Norman Paarup

Norm was born on September 30, 1936, in Drumheller, Alberta, and raised in Dalum, a Danish ranching and farming community in the shadow of the Wintering Hills 15 miles southeast of Drumheller. A first generation Canadian, he was very proud of his Danish heritage and spoke the language fluently. Norm started school at age 6 and rode horseback 6 miles round trip to the 1 room country schoolhouse. He graduated from Drumheller Composite High School and Olds College. His father knew he would never be a farmer and suggested he further his education, so off he went to attend The Colorado College in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. He was hired immediately after returning from college by Central-Del Rio Oils Limited in Calgary as a wellsite geologist and was sent to work in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. It was there he met his future wife of 64 years, Lynette Mabee, and they were married in January of 1961. The births of their two children followed a short time later.

The Paarups moved to southwest Calgary for good in 1964, where they bought their home in Glendale in 1966. Norm enjoyed a successful career in the oil & gas exploration industry and was employed by several small independent companies based in Calgary until forming his own company, Paarup Oil Ltd., in 1984. Norm played fastball in the Petroleum League for 16 years, and after retiring from the diamond, he joined Pinebrook Golf and Country Club where he was a member for 40 years. During a slump in the oil & gas business he had the distinction of playing the most rounds of golf of the entire club membership. Maybe not such an honour! Travelling and golf were high on Norm’s list of priorities. So many wonderful places visited and so many memories. Norm’s passions were geology, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Detroit Red Wings, the Calgary Stampeders and pretty much any PGA event!

Norm will be remembered for his easy-going nature, intellect, competitiveness, modesty, wisdom, wit, great sense of humor, and of course, his love for his family. He was a true gentleman and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife Lynette, son Gary (Jennifer), daughter Leslie (Rob), grandchildren Ellen and Will (Morgan), sister Sonja Laibida, cousins Olav Pallesen and Edward Vogstad and many other relatives in the Dalum and Drumheller area.

Norm was predeceased by his parents Ejnar and Ellen, and younger brother Gordie. A funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday August 16, 2025, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Dalum in Dalum, Alberta. A private interment will take place in the church’s cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Norm’s name may be made to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church 0f Dalum, P.O. Box 44, Drumheller AB, T0J 0Y0. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Unit 3 at Carewest Sarcee for their dedicated care and compassion over the last two years.