Lawrence Milner passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at St. Paul’s Hospital. He was born to Rev. Adolph and Martha Milner in Regina on March 1, 1928 as the fifth of eight children. His family was poor; babies slept in dresser drawers to keep the mice away because there was no money for cradles or cribs. Then the depression struck and Lawrence’s father was unable to work due to a nervous breakdown, leaving the family impecunious. Feet went without shoes, the house without heat, and birthdays without gifts. The family moved to Edenwold, Minitonas, Swan River, Dauphin, St. Norbert and Winnipeg.
Lawrence achieved the rare distinction of being valedictorian of his graduating class without actually graduating! [A bad departmental exam result in Trigonometry was not received until weeks after the graduation ceremony in which he was class valedictorian. Trigonometry was first period in the morning when Lawrence frequently was completing deliveries of milk from the family’s dairy to the air force base.] Because his parents so highly valued education, Lawrence kept them unaware of his lack of a high school diploma for over 25 years.
Lawrence married Dorine Lundman in 1953 and they moved to Dauphin where he owned and managed dealerships for Massey Harris, Volkswagen, and Chrysler, having a showroom where you could view and buy both your tractor and car. After retiring from selling cars, he opened Milner’s Book Nook the only bookstore in a two-hour radius. Lawrence was also mayor of Dauphin and had the privilege of greeting Queen Elizabeth. He managed the Dauphin Alfalfa Plant. In 1996 Dorine and Lawrence settled in Pinawa, Manitoba, but children and grandchildren lured them to Saskatoon in 2004.
Dorine and Lawrence enjoyed travelling and spent several winters in the Rio Grande valley in south Texas. An avid reader, he read more books in his last years than his four children combined. He was known to be a very good public speaker/storyteller. Each place he lived, he became an instigator of coffee groups to discuss politics, sports, religion and life.
Lawrence was an athlete who golfed into his 90’s and continued to enjoy a daily walk around his neighbourhood pond in his final years. He skipped a men’s curling team which was second in the 1962 Manitoba finals, beaten only by the team that was second in the Canadian Brier. He never missed a Blue Jays game or a Blue Bombers game.
Lawrence loved his Lord. He served the churches he attended in many capacities, including as president of the Baptist Union of Western Canada. In his 90’s, he continued to share encouraging words and stories from the microphone at Emmanuel Baptist Church. He was a model of humility, generosity and integrity to his family and to his community.
Lawrence was predeceased by his wife Dorine in 2020 and by his seven siblings (Bert, Thea, Dot, Gerry, Ellie, John, and Winnie). He is survived by his children Laurel McLennan (Brent) of Calgary, Karen Milner of Ottawa, Cameron Milner (Barb) of Saskatoon, and Shauna Waldner (Cameron) of Saskatoon; and by seven grandchildren, Jessica (John), Derek (Liz), Ben (Melissa), Sam, Jake, Adam, and Eric. His family would like to thank the Palliative Care staff at St. Paul’s Hospital for their kindness in his final days.
A Celebration of Lawrence’s Life will be held Saturday May 4, 2024 at Emmanuel Baptist Church (1636 Acadia Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7H 5H7) at 2 p.m.
Arrangements entrusted to Ashley Knash.
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