Norman Ferdinand Plato

Norman Ferdinand Plato, age 84, of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Norman (Norm) was born on September 12, 1940, to Bert and Frieda Plato in Thalberg, Manitoba, and baptized that same month at Trinity Church in Thalberg, sponsored by Mrs. D Winter and Alex Werner. After moving to Greenwald, Manitoba, in the fall of 1946, he attended school there until 1951. The family moved to Thalberg in April 1951, where Norm attended South Thalberg School until 1956.

Norm did not have an opportunity to attend high school, as there was no opportunity in South Thalberg. Instead, he helped on the family farm and worked various construction jobs until he was employed with Federation Co-Op from 1963 to 1968.

Norm married Iona Bauschke on May 13, 1967, and they moved to Lac du Bonnet in September of 1968, where he worked at Roy’s Food Market until 1972. Norm then was employed by the Hudson’s Bay Company, working as a meat cutter in Lac du Bonnet, Minaki, Ontario, and Pine Falls, Manitoba from 1972 to 1973.

Norm and Iona had their first son, Howard, in 1973 and they relocated to Pine Falls, where Norm managed the Hudson’s Bay grocery store, and had their second son, Christopher, in 1975. In 1983, Norm was transferred back to Lac du Bonnet, and he managed the Hudson’s Bay grocery store there until 1992.

From 1992 to 2000, Norm was employed by the Whiteshell School District as a custodian at the Pinawa Secondary School, where he retired at the age of 60. Following retirement, Norm worked part time at Worona Brothers dealership, and doing other odd jobs at various businesses and homes around Lac du Bonnet.

Everyone knew Norm, whether he was in Lac du Bonnet, Beausejour, Pine Falls, Pinawa or Winnipeg. He had a winning personality and could make friends with anyone. He loved to golf, and he and Iona could be seen hitting the links together during the summer months. Once his grandkids were born, Norm loved to spend time with them. Whether building Lego, playing games, working on projects together or taking the kids to the fair and beach every summer in Lac du Bonnet, he cherished the time he spent with them.

Giving back to his community was very important to Norm, where he was an elected Town Councillor from 1992 to 2014 and served on many church boards and committees, including: Arena, Community Center, Historical Society, Municipal Heritage (MHAC), Recreation Commission, New Directions, Community Futures, La Vérendrye Trail, United Church, Lutheran Church, Curling Club, Boy Scouts, Health Board, Park Manor, and Model Forest.

Norm is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Iona Plato; son Howard (Charlotta); son Christopher (Holly); grandchildren Thea, Ada, Stella and MacLean; sister Irene Schwark; sister Irma Denisiuk (Gerry); and sister Marlene Fahl.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a charity of your choosing in Norm’s name.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Sobering Funeral Chapel, 1035 Park Avenue E., Beauejour with interment to follow in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.  A lunch will be served following the service in the Brokenhead Room, Brokenhead River Community Hall.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com