Honoured by their Sons and Daughters-in-law.
Milton and Lilian (Molly) MacDonald were long-time residents of North Bay who raised a family of four boys in a modest home at 1233 Fraser Street.
Milton was born and raised in Foss Mill and left school to work for the railroad in order to help support his widowed mother and family during the depression. He was a strong and kind man who volunteered for active service when war broke out. As a sapper and NCO with the 1st Canadian army, he landed on the beaches of Sicily and Italy, was wounded in Ortona and later served in Holland.
Molly was a young woman growing up in London, England when war broke out. She married a Canadian soldier who was killed in action shortly after. Now a widow living in a city terrorized by buzz bombs, Molly decided to leave her home and family and set out for a new but uncertain life in Canada.
Molly and Milton met in 1945, a most fortunate event resulting from the grief and upheavals of the times. Molly had landed in Halifax and, after a brief stay in Kiosk, rented a room on Main Street in North Bay with Myrtle MacDonald, a kindly widow whose sons were still off to war. When Milton returned home with the rest of his brothers, he was smitten with this young woman and, after several months of dating they married. They initially took up residence on Lakeshore Drive before purchasing a bungalow on Fraser Street and, as the family grew, so did the house. With four sons, David, Richard, Rodney and Dennis, an additional half story was needed to house the growing boys.
Milton was employed with the CPR as a Carman until he retired in 1973. Molly initially stayed home as a fulltime wife and mother but later worked for the North Bay Public School Board as an assistant custodian. Between the two of them, they created a warm and loving environment for their four rambunctious and energetic sons. As the years passed, they welcomed daughters-in-law and several grandchildren into their hearts.
Milton and Molly were prime examples of kindness, courage and determination; two people brought together in difficult times who were determined to move on and raise a family together. Milton died as he lived; with courage and quiet dignity. Diagnosed with cancer, he fought bravely for two years before succumbing in 1975 at the age of 60. Likewise, Molly was stricken with cancer and died two years later after a valiant struggle at the age of 54. They were two extraordinary individuals who, together shared a remarkable life and left an indelible impression on all who knew them.