Albert Victor Robert Dickson

Albert Victor Robert Dickson

Albert Victor Robert Dickson passed away peacefully on December 31, 2021 at Betel Personal Care Home in Selkirk, Manitoba.  

Albert was born in London, England on October 14, 1934 to Robert and Margaret (Beattie) Dickson.  

The family relocated to Belfast, Northern Ireland, when Albert was four years old.  Albert grew up and attended grade school in Belfast. He also took piano lessons and, by 12 years of age, was quite an accomplished pianist.  He could play the piano for family sing-a-longs.  He continued his education and training to become a weaving loom mechanic in the fine linen industry.  

As a young teenager in Belfast, Albert seriously injured his left knee in a cycling accident.  He spent over a year in hospital recuperating from orthopedic surgery.  His knee joint was replaced with a bone graft which caused him to walk with a limp thereafter.

After his stay in the hospital, he spent another year at home recuperating.  During this year, Albert decided to pass the time by practicing and further developing his piano playing skills.  He spent numerous hours at the piano.  Throughout most of his life, if he heard a tune that caught his attention, he could usually sit down at the piano and play it by ear.  He was also talented at playing the accordion.  Sometimes he would bring his accordion to family gatherings where everyone would gather around and sing songs.

Albert had a spirit of adventure. He responded to an advertisement to work in Canada.  In 1956, he made the trip by ship, across the Atlantic Ocean, and landed in Montreal, Quebec.  He started work at Caldwell Linen Mills in Iroquois, Ontario.  

In 1957, the love of his life, who was still in Belfast, also made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.  Albert and Margaret (McAlister) were married in Morrisburg, Ontario in April 1958.  

Through the years, Albert and Margaret worked at a number of jobs in the Seaway District.  They were also heavily involved in their church, where Albert played the piano for most of the services.  Albert was very mechanically minded and could fix almost anything around the house.  To complement his love of music and the piano, he took a course on how to tune and rebuild pianos.  As a result, he was able to establish a part time business tuning and rebuilding pianos. 

In 1967, the family moved to Granby, Quebec where Albert worked for Dominion Textiles.

In 1977, the family relocated to Arborg, Manitoba where Albert was employed as a manager for Promo Wear.  A couple of years later, Albert moved on to Johnson's Hardware store in Arborg and worked there for many years before retiring.  

In his later years, he took a locksmithing course and added this service to his sideline business.

Albert also enjoyed the outdoors and camping.  In the early years, many family summer vacations were spent camping in Vermont and Maine.  In Manitoba, camping was enjoyed at Hecla Island, Hnausa and Falcon Lake.

Through the years, wherever he lived, Albert was very involved in the church.  Albert and Margaret, along with three other families, were instrumental in establishing Arborg Christian Fellowship in 1978.

Albert is survived by his wife, Margaret, and children Mark (Debbie), Carol (Brad) Hogg, and Andrew (Nicole).  He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren Jennica (Ethan), Ashleigh, Kayley, Caitlyn, Nikolas, and Sarah (Jonah).  He will be dearly missed by his sister, Marie, in Northern Ireland, along with his nieces and their families.

Cremation has taken place.  Due to COVID restrictions, a memorial service will occur at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff at Betel Personal Care Home in Selkirk   for their excellent care and compassion.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba at www.alzheimer.mb.ca

Condolences may be left on Albert's tribute wall at www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.  

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