He loved farming and started working hard at an early age on his father's farm, driving horses harrowing, and plowing with a two-bottom plow, and pitching bundles with the local threshing crew.

Einar married the love of his life, Ellen Lindberg, on March 10, 1953. They spent almost 70 wonderful years together working on their farm, until retiring together to Vialta Lodge in Viking. Einar and Ellen were well known and respected in the local farming community and received the Alberta Farm Family Award in 1973 and 1994.

Einar recalled that when tractors and combines first arrived they had no cabs, so many long, cold, dusty hours were spent in the fields every spring and fall. As the years passed, he watched the farm machinery get bigger and more powerful, and the grain augers that moved mountains of grain instead of having to shovel it by hand as he used to do. He often reminisced that he loved his 7120 Case Magnum tractor and the amount of work it could get done.

With Einar's great love for farming, so was his desire to have farm organizations in place to better the interests of the farming community. Einar was a Director on Unifarm for 17 years, and when rapeseed, the Cinderella crop, hit the prairies in the early 70's, he was a founding member of the Alberta Rapeseed Growers. With improvements in quality, rapeseed became known as canola, and Einar was director, vice-president, and president of the Alberta Canola Growers, and a director with the Canola Council of Canada. Einar served in leadership roles in the canola industry for 17 years and travelled on trade missions to Mexico, Japan, and Europe, promoting Alberta canola.

On the local scene he was the chair of the Viking United Grain Growers (UGG), a staunch supporter of the Viking Agricultural Society, and as vice-president was active in building the new community hall and putting artificial ice in the Viking Carena. He was a director on the Viking Fair Board and helped with the construction of the new Multiplex, was president of the Viking Seniors Club, and worked on the annual Scandinavian Night event. Einar also worked with the group working on the Maple Lodge School upgrades and maintenance, and enjoyed the many community reunions and annual family picnics that were held there every summer.

Einar and Ellen enjoyed travelling, especially Caribbean cruises and road trips to Laughlin, Nevada, and several trips to visit relatives in Norway and Denmark, and in Montana, Oregon, and California. Einar also enjoyed curling, golfing, playing cards, going to bingos, watching the Blue Jays and CFR rodeo, and working with Ellen volunteering and supporting many local clubs, community organizations, and the Golden Valley Lutheran Church.

Einar was predeceased by his parents, Olaf Christian Loveseth and Sofie Loveseth, brothers Odin and Lyder, sister Lillian Bilo, sister and brother-in-law Sofie and Bob Thunell, and son-in-law Rex Oliver. Einar is survived by his sisters-in-law Ann Loveseth and Kathryn Howard, and brother-in-law Mike Bilo.

Einar's memory will be carried in the hearts of his children, Cheryl, Randy (Darlene), Kevin (Colleen) and Sally(Gerald), five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at the Viking Hospital, Viking Extendicare, and Vialta Lodge.

A funeral service will be held at Golden Valley Lutheran Church in Viking, on January 20, 2024 at 11:00 A.M., followed by inurnment at Golden Valley Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be made to the Golden Valley Lutheran Cemetery Fund or Viking Seniors Centre Club.   Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared at www.vikingfuneralservices.ca.