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 Obituaries of people who are buried in the
ALLAN � first child, a son born/died on June 6, 1932 to parents Harry and Jenny Allan of the Robinson Creek area. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Albert came to the Robinson Creek district in 1912 from a farm at Glenwood, Minnesota. He was born in Norway and served as a sailor on fishing boats on the coast of Norway. In Canada on the homestead he worked at carpentry and ditch digging for neighbors needing hay meadows drained. He farmed a few acres and kept livestock. Albert took a stroke in 1928. The same evening, after he had gone to bed the children sleeping upstairs heard him praying the Lord�s Prayer, very loudly in the Norwegian language. The next morning he was not able to communicate with the family. Neighbors helped care for him in his delirious state for a few days, but when he got worse was taken to hospital. He died in January 1929. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Alma married to Ole Anderson, came from Minnesota to Canada in 1925, along with their children: Carter, Elsie, May, James and Guy to the Robinson Creek district. A son Lee was born at Ketchen. The family farmed on a small scale. Mrs. Anderson was a thrifty homemaker, which was necessary in those days of scarce cash and commodities. She claimed a natural talent for music and trained herself to master a violin. She often supplied music for house parties, accompanied by her son Carter, who was also musically inclined. Alma died in 1960 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Charlie and his wife and sons, Clarence and Milton moved up to the Robinson Creek district before 1915. Charlie died in 1938 and is buried in the Poplar Grove cemetery. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Bernard (Barney) and his wife Randine and son Nels were one of the first families to settle in the Robinson Creek district in 1905. They were originally from Norway, coming to Canada from the USA. Barney a strong and loud-voiced man often walked to Buchanan for groceries � a trip of 38 miles one way, staying overnight and returning home the next day. He died in November 1955. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Guy was born in 1924 to parents Ole and Alma Anderson. He developed tuberculosis in the 1940�s and received treatment at the sanatorium at Fort Qu�Appelle. He did not respond to treatments and died in 1949. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � James was born in 1920, the son of Ole and Alma Anderson and moved to the Robinson Creek district in 1925 with his parents who took up a homestead. He developed tuberculosis in the 1940�s and received treatment at Fort Qu�Appelle. James died in 1958 when the disease recurred. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Marrit born in the States. She came to Canada with her husband Albert and their children: Julia, Lenora, Olga, Clara, Adolph, Harry and Fred in 1912. Two older girls, Minda and Anna remained in the States. Two more children were born on the homestead, Ralph and Walter. Mrs. Anderson was considered knowledgeable concerning minor health problems and often neighbour�s would come to her for advice. After her husband died she stayed on the farm until spring and then moved to BC with her two daughters and their families. Mrs. Anderson died in July 1937. Her body was brought back to be buried beside her husband, at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Milton was born to parents Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Anderson in 1904. He moved to the Robinson Creek district with his parents before 1915. He started school in 1915 at the Robinson Creek School when it first opened for classes. Milton died in 1924. ANDERSON � Nels was born in 1901 to parents Barney and Randine Anderson. He also claimed a homestead, remained single and lived at home. He was gifted in music. He farmed and raised stock with his father. Nels died of an infected appendix, which burst and gangrenes set in before his admittance at a hospital. He died in 1935. (No marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Ole, originally from Minnesota, came to the Robinson Creek district, with his wife and five children in 1925. Another son was born at Ketchen, named Lee. Ole built a two-storey house on the farm in the late 20�s. He farmed on a small scale and kept livestock. He developed tuberculosis in the 40�s and received treatment at the sanatorium at Fort Qu�Appelle. He fully recovered and lived to a ripe old age in his 80�s. He sold the land in 1932 and retired to Ketchen, SK. He is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery (no marker/headstone) ANDERSON � Randine was married to Barney Anderson. She came from the States with her husband and son Nels in 1905 and they took up a homestead in the Robinson Creek district. They had no more children and in 1930 adopted a little boy 2 years old, named Norman. Randine died in Feb 1948 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (No marker/headstone) BERG � Matthew "Mat" A. Berg was born in Norway in 1874. He immigrated to the States in 1891. He worked for a time as a carpenter, and streetcar motor man in Seattle, Washington. He married Tena Hansen in North Dakota. They farmed there until 1911 and then came to Canada to the Preeceville area. They purchased a farm south of Preeceville and resided there for three years and then Mr. Berg built a blacksmith shop in Preeceville. His health failed so he sold the shop and in 1920 moved to a farm south west of Preeceville. In 1923, he purchased the blacksmith shop in Ketchen and also farmed in the area. He retired well past the age of 70 and moved to Preeceville. Mat Berg passed away at a nursing home in Regina in 1972, at the age of 98. BERG � Tina was born in the United States and married Mat Berg in North Dakota. They farmed in the States until 1911 and then moved to the Preeceville area. In 1923 they moved to Ketchen, SK and built a house north of the tracks. They raised eight children. Marvin was born in 1907 and Arthur in 1909, both in the United States. Born in Canada were Morris, Evelyn, Elmer, Gladys, Clarence and Eugene. Mrs. Berg, a quiet person was never idle and always had time for her neighbour�s. She passed away in 1951 BROTHERSTON � Arlee Jean Brotherston, 52 of Norquay and formerly of Ketchen, passed away on January 21, 1989, in Norquay Hosptal. The funeral was held in the chapel of Preeceville Funeral Home and burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery. She was born on Sept. 18, 1937 in Yorkton. She attended Burke School at Yorkton. When her parents died in the early 1950�s, she came to live with her aunt and uncle, Teresa and Ed Nelson of Ketchen. She lived with them until her aunt�s illness. She remained in the Ketchen area with relatives and friends until she was admitted to the Norquay Hospital. Predeceased by her parents, Emilia and Richard, and her Aunt Teresa, she is survived by a brother, Morley of Brandon, MN. CARLSON � Dennis Leland Carlson was born on Sept. 28, 1930 in Ketchen, SK., to Oscar and Jenny Carlson He went to Netchie Hills School. He left home and started working at an early age. He was first employed by many farmers, threshing, stooking and doing various jobs. Over the years he worked in construction holding many positions. Later, he moved to Fort to Fort McMurray, Alberta working at Syncrude until he retired. Dennis loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing whenever he had the opportunity. He also loved to tinker on cars. His favorite car was his 1965 Thunderbird. He enjoyed baking and was good at it. He loved his dogs and left his best friend, Lucky to mourn his passing. Dennis� door was always open for all his friends and family. Dennis married Joyce Fitzgibbon and together had five children. They divorced in 1972. Dennis remarried in the 1980�s to Vivian Dockerry and they spent many years living in Fort McMurray until they divorced in 1987. He leaves to mourn his five children: Brenda (Marc) Grouette, Sandi (Greg) Caputo, Cathy Carlson, Wendy (Barry) Hientz and Bradley Carlson; his sister Doris Hammerstrom, brothers, Ray and Glenn Carlson; grandchildren: Joel, Aimee, Brittany, Matthew, Emily and Ashton. His parents and sister, Vivian Antonio, predeceased him. He will be missed by all that knew him. CARLSON � Jennie Caroline, was born July 16, 1894, to parents Otto and Britta (Anderson) Lindblom in Glenwood, Minnesota. She was one of seven children: Carl, Beda, (twins), Jennie, Albin, Hannah, Emma and Edith. She came to Canada with her parents and settled in the Waler School district. A house was built in 1904 and it was then that the family traveled from the States and joined her father, Oscar. Two more sisters were born on the Canadian homestead, Lily and Esther. Jennie married Oscar Carlson in 1920 and they had five children. Jennie passed away Oct. 25, 1974 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. CARLSON � Oscar was born Aug. 16, 1894 to parents, John and Clara Carlson. They came to Preeceville, SK on March 13, 1913 from Clarion, Iowa and settled on a farm south of Preeceville. Oscar joined the army March 1916, shortly after the First World War started. He served overseas and returned home in 1919. On May 3, 1920 he married Jenny Lindblom. They moved to their homestead north of Ketchen, where they raised a family of two girls, Vivian and Doris and three boys, Ray, Dennis and Glen. Oscar passed away Oct. 31, 1993. CARLSON � Victor was a bachelor of Swedish descent. He immigrated to Minneapolis USA and worked as a baker, a trade learned in Sweden. He filed on a homestead in the Robinson Creek district in 1912. He worked hard at clearing his land and kept beautiful workhorses. One evening friends dropped in to visit him. He made them supper and later was happily relating some of his stories of the past, when he suddenly fell off his chair. In seconds he died. It was believed that his severe crippling rheumatism had reached his heart. Victor, 54 years old, died in December 1936. He was buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. A brother from the States came and settled his estate and sold the land. (Note: no head stone) CLEMETSON � Victoria was one of five daughters born to parents Oscar and Rachel (Evans) at Rockford, SK. She was born in November 1927 and died in infancy. She was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. Her sisters were: Cynthia (died in infancy) Pat (Mel) Aaston, Eunice (Jack) Heshka and Edna (Reg) Hollyoake. (Note: no headstone) CRUICKSHANK � Evelyn M was born in 1914 to parents Mat and Tina Berg. She married Ervin Cruikshank of Lintlaw in 1935. They had one daughter, Jacquelyn, who resides in the States. Evelyn passed away in 1942 and is buried along side her parents in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. EBEL � Raymond was the youngest child of eight, born to Mr. and Mrs. Chrest Ebel. He was born on December 5, 1948 and died shortly after birth. He is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. ELANDER � Conrad A. was born in Sweden in 1890 and came to Canada in 1903 with six brothers settling in the Wadena area. Later Conrad and his brother Jonas came to the Ketchen area. In the late 20�s he married Lillie Nelson. They farmed north of Ketchen for several years. In the 30�s Conrad and Lillie bought the original Nelson homestead from Lillie�s grandmother Mrs. Nelson. This is the farm that Nelson Lake is located on. They adopted a son born in May 1936 at six weeks old, named Roy W. Conrad took a stroke in 1944 and they sold the farm and bought a house in Ketchen. In June of 1945 Conrad died of a second stroke. ELLISON � Clara was born in 1897 in the USA. She came to Canada in 1912. Her husband was Fred Ellison. They farmed in the North Prairie district and then in the Robinson Creek district. They had ten children. The two eldest children died in infancy and are buried at the first Lutheran cemetery site at North Prairie. The surviving children were: Willard (killed in action of WWII 1945), Roy, Luella, Laura, Marjorie, Melbourne and Kenneth. Clara died in 1949. ELLISON � Fred was born in 1886. He came from the States to Canada in 1910 and homesteaded in the North Prairie district. He married Clara Anderson in 1912. Around 1924, the family moved to the Robinson Creek district. He farmed and kept livestock. They had ten children. Fred retired from farming in 1954 and moved to Preeceville and resided with his brother Alaise. He also had a brother living in Washington. Fred passed away in 1969. ELLISON � Melbourne was born in 1932 to parents Fred and Clara Ellison. He married Darlene Hanson and they lived on a farm at Okla, SasK. Melbourne passed away in 1971. ELLISON � Roy was born on March 6, 1920 to parents Fred and Clara Ellison. Roy or Buddy as he was called worked as a farm laborer. He remained single and died in 1963 from a heart attack. He was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. ESSINGTON � Arthur 80, died on Sept. 18, 1973 in Drayton Valley, AB. Funeral service was held at Godfrey�s funeral home, Preeceville, and burial at Poplar Grove Cemetery. He was born at South Shore, S. D and came to Canada in 1909 and spent his early years near Arcola, SK. In 1916 he married Sarah Morrow. In 1934 they moved to the Ketchen district, where they farmed. Predeceased by his wife in 1962; a son, Elmer in 1918 and a grandson Virgil Nelson in 1958, he is survived by two daughters, Jessie (Oscar) Hutchinson and May (Curtis) Fagervold, both of Drayton Valley; a granddaughter and four great grandchildren. ESSINGTON � Sarah (nee Morrow) was born in 1893. She married Arthur Essington in 1916 and they farmed at Arcola until 1934 when they moved to the Ketchen district and farmed. Their first one roomed lumber house burnt down and was replaced with a larger one. They had two daughters, Jessie and May. Sarah passed away in 1962 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. FAGERVOLD � Kaia was born at Alesund, Norway on August 21, 1894. She came to her brother�s home at Portal, North Dakota in 1913. She came to Canada at the time of her marriage to Christian Fagervold. They had five children: Rudolph, Jordis, Curtis, Leroy and Vernon. After her husband died in 1958 she remained on the farm for a few years and then moved to Preeceville and later to live with her oldest son Rudolph and family until her passing on October 21, 1964. FAGERVOLD � Christian was born at Eidsaa, Norway on December 23, 1888. He came to his uncle�s place at La Moure, North Dakota in 1912. In 1913 he came to Canada and took a homestead north of Ketchen, SK. On January 18, 1914 he married Kaia Fylling. He lived on the farm until his passing on April 16, 1958. FAGERVOLD � Rudolph J. �Rudy� was the eldest son of Christian and Kaia Fagervold. He was born on the family farm in the Ketchen district on October 29, 1914. He attended Peerless and North Prairie Schools. On June 16, 1941 he married Emily Olson. They farmed in the Lady Lake district until 1951, when they moved to a farm in the Ketchen district. He passed away September 24, 2007 FAGERVOLD � Vernon was born in 1929 to parents Christian and Kaia Fagervold. He died in 1931 and is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. FAIRBURN � Clarice Jeanette 84, of Ketchen, passed away on April 29, 2004 at the Preeceville Lions Hostel. Funeral service was at St. John Lutheran church. Born on Feb. 21, 1920 in the Rockford area to John and Clara (Johnson) Olson, she attended Peerless School. She married Earl Fairburn on Oct 20, 1948 and they farmed in the Rockford area until 1955 when they moved to Ketchen. She was an avid gardener and cook. She became a resident of the Lions Hostel in October 2000. Predeceased by her parents; her husband Earl; a son Ronald; she is survived by four sons, Ken of Stewart, BC, Dale (Jennifer) of Regina, Robert (Donna) of Preeceville and Dallas of Preeceville; a brother, Joe (Vivian) Olson of Preeceville; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. FAIRBURN � Earl 80, of Ketchen, passed away on April 29, 2001 at the Preeceville Hospital. Born on June 24, 1920 in Earl Grey, he attended Peerless School and moved to the Rockford district with his parents in 1924. He joined the armed forces in 1941 and served overseas in 1945 and 1946. He married Clarice Olson in Kelvington in 1948 and farmed in the Rockford district until 1955, when he moved to Ketchen and worked in the bush and as a farm laborer and mechanic until his retirement. He was a member of the Sturgis Legion. Predeceased by his parents, Lloyd and Eva; a son Ron in 1984, and a sister, Alice in 1957; he is survived by his wife, Clarice; three sons, Dale, Robert and Dallas; a stepson Kenneth Olson of BC; three brothers Bert, Alan and Roy all of Preeceville; a sister, Laura (Emmett) Hobbs of Preeceville and four grandchildren. FAIRBURN � Eva. E was born at Coventry, England in 1899. In 1910 Eva, then eleven years old, immigrated to Canada with her dad and brother. Her mother, brothers and sisters came the following year. They settled in the Earl Gray area. In 1919 she married Lloyd Fairburn. They farmed in the Earl Grey area and then moved to the Rockford area in 1923. They had six children: Earl, Alice, Bert, Alan, Laura and Roy. Lloyd and Eva retired from the farm in 1968 and moved to Vernon, BC. They moved back to Preeceville in 1975. Eva passed away in 1979. FAIRBURN � Lloyd 93, of Preeceville and formerly of Rockford, died on August 23, 1986. Born on August 28, 1892, at Castlewood, South Dakota, he moved as a young boy with his parents to Elmvale, Ontario where he received his education. As a lad he worked in a brick factory in Ontario and came in 1909 to Saskatchewan where he was employed by farmers in the Earl Grey district. In 1918 he started farming on his own. On August 20, 1919 he married Eva Weightman at the Keswick farm at Earl Gray. They farmed there for five years before moving to the Rockford area where he farmed until his retirement in 1967, at which time they moved to Vernon, BC. They live there for five years before returning to Preeceville. He was active in local school affairs for Peerless School, serving as both trustee and chairman for many years. As a young man he enjoyed participating in hockey, baseball, and horseshoes. He enjoyed building furniture using his own wood lathe. Predeceased by his wife in 1979, a daughter Alice; three brothers, Jack, Bill and Russell and a sister, Maude; he is survived by four sons, Earl of Ketchen and Bert, Alan and Roy of Rockford; a daughter Laura Hobbs of Grand Junction, Colorado; a sister Nellie Hackett of Toronto; 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. FAIRBURN � Ronald Lloyd Fairburn, age 32 of Ketchen, passed away February 26, 1984. The funeral service was held in Preeceville Funeral Home Chapel and burial was in Poplar Grove Cemetery at Ketchen, SK. Ronald was born on December 14, 1951. He attended Netchie Hills Schol adn took his high school at Preeceville. In 1972, he started employment at Morris Rod Weeder in Yorkton, SK. He is survived by his parents, Earl and Clarice Fairburn of Ketchen; three brothers, Dale of Regina, Dallas and a twin brother, Robert of Ketchen; and his grandfather, Lloyd Fairburn of Rockford. FINDAHL - John Siguid Findahl of Ketchen, 75, died on Monday in Preeceville Hospital in 1971. He was born in 1897 in the United States. He came with his parents, Jacob and Karen Findal and siblings, Oscar, Alfred, Melvin to Canada in 1906 and homesteaded in the Ketchen area, where they farmed. John continued to farm until his death. He is survived by a brother Oscar, who is a patient at University Hospital at Saskatoon and a sister, Mrs. E. Sorgenson of Ketchen. FINDAHL � Melvin was born October 1900 in the States. He was the youngest son of Jacob and Karen Findahl. The family came to Canada in 1907. Melvin had three brothers, Oscar, John and Henry Alfred and one sister, Alma. Melvin contracted polio at the age of six and again in 1930. He wore a brace and used crutches. In spite of his handicap, he often worked eight hours in the field riding a tractor and doing many other farm tasks. The last while of his life was spent mostly in a wheel chair. A visit to the doctor, he was diagnosed as diabetic in the late stages and died three days later in September 1956. FINDAHL � Tom Oscar Findahl, 83 of the Preeceville district, died on September 2, 1971. Funeral held at Poplar Grove Lutheran Church at Ketchen. Mr. Findahl was born at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was baptized in the Lutheran faith. He was confirmed at Summit, S.D and moved to Canada in 1905. He resided in the Preeceville district. He is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Alma and Bill Sorgenson of Ketchen; a sister-in-law, Edna Findahl of Regina and their families. Mr. Findahl was predeceased by his mother in 1929, his father in 1945; and three brothers, Melvin in 1956, Alfred in 1965 and John in 1971. GOWAN � Joseph H. was born to Irish immigrant parents in Kingston, ON, in 1865. In 1911 he claimed a homestead north west of Ketchen. He carried his tool box on his shoulders, and had to build a raft to cross Robinson Creek, then went on to the land he had filed on. He put up a log house and some other buildings. He was a good hunter and kept the family supplied with deer meat. In 1914 Joseph, along with two other men, built the Robinson Creek School. In 1940, Joseph had a stroke that left him bedridden for two years. He died in December 1942 and was buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. GOWAN � Eunice was born in Ardeck, N.D in 1875 of Irish descent. She was married to Joseph Gowan. Eunice and their children, Walter, Edith, Hazel, Alva, Clara and Mabel came to Canada in August 1912 to the homestead, from East Grand Forks, N.D. Three children died when very young in the States. Eunice acted as midwife in the district and beyond the district at North Prairie, Ketchen and Peerless, attending close to, or over 50 births. Her eyesight failed her in her later years and she spent her last years with her son Walter and his family. She passed away in April 1951. GREAVES � Kenneth Bernard James passed away peacefully on October 24, 2011 at the age of 70 years. He was born June 24, 1941 in Star City, SK to John and Ellen Greaves. Ken grew up on a farm near Valpraiso, SK and moved to Regina in 1962. He was a journeyman Sheet Metal Worker who operated and owned his own business, Ace Eavestroughing for over 25 years. The business continues to be operated by his son Glen. One of the greatest joys of his life was his acreage north of Preeceville. There was nothing that he could not build, invent or fix. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, love of practical jokes and willingness to always lend a helping hand. Rheumatoid Arthritis may have ravished his body but it did not limit his imagination. Predeceased by his parents, Jack and Nellie; he is survived by his wife of 46 years Carol (Fagervold); daughters, Leanne (Scott) Layman and Lisa (Dave) Rauert; son Glen (Jolene) Greaves; his grandchildren, Justin and Ashley Layman, Kayla, Megan and Hannah Rauert and Nate Greaves; sisters Verna Curtis, Melveena Greaves, Reta Lambert and Patricia Sponeagle. HALVERSON � Arthur 78, of Preeceville, died on July 28, 1988 at his home. Born on May 31, 1910 in Minnesota to Herman and Anna Mary Halverson, he was the third oldest in a family of ten. In 1912 he immigrated with his family to a homestead in the Robinson Creek area near Ketchen. He attended Robinson Creek School and was confirmed in Poplar Grove Lutheran Church at Ketchen. He worked at many jobs, including work on threshing crews, before he and his brother, Mike, settled into lumbering and trapping in the Porcupine area. He used a dogsled on the trap line until the state of his health required him to change to snowmobile. For several years he was a mill foreman and was also an able carpenter. Following retirement he moved to Weekes, spent some time in Saskatoon following the loss of his leg, returned to Weekes and spent his last winter in Preeceville. Predeceased by his father in 1937, his mother in 1963, three brothers, Henry in 1968, Mike in 1983 and Glen in 1962, and a sister Hannah in 1987; he is survived by a brother, Selmer, of Hudson Bay and four sisters, Eleanor Reitlo, Lily Highmoor and Julia Mansell of Flin Flon and Minnie Heal of Lumly, BC HALVERSON � Anna Mary married Herman Halverson in 1903 in Climax Minn. She came to Canada in 1913 with her four children, Henry, Michael, Arthur and Eleanor to join her husband on the new homestead located in the Robinson Creek district. She had six more children born on the Canadian homestead. They were Lily, Selmer, Glen, Hannah, Mina and Julia. She gave birth to all ten children with the assistance of a mid-wife. After her husband passed away, she lived with her son until 1955, when she could no longer manage housework. She moved to Flin Flon, MB to live with her daughters, Eleanor and Lily. She was an ardent reader until the very last while of her life. She died suddenly in May 1963, as a result of a stroke. The funeral service was held in the Lutheran Church at Ketchen, SK. Burial in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HALVERSON � Henry Melvin was born September 9, 1906. He remained a bachelor and also homesteaded NW 1/4 Section 8. He spent some years working on the railroad prior to full commitment on his farm and the farm of his parents. In 1967 he became ill. He stayed with his sister and her husband in Flin Flon and died in March 1968. He was buried beside his parents in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HALVERSON � Herman H . Herman and Anna Mary Vraa were married in Climax, Minn. in 1903. In 1911, Herman came to Canada and filed on a homestead in the Robinson Creek district. He built a small house suitable for the family. In 1913, his wife and four children, Henry, Michael, Arthur and Eleanor came to their new home. Mr. Halverson held a 1st Class Engineering Certificate. He had a natural ability in blacksmith work and carpentry. He built the Poplar Grove Church at Ketchen in 1927. He also became the unlicensed veterinarian in the area. He enjoyed fishing and trapping. In February 1937 he developed pneumonia. He seemed to sense his impending death as he asked his wife and daughters to pray for him. The funeral was held in the Halverson living room with interment at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HALVERSON � Michael E. was born June 26, 1908 in the States. He came to Canada with his mother and siblings in 1913 to join his father on the new homestead. He was a mechanic, his chosen hobby and trapping became a means of livelihood. He was an athletic type of person, capable of performing stunts with the versatility of a monkey. Mike remained a bachelor and retired to Weeks, SK. He passed away in 1983 and was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HAMMERSTROM � Ellen M. Hammerstrom 77, passed away in the Birch Hills Hospital on March 8, 1973. Burial was in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born at Warren, Minn., she came to Canada with her parents, who settled in the North Prairie district. She married John Hammerstrom in 1913 and they farmed in the North Prairie district until they retired and moved to Ketchen. Predeceased by her husband in 1965, she is survived by two sons, Curtis and Lloyd of Preeceville; two daughters, Mildred Severson of High Prairie, AB, and Muriel McFie of Crystal Springs, SK, 34 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren HAMMERSTROM � John A. Hammerstrom and his wife Ellen bought land in the Robinson Creek district in approximately 1940. Upon retirement, they moved to Ketchen, SK. Their land was sold to the land bank in 1972. John passed away in 1965 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HAMMERSTROM � Larry Lorne was the first born child of Curtis and Laura Hammerstrom. Born in 1940, he died in 1941. He is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HANSON � Elmer Claude Hanson 77, of Hazel Dell, died at his home on December 28, 1985. Burial was in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born on April 5, 1908 at Kamsack, he was one of nine children born to Carl and Hilma Hanson. He was educated at schools at Kamsack and Ketchen, where the family moved in 1918 to take a homestead. Although he worked as a laborer in various places in the area, he was mainly a trapper all his days. Predeceased by his parents, a brother and five sisters, he is survived by a son, Larry of Okla; a daughter, Darlene Ellison of Okla; a brother, Ole Hanson of Winnipeg; a sister, Violet Johnson of Preeceville; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. (no marker/headstone) HEWISTON � Isaac "Ike" came from Ontario and purchased land in the Robinson Creek district in 1922. A bachelor, he farmed, trapped and raised silver fox. He became ill in 1934. The doctor suggested he take a rest to improve his weakened condition and he stayed at the Golden West Hotel in Preeceville for a while. He died in August 1934 and was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (No marker/headstone) HOLTE � Anton Holte, age 81 of Ketchen, passed away on January 28, 1983 in the Norquay Union Hospital. Funeral service held in Preeceville Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation followed. Born on September 24, 1901 at Summit, N.D., he was the second son of Hans and Karen Holte. The family first moved to Ontario in 1903 and then to Sask. in 1906, where they homesteaded. Anton was educated at the Corofin School. Around 1948, he and his brother Carl opened up the first garage and gas pumps in Ketchen. On April 1, 1950, he married Lillie Elander (nee Nelson) at the Preeceville Parsonage. Predeceased by his wife on Jan. 19, 1974, he is survived by a stepson, Roy Elander of Calgary; five brothers, John of Calgary, Melvin and Carl of Preeceville, Otto of Ketchen and Clifford of Lintlaw; a sister, Alma Lindstrom of Edmonton and two step-grandchildren. HOLTE � Clifford 88, of Preeceville, died on April 7, 2004 at the Preeceville Hospital. Service held at Preeceville Funeral Home and burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born at Eden Valley on August 23, 1915, he was the youngest son of Hans and Karen Holte. He came to the Netchie Hills district with his parents at the age of six. He attended Netchie Hills and Woodrock schools in the Ketchen district. He served in the Canadian army and was discharged in 1946. He farmed most of his life and worked for other farmers. He worked as a logger for many years. He retired in 1980 and lived in Ketchen. Predeceased by five brothers, Henry, Anton, John, Melvin and Carl and one sister, Alma Lindstrom, he is survived by a brother Otto of Preeceville. HOLTE � Karen (nee Hoasvog) was born at Syd. Flatenger in Norway on November 26, 1872. She was the daughter of a poor fisherman. She immigrated to Minnesota in 1892. She met Hans Holte and they were married on October 16, 1895. They had three sons and one daughter born in the States. In 1903 they left the States and came to Ontario to live. There another son was born. In 1906 they left Ontario by train and arrived at Yorkton. They traveled to Eden Valley and built a log house. Four more sons were born here. In 1921, they purchased land 2 � miles northwest of Ketchen. Hans died in 1922. Mrs. Holte was left with the family to care for. With the help of her sons and by working on farms they managed. Karen passed away at the age of 87 in 1959. HOLTE � Ole. Ole and his wife Ruby came from Battiniau, North Dakota in 1905 with two of their six children, Louis and Oliver. The others remained in N.D. Ole homesteaded north of Ketchen. He donated the land for the Poplar Grove Cemetery. He farmed a few acres and raised cattle. Ole and Ruby were charter members of the Poplar Grove Congregation. Ole died on July 24, 1926 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HOLTE � Otto was born at Eden Valley in 1913. He came to live in the Netchie Hills district at the age of eight. He attended school in the 1920�s. He walked to school in his bare feet and many a fall would return home in the snow, barefooted. There was no money to buy shoes. He left school at age 15 and worked long hours on farms, sometimes getting only his board. He returned home in 1935 to help his mother. He sawed wood and made chop for farmers in the area to help support the family. He married Phyllis Townsend in 1951. They had two daughters, Karen and Elva. They lived on the home farm until 1960 and then moved to live in Ketchen. Otto then worked on a turkey farm at Preeceville for five years and did mechanic work until he retired in 1978. He passed away in 2010. HOLTE � Phyllis was born at Nokomis, Sk. in 1923. She came to live in the Robinson Creek district in 1940. She married Otto Holte in 1951. They raised two daughters, Karen and Elva. Phyllis passed away in 1982. HOLTE � Ruby was born September 16, 1868 in the USA. She came to Canada with her husband and two sons in 1905. Her other four children remained in N.D. Ruby served the district as mid wife, and made homemade medicine for colds, muscular aches and pains. After her husband died in 1926, her son Oliver worked the farm until 1943 and then moved to Winnipeg and died two years later. The other son Louis worked in Kamsack and is buried there. Ruby passed away on June 28, 1943. She is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. HOMEY � Genevieve was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Moe) Homey born in 1926 on the family homestead. She died in 1931 at the age of five from a kidney ailment. (No marker/headstone) HOMEY � Joyce was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Moe) Homey. She died in infancy in 1930. The cause was unknown. She was buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (No marker/headstone) HULZULAK � William 89, of Preeceville, died on July 2nd at Regina Pasqua Hospital. Funeral was held from Trinity United Church in Preeceville and burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born on November 4, 1908 in Romania, he was educated in Canora and worked at several farms before acquiring a homestead north of Ketchen. He married Hazel Hanson on November 17, 1932 at Trinity United Church in Preeceville. Predeceased by his wife, Hazel in 1985, and his daughter Jean in 1994, he is survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (No marker/headstone) HUTZULAR � Hazel Ceceila Hutzular 80, of Ketchen, died on April 2, 1984 in Preeceville Hospital. Funeral held from the Preeceville United Church. Hazel was born on October 1, 1904 in St. Paul, Minn., to Carl and Hilda Hanson. (A twin sister died as an infant) She came to Canada with her parents in 1906 and they first homesteaded at Kamsack, where most of her siblings were born. In 1918 the family purchased a farm 3- � miles north of Ketchen. She was educated at Kamsack and later at Netchie Hills School. She worked at various places in the area and at Prudhomme, SK. She married Bill Hutzular at Preeceville United Church November 17, 1932, and they farmed 6 miles north of Ketchen. They had a son and a daughter Jean. Hazel enjoyed gardening and was very interested in their large herd of cattle. Predeceased by her mother in 1933, father in 1964; four sisters, Mabel in 1904, Winnie in 1918, Myrtle in 1969 and Nina in 1971 and a brother in infancy. She is survived by hr husband, Bill of Ketchen; son, Norman Anderson, of Pilot Butte; daughter Jean Nelson of Preeceville; two brothers, Elmer of Hazel Dell and Ole of Winnipeg; one sister, Violet Johnson of Preeceville; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. INGBRIGTSON � Clara was born on Aug 17, 1907 in Ardeck, S.D. to Joseph and Eunice Gowan. She came to Canada with her parents and attended Robinson Creek School. She married Ingvold Ingbrigtson on November 29, 1927 in Preeceville. She worked on the family farm and for the Lions Hostel. Clara passed away on October 9, 2004. Predeceased by her parents; her husband Ingvald, a brother Walter and four sisters, Hazel Simes, Edith Saughmyhr, Elva Hedlund and Mabel Richards, she is survived by a son Raymond (Helen) of Preeceville; three grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. INGBRIGTSON � Clifford was born in 1909 in North Dakota to parents Ole and Inga Ingbrigtson. He came to Canada with his parents in 1912. He lived at home with his parents until after his mother died in 1951. He then moved to his own farm. He was accidentally killed in a tractor mishap in May 1964. INGBRIGTSON � Inga was born in North Dakota in 1881. She came to Canada with her husband and two sons in 1912 to their homestead in the Ketchen district. Inga helped with the farm work and baked bread for the Steinerson Saw Mill, for three winters. Inga found great pleasure in serving meals and lunches to neighbors. She suffered from high blood pressure in her later years. She died on June 11, 1951. INGBRIGTSON � Ingvold aged 100, passed away on May 25, 2003 at the Canora Gateway Lodge. He was born July 17, 1902 in Grand Forks, N.D. He was educated at Robinson School. He worked on elevator gangs and as a laborer on farms in the province until he bought a farm northwest of Preeceville in 1926. He married Clara Gowan on Nov 29, 1927 at the United Church in Preeceville. He drove a school bus for seven years after retiring from the farm. They moved to Preeceville in 1966. Predeceased by his mother Inga in 1951, his father Ole in 1958 and one brother Clifford in 1964, he is survived by his wife of 75 years, Clara; one son Raymond and three grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. INGBRIGTSON � Ole and his wife Inga and two sons, Ingvold and Clifford, came to Canada in 1912 from North Dakota. He had previously filed on a homestead in 1911 North of Ketchen. He built a large two-storey home in 1913, which was later occupied by his grandson for many years When Ole was fifty years old, he was kicked by a horse and blinded in one eye. He was active in school affairs and the Poplar Grove Church. Ole passed away in Nov. 1958, at the age of 83, from a heart attack. INGBRIGTSON � Raymond was born on July 12, 1931 to parents Clara and Ingvold Ingbrigtson. He married Florence Pospisal and they had three children: Bonnie, Terry and Gary. They lived on the farm in the house his grandfather built in 1913. Ray and Florence kept a large herd of cattle and sold milk for years. In 1980 they sold their cattle. They both had a school bus route. Ray and Florence divorced and Ray later married Helen Druska. Ray passed away on March 11, 2011. JENSON � Carl was born in Sweden in 1860. As a young man, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Terrace, Minn., until May 1922, when he came to Canada. He settled in the Ketchen district where he was the first blacksmith, from 1922 to early 1936. Carl passed away on August 26, 1936 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. JENSEN � Iva Livinia Bernice Jensen (Brough) passed away peacefully in Preeceville Hospital with her family by her side on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at the age of 93 years. Iva was born on the family homestead in the Hazel Dell district to Leslie and Mary (Martin) being the eighth of eight children. Iva was the only sibling that was born in Saskatchewan, with her brothers and sisters being born in Ontario. Iva was very involved in the operating of the family homestead in the early years assisting with many chores on the farm. She also drove her father Leslie to many meetings as he was the Reeve of the Municipality and her father never drove the family car. On August 5, 1934, she married Ole Jensen of Hazel Dell. They resided in many communities in the area as Ole worked for the CNR. Some of the communities were Usherville, Sturgis, Ketchen and Preeceville. They spent most of their years however in Preeceville. Iva was known for fabulous meals and a variety of home baked breads, buns pies and her sunshine cookies. She loved to cook and made certain that any visitor never left her home hungry. Iva was very active in her middle years in the Preeceville Pentecostal Church. Two things that were important to her, were her family and her unending faith in the Lord. She was able to remain in her home until one week before her passing. Iva was predeceased by hr parents and all her siblings, Mary Jane, Margaret Agnes, Christina Lacena, Elizabeth Bell, Martin, James and John Lawrence. She was also predeceased by her husband in 2000; her granddaughter Tammy in 1991, infant grandson, daughter Shirley in 2003 and an infant child in 1936. Iva leaves to celebrate her life, daughter Faye Antonichuk (Willard) of Preeceville and son, Wayne Jensen (Gail) of Yorkton and son-in-law Joe Romick of Ketchen. She also leaves 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Funeral service held in the Preeceville Funeral Home. JENSON � Ole Christian Jensen, 92 of Preeceville passed away on January 14, 2000 at the Preeceville Lions Housing. Born on August 8, 1907 in Invermay, he attended Orangeville School in the Hazel Dell district and Lone Spruce School. He worked for Canadian National Railway for 42 years, retiring in 1968. He then drove a school bus for the Preeceville School district. He was a member of the curling and horseshoe clubs. He married Iva Brough on August 5, 1934 at the Preeceville Lutheran Manse. Predeceased by his parents, Olaus and Kerie, a brother, Einar, two sisters, Minnie Studlin and Mary Studlin; an infant son in 1936, and a granddaughter in 1991, he is survived by his wife, Iva; a son, Wayne (Gail) of Yorkton; two daughters, Shirley (Joe) Romick of Yorkton and Faye (Willard) Antonichuk of Preeceville; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. LAW � William Stanley Law, was born in 1890. He moved to the Ketchen district in 1936, with his wife and children: Lola, Radie, Rowena, Gerald and Kathleen. A son died in 1940. Mr. Law passed away in 1950 and is buried at Poplar Grove Cemetery. LINDSTROM � Anton was born in 1891 and came to the Robinson Creek area, with his wife, Alma (Holte) in 1917 and settled on their homestead. He farmed a few acres and raised stock. The density of the bush land made it hard to make a living, and with the limited funds available, farm improvements was slow. Anton and Alma, with the addition of 2 sons, Willard and Melfort, moved to another district in about 1922. Anton passed away in 1949 LINDSTROM � Clemence was born in 1932 to parents Vounder and Myrtle Lindstrom in the Robinson Creek district. He had an older brother, Vernon born in 1929. He moved to Calgary where he married and worked as a welder. He had a family of four children. Clemence passed away in 1983 and was buried at Poplar Grove Cemetery. LINDSTROM � David Lindstrom of Ketchen, died on August 14, 1971 at the age of 70. The funeral held at the Lutheran Church at Ketchen. He was born at Rolling Forks, Minn., and came with his parents to the Ketchen district in 1907. He worked as a carpenter until his retirement in 1964. Mr. Lindstrom is survived by two sisters, Agnes (Alfred) Kvern of Winnipeg and Mabel (Clyde) Shook of Pontiac, Michigan; two brothers, Arthur of Creston, BC and Vender of Regina. LINDSTROM - John Lindstrom and his wife, Mathilda, came from North Dakota in 1906 and homesteaded 6 � miles north of Ketchen. They had a family of ten children. John started the first Sunday school in the Netchie Hills School. LINDSTROM � Myrtle Lillian Lindstrom 99, of Preeceville and formerly of the Ketchen district, passed away on October 23, 2001. Born in 1902, in Fargo, N.D., she moved to the Ketchen district with her family in 1906. She attended Netchie Hill School. She worked for many families in the district and in 1929 married Vounder Lindstrom. They farmed and following his death in 1974, she moved to Preeceville and was a member of club 60, the Royal Canadian Legion and the church-quilting group. Predeceased by her parents, John and Carrie Nelson, her husband Vounder, a son Clemence, three brothers, Clifford, Edwin and Henry Nelson; two sisters, Lillie Elander and Cora Lundquist, and a grandson; she is survived by a son, Vernon (Doreen) Lindstrom of Regina; seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren an a great-great-grandson. LINDSTROM � Victor Lindstrom was born in July 1889 in the States. He came to Canada with his parents, John and Mathilda Lindstrom in 1906. Victor eventually took his own homestead. He remained a bachelor. He passed away in 1947. LINDSTROM � Vounder W. Lindstrom 78, passed away on August 27, 1974. Born at Wheaton, Minn. he came to Canada with his parents in 1907. He homesteaded in the Ketchen district after his return home after active service in the First World War. He married Myrtle Nelson in 1929 and they farmed in the Ketchen district. They lived in Regina for three years because of Vounder� health and then returned to the farm in June 1974. They spent about 41 years on the homestead. Predeceased by four sisters, three brothers and a grandson; he is survived by his wife; two sons, Vernon of Regina and Clemence of Calgary; two sisters, Mabel Shook of Pontiac, Mich. And Agnes Kvern of Winnipeg; a brother Arthur of Creston, BC and seven grandchildren. LUCHINSKI � Evelyn was born at Grayson, SK on January 13, 1917 to parents Nick and Rosalia Steppan. The family moved to Atwater, SK and from there to a homestead in the Peerless District in May of 1926. She went to school at Peerless in 1928. She was confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church at Rockford. In 1941, she married John Luchinski, and had four children: Shirley, Jerry, Beverly and Evan Charles (deceased). They first rented land and then when the children were ready to attend school, they moved to Ketchen. In 1951, Evelyn passed away at childbirth. The little boy, Evan lived one year and then passed away also. LUNDQUIST � Carl Fred Lundquist was born in January 1885 in the United States. He came with his family to Canada in 1908, where the family took a homestead in the Robinson Creek district. He remained a bachelor. Carl passed away in 1981. LUNDQUIST � Carolena came from the States, with her husband, Nels and their seven children in 1908 and homesteaded in the Robinson Creek district. She passed away in 1937 after her repeated attacks of bronchitis weakened her and she became a victim of pneumonia. Mrs. Lundquist and her four sons are buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. LUNDQUIST � Clarence was born in 1904 to parents Nels and Carlena Lundquist. He remained a bachelor. Clarence and his brothers were all musically inclined. He later lived at Ketchen, SK. He passed away in 1992 and was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. LUNDQUIST � Cora Jenette Lundquist was born in Fargo, North Dakota to John and Carrie Nelson on July 20, 1903. In 1906 she moved with her family to the Ketchen area. She went to school in the Netchie Hills School by Ketchen. In 1918 she was confirmed in Poplar Grove Lutheran Church, the first one, according to the Church records. After her schooling she worked around the Ketchen/Preeceville area at various jobs. On November 26, 1943 she married Victor Lundquist at the Lutheran parsonage in Preeceville. They farmed west of the Twin Lakes until the late 1960�s, when they moved into Ketchen. Cora passed away in the Preeceville Union Hospital after a short illness on April 14, 1982 at the age of 78 years. Predeceased by her parents, three brothers, Clifford, Henry And Edwin; one sister, Lillie; she is survived by her husband, Victor, one sister, Myrtle Lindstrom of Preeceville, as well as other relatives and friends. LUNDQUIST � Herman J. was born in June of 1892 and came with his parents, Nels and Carlena from the States to the Robinson Creek district in 1908. Herman was a war veteran of World War I. He passed away in February 1980, after spending two years in the Preeceville Hospital. LUNDQUIST � Hjalmer was born in 1888 to parents Nels and Caroline Lundquist. He came with his parents to Canada from Minnesota in 1908. He took a homestead a mile from his home place, but sold it a few years later and purchased land at Chelan. He passed away in 1950. LUNDQUIST � Nels and his wife, Caroline and family of six boys and one girl came to the Robinson Creek district in 1908 from Starbook, Minnesota. The children were Hjalmer, Walfred, Herman, Carl, Victor, Clarence and Selma (her twin sister died in the States). Nels farmed and also did carpenter work. He passed away in January 1919, during the flu epidemic and was buried on the Oscar Omit farm; (a three-acre plot had been donated by Mr. Omit as a burial site.) LUNDQUIST � Selma was born in 1882 to parents Nels and Carolena. They arrived in the Robinson Creek district in 1908 from Minnesota. She was the only girl in the family of seven children. She died during the flu epidemic in 1918. She was buried beside her father, and also rests in that lonely spot in the field of the original Omit farm. LUNDQUIST � Victor 94, of Ketchen, passed away on January 23, 1992. Born on February 10, 1897 at Glentwood, Pope County, Minn., he was the son of Nils and Rena (Angland). In 1908 his family moved to the Robinson Creek district where he worked at home and on local farms. On November 26, 1943 he married Cora Nelson. They farmed and then moved to Ketchen upon retirement. Sometime after Cora�s death in 1982 he moved into Clarence�s home. He played his Hawaiian guitar and violin at local dances, community gatherings and his violin, in fiddle contests. He was a member of Poplar Grove and then St. Johns Lutheran church. He had also been a member of the Preeceville Horseshoe Club. Predeceased by his parents; his wife; four brothers, Jalmar, Walford, Herman and Carl; and a sister, Selma, he is survived by his brother Clarence. LUNDQUIST � Walfred was born in 1888 to parents Nels and Carlena Lindquist in the States and came to Canada with his parents and siblings in 1908. In later years he took his own homestead. He remained a bachelor. He died in 1966. LYBECK � Marie Christina �Mary� was born in 1900 and came with her mother, Ida and brothers Hedvig and Walfred to Canada from Sweden in 1910 to join her husband Sven, who had come to Canada in 1909. The family lived in Fenwood, Melville and Sturgis in a three-year period. In 1913 they moved to their homestead in the Robinson Creek district. A daughter Selma was born in Sturgis and Ruth, Hazel, Esther and Leonard were born on the homestead. Marie married Alex Lybeck in 1917.and they had seven children. Marie was a thrifty housekeeper and planted a big garden. She did a lot of sewing and knitting for the children. Maria died on September 26, 1981. LYBECK � Axel M. Lybeck was born in the province of Varmland, Sweden. As a young lad he emigrated from Sweden to the States. In 1905 he came from Terrace, Minn. to Sask. He homesteaded first in the North Prairie district and then in 1916 bought a farm 2 � miles from Ketchen. In 1917 he married Maria Enquist. They had seven children. Axel served on the Netchie Hills School Board for several years. He had two threshing outfits and would thresh for many farmers in the area. He also spent a lot of time in his blacksmith shop, sharpening ploughshares etc for others and himself. Axel died in December 1960. LYBECK � James was born June 21, 1931. He lived on the family homestead, 2 � miles north of Ketchen and attended Netchie Hills School. At the age of 13, he drowned in the lake behind the barn on the Lybeck farm on May 29, 1944. He was survived by his parents, Alex and Maria Lybeck and his brothers and sisters. MATTSON � Betsy Holte Mattson was born in 1879 and was married to Gilbert Holte. They came from North Dakota in 1906 homesteaded in the Ketchen district. They built a one-room log house, with a sod roof to live in. Their first child was born March 12, 1908, but died within four days. Her husband died of pneumonia on January 9, 1909 and three months later a daughter, Gladys was born. She remarried to Ole Mattson and they had five children together. Betsy operated the Government Telephone exchange from 1926 to 1945. She was a trustee for the Poplar Grove Church for ten years. She passed away on April 15, 1951 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. MATTSON � Melvin was born on July 5, 1915. He attended Netchie Hills School and completed his grade ten in 1932. He worked on farms and in camps, pulp mills and a mine in BC. His hobbies were hockey, baseball and farming. On June 5, 1942 he enlisted in the army and served overseas. He was a Cpl. in the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was discharged November 17, 1945. He purchased a half section of land through the V.L.A at Veillardville, and began to farm in 1948. He also worked in the Hudson Bay area for several years. On a trip back to Preeceville, November 9, 1974 he was involved in a serious car accident and was killed. He is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. MATTSON � Ole was born on January 5, 1865 in Glenwood Minnesota. He came to Canada in 1908. He owned a team of horses and worked for neighbors during threshing time. He also had his first class A certificate for steam engineer. In 1910, Ole married the widowed Betsy Holte, and lived on her homestead, until their first son was born. In 1912 he purchased land and built a two-room log house with a straw roof. Ole and Betsy had five children: Clifford, Ruth, Anna, Melvin and Benhard. From 1924 to 1928 Ole delivered mail to Rockford with team and buggy in summer, cutter and team in winter, regardless of weather. Ole and Betsy moved into Ketchen. Ole took over the mail carrier service from the train to the Post Office, until his death on Sept. 7, 1937 MATTSON � Ruth was born on January 9, 1913. She completed her grade eleven and then worked out for several years. She returned home in Sept 1937, and took over the mail carrier route until 1951. In 1947 her son, Wayne Stephen was born. In 1974, she moved to Preeceville Ruth passed away in 1994. Her son Wayne and two grandsons, Garth and Noel survive her. MILLER � Caroline was born in London England in 1876 and immigrated to Canada with her husband, William and two young sons, Thomas aged 12 and Alfred aged 6 in 1909. They took up a homestead in the Robinson Creek district. Occasionally Caroline worked out for short periods to help supplement the family income. In 1954 she went to live with her grandson and family, Don and Julia Miller. In November 1956 she developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. She passed away six days later. She was 80 years old. MILLER � Donald was born in 1923 and enlisted for military service in April 1943 in the 6th Canadian Armored regiment and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, in World War II. He received his discharge from the service in August 1946. Don married Julia Lazar on June 1, 1948 in the Roman Catholic Church at Wadena, SK. They farmed and raised stock. Don became involved in municipal affairs in 1966. He served as councilor for ten years and was also a Reeve. They had four children: Carol, Sheri, Thomas and Randy. Donald passed away in 1995. MILLER � Hildred (nee Graham) Miller was born in 1895. She was a schoolteacher and first taught at Partridge Hill School. She married Tom Miller in 1921. After raising her children: Donald, Thomas, Phyllis, Irene and Gordon she returned to teaching in 1955. Mrs. Miller was an accomplished pianist. She became ill and passed away December 13, 1980. MILLER � Thomas, son of William and Caroline Miller, was born in 1897 and came to Canada with his parents in 1909. He enlisted for military service in World War I in the 28th Battalion and served in France, Belgium and Holland. He returned to Canada in 1919. He married Hildred Graham in 1921, a schoolteacher from Milan, Quebec. They farmed and for some time operated a sawmill. Tom became involved in municipal affairs in the 1920�s and served as councilor for many years. He was on the Sturgis School Unit Board and the Yorkton, Melville Health Board as well as zone commander for the legion. They retired to Preeceville in 1960. Tom passed away in 1983 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. MILLER � William was born in London, England in 1862. He served in the Boer War from 1899 � 1902. In 1909, he came to Canada with his wife Caroline and their two sons, Thomas and Alfred. They lived on the Turrell farm until 1913 and then moved to their own homestead in the Robinson Creek district. Mr. Miller stayed on the homestead until his retirement at 70 years, when he received a pension by a means test, at approximately $15 per month. William died in 1937 at the age of 75. MORROW � Charles was born in 1910. He married Corrine Blanche Strand on October 19, 1935. They farmed north of Ketchen until Charlie�s death on January 18, 1941. They had two children, a son Traval Allan born November 13, 1936 and a daughter Marlene Cecile born January 28, 1939. Both children were born at Ketchen, SK. Charles is buried at Poplar Grove Cemetery. NAST � Adeline Virginia was born in Terrace, Minn. on December 1, 1912. In 1916 she was stricken with infantile Paralysis. She was quarantined for six weeks. Her parents took her to a clinic in Sauk Centre, Minn., 25 miles away with horse and buggy once a week for therapy. On May 24, 1922 the family came to Preeceville by train. Adeline attended Netchie Hills School. In 1936-1941 she worked as an assistant postmistress in the Ketchen Post office and also worked clerked at a store. During the war years 1941-1945 she worked for the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co in Flin Flon as a purification operator in the Leaching Plant. On June 27, 1953 she married William Nast. They moved to Red Lake and Thunder Bay, where she worked in different stores. In 1972 they retied to Preeceville. Adeline passed away March 10, 2007. NAST � William Nast 87, of Preeceville passed away on December 26, 1999 at the Preeceville Hospital. Born on January 21, 1912, in Emerson, MB, he moved with his family to a homestead near Grahamdale, MB in 1915. He attended school in Moosehorn and worked at home and for other farmers until he was 22 years of age. He worked underground at a mine in Red Lake, ON for four years and hoisted at mines in Lynne Lake, MB, Rankin Inlet, NWT, Esterhazy and Falconbridge Nickel Mine in Manitouwadge, MB. He married Adeline Strand on June 27, 1953 in Ketchen and retired to Preeceville in 1977. Predeceased by his parents, Gustaco and Hulda (Kien) Nast, three brothers, Rudolph, Adolf and Albert; two sisters, Sana Keisman and Martha Kirkakly; he is survived by his wife, Adeline and two sisters Olive McLean and Florence Sands, both of Thunder Bay, ON NELSON � Carrie was born December 3, 1876. She married John Nelson and they raised a family of five children. They came from North Dakota in 1906 to homestead land located at NW 22-35-6. The family lived in a tent until their log house was built. Sheep kept them supplied with wool, which was spun into yarn for knitting socks and mitts for the whole family. Carrie passed away February 21, 1949 and is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. NELSON � John was the son of Nels and Anna Nelson. He was born in 1874. John, his wife Carrie and children Edwin, Myrtle, Cora and Lillie came from Fargo, ND in May 1906 to their homestead, which was along side Twin Lakes. In 1910 another son was born, Henry. It was bush country so it took a lot of hard work to clear the land. Livestock was raised for meat and John supplied his family with fresh fish from the lake. The men would go threshing in the fall to earn extra money for the family. John passed away on May 25, 1952 NELSON � Vergil L. born in 1938, was the son of Henry and Jessie (Essington) Nelson. He passed away in 1957 and was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. NELSON � Henry A was born on the homestead in 1910 to parents John and Carrie Nelson. He married Jessie Essington and they had two children, Vergil and Doris. He died May 17, 1958 and is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. NORDTWETEN � Elnora (nee Omit) was born September 27, 1905 in Winger, Minn. she was the daughter of Oscar and Helene Omit. In 1910 the family immigrated to Saskatchewan to a homestead in the Robinson Creed School district. She attended school at North Prairie and was one of the first 17 students enrolled at Robinson Creek School in 1915. She was baptized in the Lutheran Church at Winger; took confirmation instruction in the Norwegian language and was confirmed in the newly constructed church at North Prairie in 1919. In 1926 she married Hermie Nordtweten at the St. John Lutheran Church parsonage. For several years the family lived at various points connected with the lumber industry. In 1945 the family settled on Hermie�s 1919 homestead in the Rockford district. In 1970 their son, Orval took full charge of the family farm. Predeceased by her husband in 1986; her father in 1938 and her mother in 1963; she is survived by a son Orval. NORDTWETEN � Hermie Neilman Nordtweten, 89 of the Ketchen district, passed away on June 29, 1986 at the Preeceville Hospital. Born on January 19, 1897, at Rushford, Minn. he was educated at Moorhead, Minn. He worked as a clerk in a store and later in a sawmill for several years. He lived on his homestead in the Ketchen district since 1945. He married Elnora Omit in the Preeceville Lutheran manse on Dec. 1, 1926. Predeceased by his mother in 1937, his father in 1944 and a brother in 1984, he is survived by his wife; a son, Orval, a brother Floyd of Rockford and a sister Blanche of Preeceville. NORDTWETEN � Orval Eugene was born to Elnora and Hermie Nordtweten on September 18, 1927 on the farm of Elnora�s parents near Ketchen, SK. He attended school in Perles and also in Endeavour where the family lived in 1938 and in 1943 he completed part of grade 9 at Bertwell, while his mother was working there. Orval worked at sawmills and on farms. He worked in a nickel mine at Lynn Lake in 1952, on oilrigs around Drayton Valley in 1956 also on Vancouver Island in the bush and in mining at Thompson, MB. He returned home to help with the farming. And took over the management in 1960 and bought additional land to pasture his herd of 100 purebred Hereford cattle. Orval loved to fish and hunt. In 2006-2007 Orval waged an ongoing battle with prostate cancer. In March of 2008 he was admitted to hospital due to the discovery of widespread internal cancer. Orval passed away on May 15, 2008 after suffering a heart attack. Interment was in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. OLSON � Clara L. (nee Johnson) was born in 1887 to parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson of Minnesota. She married John Olson on January 3, 1917. Later they traveled by train to Preeceville and then on to John�s homestead. They had two children, Joseph born January 4, 1918 and Clarice born February 21, 1920. Clara moved to a senior citizens home in Preeceville and then lived with her son Joseph and his wife Vivian. She was in a wheelchair the last few years of her life. Clara passed away on July 13, 1979 at the Preeceville Hospital. She was buried in Poplar Grove Cemetery. OLSON � John was born in Norway in Nov. 1879. At the age of eighteen, he worked his way across by ship and landed in New York. He worked at various places in the States. In 1910 he came to Canada to his brother, Olaf Olson�s homestead. John built a log house on land he acquired. He cleared and broke some land and worked in the bush in the winter. One fall, he and a few other men walked sixty miles to a logging camp and worked there until spring. He also worked out at harvest time to earn some money to carry on with his farming. In 1916 he returned o Minn. and married Clara Johnson on January 3, 1917. Later they came by train to Preeceville and to the farm. In later years, John moved to Ketchen to live near his daughter, Clarice, so she could look after him, he had suffered a stroke and needed care. John passed away in 1969 at the age of ninety. OMIT � Helene Dale was born at Climax, Minn. on April 20, 1884. On Nov. 12, 1900, she was united in marriage to Oscar Omit. They made their home in Minnesota until April 1910, when they came to SK and settled on a homestead in what is now the Ketchen district. At that time there were no roads, nor church, so on a fall day in 1910, a dedicated group of women, including Mrs. Omit, met at the home of Mrs. John Nelson, and formed what was later known as the Poplar Grove Ladies Aid, and began long years of work to raise money to build a church. Their efforts were rewarded when the present church in Ketchen was built in 1927. Helene was widowed at age 54 in 1938. She hired help and kept the farm going until the fall of 1941. She had a house built in Preeceville and moved into town in November. She washed clothes for construction crews and rented out a room to working girls in town to supplement her income. Mrs. Omit was ill for some years. She suffered a stroke in 1959, and again during this summer. She passed away on Oct. 21, 1963 in the hospital at Preeceville, aged 79 years, 6 months. Her husband predeceased her in 1938 and an infant son died hours after birth in 1902 and is buried in the States. She leaves six children to mourn her death; Orrie of Drayton Valley, Neil of Saskatoon, Fern Mattison of Preeceville, Morrell Berg of MB, Ruby Holmberg of Sturgis and Elnora Nordtweten of Ketchen. She is also survived by one brother and three sisters living in the States; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. OMIT � Neil Gordon Omit 71, of Saskatoon and formerly of the Ketchen district, died on June 29, 1992 at his home. Burial was in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born April 21, 1921 in the Ketchen district, he was the son of Oscar and Helene Omit. He was educated at the Robinson Creek country school. In 1941, at the age of 19, he enlisted for military service in the Second World War. He was sent overseas for active service in the fall of the same year after brief military training at Dundurn and Vancouver Island. He served with the Regina Rifle Infantry overseas for four years and received a discharge in the fall of 1945. In 1949 he married Doreen Cerniuk of Endeavour. They lived at Flin Flon, MB, where he worked as a section employee for the CNR. He later worked in the oil fields of Alberta. In 1962 they moved to Saskatoon where he worked at the Canadian Pacific Railway yards. He retired in 1985. Predeceased by his parents; a sister Elnora Nordtweten; he is survived by his wife, Doreen; a daughter, Valerie and a son, Derril of Prince George, BC; three sisters, Fern Mattison of Preeceville, Morrell Berg of Winnipeg and Ruby Holmberg of Sturgis; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. OMIT � Oscar Theodore Omit was born on May 7, 1867 on the family homestead near Iola, Wisconsin the oldest child of seven born to Ole and Maria Omit. The other children were Alfred, Harris, Augusta Maria, Amelia, Albert Truman and Henry. He went to school and received a grade four education. He got the basics of reading, an activity he loved to do all his life. He left home at the age of 17 and worked as a woodsman. In 1899 he went to Climax, Minn. and met Helene Dale, where they married on Nov. 12, 1900. They made their home on Oscar�s homestead in Tenstrike, Minn. It was here their first child was born on Jan. 2, 1902. The baby died two hours after birth. Shortly after, they moved to Winger, Minn. where they ran a restaurant. Their daughter, Elnora was born here in 1905. They lived at Little Fork and Ray, Minn. In April 1910 they came to the Robinson Creek district and built a house on their homestead. Five more children were born on the homestead. In 1915, he was hospitalized in the Canora Hospital for ulcer treatments. Twenty-three years later he died at the Canora Hospital, six days after surgery for a ruptured ulcer and blockage of the bowel. He was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. PIERRE � Archie was the infant son of Bill and May (Anderson) Pierre. He died in June of 1937 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. (no marker/headstone) REITLO � Eleanor (nee Halverson) was born on September 7, 1912 to parents Herman and Mary (Vraa) Halverson in the States. In 1913 she came to the Robinson Creek district with her mother and brothers, Henry, Michael and Arthur to join her father at the homestead. Eleanor worked at the coffee shop in Preeceville for a long time. In 1934 she married Leif Reitlo. They moved to Norquay and later to Canora and in 1949 to Flin Flon. Her hobbies were golfing, curling and playing the stock market. She had one son, Donald born in 1937. Eleanor passed away in 2008. REITLO � Leif George was born in 1912 to parents Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Reitlo, who had come from Norway. His dad in 1904 and his mother in 1910. Leif�s brothers and sisters were Alfreda, Otto, Sylvia, Curtis and Clifford. Leif married Eleanor Halverson in 1934. Lief was a butter maker at the Co-op Creamery in Preeceville. They moved to Norquay, Canora and Flin Flon, where he went into partnership and bought the Flin Flon Dairy. They sold the business in 1954 and retired in Flin Flon. Leif passed away in 1982. ROMICK � Glen Cameron died in infancy in May 1959. He was the son of Joe and Shirley Romick. ROMICK � Shirley (nee Jensen) Romick, 64 of Ketchen, passed away in the Preeceville Hospital on June 1, 2003. Born on July 3, 1938 to Ole and Iva Jensen in Preeceville, she was educated at Preeceville. She worked as a telephone operator and later as a bank teller. She married Joe Romick on August 31, 1957 in Preeceville. They owned and operated businesses in Preeceville, Choiceland, Flin Flon Creighton and Buchanan before settling on an acreage near Ketchen. Predeceased by her father, Ole in 2002, son Glen in 1959 and a daughter, Tammy in 1991; she is survived by her husband, Joe; mother Iva; one brother Wayne (Gail) Jensen of Preeceville and one sister, Fayne (Willard) Antonichuk of Preeceville ROMICK � Tammy Faye was the daughter of Joe and Shirley Romick. She was born in 1964 and passed away in 1991. She is buried at Poplar Grove Cemetery. ROSENKERR � Donald Rosenkerr, 46 of Yorkton and formerly of Ketchen, passed away on July 22, 1996 at his home. Born on December 7, 1949 at Preeceville Hospital, he attended Robinson Creek School and Preeceville School. He worked construction and owned his own backhoe. An automotive mechanic, he worked in a machine shop in Yorkton, until an injury left him unable to work. He married Victoria Lukianchuk in July 1970, in Erickson, MB. Predeceased by his father, George in 1969 and his mother Loretta in 1989, he is survived by three sons, Darvin of Vernon, BC, Marvin of Mexico City and Donovin of Preeceville; one daughter, Larissa of Preeceville; four brothers, Lloyd (Edna) of Preeceville, Norman of Green Lake, Eugene of Prince Albert and Hal (Dorothy) of Preeceville; four sisters, Agnes (John) Smith of Delta, BC, Louise (Ken) Simes of Hepburn, SK, Elna Zachary of Vernon and Loretta (Elmer) Carlson of Sturgis. ROSENKERR � Louise Victoria Rosenkerr of Hepburn, SK and formerly of Ketchen, SK. passed away at her home on November 8, 1999. Louise was born on May 24, 1936 on the family homestead in the Robinson Creek district in the RM of Hazel Dell, to parents George and Loretta Rosenkerr. She attended public school at Robinson Creek and graduated from high school in Yorkton. She attended Teacher�s College in Regina, where she received her teaching degree. Louise loved her teaching job and had a very good rapport with her students and fellow teachers. She also worked as a telephone operator in Yorkton, a house mother in Saskatoon for the deaf and mute, and as a postmistress in Sutherland (Saskatoon) She also published a Robinson Creek history book, Rosenkerr family cookbook and a poem �The Old School Road�, which her nephew Donald Carlson recited at her funeral. Pallbearers were her nephews, Donald Carlson, Terrance Zachary, Lawrence Rosenkerr, Martin Rosenkerr, Lorne and Gary Rosenkerr. Predeceased by her parents and a brother, she is survived by her companion Ken Simes, four brothers, three sisters, numerous nephews, nieces and cousins, two aunts and many friends. ROSENKERR � Loretta (nee Schnurr) married George Rosenkerr in 1932. They lived on the homestead and raised nine children: Lloyd, Agnes, Louise, Elna, Loretta, Norman, Eugene, Donald and Rae. They lived in a log house that George had built and as the family grew, additions were made to the house. Loretta moved to Preeceville and lived with and cared for Mrs. Omit and later lived at Sturgis. She passed away in 1989 and is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. ROSENKERR � George Rosenkerr was born Jorgen Rosenkyser in Soby parish in the Province of Odense, on the island of Fyn, Denmark, on July 15, 1893. In 1906, he came to the United States with his parents, sisters and brothers. They settled in Ida Grove, Iowa. In the early 20�s, George went further west and north, mostly living in North Dakota. In 1925 he came to Canada and got a homestead in the Robinson Creek district, nine miles northwest of Ketchen. He was active in the community as a School Board member and also helped out with veterinarian work for neighbors. He worked several winters for Western Construction at Jim Lake and Island Lake and on the Swan River. In 1932, he married Loretta Schnurr and they raised nine children. George lived on his homestead until his death on August 24, 1969. SATHERSTROM � John was born on August 9, 1920 in Ketchen to William and Lily Satherstrom. He attended Netchie Hills School. He worked as a farm labourer, at pulp and lumber mills and for the CNR as a section hand. John passed away on October 22, 2003 at his residence in Ketchen. Predeceased by his parents, William and Lily, a sister, and two brothers, he is survived by a sister, Loretta Vivian Satherstrom of Regina. SATHERSTROM � Loretta Vivian Satherstrom passed away on February 25, 2009 at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Lily (Lindstrom) Satherstrom; sister Myrtle, brothers, Willard, Lawrence and John. Her calling was that of a caregiver and the needs of others always came before her own. She will be greatly missed by family and very dear friends including Sandy and Ryan Williams, Audrey Boback, Bev and Sheldon Spearman, Sharon Kowaski, Pat Porcher and her Yorkton nursing graduate classmates. Born in 1922, she was raised on the family homestead in Ketchen, SK Vivian was a nursing graduate in 1950 and proudly reunited with her classmates for their 50th anniversary. She worked at the Yorkton Hospital and in Flin Flon until the mid 1960�s. Vivian continued in Broadview as a nurse, visiting the Reserves in Southeast Saskatchewan. In 1971 she attended Dalhousie University to expand her nursing career. Then returning to SK, she worked in Meadow Lake for a year and then became an Occupational Health Nurse in Saskatoon. She retired to Regina in 1986. SAUER - William Herman Sauer, 71, of Preeceville and formerly of Ketchen, died on July 13, 1998 at Preeceville Hospital. Born on May 18, 1927 in the Last Mountain district to Katherine and Frederick Sauer, the family moved to an area north of Lintlaw, where he attended Lodi School. After leaving school, he worked at various jobs including logging, operating heavy equipment and working for farmers. At that time he also purchased and operated a farm north of Lintlaw. He and his companion, Ruth Mattson, resided at Ketchen and later purchased a house in Preeceville. After retirement, he took up woodworking and sold his products at many markets throughout SK. Predeceased by Ruth in 1994, his parents, brothers, Charlie, John and Jake and sisters Molly, Minnie, Betty, Alma and Hilda, he is survived by a brother Robert of Kelvington and sisters Bertha of St. Catharines and Helen of Lintlaw SCHELLER � Margaret Julia (nee Gunderson) Scheller, 78 of Preeceville and formerly of Ketchen, passed away on April 8, 2005. Born July 24, 1926 on a farm by Lintlaw to Hans and Olive Gunderson, she was educated at Lintlaw School. She married Norman D. Scheller on Aug. 21, 1945 in Yorkton. She worked at many jobs using her skills as a cook and housekeeper. Predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers Clarence and Harvey Gunderson and sisters Helen Gair, Ruth Nelson, Annie Haarstad, Katherine Dicksen, Olga Murray, and Ester and Thelma Gunderson as children, she is survived by one son, Wayne (Helen) of Preeceville; two daughters, Elaine (Rene) Renaud of Terrace, BC and Marlene (Danny) Palaniuk of Sturgis, and three sisters, Evelyn Pottle of Usherville and Eileen Larrivee and Olive Pottle, both of Preeceville Satherstrom of Regina. SCHELLER � Norman Scheller, 73 of Ketchen, died on February 24, 1991 in Kelvington Hospital. Funeral was held from the Lutheran church in Preeceville. Born on December 11, 1917 in Springside, he was educated at Springside an Okla. He did municipal cat work, land clearing and breaking and also worked as a mechanic. He farmed in the Okla district for about 12 years, later settling in Ketchen. On August 25, 1945 he married Margaret Gunderson at Yorkton. Predeceased by his mother, Emma and two brothers, Cecil an John, he is survived by his wife, Margaret; his father, Fred, a son Wayne (Helen) of Ketchen; two daughters, Elaine (Rene) Renaud of Terrace and Marlene (Danny) Palaniuk of Lady Lake; six brothers, Robert of Russell, MB, Ernest of Okla, Herbert of Cranbrook and Clifford of Okla; seven sisters, Mabel of Lintlaw, Georgina of Lintlaw, Margaret of Margo, Emily of Liford, MB, Gladys of Edmonton, and Mildred of Hudson Bay and Hazel of Regina an nine grandchildren. SIMES � Arthur was born 1891 to parents Lewis and Julia Simes. Art came with his family from Moorhead, Minn. in 1907 and settled on a homestead south of Tadmore. Art married Josie Solien and with their children, Gordon, Marvin, Kenneth and Lyla, moved to the Robinson Creek district in 1939 from the Sturgis-Stenen area. Arthur passed away in 1969. SIMES � Josie Martini (nee Solien) Simes was born May 15, 1900 in Hendricks, Minn. to parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solien. She moved to the Canora area in 1903 with her parents and sister Melvina. She attended Gogal School. Josie and her mother operated a restaurant in Hyas. She married Art Simes in 1923 and farmed in different locations, before settling on land north of Ketchen in 1939. They raised four children, Gordon, Lyla, Kenneth and Marvin. Her husband passed away in 1966. Josie lived at Preeceville Hostel as an independent resident for a number of years before moving to the Lutheran Sunset Home in Saskatoon. She passed away April 25,1998 at the age of 97. SORGENSON � Alma Caroline Sorgenson (Findahl), 86 of Ketchen, passed away February 9, 1978 at the Kamsack nursing home. Funeral held at Lutheran Church in Preeceville. Born at Summit, N.D, she married William Sorgenson in 1912 at Silver Creek, Minnesota. They came to Canada in 1914 and farmed in the Ketchen district. In 1972 she moved to the nursing home at Kamsack. Predeceased by a son, James in 1967 and her husband in 1972, she is survived by four sons, Chester of Kamsack, Earl and Henry of Preeceville and Ray of Quesnel; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild. SORGENSON � Earl Clifford Sorgenson 76, of Preeceville and formerly of Ketchen, died on July 31, 2002 in Preeceville Hospital. Burial was in Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born on June 2, 1926 to William and Alma Sorgenson in Ketchen, he was educated at Wood Rock School, west of Ketchen, He farmed from the 1960�s to the late 1980�s, then moved to Preeceville. Predeceased by his parents, William and Alma and two brothers, Jim and Raymond, he is survived by two brothers, Chester and Henry, both of Preeceville STRAND � Betsine (nee Rust) Strand of the Ketchen district died on December 20, 1975 at the Preeceville Hospital, after a short illness at the age of 83. Born at Sacred Heart, Minn., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rust, she married Carl Strand at Terrace, Minn. in 1911. They lived at Terrace until 1922, when they moved to Ketchen. Predeceased by an infant daughter, Ilene in 1930; a granddaughter, Debbie Richards in 1961, and her husband in 1970, she is survived by two sons, Milo and Curtis of Ketchen; five daughters, Adeline Nast, Ione Bagnall, Corrine Olson and Margery Richards both of Thunder Bay and Violet Hanson of Yorkton; 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren STRAND � Carl John Strand was born at Terrace, Minn. on December 24, 1882. He came to Canada in 1905 and homesteaded in the North Prairie District. He broke and seeded his land and by 1908 had 16 acres cropped. In the fall he worked a lot in the Yorkton-Canora area threshing and he also hauled gravel for the main street in Yorkton. In 1909 he returned to Terrace, Minn. after disposing of his homestead in Canada and resumed farming in the States. On October 11, 1911 he married Betsine Rust. They continued to farm there until May 1922, whey they returned to Canada with their four children and purchased land from the CNR. Carl was chairman of the Netchie Hills School Board for many years and a charter member of the Poplar Grove Church. He also shipped stock for the Sask. Livestock Pool for many years. He lived on the farm till his death on March 13, 1970. He was buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. STRAND � Curtis Gordon Strand, 80 of Ketchen, died on Feb. 24, 2004 at the Canora Hospital. Funeral held at St. John�s Lutheran Church in Preeceville. Born on Feb 19, 1924, to Carl and Bestine Strand in the Ketchen area, he attended Netchie Hills School. He worked on the family farm and then at various places before returning to Ketchen. He drove a school bus for 18 years. Even after selling his cram quota and dairy cattle, he remained on the farm. He married Eva Lein at St. John�s Lutheran Church on Dec. 1, 1973. Predeceased by his parents, a brother Milo, two sisters, Ilene and Corrine, he is survived by his wife, Eva; three children, Kevin (Shauna) of Vermillion, AB, Ralph (Donalda) of Preeceville and Murray of Saskatoon; four sisters, Adeline Nast, Violet Hanson, Ione Bagnall, Margery (Gordon) Richards and six grandchildren. STRAND � Milo Walter was born on March 24, 1918 at Terrace, Minn. He came to Canada with his parents in 1922. He attended Netchie School and helped out at the farm. He worked on threshing crews in the fall. In August 1941 he enlisted in the army and served in the Aleutian Islands, England, France, Belgium and Holland until February 1946. He returned to the farm and continued to farm. Milo passed away July 2, 1994 at the age of 76. TOWNSEND � Cole Merle � born/died January 9, 1987 TOWNSEND � Irene Carolyn, 74 of Preeceville, died on Sept 19, 2003 at Pasqua Hospital in Regina. A graveside service was held at Poplar Grove Cemetery. Born on July 13, 1929, on a farm near Preeceville to Tom and Hildred Miller, she attended Partridge Hill and Robinson Creek School. She worked in various places in Saskatchewan and in Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg. On Jan. 14, 1954, she married Doug Townsend at he Preeceville United Church Manse and they made their home on the Scramstead place. In 1960, they moved to the farm near Preeceville on which their son, Murray now resides. In 1982, they retired to Preeceville. She was a member of the Preeceville Legion, hospital auxiliary, Poplar Grove Cemetery committee and the Ketchen Community hall committee. Predeceased by her parents, Tom and Hildred; three brothers, Don, Tommy and Gordon; and two grandsons, Sheldon and Cole Townsend, she is survived by her husband, Doug, three sons, Eldon (Lorna) of Hudson Bay, Murray (Merle) of Preeceville and Doug of Hudson Bay; two daughters, Terri of Regina and Cathy (Stephen) of Chetwynd, BC; a foster son, Lawrence of Esterhazy; a sister, Phyllis Townsend and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. TOWNSEND � James Douglas, 80 of Preeceville died on Jan 4, 2005 at the Regina General Hospital. Born on Oct 28, 1924 in Nokomis, he attended Richfarms and Roundville schools, northeast of Nokomis. At the age of 1, he moved with his parents to a farm, northwest of Ketchen. He worked as a farm laborer until he joined the army in 1943. Training at several bases across Canada, he was stationed at Camp Shilo when he was sent overseas. In 1944, he joined the Regina Rifles Regiment and was wounded at he coastal port of Calais, France in Sept of that year. He spent six months in a French and English hospitals. He returned to active duty in Sept of 1945 with occupation forces in Germany. He returned To Canada in April of 1946 and was discharged in June. Returning to Ketchen, he found work with the railroad that fall and he worked in a bush camp during the winter. In the spring of 1947, he purchased his own land. On Jan.14, 1954 he married Irene Miller at Preeceville. They farmed until retiring to Preeceville in 1992. His son, Murray took over the farm. He was the president of the Preeceville Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for five years. Predeceased by his wife, Irene; parents Norman and Verna; a sister and a brother and two grandchildren. he is survived by three sons, Elden, Murray and Doug; two daughters, Terri of Regina and Cathy of Chetwynd, BC; and a brother, Harold (Virgie) of Preeceville. TOWNSEND � N. Clair was born at Nokomis, SK on Feb 3, 1927 to parents Norman and Verna Townsend. He attended school at Nokomis and Robinson Creek School. After leaving school, he helped his father on the farm for a while then began farming on his own. He farmed the home place unit his brother, Harold decided to settle down to farming too. Clair married Phyllis Miller in 1951 and they continued to farm. They raised three children: Gordon, Gail and Donna. Clair passed away in 1995 TOWNSEND � Norman was born in Park River, N.D. in 1887. In 1908 the family moved to Seaforth, ON and then in 1914, to Nokomis, SK. In 1922 he married Verna Ferguson. They farmed and in 1940 they came to the Robinson Creek area and bought a quarter section of land from a bachelor farmer. TOWNSEND � Shelden Merle died August 26, 1977. He was the son of Eldon and Lorna (Rutt) Townsend TOWNSEND � Verna E. Ferguson was born at Carleton Place, ON in 1898. Her family had moved to Cymric, SK in 1906. Then years later they moved to Nokomis, SK. In 1922 Verna married Norman Townsend. They raised a family of four children: Phyllis, Douglas, Clair and Harold. Verna suffered a heart condition for ten years. She died in 1951 and was buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. WALKER � Ray Preston Walker, 76 of Endeavour, passed away on April 26, 1989 in University Hospital at Saskatoon. Born on July 7, 1912 at Quill Lake he was educated at Twin Creek. He farmed in the Quill Lake District until 1957. He worked in logging camps and did some trucking until his retirement at the age of 65. He and Beatrice Simmons were married at Quill Lake on Sept 10, 1936, and were separated since 1957 Predeceased by his parents, Earle and Elizabeth Walker; and a brother, Clyde, he is survived by two sons, Winston of Endeavour and Aaron of Evansberg, AB; four daughters, Marguerite Hillier of Trenton, Kathleen Mynberg of Islay, Sharon Fontaine of Callahoo, AB, and Ethel Luchinski of Marwayne, AB.; four brothers, Harry, Roger, Johnny and Franklin; five sisters, Dorothy Arneson, Pansey Folk, Ruby Weston, Francis Erikson and Clara Nelson of Saltcoats; 24 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren WATNE � Barbara Watne, 86 of Ketchen, died on Feb 28, 1975 in the Preeceville Hospital after a long illness. Funeral held from St. John�s Lutheran Church. Born at Minot, N.D. Barbara married Hans Watne at Seattle, Washington in 1919. They came to Canada in 1920 and farmed near Brooks, AB. In 1922 they moved to SK and farmed in the Ketchen district until 1960. Following her husband�s death, she lived at the farm with her son. Predeceased by a son, William in 1928; her husband in 1960, she is survived by a son, Lawrence of Ketchen; two sisters, Aletta Larson of Minot and Laura James of Denver, Col., and a brother, Ollie Watne of Minot WATNE � Hans was born in Norway. He married Barbara in Seattle, WA. They moved to AB for a couple of years and then came to the Robinson Creek area in 1925. Hans bought land from the Life Insurance co. There were only 10-15 acres of land broken at the time. Water was never located on the farm and the family depended on a dugout for their water supply. Hans farmed with horses and in the 50�s purchased a Case tractor. They had two sons, Lawrence and William. Hans died in 1960 at the age of 72, after a short illness. WATNE � Lawrence was born in 1924, the son of Hans and Barbara Watne. He was a bachelor and always lived at his parent�s home. After their deaths he still continued to reside on the home farm. He purchased additional land adjoining the home place. He passed away in 1995. WATNE � William was born in 1926 on the family homestead in the Robinson Creek area. He was the son of Hans and Barbara Watne. He died in 1927 and is buried at the Poplar Grove Cemetery. WEIGHTMAN � Annie Beatrice Clamp was born in 1876 in Atherston, England. She came to Canada in the fall of 1911 to join her husband on the homestead he had purchased, near Earl Grey, SK. They raised a family of six children. The youngest one, Josephine was born in Canada. After her husband William passed away in 1931, Ann continued to run the store with the help of the children. Ann passed away in 1935 and was buried along side her husband in Poplar Grove Cemetery. WEIGHTMAN � William was born on May 1, 1870 in the mountain country of Northern England in a place called Northumberland. As a young man he worked as a Life Insurance salesman and also operated a tobacco and candy store in Atherston, Warwickshire. He married Ann Beatrice Clamp, who was born in Atherston. In the spring of 1911 he and two of their children, Eva and Howard immigrated to Canada. They left from Liverpool and it took them nine weeks to cross the ocean. In the fall of the same year Ann made this same trip bringing with her, their other three children, Dorthea, Annie and George, who was only six months old. They settled into farm life, four miles from Earl Grey on a farm William bought through an ad in the paper. On Sept. 1, 1915 a girl, named Josephine was born into the family They later moved to the Rockford area and took up homesteading. William and Ann operated a country store and post office from 1928 until around 1933. William died in 1931 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. WOODS � Gunhild (nee Nordtweten) was born in one of the older settled areas of Minnesota in 1873. She was a widow with two young sons when she married Sam Woods, two years before their arrival at Preeceville. Their son Floyd was born in the States and a daughter, Blanche was born on the homestead in 1914. Gunhild had brought about 200 chickens with the rest of their possessions, so there was plenty of eggs to use and to trade for groceries. They also were in charge of a small rural post office in their home, for about two years. Mrs. Woods died in 1937 WOODS � S. Floyd Woods, 84 of Preeceville, passed away on September 2, 1995 at his home. Funeral held in Preeceville Funeral Home Chapel and burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery in the Ketchen district. Born on May 31, 1911, in Fargo, N.D, he was educated at Preeceville. He was raised on the farm. He had a love of animals, especially horses. He herded cattle for many years, and enjoyed rodeos and sales and being with the public. Predeceased by two brothers, Hermie and Carl, and his parents, Samuel and Gunhild Woods, he is survived by a sister, Blanche Worokewich of Preeceville WOODS � Samuel and his wife, Gunhild moved to the Robinson Creek district from Fargo, North Dakota in late March of 1912. The family consisted of a year old son Floyd and two stepsons, Herman Nortweten and Carl Simes. Born in Wisconsin in 1868, Mr. Woods had served for some years on the Chicago Police Force and later had rented a farm at Fargo. He had attended college and was the only homesteader at the time to have done so, in the area. For a year or so, Sam and his two sons would drive with a team as far as Nokomis, where they worked in harvest time. Mr. Woods passed away in 1943 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. WOROKEVICH � Alvin was the son of Blanche and John Worokevich. He died in infancy in 1945 and is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery. WOROKEVICH � Blanche 83, of Preeceville passed away on Feb 12, 1997 at the Preeceville Hospital. Born Jan 24, 1914 in the Preeceville district, she attended Robinson Creek School. She married John Worokevich on Oct. 19, 1944. She worked on the family farm near Ketchen until retiring to Preeceville in 1979. She was predeceased by her parents, Samuel and Gundhild Wood, her husband John in 1996, an infant son, Alvin in 1945 and three brothers, Floyd in 1995 and Hermie and Carl. WOROKEVICH � John Worokevich, 87 of Preeceville, passed away March 14, 1996 in the Lions Hostel. Funeral service held in the Chapel of Preeceville Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve Forbes officiating. Born on June 25, 1908, in Austria, he and his brother, Frank came to Canada in 1924. He worked for some uncles at Raymore for a year, then worked for other farmers and ranchers in Sask. and Alberta. Later he began to farm on his own. On October 19, 1944, he married Blanche Woods in the Preeceville Manse. They continued to farm and raised cattle and hogs. In 1978 they retired and moved into Preeceville. Predeceased by his parents, Alvin and Elizabeth; two brothers, Frank and Martin; and an infant son, Alvin in 1945, he is survived by his wife, Blanche; and a sister, Carrie Butz of Regina. YANO � Andrew Edward Yano, 91 of Preeceville and formerly of the Rockford district, died on July 11, 2005 at the Preecevilel Hospital. Funeral held at Trinity United church. Born on July 27, 1913 in Lestock, he attended Bamboo School near Cupar. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Szeles) moved to the Rockford area in 1938 to establish a farming operation. Besides growing grain, he raised sheep and cattle. He attended whist drives, community dances and enjoyed hunting, trapping and cooking. He was known for a number of his mechanical inventions. Predeceased by his wife Beth in 2000, and his parents Andrew and Julia, he is survived by his daughter, Geraldine (Ron) Fairburn of Preeceville; two brothers, John and Paul of BC; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. YANO � Elizabeth Anita (nee Szeles) was born in 1915 and came to the Rockford district with her husband, Andrew in 1938, where they farmed Beth has crocheted endless balls of wool into shawls for the residents of the Lions Hostel in Preeceville, as well an many other items. The couple had one daughter, Geraldine (Mrs. Roy Fairburn), and two granddaughters, Linda and Wendy. |