Remembrance Day was on Thursday so we spent a few hours watching the Remembrance Day service in Ottawa and other special programs on TV. I was thinking that none of my family had served in wartime. But then I thought of my dad. He wasn't part of the military in World War two, but he had played a part. Since many men in Canada's work force had been called away to active duty, the government encouraged farmers to fill in for those workers. In December of 1943 Dad left the prairies of Saskatchewan to spend the winter months working in a copper mine in BC. He left Mom and ten month old "Bebe" (their pet name for me!) in the care of his parents. Mom would have preferred to spend those months with her own parents on the farm but Dad could be stubborn at times and this was the way it was to be. Grandma and Grandpa lived in town in a one bedroom house, a very small bedroom too. They gave up that bedroom for Mom and me to use and they slept on the hide-a-bed in the living-room.
Before Dad went to work he had some surgery on his nose at Vancouver General Hospital. The bill for the surgery and three days in the hospital came to $18.50.
Dad got work in a copper mine at Brittania Beach on Vancouver Island. Mom and Dad were both very lonesome and wrote letters to each other, almost daily. Mom had saved all these letters and they were in a box waiting to tell their story. Remembrance Day seemed a fitting day to take them out after being packed away for almost 68 years. First I sorted them into Dad's letters and Mom's. Then I put them in bundles according to each month in order of their postmarks. A three cent stamp and no postal code got them to Frontier, SK in four or five days. It is fascinating for me to read about my first Christmas and my first birthday as Mom related to Dad how they were spent in his absence. I have given the little mohair bear that he sent me from Vancouver to my first granddaughter, Abbey.
As children, we were always fascinated with the heavy mining boots with steel toes and the hat with it's light on the front. These were stored down in the cellar of our farm house and eventually were destroyed in wet surroundings. I had never asked Dad much about his mining days but I think Merv and Alan were more curious about them. Now I am going through Dad's letters and typing up the information that he shared about those days. Someday I'll have it ready for family members to read.
On Saturday we spent an enjoyable day in Crosby, ND, just 18 miles south-east of our farm. Ludefest has become a yearly tradition that is held on the Saturday after Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US). The original lutefisk meal that is the focus of this day got its start in Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby. The men of the congregation made lefse, peeled and boiled potatoes and served this Norsk "treat" every year, sometimes to close to 1000 people. With aging and fewer members, they were forced to give it up. It was taken over by a community group and is now held at the high school. A program of musical numbers was added as well as tables of sale items - baking, crafts, business goods, plus demonstrations of Norwegian baking. We had our lutefisk around 1 o'clock so were ready for dessert a couple hours later - rommegrot served with cinnamon, sugar and melted butter. Before we left for home I bought potato klub for my supper. (Howard preferred left over lasange!).
I enjoyed listening to Prairie Pals, two women playing Titano accordions (same brand as mine!) and one on keyboard. They played a variety of songs, some Norwegian ones, including the Christmas favorite, "Je er saa glad hver julekveld".
When two o'clock came we were entertained by the JMB band with Jerry Schlag of Minot on his accordion. Jerry's wife, Laurel, is a daughter of Howard's cousin, Ruby (Vinge) Enget. We always enjoy his playing and a good visit. We came home with their new CD, Happy Days in North Dakota. Several couples wearing their Norsk bunads got up to dance to the music. A tree in the background was decorated with typical Norwegian decorations, including hand made heart shaped baskets.
Today we are spending a quiet day at home. The Riders will be playing the BC Lions this afternoon so we'll have to keep track of that. We aren't great football fans but do like to keep up somewhat.
Yesterday when we came home from Crosby we were thrilled to find a message from Kristy and Todd along with a clip of the song,"SE of Sixteen" that Todd composed and sang at Salem Lutheran Church on August 8 in honour of Howard's 75th birthday. Technology is amazing - to send guitar music from Norway that was recorded in a country church in SK! It worked great on our Mac computer. Let me know if you'd like us to forward it.
We were saddened today to learn of the passing of Kay (Fonstad) Miller of Estevan. She grew up just a mile or so west of our farm and went to Tenold School and Salem Church with Howard and Ardis. She died of cancer and her death is a reminder that life is a gift to treasure each day. She has gone Home to join many loved ones but will be sorely missed by her husband Peter, children and grandchildren. Blessed be her memory.
Wow! the box of your dad's letters!
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