Herman was born to Patrick Dorion and Eliza Simpson in The Pas, Manitoba. Shortly thereafter he was adopted by Roderick and Edith TURNER and raised in the Misipawistik Cree Nation.
Herman grew up learning to hunt, trap and commercial fish for a living. He attended the local day school, where he quit in grade 5 due to abuse for speaking his Cree language. At the age of 15 years of age, he left Grand Rapids with $30 in hand from his father to go work at Reindeer Lake Saskatchewan to commercial fish. He then went to Lynn Lake Manitoba where he worked for B.A.C. to be a keeper in the mine. He went there with no accommodations and no operator experience. He was welcomed by the community and by the company.
Herman then returned to Grand Rapids where he worked for Comstock. He climbed towers for powerlines all the way to Ponton. He also worked on the D.C. line all the way to The Pas. He earned $1.40 per hour. He then worked for Manitoba Hydro in Line maintenance. He continued hunting and fishing to provide for his family. He also worked for Manitoba Highways being a Driller.
In 1968, he learned to operate heavy equipment for B.A.C.M. under the guidance of Marvin Desjarlais. Herman was always motivated and a self starter, willing to learn new skills.
In 1969 he fell in love with Patricia McNabb. In 1970, they married and had their first child Herman Jr. That same year their second son Farron was born. In 1972 they finally had their daughter, Edith.
In 1976, he became a band councillor for the reserve for one term. Frank Turner was the Chief at the time.
Herman worked with Stanley Ross building houses in the community. He built over 100 homes. He also passed on his skills as he loved carpentry and was never out of work.
In 1983, He bought his first tandem truck and wheel loader and never looked back. E.T. was born doing infrastructure work, supplying gravel to the Grand Rapids community. This also included contract work with Manitoba Hydro, power line clearing, ripraphauling and placement along the dike system. Manitoba Highways and Manitoba Conservation fire guard work. He also passed on his operating skills to his sons. Herman Jr became a heavy-duty mechanic. Farron excelled at being a proficient heavy equipment operator.
Herman loved the outdoors and especially hunting with his friends. He would often take his family out in the lake to camp and fish.
One time he was out hunting at Little Limestone Lake. He thought he kept shooting the same moose which kept getting back up, to his surprise, turned out that he killed 3 different moose.
He loved going for coffee with his regular coffee buddies Art Samatte, Archie Cinq-Mars and Cliff Bjorklund at the local ESSO. This was his second family.
Herman was proud of the fact that he raised all his children and instilled a strong work ethic in them to be self sufficient.
Herman only liked traveling to places he could drive. His wife made him go to hot exotic destinations. Hawaii and Cuba all he did was phone home daily and complain about the heat and food.
Herman passed away at his home in Grand Rapids, MB on May 29,2026 at the age of 77 years old. Herman was predeceased by his wife Patricia Turner; son Herman James Turner; granddaughter Dakota Turner; parents, Roderick and Edith Turner; sister Phyllis Fitz; brother Don Dorion Sr; and by step-sister Sheila Ferland.
Herman is survived by his son Farron Turner and daughter Edith Turner (Kevin); grandchildren, Francine, Darci, Emily, Eric and Luke. As well as great-grandchildren, Cami, Evander, Jaya, Ezra and June; sister Beatrice Slobodian and brother Peter Ijas; sister in-law Anne Hudson; brother in-law Rod McNabb; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service: Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at the Ininiwikamihk Cultural Centre, Misipawistik Cree Nation, Manitoba
Interment: St. John’s Anglican Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Manitoba
Officiant: Rev. Steve Martin
Footprints
One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
One belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
He looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My son, My precious child.
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
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