On Friday, October 26, 2018, Howard Leroy Dirks went home to be with the Lord at the age of 80 years.
Howard was born on August 7, 1938 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. He was the youngest of 5 children, born to Reverend Charles and Katherine Dirks. Howard grew up in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, finished school at 16 years of age, and moved to Calgary to join sister and brother-in-law Frances and Syd Bates. Howard had several different jobs in Calgary and then headed for the oil field where he started a varied career in the oil field in several locations. In 1959, Howard decided he needed more education. He moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan and this is where he met the love of his life, Lorna Mary Logan. Life took a more serious turn and Howard with his pal, Don Sterling, headed for Anchorage, Alaska to work in the oil field. The boys headed up the Alaska Highway in January and Lorna followed in May. Howard and Lorna were married on May 12th, 1961 in Anchorage, Alaska. They were in Alaska for about 2 years before returning to Saskatoon where Howard attended university. Howard completed 2 degrees in 5 years, then they moved to Watson Lake in the Yukon for a school teaching position where Howard taught for 2 years. Good friends persuaded Howard and Lorna to “go foreign” with Reading and Bates Drilling Co.. They lived and worked in Lebanon, Nigeria, Dohomoy, London, and Houston, before returning to Canada. Upon returning to Canada, they settled in the Slocan Valley where they owned and operated a successful Dixie Lee Chicken franchise in Nelson, BC. Howard contributed to the community in small and big ways with jobs as city counsellor, then politics as the MLA for Nelson-Creston, then as the Minister of Lands and Resources, and Minister of Development, Trade and Tourism. Following the government postings, he returned to Nelson and became involved with the Chamber of Commerce. Upon retirement, Howard and Lorna retired to the small but welcoming community of Vulcan, Alberta. Politics was always in his blood so Howard served as Mayor of Vulcan. Wherever he lived, he always gave of his time to making the community a better place for everyone.
He will be missed by many family and friends, but especially by his wife, Lorna.
Funeral Celebration of Life Service Friday, November 9, 2018 at 12:00 pm at the Vulcan Evangelical Missionary Church with Pastor David Skinner officiating. Interment Vulcan Cemetery.
Tributes in Howard’s memory can be made to the Vulcan Health Care Palliative Unit,
Box 299, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633.
E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.
I was sadden to see the passing Howard and I wish to say a little something.
Having worked for Howard and Lorna back in 1980 at Dixi Lee. They had a kind heart to give people a chance to work and to learn work with proficiency T(Thanks Lorna). I always look back on the constant positive outlook they had every time I had the opportunity to run into each other in Nelson BC. Their mentor-ship has meant a lot as I negotiated my own path as working Dad and now Grandpa.
Thanks for being part of my life. Never forgot.
Bruce McMaster
Nelson BC
Carol Brasseur
So sad to hear this news, my heartfelt condolences to Lorna and Family.
I have fond memories of my time working for Howard & Lorna at the Dixie Lee in Nelson.
Thankyou for the memories, life lessons, oh and the fun!
But most of all for your Love.
Howard will be missed by the many who were fortunate to have him touch their lives <3
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Dear Lorna –
Laurie and I were very shocked and sad to see that Howard has passed away. 80 seems so young these days. We have so many fond memories of Howard from the political days. I will always have great memories of him selecting me to be his campaign manager when he got into provincial politics – and me being only 30 years old ! All the time we spent together driving around the riding to meetings – lots of good conversation. And then he got to be a wonderful Cabinet Minister and do so many good things for the Kootenay area ! My how the years have gone by. You know, his last great act as a former politician just this past December 2017 was to donate that last of his campaign funds which had been sitting in an investment account with me all these years, to the Nelson Salvation Army. When the local Captain of the Salvation Army came by my office to pick up Howard’s cheque he started to cry when he saw the generosity of the donation – he said he had never received such a generous wonderful gift before. Howard was a wonderful man who did so much for Nelson and the area. We hope your memories will bring some peace.
Kindest Regards and Love from Ed and Laurie Mannings.