‘They were the best’

LAC DU BONNET — A husband and wife who died in a wildfire near Lac du Bonnet were staples in the tight-knit community, their loved ones say.

Friends and neighbours identified the victims as Sue and Rich Nowell.

“They were the best,” Dorothy Gresham, a next-door neighbour of the Nowells, told the Free Press. “I could have asked them to do anything and they’d be there in a minute.”

RCMP Supt. Chris Hastie said the bodies were found just off Wendigo Road Wednesday morning, when it became safe to search the area.

Hastie said Mounties received reports the pair were trapped Tuesday but officers couldn’t access the area because of the extremely dangerous conditions.

Gresham said she believes the couple returned to the home to retrieve their cat and high wind-driven flames prevented their escape.

The Nowells loved animals and had many family pets throughout the years, she said. The couple had two sons together and Sue had an older son who lives out of province.

Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet Reeve Loren Schinkel extended his condolences to the couple’s family and friends.

“If they need anything at all, our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said Thursday morning, adding it’s too soon to plan a vigil or memorial because the community is still grieving.

“It’s going to take some time yet,” he said.

Manitoba’s Legislative Assembly paused for a moment of silence Thursday afternoon.

“We are all heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss,” Progressive Conservative MLA Rick Wowchuk said during question period, identifying both victims by name.

“They were someone’s family, someone’s friend. Their loved ones we hold in our hearts.”

Deputy premier Uzoma Asagwara and Tory Leader Obby Khan offered similar condolences. Khan called it an “unimaginable loss.”

“As Manitobans, we are all devastated at the loss of two beautiful and beloved individuals,” Asagwara added.

Sue Nowell worked at Mrs. Lucci’s Resource Centre, a local non-profit that operates a café and thrift store where all proceeds go to helping vulnerable people in the community.

Signs outside the non-profit’s two sites said they would be closed for “compassionate” reasons until Saturday.

Nowell also supported the town’s free food program, Lunch is on Us.

“She was huge for the community,” said program co-ordinator Tracy Nurenberg.

Residents described her as a “saint” and the couple as “salt of the earth.”

Rich Nowell worked for Manitoba Hydro as an operating and electrical technician for more than 36 years, said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 business manager Troy Craig.

Nowell worked out of the Great Falls generating station — located about 24 kilometres north of Lac du Bonnet — and was likely nearing retirement. His death has affected everyone in the union, particularly those employed in the region, Craig said.

The union official fielded calls throughout the day from members grieving the loss of their friend and colleague.

“He was a good guy and family man, and well-respected. It’s definitely a sad day,” Craig said.

Manitoba Hydro has supports in place for affected employees, said communications director Scott Powell.

“The loss of a co-worker is a tragedy that is always deeply felt across any organization,” Powell said in an email statement.

Gresham said Rich Nowell was mechanically inclined and “could fix, literally, anything.”

Lori Sparacio, a lifelong friend of Sue Nowell’s, described her as an outgoing mother to three boys.

“She is kind, loving, funny, talented and is as sweet as the cakes she baked. She loved her family like crazy,” Sparacio told the Free Press in a message.

“We laughed ridiculously hard, we worked together, we cried, we even argued, but most of all we were amazing friends.”

The pair met in 1978 and “clicked instantly” when they were both attending the 10th grade in New Berlin, Wis., Sparacio said.

They remained friends for 45 years, attending concerts, working together and spending many days and nights having fun, she said.

Sue moved to Canada sometime in the ‘80s, and the friends lost touch for a while before reconnecting “like we had never been apart, talking and laughing like always,” Sparacio said.

“I never met Rich, which I am very sad about,” she said, noting she was still coming to terms with the loss Thursday.

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Sparacio was one of dozens of people who donated to a fundraiser on the online platform GoFundMe in support of the Nowells’ grown sons Emmett and Ryland.

Kim de Laroque, the fundraiser’s organizer, said both sons were still living at the family home near Lac du Bonnet, which was burned in the fire.

“The boys aren’t prepared to make a statement right now, other than they are very grateful for everybody who has supported the GoFundMe campaign. That’s all I’m able to say at this time,” de Laroque said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca

Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer

Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk.

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Tyler Searle
Reporter

Since joining the paper in 2022, Tyler has found himself driving through blizzards, documenting protests and scouring the undersides of bridges for potential stories.

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