Louise Ellen Berglund

Louise Ellen Berglund passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at the Dauphin General Hospital in Dauphin, MB, on June 21st, 2015. Louise was born on May 17th, 1951, the second daughter of Alden Berglund and Hazel MacIver (nee Frampton) at Norquay, SK. The family lived for a time in and around the Pelly and Kamsack, SK areas.

Following her parents’ divorce, Louise lived and attended school in Aldergrove, BC. She was born with the wonderlust – never settling for long in one place. Upon completion of high school, Louise lived for a time with her Uncle Loyd Frampton’s family in Brandon, MB before moving on the Winnipeg, MB where she met and married Neil Loughran in 1973. She and Neil renovated their older Victoria-style home themselves, starting a pattern that continued throughout her lifetime. Living in an age where it was unheard of for a woman to remodel a house, Louise remodelled and renovated several houses, doing the carpentry, electrical, plumbing and dry walling herself. She even “flipped” her houses, well before the poplar TV craze of “flipping houses”. Her homes often featured her handcrafted furniture of her own design or remodelling.

She divorced Neil and went East in 1986 and settling in Toronto. Doing the opposite of the popular phrase of “Go West, young man! Go West!” that was another one of her traits – doing the opposite of what was normally expected. In other words, rules were meant to be broken. Who but Louise would have a fish pond in her living room complete with ceramic angels!!! While living and working in Toronto, she completed her course requirements for her accounting designation, and was employed in that field for many years before establishing her own accounting business in Minitonas and Barrows, MB As if that wasn’t enough, she gave birth to the love of her life, her son Jeff.

In 1988 the wanderlust struck again. Louise packed up her young son and their belongings and heeded the call to go west, settling first in Edmonton and then in Red Deer, AB. In Red Deer, a high school romance was rekindled and she married Dave Siford in 1996. While in Red Deer, she was employed by the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee and the Chev Dealership. Following in her great-aunt Ida’s footsteps, Louise built a wall of bird cages and bred canaries for sale.

Louise moved to Minitonas, MB establishing her own accounting business. She managed to purchase a home and land (from two different owners) and moved her accounting practice to Barrows, MB, where she resided until her death. She will be remembered for many things – her impish grin and infectious giggle, her love of dogs, her avid gardening and her amazing carpentry skills.

Louise was predeceased by her mother, Hazel MacIver in 1973; sister Therese in January 2015; as well as by grandparents, uncles and aunts.

She leaves to mourn her son Jeff (Annie) of Olymia, Washington, USA; her father Alden (Edith) Berglund of Salmon Arm, MB; sister Carol (Art) Cahoon of Courtenay, BC; brother Neil (Sharon) Berglund of Salmon Arm, BC, and by many aunts, and cousins.