June 16, 1930 – January 3, 2023

Nels (aka Hagar the Horrible) was born in Admiral Saskatchewan of Norwegian Parents. He grew up on a farm and attended a one room school at Prairie Lane Saskatchewan, high schools in Admiral, Shaunovan, and Outlook, and graduated in Regina. He went on to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where he met his future wife Anne at the boarding house where they both lived. They were married in 1951 and moved, after Nels finished his geology degree, to Snow Lake Manitoba where they lived for the next five years and had two sons Ron and Richard. The family followed Nels as his career took him to mining areas in Quebec and Saskatchewan as well as Montreal where he obtained his masters in geology from McGill

In 1966 the family moved to Kamloops where Nels has lived ever since. His career focus changed from mine geology to exploration. He investigated prospective properties in the USA and South America but primarily worked in BC. He laid out the aerial surveying plan which eventually became the Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine in northern Saskatchewan.

Some of his many interests over the years included sailing, skiing, curling, golf and gardening. He grew beautiful flowers and had a vegetable patch where weeds didn’t stand a chance. Every day started with the careful perusal of the Globe and Mail. His ability to repair and refurbish resulted in a home largely unchanged from when the family moved in in 1966. He made his own pickled pigs feet and was on batch 452 when he retired his home brewing equipment. He saved a fortune on the dish soap he refused to use.

Nels is a founding member of the aptly named Kamloops Exploration Group (KEG) which is an association of mineral oriented people in BC. He donated generously to the geology program at Thompson Rivers University and was recently awarded a membership in its Presidents circle. The local federal liberal riding association and the sons of Norway were groups he belonged to and supported.

Nels was the proud patriarch of and leaves behind sons Ron (Kim) and Richard, grandsons Owen, Ted (Lauren), Gordon (Nadia), and Nathan (Tammy), and granddaughters Natasha (Jesse) and Shelby (Jordon). He has 6 great grandchildren.

He also leaves behind longtime friend and companion Jean McGauchie with whom he shared a love of bridge and the Vancouver Canucks.

He was predeceased by his parents Ingvald and Ingeborg and his brother Fred. His wife Anne died in 1980.

You may offer a message of condolence to the family at Schoening Funeral Service.

 

• Date : 2023-01-03
• Location : Kamloops