The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 401 THORSEN, Laurence R. WWII Laurence was born in Paddockwood, SK in 1923. He served during the Second World War in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Regular Forces overseas from 1942 to 1946. He served on the HMCS Wallaceburg travelling up and down the East Coast of North America as far south as the Bahamas. When he returned from the Navy, he bought land in the Northside/Paddockwood area. In 1947, he married Gusta Mae Loobuyck, and they began farming together on a property next to Laurence’s birthplace. During the winters, Laurence worked for Canadian Nickel in Northern Saskatchewan and Gusta and the children did the chores and kept the farm going. Laurence and Gusta had eight children. In 1964, Laurence was diagnosed with Leukemia and after five years of treatment, he passed away on November 2, 1969. THORSEN, Lyle R. WWII Lyle was born in Paddockwood, SK in 1917. He served during the Second World War as an office assistant in the Saskatchewan Horse Service Unit from 1940 to 1945 in Dundurn and Weyburn and Victoria, BC. After the war, Lyle worked as a cook at sawmills at Lake Cowichan, BC. He spent his later years living with his brothers in the Christopher Lake area. Lyle passed away in July of 1997. THORSEN, Raleigh L. “Swede” WWII Raleigh was born in 1910 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He served as a Lieutenant in the 44th Field Battery in the Canadian Army from 1940 to 1946. He served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. He received the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. When he returned from the war, he married Elizabeth Levall in 1947. They became owners and operators of the Paddockwood Hotel and Pool Hall. In the 1950’s, they moved to Edmonton where he worked for Pittsburg Glass for twenty-three years. Elizabeth passed away in 1965. In 1967, he married Leona Sherette and they lived in Edmonton until his retirement. They moved to Prince Albert in 1977 and then to Christopher Lake. Raleigh passed away in 1981.
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