SKJOLINGSTAD, Laurits
October 6, 1940 – July 13, 2022
After a short stay in Foothills hospital in Calgary, Laurits Skjolingstad passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 13th surrounded by his immediate family.
Born on the island of Karmøy, Norway, in October of 1940, Laurits was the only child of Faltin and Johanna Skjolingstad. School took him away from Karmøy at a young age, and his many years of travelling started with high school in Bryne. After high school, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to study Civil Engineering. He had already met Agnes Vigrestad during his years in Bryne, and they married after his third year of university.
In 1966, the two of them moved from Scotland to Canada and welcomed three children. Ann-Elin, Frode Jarl, and Turid Linda. During these first years in Canada, he also finished both a Master’s and Ph.D. degree from the University of Calgary.
Laurits had a varied career with both ups and downs. He was grateful for the opportunities to work, travel and visit places around the world, meeting so many people from diverse cultures and religions and making friends from sunny Malaysia to the cold North.
Through his passion for speed skating, Laurits got to travel for competitions, even back to the old country. He enjoyed being a member of the speed skating club and community. Besides his speed skating hobby, he was also an exceptional wood worker, carver, painter, and stain glass creator. He was incredibly talented and extremely humble, never wanting to brag about any medals he had won or the number of art pieces he had done. Family and friends have over the years enjoyed beautiful homemade gifts, a welcoming open house to stay at and a knowledgeable guide for travels.
Laurits is survived by his wife, Agnes, his children, Ann (James) Perreault, Frode Skjolingstad, Turid (Shane) Ducholke, and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday July 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 73 George Fox Trail, Cochrane, AB. For those who are not able to attend you may watch the service through this link: https://youtu.be/yGnw-s0LiqU (the link will be live 1/2 hour prior to service start)
Arrangements entrusted to Anne MacNeil, Funeral Director
Cochrane Country Funeral Home – cochrane@piersons.ca – 403-932-1039
I was saddened to read of Laurits’ passing.
I skated with Laurits for several years with the Calgary Speed Skating Association at the Olympic Oval. He was a kind and decent man, with a deep love of the sport. I also knew him to be a generous volunteer at speed skating events.
The speed skating community will miss him, and extends its condolences to his family.
Blair Carbert
President, Speed Skating Canada
Our sincere condolences to the family. We had the pleasure of volunteering with Laurits during International Speed Skating events. We will miss his smile and friendship.
July l5, 2022. We have been devastated by the passing of such a dear friend and sincerely regret that we will not be able to attend his funeral because of being away ourselves. May God richly bless Agnes, Ann, Frode, and Turid along with many other members of his family and we look forward to seeing Lauritz in Heaven some day. All our love, Garth and Marlene Wagner.
So sorry to hear of Laurits’ passing. We have many good memories of family get togethers not only in Calgary but Norway as well. Thinking of the family as you deal with this loss. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear of Laurtize passing. I have many fond memories of spending Christmas with your family. Thoughts are will your family. Hold your memories close to your heart. Take care Lorna Hansen (Thompson)
My sincere condolences to Turid. I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I don’t know you since a while Turid but if you want to talk, you can come at home. God bless you and your family.
We were so sad to hear of Laurits passing. Such a kind and wonderful friend. He will be greatly missed by all that were fortunate to have him in their life.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy and hope that the wonderful memories you have of Laurits will get you thru this difficult time.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Ingebjorg Hartvigsen and Ann and family
Agnes and family
Sad to learn of Laurits passing. I and my family will be at the service on Friday
Shocked and saddened to hear of Laurits’s passing. I had the honour of coaching Laurits at the Olympic Oval for a few years while he was a member of the adult/masters long track speed skating group. Such a friendly, appreciative, generous man. He will be greatly missed.
My condolences to the family.
Guy Bushell.
Coach, Calgary Speed Skating Association.
I am so sad to learn of Laurits’s passing .I got to know him as a member of the Calgary Speed Skating Association back in 1999 when I was the Technical Director .I reconnected with him again in 2018 when I returned after many years .He loved to skate and we had great conversations of our common passion .He told me he had not been well, but still wanted to skate and enjoyed it so much .May you RIP and get to skate a lap or two in Heaven with Roy and other members that went before you .
Coach Debby
Our sincere condolences to the family. I have always appreciated the Christmas letters from Laurits, and the time we spent together when Laurits and Agnes came to Karmøy, Norway. In 2014 I finally got, together with my children, the opportunity to visit Laurits and Agnes in Calgary. We had an amazing time together. Laurits showed us Calgary and the region around the city, and we got to experience the Stampede. Our thoughts are with you.
We are very sorry to hear about Laurits’ passing. Although we haven’t had much contact lately we have very fond memories from years ago when we first came to Canada. Our deepest condolences.
Grace & Viggo Floisand.
So very shocked and saddened to learn of Laurits’ passing. He was such a kind, intelligent, humble and artistically gifted man. His wordworking skills were truly awesome and I’m not surprised that he won many awards. What Jørgen would remember best about time spent with Laurits were the many speed-skating competitions at the Oval, sitting with fellow Norwegians and cheering the “home team” on! With fond memories and deepest condolences, Shelley and Marta Asserson
As everyone who knew Laurits, we too were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of his untimely passing.
He was a very nice and friendly man and we have many fond memories from gatherings over many years. He was also very accomplished in several areas – not the least creating stained glass windows, and wooden items – decorated with Norwegian ‘rosemaling’ – such as the stool in our kitchen that we admire and use every day!
Our most sincere condolences to you Agnes, and to Ann, Frode, Turid and the extended family; you are in our thoughts during this very difficult time.
Unni and Fred Claridge
The years go by so quickly and it is a long time since I enjoyed the company of the family. Lauritz’s Christmas letters have kept me updated.
Shocked to recieve the news, my thoughts will be with you in these sad times.
My most sincere condolances to you all,
Kristinn Andresen
Kjære Agnes og hele familien. Det var veldig leit å høre at Laurits har gått bort. Vi skulle så gjerne ha vært der når han blir begravet, men det er dessverre ikke mulig. Laurits sto min familie veldig nær. Vi så på han som en kjær bror. Sist han og Agnes var i Oslo bodde de hos meg i en uke. Jeg ser tilbake på det med stor glede. Vi sørger med dere. Vi takker også for mange og gode minner vi vil ha i våre hjerter for vårt liv slik vi husker Laurits. Masse gode hilsener fra familjen hos tante Helena og onkel Endre på Langåker
I would like to send all my sincere, good thoughts and sympathy for Turid and all your Family and friends on behalf of all my colleagues in Val-d’Or Probe Metals’ office.
Whish you find some peace and appeasement in this tough moments.
Luc T.
It is with utmost respect for a good man with a unwavering desire to be his best on the ice that we paused at the Oval Masters Camp today to pay our respects to Laurits. We all have very fond memories of his example of determination to do his best, and his competitive spirit. It was a pleasure and honor for all of us to have shared the ice with him in practice and in competition.
On behalf of all his fellow masters skaters at the Calgary Olympic Oval, our thanks to the family for the times you shared him with us, and our deepest condolences.
Robert Black, Oliver Bathe, Ian Dwyer, Scott Anderson, Donnie Hrynyk & Bob Irvine.
We are so sorry to hear of Laurits passing. Laurits was a member of the Calgary Speed Skating Association (CSSA) the previous season and still enjoyed being on the ice. He will be missed by all his teammates. On behalf of the Board of Directors’ of the CSSA, we would like to express our utmost condolences to the family.
Josie Daub, President, CSSA
Sorry to hear for the lost of Laurits. I know him since I started speed skating 20 years ago. We volunteered together for most of the Worldcups as Chaparone and enjoyed watching speed skating as he was cheering for the Norwegian as I was for the Dutch.
We always talked about Engineering projects.
I hope I can speed skate so long as you did. You were very determined specially you drove always from Cochrane.
I wish the family the best.
Cornelis Richard Hijnen
My sincere condolences to you and your entire family.
Wish you peace and love
Chantal D.