Obituary of Lawrence Earl Henderson

April 1, 1930 – Lacombe, Alberta

July 3, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Lawrence Henderson, a lifelong resident of Lacombe, AB, passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the age of 94 years.

Lawrence was born on April 1, 1930, in Lacombe, AB. He was a beloved husband to Shirley Henderson who passed away in 2015 and will be greatly missed by his two sons and daughter, as well as his seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Lawrence grew up on the Henderson dairy farm in Lacombe. As a schoolboy Lawrence and his brother used a horse-drawn wagon and their bicycles to deliver their bottled milk door-to-door in Lacombe. Lawrence was married to Shirley in 1951 and the couple began to develop a purebred Holstein herd. This prompted Lawrence to become involved in the Lacombe Artificial Breeders Association where he was president from 1955-1962. Over the next few years, Lawrence became involved in numerous local initiatives including local gas co-ops, serving as Director and President of the Red Deer Cooperative Association, Chairman of an advisory committee for Olds Agricultural College, and past president of the Dairy Committee Red Deer Exhibition Association.

Lawrence was a devoted and passionate volunteer in many organizations throughout his life. He was a member and Past Chairman of the Environment Conservation Authority, Advisory Board Member for Co-op Implements, Review Committee Member for Co-op Insurance, Delegate to Federated Co-op Annual Meetings, Director and past President of Alberta Holstein Association, Member of the Alberta Dairy Control Board, Director and Executive Member of the Central Alberta Dairy Pool.

Other provincial contributions during the 1960s to 1970s include Delegate to the United Farmers of Alberta, Member of the UFA Delegate Training Committee, Director of the Alberta Association of Gas Co-ops, Director of the Farmer's Union of Alberta, Director and Executive Member of Unifarm, Director of Co-op Insurance Pool, Chairman of the Surface Rights Committee, Member of the Inter-Provincial Manpower Training Committee, and Delegate to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

In addition to his many accomplishments, Lawrence spent fifteen years as a Director with the Holstein Association of Canada and served as President of the Holstein Association of Canada from 1987-1988. He was a Director with Dairy Farmers of Canada from 1988-1992. He also served as a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Canadian Health of Animals Branch for the Eradication of Brucellosis.

From 1974 to 1988 Lawrence participated in Trade Missions to Mexico, USA, England, Scotland, China, Africa, Australia, Holland, and Germany.

Lawrence continued to volunteer until he was 87 years old. He was president of Kozy Korner in Lacombe, Director and Vice President of the Lacombe Golf and Country Club, and President of the Lacombe Historical Society during his retirement.
 

To recognize Lawrence’s accomplishments and significant contributions to the community over the years, Lawrence received The 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce. In 2015 the Henderson Family celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of the Henderson Farm Family.
 

Lawrence learned to curl on Gull Lake. He loved curling and the camaraderie with his good friends from Lacombe. He continued to curl into his 80’s. Lawrence and Shirley spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona where Lawrence played golf and shuffleboard.

Lawrence Henderson will be most remembered for his gift of leadership, dedication to agriculture, his passion for volunteering, his love for life, sense of humour, and his love for his family. He touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

We are extremely grateful to the staff and friends at Lake Bonavista Village in Calgary where Lawrence lived for seven years. Thank you to our friend Dr. Mir, and to Dr. Bland and the staff at Southwood Hospice in Calgary for their attentive and compassionate care during Lawrence's final days.

To honor Lawrence's life, a service will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations in Lawrence's memory may be made to the Lawrence and Shirley Henderson Fund in Support of Cardiology at The University Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, AB.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Lawrence’s family here.

In living memory of Lawrence Earl Henderson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.