Ronald Leslie Tole

Ronald Leslie Tole passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 20, 2025 at Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Myrna Tole, a brief eight months earlier, on November 14, 2024. He is survived by his three children Dale Tole (Kelly), Moya Tole, and Gerry Tole (Carrie). Also, by grandchildren Kyle Hogue (Lauren), Bryanne Stypula (Chris), Dallas Tole (Michaela), Cody Tole (Chelsea), Riley Tole (Devan), Brayden Tole (Isela), Alix Martynov (Maik), Brett Tole and two step grandchildren Ivan Pickard and Adam Pickard along with six (almost seven) great grandchildren.

Ron was born to Margaret (Stuart) and Reginald Tole of Pilot Mound, MB on Easter Sunday, 1937. Ronald shared his birth date with his identical twin brother Donald. Ron was predeceased by his two older brothers Ken Tole and Stuart Tole. The passing of his twin brother and soulmate Don, on May 28, 2016, was a huge loss for Ron. Ron is survived by his youngest brother Earle (Janice) of Sherwood Park, AB.

Although Ron was born and raised on the farm, with five boys in the family, Ron and Don were the dedicated dutiful helpers of their mother, taking care of the household duties and such chores such as feeding the chickens and milking cows. Ron never stopped believing in a neat and tidy home and was always more than willing to grab a tea towel or spend his off days scrubbing walls. Ron and Myrna were always willing and waiting to host friends and neighbors and family, and their home was always ready to say: “welcome”.

Ron’s grades one to nine were taught in a one room school house in Stuartville, MB which was a 1.75 mile walk from home on the good days, and a regular horse driven trip in the winter months. Grades 10-12 were taken in Pilot Mound. Ron graduated Grade 12 in 1955. Ron applied for a job at the TD Bank in 1955 and gained a position at a branch 27 miles away in Cartwright, Manitoba. Ron’s first day of work was July 04, 1955 and that was the start of a forty years career with TD Bank.

Ron met Myrna in 1957 through the United Church’s Young People’s Group. Ron and Myrna would pile into cars with other couples and head to a local dance. Ron held fond memories of Ron and Myrna’s dancing days and all of the socializing with good friends that went with that. Good, clean fun. They were known to clear a dance floor so they could have room to move. They continued to dance together with smiles on their faces as long as their physical abilities allowed.

Ron married Myrna Shields on June 20, 1959 at the Pilot Mound United Church. Part of working for TD Bank in those days was to expect many transfers and short stints in the places you moved to. Ron’s career spanned many cities and towns throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Each of their three children were born in different towns. The family started with the arrival of Dale on June 21, 1960. Since Ron and Myrna had to move away from family, the other staff of TD, or their local neighbors, played an important role in the feeling of family and connection. Many lifelong friends were gained in the moving, socializing and gatherings of TD family. Once you were a friend of Ron Tole, you were respected as a friend forever.

Ron was a numbers guy. He could quote days of significant life events to the day, month and year and often the time of day as well. Use an event from 1972, as an example, and he would quote the details like it was yesterday. He was looked upon as a cleanup guy at TD Bank because of his attention to detail. He worked diligently all day at work and often cleared off a desk to continue his tasks at home in the evening. Like all he did, he was dedicated and committed. He was a self-professed workaholic and his reputation for the work he put forward was vitally important to him.

Once retired, Ron fondly remembered that one of his favorite things to do was to hop in the car with Myrna, drive out of the city with no clear destination, and end up wherever they ended up. Yearly road trips back to Saskatchewan to visit with lifelong friends and past TD acquaintances, often lead them to spontaneous stops and detours along the way.

Despite a shared strong work ethic, Ron and Myrna took joy in family time. Whether it was a birthday celebration, Christmas, or any other event, Ron sat at the head of the table observing and interacting with family and friends. He loved a good clean joke. He had a warm smile and it was sometimes the unrehearsed gaff’s that would make him laugh the hardest. An extended family games night was common, and a source of joy. As the family grew and the grandchildren were adults, a very long table of Chase the Ace was known to break out. Snacks were ever present and an important part of the event.

Ron was burdened with the loss of approximately 95% of his hearing in his last number of years. Ron moved to Dakota House, which is an assisted living facility in Winnipeg in 2023. He loved his time there. Ron was an incredibly social individual, and known by many as a “Chatty Cathy”. The other residents of Dakota House were so welcoming and accommodating to Ron’s disability, they made his time there truly joyful. He played cards, visited and it allowed his children not to worry about his mental stimulation as he was not often in his suite. It helped also that it was next door to his church, Meadowood United.

Dad’s final days were at Deer Lodge Centre. Ron had two female roommates there (Just like Three’s Company). Brenda and Barbara both saw Ron for the kind, sensitive yet strong, funny, and true gentleman that he was. They both chose to be with the family for Ron’s final moments. The family would like to thank all of the staff of Deer Lodge Four East for the compassionate, sensitive care of Ron during his final days.

A Celebration of Life will take place at 2:00 PM at the United Church in Meadowood, located at 1111 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB on August 16, 2025. For those wishing to join the livestream, please go to ucim.org