Memorable Manitobans: Skuli Sigfusson (1870-1969)

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Skuli Sigfusson
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Rancher and farmer, businessman, MLA (1916-1920), MLA (1923-1927), MLA (1927-1932), MLA (1933-1936), MLA (1941-1945).

Born at Nesi, Nordfjordur, East Iceland on 1 October 1870, son of Sigfus Sveinsson and Olof Sveinsdottir, he was educated at home and became a fisherman at the age of 14. He came to Canada in 1887, and took up ranching and farming in the vicinity of Lundar. He later operated farm machinery agencies at Oak Point, Lundar, Eriksdale, and Ashern, and a General Motors vehicle agency at Lundar.

In January 1908, he married Gudrun Arnason (?-?), daughter of Arnor Arnason of Chicago, who had been teaching school at Siglunes. They had seven children: Arthur F. Sigfusson, Sigurdur John Sigfusson, E. Maria Sigfusson (wife of Bjorn Halldorsson), Olof Sigfusson (wife of Gerald McMahon), Sveinn O. Sigfusson, Thomas Sigfusson, and Skuli Albert Sigfusson.

Defeated in the 1914 provincial general election, he was elected in 1915, defeating E. L. Taylor to whom he had lost the previous year. He was defeated in the 1920 general election but was re-elected in 1922, 1927, 1932, and 1941, defeated in 1936. He served on the Manitoba Fish Commission. When he retired in 1945, he had served longer than any other member up to that time. He maintained an active interest in politics and, at the age of 88, attended a national convention of the Liberal party in Ottawa.

He died at St. Boniface on 27 November 1969 and was buried in Clarkleigh Cemetery.

Sources:

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1917.

“Former MLA is dead,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 December 1969, page 50.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 1 December 1969, page 13.

We thank Nelson Gerrard and Warren Sigfusson for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 April 2021

Memorable Manitobans

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