Einar Field »

Einar Field May 2, 1935 - October 16, 2013

To the membership of SLNC

A giant tree in our forest has fallen. Left behind is a large empty space, which will be
very hard to fill.

Einar Oddvar Field passed away at 0300 on October 16, 2013 in the arms of his loving
wife, Grethe at the Vernon Hospice. Einar was diagnosed with cancer first several years
ago. He fought it in his own way, with strength and determination. He continued his
vigorous exercises and walks as long as it was humanly possible, but in the end cancer
prevailed.

Einar was born May 2, 1935 at Raufoss, Norway as the eldest son of Oscar and Anna
Fjeld, and grew up on a beautiful farm that overlooked the valley below. He received his
first pair of skis at the age of two, and that first day he started making laps around the
house. True to form, he would not stop to come in and eat, so his mother had to take
food out to him.

After graduating from high school and business school, Einar was accepted into the
Norwegian Army's Training School for Infantry Officers, a rigorous 12 months' physical
and academic training program, followed by compulsory service of minimum 6 months
length as sergeant-instructor in an infantry unit. In the following years, Einar was also
called out as platoon commander (lieutenant) in a large winter manoeuvre involving
thousands of troops.
 
Einar would often say to me that the military training he received was the best thing in
his life, teaching him leadership, decision making, team work, self-reliance, physical &
mental skills and endurance, toughness, discipline, communications skills etc.  
His friends will recognize many of these qualities in the Einar that we all cherished.
 
Like many young Europeans in the years after Second World War, Einar came to Canada
in 1957. After only two weeks, he found employment with BC Hydro. He did not know
it then, but it was going to be a great match for both parties. Speaking of matches, Einar
had for several years, known one of several pretty daughters in a nearby family, and I
suspect that by the time he left Norway, she had promised to await his return.
 
Einar's career blossomed and resulted in transfers throughout BC. From Fort St. John, he
travelled to Norway, fetched young Grethe and returned to Fort St. John where the
wedding took place, surrounded by many friends and some relatives. The year was 1961.
 
Over the years, Einar was the manager of BC. Hydro's branches in many BC
communities, while steadily being promoted up the corporate ladder. Along the way they
were blessed with two healthy children, Mariann in 1962 and son Dag in 1963.
All the moves made Einar, Grethe, Mariann and Dag very adaptable to new conditions,
and the children had to get used to new schools and friends. Grethe often had the heavy
task of being the main decision maker in choosing where to live as Einar was often so
busy. In his career, he made Vice-President Human Resources and later on Vice-
President Customer Service. He created a fitness program for workers and management
that spread throughout BC Hydro, and has been copied in many other large
organizations. Even though he was management's man, his reputation for fairness and
knowledge, made even some of the labour unions seek his advice on several matters.
 
In 1992, when faced with even greater opportunities within the company, Einar decided
to retire at 57 while still in good health. Throughout his life, he had always kept himself
in excellent physical condition. He told me how he would go for his morning run at 5
AM in Vancouver before being at the office by 7 AM.
 
After retiring, Einar and Grethe had more time for family and friends, as well as the
outdoors. In the summer they were able to return to Norway to live on the family farm,
which they had retained, and visit family and friends.                
 
The beneficiary of an enormous amount of Einar's time is the Sovereign Lake Nordic
Club, our club.
 
Einar has been a member of the SLNC since 1976. He was president or V-P 1985 - 1988.
He has been a director of the club many of the years between and after. Most of his
contributions are in the many areas he has mentored new people in the various duties and
tasks that need to be done. Countless are the cases within or outside the club, where a
fair person is needed to resolve an issue or problem between two parties that are at
loggerheads. Einar was such a person, and often the only one who had the knowledge
and the trust of both parties to resolve such problems. His presence here will be sorely
missed.
 
Einar also was a mentor to people outside of our club. He had a close working
relationship with Cross Country BC in administrative matters, programs and races. He
also worked with Cross Country Canada, and had often been consulted by the national
body. Einar was awarded the Dave Rees Award 2010 for his long time contribution to
cross country skiing in Canada.
 
As a volunteer in the club, there is hardly a job he has not done, both the menial ones and
the chiefs of the different tasks, including chief of race. He has headed up task forces of
various kinds over the years in order to solve some problem area or other.
 
Einar's physical strength and toughness have been tested through:

* A ski and sled expedition across 7 glaciers from Atlin, BC to tidewater at Juneau,
   Alaska (looks close to 200 km on the map);
* 32 years of racing the Cariboo Marathon 50 km;
* 30 years of Reino Keski-Salmi race at Salmon Arm;
* All our local races and through the Okanagan Nor-Am, Loppet etc.
* In addition, he has skied almost every day during the season at Sovereign.
  He would normally ski 20 km plus when he and I went up.
* Overseas he has raced the original Birkebeiner race 56 km for 10 years;
* Troll marathon of 95 km Raced twice;
* Vasa Loppet in Sweden of 90 km several times;
* Skarve race in Norway several times - of 40 km skating - much of it steep uphill.

This one Einar says is perhaps the toughest of all!
 
No wonder Einar has regularly beaten racers 20 years his junior. Many of these races he
has completed after the age of 70. Einar was 78 May 2 of this year.
 
Throughout their lives, Grethe and Einar both have maintained a deep and committed
Christian faith, which has stood them in good stead throughout their lives. Grethe has
shown an enormous amount of courage and strength in the last many months, while she
has looked after Einar while he was sick.
 
Everyone who reads these lines, will have their own memories of Einar Field, some of
the newer members of the club, may not have known him well. A person like Einar does
not come around very often, so when he does, enjoy him and the qualities he brings to the
scene. Through his decisiveness, leadership, fairness, knowledge, modesty, his physical
and mental toughness and his friendship with us, he helped us all make ourselves better.
Through our reminding ourselves of these qualities and others, we will enhance our
quality of life inside and outside the ski club.
 
Einar leaves behind his loving wife Grethe, daughter Mariann and husband David Hill,
grandsons Liam and Erik of Langley, BC; son Dag (Sweden) and grandson Christian
and granddaughter Caroline; brother Arve with family, sister Ingrid Nyvoll with family,
all in Norway, and other family and countless friends in Canada, Norway and Sweden. 

There will be a Memorial Service to honour the life of Einar Field on Saturday November 16, 2013 at 2.00 PM at
the Peace Lutheran Church, 1204 - 30th Ave, Vernon, BC. Einar had many friends in BC Hydro, the Church and
the Ski club, so we would expect a busy place. Expressions of sympathy may be made to North Okanagan Hospice
Society, or online at www.nohs.ca, and both marked "in memory of Einar Field".

"If you live your life right,
Once around is enough!"

On behalf of many
Bjorn W. Meyer

Copyright © 2013 Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, All rights reserved.