Arvid Hendrickson, 82

Arvid Hendrickson
July 5, 1927-February 6, 2010

Arvid Hendrickson passed away at the Rainy River Health Centre on February 6, 2010 at the age of 82. Arvid will be sadly missed by his brother Richard (Marlene) of Edmonton, Alberta, sister-in-law Phyllis of Prince Rupert, B.C. and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father Charles 1942, mother Bertha 1982, Brothers Norman 1984, Melvin 2000, Wilmar 2001, sisters Elvina 2001, Adeline 2004, Mildred 2009 and brothers-in-law Jack Drennan 1980, Peter Mattison 1987 and Ercell Roadhouse 1986.
Arvid was born, raised and spent his entire life on what he called the most beautiful place in the world, Wilson Creek. In his young years he enjoyed fishing, hunting and cutting pulp with his siblings on the homestead and when old enough he went to work for Atwood Township, Bert Russell, Leland Budreau and other jobs that kept him close to home.
It was in 1953 that life changed for him and his dream of farming ended abruptly. He came in from the fields, dropped on the floor and after several days in bed with what he thought was the flu, he was sent to Winnipeg to spend almost a full year in an iron lung due to a severe case of polio. After his long healing process he returned home with the use of crutches and full leg braces.
Upon his return he set about completing the home he had built, now doing his own dry-walling, painting and whatever else he felt needed to be done. Eventually after a few years and some broken bones (collarbone, hips) he was confined to a wheel chair. This however didn’t stop him in the least. Each and every winter he poured over the seed catalogues ordering seeds for his flower beds. He’d start his seeds and bulbs early and when the time came to plant them outside he’d work up the flower beds and wheel his plants out on his lap to put them into the ground. He was ever so proud when all who saw them ooh’d and aaah’d over his gorgeous flowers.
When Arvid’s mother became older and weaker he took over the cooking and looked after her in the summers when his brothers left for camp. In the winter when they were home, he cooked for all four of them.
In the 1990’s he fell from his ramp with the wheel chair and spent between 4-5 hours dragging and pulling himself up and into the house, fighting not to pass out. He phoned his sister Adeline to get help. This time they had to operate for several hours to get all the broken, shattered bones in both legs back together again.
By the next year however, he was back out in his flower beds, cutting his own grass and whatever needed to be done. Eventually his post-polio syndrome started to win out and he had to rely on his nephews Richard and Gordon Drennan for many of his chores and in the summer months his brother Richard and family took over a large portion of them.
He would get excited when someone was going to bring him a meal so he didn’t have to cook. The phone would ring and I’d hear “I hid my pot of peeled potatoes...Dennis is bringing me a meal, so I’m good for two days!” If it was a meal his mother cooked he was good for almost a week. There isn’t room to mention everyone who brought meals but you know who you are and how much you were appreciated. I know at this point he’s probably looking over my shoulder saying “Hmmmna why did she put all of that in there”, but facts are facts and he was a marvelous example to all who knew him, so Arvid...so long for now.
A celebration of Arvid’s life was held at the Legion in Rainy River on February 16, with a graveside service to be held at a later date at the McInnes Creek Chapel. Honourary pallbearers are Bobby Locking, Dennis Olynik, Chuck Hanson, Bill Olson, Don Olson, Gordon Drennan, Richard Drennan, Christine Hayes, and Sheila Brown. Eulogy was given by Dennis Olynik.
If so desired, donations may be made to the McInnes Creek Chapel c/o Vivien Locking, Box 513, Rainy River, P0W 1L0, or to Rainy River Hospital Long term care, Box 236, Rainy River P0W 1L0.