Noreen Proudlove

Noreen Proudlove

August 23, 1942 – September 29, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Noreen Proudlove announces her unexpected passing while on a Mediterranean cruise with friends and her loving husband of 57 years.  Noreen was born on August 23^rd, 1942 to Bill and Dora Lestrange. She is predeceased by her parents and sister Mildred.  Left to miss her are her husband Dal; children Ellen (Chris) Friesen and grandchildren Zachary and Ian; and Dave (Cynthia) Proudlove and grandchildren Morgan and Mila; and cousins that were like sisters Norma Sim, Valerie Dawson, and Marion Sim.  

Noreen grew up as a farm girl and wasn’t afraid of hard work or tackling big projects and doing her very level best at whatever she did.  She became a high school teacher and started a new Home Economics Lab at Imperial, where she pushed to have both girls and boys learn the practical life skills of Home Ec. in the early 1970’s.  She also taught Accounting/Typing, and was drawn to the precision of these tasks.  She became a part-time/ substitute teacher for the school division after the kids were born and enjoyed being in schools.  Later, Noreen also taught business and administration courses at the Regional College.  She and her husband also led Imperial high school students on canoe trips up North on the Churchill River for 27 years.  There were many memories made on the canoe trips, and they both thought that this experience was worthwhile to do for the students.   

In 1980, Noreen decided to become a private pilot and earn her pilot’s license.  She became involved in the 99’s, which was an international organization of women pilots.  She loved the girls’ trips flying to different conventions to support women in aviation.  She became the Chairman of the Saskatchewan Chapter and was involved in organizing flying poker runs, a convention here in Saskatchewan, and helped with the 99’s static displays for the Moose Jaw airshow every year. Noreen took her knowledge of the outdoors and bushcraft and organized several aircrew survival courses with Indigenous elders, conservation officers, and herself to teach women skills in case of remote plane crashes. She was also involved in CASARA, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. 

Noreen enjoyed being up North and worked side-by-side with her husband Dal to build two cabins.  The first cabin was built to sell in order to buy a Cessna 172.  The second was a log cabin, and this little 5’2 woman helped lift all the logs except for the very top row.  She lifted sheets of gyprock, hauled lumber, and helped in any way she could.  She was determined and not afraid of hard work.  Many years were enjoyed at the cabin by the family, with good neighbours and friends.  There were lots of opportunities to get outside and be in the forest and on the water with cross-country skiing, boating, canoeing, and breathing that fresh forest air.  

Noreen enjoyed traveling her entire life.  She started out by traveling around Europe with her husband Dal, taking road trips to new places, and always found time for a trip out to the mountains at least once a year.  Noreen and Dal were outdoors folks, and after taking a couple of Outdoor Ed. classes, decided to do a six-week solo trip from Dawson City to Skagway, Alaska in the early 1970’s.  Eventually, her adventurous spirit really took off,  jumping into the Cessna 172 and heading on adventures.  The family flew across North America, from coast to coast to coast, camping under the wing of the plane on the airfield.  Mom was careful and attentive to detail, and navigated us up the Mackenzie River delta, all the way to Tuktoyuktuk on the Arctic Ocean.  Navigation with just a map and compass is no small feat when the consequences of losing your way in the remote North are consequential and there is no room for mistakes.

Noreen will be fiercely missed for her tenacity and spirit, but her real strength was a soft gentleness and kindness.  She was a wonderful mom who loved her people deeply and completely, and she would have done anything for us.  Noreen and Dal were equals in their marriage and were high school sweethearts who never lost the spark.  She will be missed deeply. 

A Funeral will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Forest Grove Community Church, 502 Webster Street, Saskatoon, SK, with interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.