MILFORD ‘MITT’ HENRY BRIGHAM

Milford Brigham, 79, of Barwick, Ont., passed away with family by his side on Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998 at the Emo hospital in Emo, Ont.
Milford was born Sept. 9, 1918 in Chapple Township, Ont., where he was raised. In 1942, he joined the armed forces and served with the Canadian Forestry Corps., serving overseas for five years in England, Scotland, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany.
It was while serving in Belgium that Milford met and fell in love with Marie Louise Magonette, and on April 17, 1946 they were united in marriage.
Milford went on to serve in Germany for a short period of time before being discharged. Following his discharge, he returned to Belgium, where he and Marie settled. He worked at a sawmill for several years before Milford, Marie, and their first three children moved to the Rainy River District, arriving in January, 1952.
They settled in Barwick, and Milford was employed with the C.N.R. and as a truck driver for several years before coming a pulp woodcutter, which he did for more than 30 years.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, hobby-farming, or simply tinkering with the car or tractor. Milford had a special love for family, and will be sadly missed by all of them.
He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Renie Brigham; brother, Marvin Brigham; two sisters; and two grandchildren in infancy, Tammy Lee and Geraldine.
Milford is survived by his loving wife of more than 50 years, Marie Louise “Mary Lou” Brigham of Barwick, Ont.; four sons, Fran Brigham and wife, Linda, of Fort Frances, Ont., Andy Brigham and wife, Dawn, of Barwick, Ont., Glen Brigham and wife, Kari, of Rainy River, Ont., and Bruce Brigham and wife, Mary Ellen, of Barwick, Ont.; three daughters, Laura and husband, Gerald Lougheed, of Barwick, Ont., Margaret and husband, August Olsen, of Brandon, Man., and Nelly Ewen and Mike Hartwich of Thunder Bay, Ont.; 15 grandchildren, Darryl, Lee-Anne, Andrea, Andrew, Glen Jr., Jeffery Keshia, Branden, Nathan, Ryan, Russell, Cara Lee, Christine, Douglas, and Dianna; five great-grandchildren, Cole, Joshua, Ashley, Brittany, and Cassey; nine sisters; two brothers; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Emo. Father Lorne MacDonald O.M.I. officiated, with interment in Barwick Cemetery in Barwick.
Pallbearers were Syd Curtis, Ellard Teeple, Bob LeBlanc, Roger Irvine, Dale Berg, and Bob Woolsey.
Honourary pallbearers were Garnet Hands, Lyall Beninger, Neil Grant, Wallace Allan, Raoul Cayer, and Sid Irvine.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 840 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2N5, the Canadian Cancer Society, Box 444, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8, or to the Emo Hospital Memorial Fund, 260 Front St., Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.