1917 - 2021
Roy Malmo, aged 103, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 2, 2021, four days after a lovely few hours visiting with his wife and a daughter in the warm sunshine outside the hospital.
Roy Norman Malmo was born to Sivert and Signy Malmo on October 16th, 1917 in Edmonton, AB. When he was 9 months old the family moved to New Norway. He was 5th in line in a family of 9 children. He attended school in New Norway until he moved to Rife, Alberta and took his grade nine classes from his brother Swerre as his teacher! In those years he played a lot of hockey and baseball. He got a job in New Norway at the Creamery where he washed cans, candled eggs and finally became the butter maker.
In July of 1941 he went to Youth Training School in Calgary where he took a wireless course in radio and morse code. Then in December of 1941 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and went to Wireless School in Montreal. He was posted to Summerside, PEI RCAF Base as a wireless operator ground. In May of 1943 he was posted over seas and spent the next 2 years in different spots in England. He volunteered for the South Pacific but while waiting to go, victory over Japan Day ended the war and he was discharged on September 5, 1945. Numerous jobs after the war kept him busy in the New Norway area.
On September 12th, 1948 he married the love of his life, Doris Louise Radke in Bashaw. At the time of his passing they were just shy of 73 years of marriage. From this union five children were born, Douglas, Gail, Lori, Elaine and Joan. He started working for Mobil Oil of Canada in the Duhamel Oil field. Here he spent 11 years and was then transferred to Wimborne Gas Plant. The family moved and settled in Olds in 1965. He retired from Mobil Oil in 1981.
With time on his hands he began to take up hobbies such as building miniature doll houses, golfing, curling, building a greenhouse and caring for a large vegetable garden. Fishing at Chris Randers stocked dugout with some of the grandchildren was a highlight for him. As time went on he whittled beautiful walking sticks and canes out of diamond willow. He also took up rug hooking and many grandchildren were recipients of these projects. Every morning he started his day with a crossword puzzle from the Calgary Herald and didn’t leave the table until it was complete. A Louis L’Amour novel and a jigsaw puzzle were always close at hand. He had an incredible sense of humour and loved to play harmless pranks on friends and family. Dressing up on Halloween was one of his favourite things to do. Playing Santa Claus for Mobil Oil Christmas parties was a highlight for him each year and after retirement the tradition carried on, by him appearing at the Peterman household on Christmas Eve.
He was strong in his Christian faith and was an active member in many different roles at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He loved visiting with his church family and built strong friendships with many of them. Most importantly to him was his family. He treasured his life with Doris, continuing to show his affection for her right up until his passing. He was extremely proud of his five children, twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. In his quiet and gentle way he modelled what it means to be a good human being.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Olds, Service will be live streamed and may be viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403-507-8610 Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com.
