Obituaries

DELBERT RONALD BORGSTROM

AUGUST 4, 1930 -OCTOBER 3, 2026

With shattered hearts sadness, our family announces the passing of our beloved Husband, Father, Pa, Gramps, and Great-Grandfather on October 3^rd, 2026.

With Vicky and children at his side, he left us peacefully at 96 years of age.  Born west of Elkhorn, MB enroute to the hospital, Del was predeceased by his parents, Egon and Lena, and sister Gladys and her husband Reg Kellsey.

Del is survived by the wife he adored Vicky, children Brad (Elaine), Tannis (Brad), Stacey, and Jason (Joanne), as well as 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Del often said that he was reborn in 1959 when he married Vicky, with family following. Nothing meant more than his family and the times spent with all of them, and he was especially proud of his grandchildren.

From very humble beginnings, Del came to Winnipeg in 1950 and started a 26-year career at Manitoba Hydro (formerly Manitoba Power Commission), where he met Vicky and a love affair that burned for 67 years.  Manitoba Hydro facilitated his becoming one of the first few accredited appraisers in Manitoba.  He travelled often, frequently appearing in court and before the LVAC as an expert witness in expropriation cases. In 1978, Del and Vicky started D.R. (Del) Borgstrom & Associates where, as an Accredited Appraiser (AACI), he did appraisal work for the major banks and credit unions and often appeared in court as an expert witness.

In 1959, after discovering the Whiteshell area during a fishing trip, he successfully bid on a lot on Big Whiteshell Lake, and our family’s lake life started in 1961 with the framing of our cabin there.  Over the years, with help from the children and friends, it expanded into what has always been known as “Our Happy Place”.  We were fortunate to be able to share these years with so many friends, and he was able to enjoy our cottage one last summer this year.

Del was known as quiet, with a calm and gentle personality, but with the unwavering resolve in anything he took on, he was also our strength.  Over the years, he was deeply involved with his children’s activities being a Cub leader, coaching softball, being a team soccer manager, and spending countless hours cleaning the hockey rink and being a Past President of the River Heights Speed Skating Club.

Over the years, there was also travel, with 5 trips to Hawaii for a winter break, and a wonderful family experience in the Bahamas in 1980.

In 1989, Del and Vicky sold their business and began travelling in their motor home, spending time in California, Florida, Arizona and other states before eventually deciding to snowbird in Alamo, Texas for 17 years. In Alamo, Del gave himself completely to Christmas for the Needy, a project helping those less fortunate and chairing it for 5 years.

In his own words “Life has been a Blast” – he will be deeply missed forever.

A private Celebration of Life for immediate family will be held with Rev. Phillip Read of St. Mary’s United Church officiating.

Our family extends our deepest appreciation to the Palliative Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital for the care, compassion and dignity given Dad, and that Mom and family all experienced in the last remaining days of Dad’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully asks that donations be directed to the St. Boniface Palliative Care Unit or CancerCare Manitoba.

“Dance Me to the End of Love”