Foreword
Candice, Evelyn & Jacquie - having a ball together in New Zealand.
The idea to write Mom's "Life Story Book" came to me from our neighbour, who created the program for others, after he and his mother together wrote her story. I tucked the idea away in the back of my mind thinking it would be great to have our Mom write her story. About a year later, Mom and Jacquie decided to come visit us in NZ for Christmas 2019. I pitched the idea to Mom that we could work on this while they were here visiting. They loaded up their suitcases with photo albums and various writings about our family history. The three of us had such a great time choosing photos to create the outline of the book. We even managed to sneak in some time with the rest of the family for Christmas festivities.
The book writing (the real work) started about three months later, with Mom and Jacquie in Saskatchewan, and me in New Zealand. This was the beginning of COVID-19; a very strange time that lasted far longer than any of us could have imagined. Being in the midst of a pandemic, in various lockdowns, and with spare time on our hands, created a perfect opportunity to finish the job - or at least we thought we would finish it. Mom and Jacquie would write up the chapter, take a photo and email it to me to type it into the program. Back it would go for proofreading, and on it would go. We got a lot done in a few months.
However, for one reason or another, we stagnated. Mostly me (Candice). Getting it over the goal line has been the final hurdle. Eventually, I got back to the final editting and proofreading, Mom finished an extra couple of chapters to update it for 2020 and 2021, and we kept adding appendices (just one more...) - making our final product so much better. We could never have pieced together all of the history, family trees, and land chronology & maps, without Jacquie's well kept documents, memorabila, photos, and endless effort and dedication. Thank you so much Jacquie!
It has been a privilege to be a part of writing Mom's history and spending wonderful time with her and Jacquie, reminiscing about Mom's life. We hope you enjoy reading the book even just a fraction as much as we enjoyed the process of creating it.
With love and gratitude,
Candice Selby (Daughter of Evelyn)
September 2021
Message from Evelyn/Mom:
To my children: don't forget, I love you all so very much. My love extends to your wonderful partners, children, and grandchildren.
Love,
Mom/Grandma/GGE (Great Grandma Evelyn)
My Origins
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- Chapter 1 -
My Beginning
My mom (Minnie) and dad (Stanley) were married on October 30, 1928. They stayed the winter with my grandma and grandpa Dwornik until the following spring. Mom and Dad lived in a 10 ft by 12 ft granary in 1929 until a small house was built. Adeline was born that year on Dec 29 and I (their 2nd daughter) was born on March 26, 1931. Mackenzieville School in the RM of Blutcher was 3 miles away – too far for the little girls to walk to school. Some of my memories at that farm were Earl Munson and his housekeeper Nellie. Earl had asthma. Nellie made the most delicious cookies and she always had some for us. Another thing that I remember is when we were running to the house because there was a skunk with the chickens and Adeline was pushing me as I was running - my little short legs would not carry me fast enough, and certainly not as fast as Adeline wanted me to run. Also, Auntie Caroline would come and help my mom from time to time. She had a boyfriend, Stanley Orschack, and I thought he was my boyfriend too. Of course, I was only 3 years old at the time.
1931: Mom, Adeline and me with baby chicks.
1931: Adeline and Evelyn in front of Dad and Mom's first house. Evelyn about 4 months old.
Mom holding Adeline with Grandma Paulette Babiuk holding me - such a beautiful little baby.
Mom with me and Adeline
Uncle Frank with me and Adeline
Not sure why I look so cranky since generally I was a very happy child. Perhaps I liked Adeline's doll better.
Now I am cranky. Is Adeline trying to choke our dog?
Poor little me. Adeline doesn't look cold but I sure was.
Stanley and Minnie Dwornik on their Wedding Day, October 30, 1928.
Anton and Natalia Dwornik (Evelyn's paternal grandparents)
Paulette and Jacob Babiuk (Evelyn's maternal grandparents)
Left to Right: Kuzma & Helena Scherbluk (Stan's maternal grandpa and step-grandma), Stan, Sam & Anna Kut (Minnie's maternal grandparents), with Minnie between them.
Natalia Dwornik (Evelyn's paternal grandma) with Minnie (Evelyn's mom).
Stated another way: Natalia Dwornik with daughter-in-law, Minnie.
"Anton & Natalia Dwornik's Farm" house. Stan Dwornik (my father) lived here with his parents and family from 1919-1923. (Photo taken many decades later.)
"Uncle Bill's Farm" house. Stan & Min (Dad & Mom) spent their first 6 months together here. Photo taken in 2020 with Evelyn in photo.
- Chapter 2 -
Childhood at North Elstow
In 1937, we moved closer to school; there was a whole new change. We didn’t have a better house, but we were now only 1 ¼ miles from North Elstow School. We moved into a three-room house in the summertime, which became two heated rooms in the winter, but it was comfortable and home to me. That was the John Varey farm that my Dad and Mom rented. Our life there was full of exciting events.
We would spend every Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Dwornik's place, and what fun we had. Lots of good food, friends, and neighbours were part of those gatherings. We would go by cutter, or lots of times by sleigh, under blankets, with some hot coal to keep our feet warm. Never did I worry that anything could go wrong. Why would it? Mom always made sure that we had lots of blankets around us and with Dad driving the horses, we were perfectly safe and secure. In the wintertime we used to play on some very high snowbanks in the garden area, making tunnels and caves, etc. My chores were to bring in the coal and wood, collect snow in tubs to be melted for water, and take out the ashes. The one chore I did not like, was bringing in frozen clothes from the line on wash days and then having the wet clothes drying in the house overnight, and the next day too. Those were not such nice days. But what about those baking days! Coming home, we could smell the bread baking while we were still outside.
Summertime was fun too. Uncle Bill and Aunt Annie lived about three miles north of us. Adeline and I would walk to their place and stay with them quite often. This was a holiday for us! I can remember herding the cattle on grassy areas or ditches for my Dad. Looking after them wasn't fun, but while they were busy grazing, I could read books and that was the best part of it all. When their girls (Evelyn and Alice) came along, we would help Auntie with them. We did a lot of things with Uncle Bill and Aunt Annie. I have very fond memories of them. Adeline and I would help Auntie move cattle to the pasture.
The Trimbles, our closest neighbours, lived across from us. Mrs. Will Trimble, Irene, Louis and Les, Clara and their two boys, Lloyd and Allan, were very important to me. I will never forget Mrs. Will Trimble. She became a third Grandma to me. I always thought she was elderly, but she was only in her 40's. On coming home from school if no one was home, or anytime we needed a grown-up to look after us, we knew we could go to her place. Her three-story home was like the castle I would read about in my storybooks. So many rooms, 12 or 15 maybe. Each with its beautiful furniture. Such a grand staircase and smooth bannister! To me, as a child, it was the most beautiful house in the world. Just gorgeous!
We had many good neighbours at North Elstow. I can also remember Mr. George Hayes who lived East of us. He was a great storyteller, always had tricks to show us girls, and he would make puppet shadows on the wall which he was very good at. He loved to play softball with the younger generation, and he liked to pitch and he would say “Roll em boys”. I can also remember him saying, "There's a fool at one end of a cigarette and a fire at the other end." He would come over quite often and I do believe Dad always cut his hair. He was a good man. He gave us $20 cash for our wedding and we bought a nice wooden chair with the money.
There was also Zenith and Mary Kripki about one mile north of us. Adeline and I would walk past their farm every time we went to Uncle Bill and Aunt Annie's. Some other neighbours were the Bodmans, Camms, Becks, the Bob Millar family, and the Bill Carlos family.
In 1942 a tragedy hit our family. My Uncle John was killed in a combine accident. Uncle John was dad's brother and he was married to mom's sister, Marie. Those were sad days. That winter, Aunt Marie and her two sons, Julian and Ralph, moved into our small house. It worked out okay, because of the love between our two families. I should mention that before the tragedy, Adeline and I also spent time at Uncle John and Aunt Marie's place. Lots of fun times. They lived about three miles northwest of Colonsay, and our home was about six or seven miles west of there. Adeline and I were the flower girls at their wedding.
We also spent a lot of time holidaying at Grandma and Grandpa Dwornik's place (seven miles north of Colonsay). We would go there by horse and buggy. My grandparents had a large garden, a small orchard, raspberries, strawberries, and trees of all kinds. Those were special. Of course, Uncle Frank, Dad's youngest brother and only five years older than me, was still at home. He was like a big brother. Other people in my early life were Mary Kowbluk and Mike Baliant, both cousins on my dad's side of the family. Talking about holidays, Aunt Annie's younger sister, Stella Kielbiski, would also holiday at Uncle Bill's place, the same time that we were there. Stella became one of my life-long friends to this day.
Now the North Elstow School:
Initially, my sister Adeline would go to school with Louis and Irene Trimble, our neighbours who lived just across the road. I wasn’t old enough to go to school just yet. I had to wait another year. That was on the John Varey farm.
Alex Greschuk and I started Grade 1 together as the only Grade 1 students, but he had to miss the majority of the year because he fell sick and ended up a full year behind me. I was the only one in my year for the rest of my time there. Alex was born just 4 days after me, and we stayed good friends all of our lives.
I liked school, so I don't have many bad memories. My first teacher was Vera Finlay. I fell in love with going to school because she was such an amazing teacher. Vera was there only one year, and then I had Gwen Rosher (who later became Mrs. Jack Camm) for three years. Then I had Joyce Cranch (Art Cranch’s cousin) until I finished Grade 7.
There were Grades 1 – 10 in North Elstow School and only about 10 students any given year while I attended.
Some of the young people going to school besides Adeline and myself were: Irene and Louis Trimble, John Ejack (for a short time), the Greschuk family, Jack Miller, Laura and Hazel Bodman, the Carlos family, and the Sengers (for a short time). If I have missed someone, it is not intentional.
In the summertime, we walked to school as it was only 1 ¼ miles. In the wintertime, we would go by horse and stoneboat. Either Dad would take us on the stoneboat or as we got older, Adeline was able to take us with one of the horses (either "Bell" or “Dick") with a small open cutter. I was not a horse lover so that wasn’t something I wanted to do. For those of you too young to know what a stoneboat is, it is a wooden platform on wooden blades that would slide on the snow and was pulled by a horse. The driver would sit upfront on boxes on the stoneboat and use reins attached to the horse to guide it.
North Elstow School District was a real happy, cooperative community. At that school, we planted gardens in different years. We were all involved in planting. At recess, we played “Anti-I-Over” using the horse barn to throw the ball over for someone to catch and then run like hell to the other side. We also played softball where I would be put out in the right field where the ball would never be hit. I could never play sports because I was always a little chubby and not very athletic.
The Christmas concerts were a lot of fun. We would sing Christmas Carols and dress up in costumes made of crepe paper. We would march across a homemade stage doing drills to music played by a piano player. We would memorize poems, and deliver recitations, and sometimes perform in plays. Then of course Santa would show up with Christmas presents and bags of oranges and nuts. Finally, the stage would be torn down and put away and we would have a Christmas Dance.
I remember our minstrel show one Spring. Another year, our school went by sleigh to see the Pelletier family do craftwork in the home - the spinning wheel, the loom and the weaving, their finished quilts, rugs, and tablecloths. Quite an event I must say!
What about the day the Inspector would come? One of them wasn't very popular, but Mr. Williams was a nice person. I must say the teachers were something in those days. Imagine teaching eight grades and helping the ones taking correspondence, besides always doing supervision. They also did their share of community leadership. After all, they were the teachers. I remember the school dances. We always went with Mom and Dad as there was no such thing as babysitters. If we got tired, there were always the desks to sleep on until the folks were going home. It wasn't a hardship for us kids, it was a lot of fun. The yearly school picnic was also great fun, especially with the five-cent ice cream cones. The threshing days with the large crews is another pleasant memory of mine.
My parents with Adeline (taller) & me, going to Uncle John & Aunt Marie's wedding.
We were the flower girls.
Adeline, Uncle Frank, and me when I was ten years old. Uncle Frank was only five years older than me.
Cousin Mary Kowbluk, Uncle Frank, me, cousin Mike Baliant, Adeline.
Grandpa (Jacob) Babiuk visiting us at North Elstow.
Evelyn (me), Stella Kielbiski, Adeline
Adeline and Evelyn (me)
Winter coats are gone and still smiling
"John Varey Farm". We lived in this house for about 8 years when I was a child. (Aunt Marie and cousins Julian & Ralph Dwornik moved in with us for a while after Uncle John Dwornik passed away in 1942.)
Evelyn (me), Julian Dwornik, Ralph Dwornik, Little Audrey, & Adeline. (Trip in 1949 to vist Uncle Peter & Aunt Marie Klamut and kids in Rutland, BC.)
And on we go to my "Teen Years at Elstow"!
North Elstow School students (mid 1940's)
Back: Dora Greschuk, Adeline Dwornik, Joyce Cranch (teacher), Jack Millar, Polly Greschuk
Middle: Alex Greschuk, Nick Carlos, Tom Carlos, Evelyn Dwornik (Me),
Front: Mary Greschuk, Victoria Beck, Kathleen Carlos
North Elstow School
- Chapter 3 -
Teen Years at Elstow
In 1944, Adeline was going into Grade 9, so it was time to move again. This time to Elstow. Mom and Dad had bought a half section two miles north of the village of Elstow and a quarter section just on the outskirts of Elstow. The school at Elstow served Grades 1 - 12. There were just three rooms, one for each: Grades 1 - 4, Grades 5 - 8, and Grades 9 - 12. We also had an auditorium with a piano, where I practised my piano lessons for one year. Mrs Preston, the wife of the Post Office manager, was my piano teacher. The auditorium was also the place where we learned to dance, boys and girls, with Mary Hook playing the piano. Then there was the Chem Lab next to the high school room. I loved Chemistry, where we were allowed to experiment with the different chemicals and where we dissected frogs. Miss Hrefna Gislason was the Principal for three years, then Mr. Earl Kyle for my final two years.
My parents rented a house in Elstow for three years. A small house, but comfortable, for I think what was $20 per month. Times were different then. My Grade 8 classmates were Ila McConnell, Betty Anne Henderson, and Jack Andreen, then John Berg joined us the following year. Valeen Dermott was a year behind me in school, but she became one of my closest friends along with Ila and Betty Anne. While at Elstow, I learned to skate, did some curling, badminton, and table tennis. I loved school - all those books to read!
When I was 13 years old, our family went to visit relatives in Manitoba. I got to see my Uncle Peter Dwornik, but due to a bout of pleurisy, I missed out visiting with our dad's Dwornik relatives in Meleb because I was in the hospital. I was, however, able to continue on to Elthelbert (near Ukraina) to visit our mom's Babiuk relatives. I don't recall exactly who they were, but coming to the finale of this book, my daughter Candice received exciting information. A distant cousin on the Babiuk side, named Katie Chappallaz, was searching "Ancestry.ca" and came across our family tree. "Great Uncle Nick Babiuk", from Ukraina (near Ethelbert), Manitoba is her "Great Great Grandpa" so he, or his close relatives, were likely the family we visited all those years ago. Imagine 77 years later we found another path in our history just by building this book.
When I was in Grade 11, Mom and Dad had a house pulled onto the farm, just out of Elstow. This house came from Section 22 which is NE of Rodney and Anne's Elstow farm. It had three bedrooms, so I had my own room for the first time. Much later, my oldest son Rodney and his wife Anne lived in this house on this farm for 24 years.
A little bit about Elstow. It was a small town. It had two grocery stores - the Co-op Store and Hanna's Drug Store, which handled groceries and pharmaceutical items. Pat Hanna was the Pharmacist. The town also had Stewart's Hardware store, McConnell's Garage, and Art Saunder's Garage, which later was sold to Zenith Kripki. There was also a barbershop and pool hall. Elstow had three grain elevators and an Agricultural Hall where we went for our Saturday night dances, or every once in a while for our Saturday night movies.
Dr. Bicum had an office in town. He was the doctor who assisted my mother in my delivery. Everyone for miles around knew and loved Dr. Bicum. Dr. Bicum Roadside Park was named after him. I forgot to mention the telephone office, the livery barn, and Alex Kydd's lumber yard. We had the Chinese cafe on the main street, where we could get the best banana split sundaes. They were few and far between because of our money shortage, but were they good when we indulged.
While living in Elstow, sister Adeline and I belonged to the Canadian Girls In Training (C.G.I.T.). One summer we went to Camp Wakando at Wakaw. A great experience I will never forget.
In the summertime, we had sports days, local picnics with five-cent ice cream cones, etc. and picking Saskatoon berries with our cousins, the Kowbluks. Those were good days. None of us had much money, but we had friendships and grew up without all the stress of today.
I will always be grateful to my parents. They were good parents. Not overly strict, but good and fair disciplinarians. Dad loved to bring up controversial subjects when there were two sides to the equation. He would always be on the opposite side of our opinion, just to make sure we learned to stand up for our beliefs. He would argue and argue, then laugh when he would concede that we were right. Mom - I could talk to her about anything and everything. She always had time to listen to us, with no criticism, just good sound advice.
The year I was in Grade 12, mom and dad had an addition to our family. A little girl born on October 14 - my sister Audrey. I did enjoy having that little bundle of joy coming into our lives. So from that time on, for about thirty years, she was always "Little Audrey".
Then it was the end of High School; off to Saskatoon and new adventures.
Me outside our $20/month rental home in Elstow.
Here I am holding my tiny chihuahua puppy at the Elstow farm, with Adeline beside me.
"Little Audrey" and me (1949)
Audrey (1955) in front of our house at the Elstow Farm. Rodney and Anne eventually moved into this house and lived in it for 24 years.
Back row: Gwladys Williams, Hrefna Gislason, Lloyd Black, Gerald Black, Bruce Munson, Izzy Wyshinski, Moby Henderson, Lorne (Hank) Ettles, Robert Warner, John Schatz, Mary Kowbluk, Adeline Dwornik, Jeanette McTier, Dora Greschuk, Edith Ettles, Zannie Trischuk, Mary Wiebe
3rd Row: Darwin Rea, John Wiebe, Orville Finlay, Stuart Andreen, Harry Little, Leona Dermot, Ellen McConnell, Valeen Dermott
2nd Row: Mary Hook, Ruth McConnell, Lucille Romph, Phyllis Allen, Margaret Henderson, Betty Anne Henderson, Evelyn Dwornik, Ila Mcconnell, Jack Andreen, John Berg, Bernice Hook, Gerald Sanderson, Mervin Peterson, Don McConnell
1st Row: Younger students not known. (except Don Andreen)
- Chapter 4 -
Saskatoon & Meeting Hubert
The fall of 1949 found me at the Saskatoon Technical Collegiate, registering to take the Business Course. Quite a different experience for me; a country greenhorn amongst all those strangers. Little did I know that the majority of them were in the same boat as I was. Girls from the far north and every direction from Saskatoon had enrolled. Miss Hutson was my homeroom teacher. She taught us typing and shorthand. We had Mr. Brent and Mr. Walsh and another teacher for Correspondence, Math, and Bookkeeping.
To start with, I stayed in a boarding house for one month with ten other people. In the meantime, I found a landlady who took in only one person. I was very fortunate there. Mrs. Carroll, a lovely lady, treated me like one of the family. Her two grown sons lived with her. They were a bit older than me. I lived with her for over three months, then she became ill and had to go to the hospital. At this time, I moved to the Boechler house on 5th Avenue, did light housekeeping, and stayed there until the end of my course.
School was going very well for me, and I enjoyed the bookkeeping course the most. I made a number of friends and we enjoyed skating, curling, going to movies, and Tech Collegiate dances. I would go home to Elstow every weekend to see Little Audrey, Mom & Dad, and to attend local dances.
There was a November 11th Remembrance Day dance at Colonsay, and my folks were not going to be home, so I went to Colonsay to see my grandparents (Anton & Natalia Dwornik). I went out on the Greyhound Bus, Uncle Frank met me and away we went to the dance. I had a great time and who should ask to take me home but Hubert Selby! So that was our first date. Of course, he drove me out to my grandparents' farm north of Colonsay, and that was the beginning of another chapter. The next date we had was when we went to see Barbara Ann Scott at the Saskatoon Ice Arena on 19th Street. She gave us a tremendous performance. No wonder she became an Olympic Champion.
In April, I started applying for jobs. I took a part-time job with Gerry Fitzgerald, the Ag. Rep. in Colonsay. Within a week, I was offered a full-time job as a stenographer for Dr. J. L. Millar at the Veterinary College at the University of Sask.
So it was back to Saskatoon and a two-room apartment at Mrs. Kemish's on Landsdowne Avenue. Three other ladies lived there in their own suites. Rita and Phyllis lived on the same floor as me, and Marion had her suite on the third floor. They were all teachers. I really enjoyed my time living there for over a year, until Mrs. Kemish's health failed. From there I stayed with Monica MacAffee on 14th St. Then I moved to Clarence Avenue, where I had a light housekeeping suite until the end of October 1951.
During my time in Saskatoon, I kept in touch with some of my new friends from Tech Collegiate and also made new friends at work: Joan Evenson, Eva Rothery, Irene Wynn, and the next year Rita Bourgeault. Joan married Fred Clark. Rita, in time, married Don Lawrence. There were a number of other girls who I worked alongside in the offices. Every month when we received our cheques, we would take a taxi downtown for lunch. It only cost us $0.25 each for the taxi. My monthly cheque was $112, and then in the fall, the union had our wages increased and mine became $146 every month. Quite a jump.
I had joined the local C.C.Y.M. Group, a youth movement of the C.C.F. political party, a forerunner of the N.D.P. (New Democratic Party). It was at that time that I made good friends with Pat Atkinson. We stayed in touch right to the present time. Her son, Jim Adams, married my cousin's daughter, Donna Mazurkewich, and so the friendship continued until Pat passed away in about 2017 or so.
By this time, my heart did belong to Hube, and I looked forward to the days when he would come to the city. Hube and his neighbour friend, Wes Yausie, would make a trip maybe once or twice a month. Wes would pick up his lady friend, Emma Serke, originally from Zelma, and along with Hube and I, and we would all go out for the evening. This continued until the fall of 1950 when Wes and Emma got married. While I was in Saskatoon, Hubert and I began planning our future. By Christmas of 1950, Hube and I were engaged.
In September 1951, the farm Hubert was renting had a terrible hail storm, so I did wonder if that would have a bearing on our wedding plans. Hubert said, "in no way". So we went ahead and made plans for November 9, 1951.
Hubert and me (1950)
Hube having a laugh
Out on a date (1949)
Hube and I always loved to dance.
- Chapter 5 -
Marriage
Our wedding was planned for November 9, 1951, to be held in the Elstow United Church at 1:45 pm, but I was late for it because of our clock on the farm. The clock was 15 minutes late, and Mom thought (“Was Sure”) it was the correct time. Fortunately, Hubert didn’t get too concerned, waited patiently at the altar, and we did get married. Adeline was my Maid of Honour and the flower girls were “Little Audrey” and cousin Iris Carlos. My mother made my wedding gown and the flower girls’ dresses. My wedding dress was made of a beautiful ivory velveteen which survived the years and my daughter Jacquie was able to wear it for her wedding, almost 30 years later, in 1980. Hubert’s best man was Ray Simmons. The ushers were Uncle Frank and Mason Simmons. Hubert’s mother was unable to attend because she broke her arm the week before and was in the hospital. The day was sunny and cool, with a small snowfall as we came out of the Church, which was better than confetti! A luncheon was held in the Agricultural Hall, and then it was off to Saskatoon for formal pictures. We came back to Colonsay for the wedding dance.
We spent that night back in Saskatoon at the Bessborough Hotel; in fact, we stayed there two nights. Then Ray and Mary Henderson picked us up in their car and off on our honeymoon. Ray and Mary, Hube’s sister, had been married the month before. Ray farmed near London, Ontario, and they were going to make their home out there. Hube and I spent over three weeks in Ontario, seeing Niagara Falls and Toronto, where we visited cousin Tom Carlos. We also spent some time at Ray and Mary’s farm. We came home on the C.P.R. (Canadian Pacific Railway) train on December 3. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were also on the train, travelling back from playing and unfortunately, losing the Grey Cup. We arrived home on a beautiful warm day, with the cars still running which meant the roads were still good to drive on with vehicles. Ray Simmons picked us up in his parent's car.
Our roads in those days were not for winter car travelling. Our usual winter transportation was two horses hitched up to a cutter (or caboose, as some people called them). Our cutter was comfortable, as there was a small, very small, stove in which we could burn both wood and coal. Hube’s parents’ cutter could hold five to six people. That is what we used for the first eight or so winters. Then our roads were built up to grid standards and became good for all kinds of winter travel. Hube’s parents had come out to the farm in 1921, to bald prairie. No trees, no buildings, nothing - so it was a bit heart wrenching, especially for Grandpa Selby, to leave the farm. Grandma Selby was happy to move to Colonsay in December of 1951.
We started out by buying all of Grandpa’s cows and pigs, on time of course. We didn’t have much money. I had a total of $500 saved from working in the city. Hube was renting land from Mr. Charlie Weston, which was 5 1/2 miles south of where we lived. We referred to this land as our "South Farm". Mr and Mrs Weston were friends of Grandpa and Grandma’s from long ago - since1918. Mr. Weston had also been in the First World War, as was Grandpa. Hube’s money was all in the Toronto Dominion Bank in Young, so before we were married, he went to close out his account to be transferred to the Colonsay Credit Union. They were not happy to do that, so rather than transferring the account, they gave him the money in twenty-dollar bills. They were not very nice. Hube said he sure watched his back when he left the bank.
Hube had bought his first vehicle in 1950 - a Ford one-ton truck from Jack Cranch. It was a very nice red truck. Currently, our youngest son Rex is restoring this truck. Before that, we would use his folks’ Ford car.
Married life included getting to know my in-laws and the people important in Hubert’s life, so here’s a little about them.
Grandpa Bert and Grandma Florence Selby were married April 11, 1916, in Bookham Church, in the County of Surrey, England. Grandpa was 27 and Grandma was 36. Nine years difference. This was while the First World War was still going on. The war was over in 1918. They came to Canada on March 22, 1918, back to the prairies and to the town of Zelma, Sask. Grandpa had first come to Canada in April 1912 and went back to England, after joining the army in 1914. They farmed south of Zelma for a short while, and in 1921 they purchased the soldier settlement half section of land for $4,400. This is where they brought up their two children, and where Hubert brought his wife, Evelyn, in 1951 to live. In 1952, Hube’s folks went to visit Mary and Ray near Komoka, Ontario.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellstead were close friends of the Selbys. They were also related by marriage because Grandpa Bert Selby's brother George was married to Mr. Charlie Wellstead's sister Mae, back in England. The Wellsteads lived in Young, and I became very close to Mrs. Wellstead as well. She was so very kind to me. Another very close friend of mine was Mrs. Hugh (Lydia) Blachford. She helped me so much when our children were young. When Grandma Selby passed away from cancer in 1953, Grandpa continued to come out to the farm, to help with the work. He loved to drive the tractor and he loved his grandchildren very much. He passed away in 1976.
Our wedding - Nov 9, 1951
Mom made my wedding dress exactly as I wanted. Almost 30 years later, Jacquie wore it on her wedding day.
Sister Audrey and Cousin Iris as my flower girls.
Allan and Lloyd Trimble sang at our Wedding. They later became very well known as the Trimble Tones.
Hubert's parents (Bert & Florence Selby)
Hubert's parents visiting Mary and Ray in Komoka, Ontario in 1952.
Mrs Wellstead - she was like a mother to me.
Mrs Blachford with Hubert's dad and my sister Audrey. Mrs Blachford was so good to me - she was like family.
Mr & Mrs Wellstead with Grandpa (Bert) Selby, Hubert, Rodney, & Garnet.
Bob Johnson and family.
- Chapter 6 -
Children - The Early Years
Hube worked hard. He so wanted to build up the farm, even though it still belonged to Grandpa Selby. Because of the hail in the fall of 1951, there was not much money coming in, just whatever grain was leftover from the previous year. We survived and never looked back. In 1952 we built our very first granary. It was one of the first 1,300 bushel round bins, and 1952 was the year of our first-born – Rodney. It seemed that every year we put up a new building, we also had a new addition to the family. Or vice versa.
Our firstborn, Rodney, was born on December 9, 1952. He was born in St. Paul’s Hospital, weighing 9 lbs 8 oz. What a joy! I was in the hospital for one week. That was how long all mothers with their little ones were kept in the hospital in those days. What a new experience for the two of us. Granted, I was still home when my little sister Audrey was brought home so I had some previous experience with a baby. But this time, we were completely responsible for this little human being. We had no running water, but neither did Mom and Dad when Audrey was brought home. We did so enjoy watching Rodney grow and become a little person.
Hubert was busy. He was slowly increasing the stock in the barn. It would take a few years to get to the size he wanted. I became more familiar with the community. We lived six miles from Colonsay, but there were eight families living along the way, so it was fun – always someone visiting. We had a good summer in 1952, even took a little trip out to Banff, Alberta, to visit the Johnsons. Hube and Bob were good childhood friends. Hube’s parents went out to Ontario to visit Mary and Ray, and then Grandma Selby found out she had cancer. It was a tough time for the family. She passed away in November 1953.
In 1953, I became pregnant again. On January 28, 1954, Garnet was born at 9 lbs 8 ¼ oz. As I said, every time we had an addition to the family, we built something. In 1954, we had three more round bins built.
Hube had increased the number of hogs to quite a few, and he decided we needed to build a larger barn. He was also keeping more heifers, so the cattle herd was also increasing. We had a large Quonset barn built in 1956. It was 70 feet x 40 feet, enough room to hold ten milk cows and extra hogs. On October 21, 1956, Timothy John was born. He was 8 lbs, 11 oz. There we go again. We had pigs all over the place because the barn wasn’t quite ready for them, so the poor sows stayed outside with shelter from the wind in the oat sheaf stacks.
Now we had three little boys. Grandpa Selby was still coming out to do his fieldwork, and Hubert was still renting land from Mr Weston. We were busy hauling market pigs to the city once or twice a month, only getting twenty or thirty dollars per hog, but it was money in the pocket. Our three little boys were so precious, and it was a joy to watch them playing.
In 1958, Mr Weston came out from Vancouver, and Hube asked him if we could buy his land. He did not want to sell it unless he got cash for it. We could do it, but we were short by $2,000. Thankfully, my parents loaned us the money. That summer we built an addition to our house, a bathroom and kitchen. Yes, on July 30, 1958, our little girl was born. She wasn’t so little. She was 8 lbs, 6 oz. Now we had Jacqueline Louise and more building being done. The boys were so delighted they had a baby sister. In the meantime, we were getting bigger machinery. I should mention that somewhere in these years, we had electricity brought into the yard. It had to be by 1956 because our barn was wired for the power.
We had no seat belts in those years. In our ton truck, we were packed in there like sardines: four children, Hube, and myself. We had quite the trips to the city. We always stopped for lunch on the way home at The Ambassador, and we would take in our quart of milk for the children. The owners never said a word about it. Just imagine! We got to know them quite well.
The boys all started school at Zelma because Colonsay was a Consolidated School district. When Rodney was going into Grade 5, Colonsay became part of the Saskatoon East School Unit, so our group all went to Colonsay. That included the Stanfords, Yausies, Mintkawetz, and Selbys. Then our three boys played hockey with the Colonsay boys.
In 1965, we had another little girl join our family. Candice Johanna was born on July 4, weighing 8 lbs 9 ½ oz and that was the year that the Machine Shed was built. Of course, we were happy to have another little girl. How she loved to dance with and for her daddy.
In February of 1967, we finally bought the farm where we lived. Grandpa Selby had worked so hard to pay for the land (over thirty years), so I can see why he didn’t want to part with it. The 1930's and some of the 1940's were hard years for the farmers.
In 1969 we had another addition to the farm and to the family. Rex was born on November 16 and we had our hog barn built. Rex weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. Before we were even married, I had told Hubert that I wanted six children, so I had my six. Having Rex at that time in our lives (Hube and I were 48 and 38 respectively) kept us young and active.
After that, we kept on building. We built our workshop in approximate 1972. Then in 2000, we started to build a greenhouse and finished it in 2002. It was attached to the house. Hubert and I enjoyed sitting in our greenhouse, enjoying our beautiful plants, for years.
The 1970s saw the children leaving home. Rodney was the first one. He went to work for a road construction outfit, driving a Euclid, and he was in his glory. When Garnet left, he went to Saskatoon and worked at Simpson Sears. Tim left, and he and Ken Rosher went to work at a sawmill at Flin Flon, Manitoba. Jacqueline went to Saskatoon and was a waitress for a year or so. Candice and Rex were younger so they left the farm in the 1980s. Candice went to the University of Saskatchewan, and Rex took a year off from school before he went onto his future.
Then there were two!
Jacquie with her doll carriage. The cat was always happy to go for a ride.
Tim and Jacquie with Hubert, getting ready for the new front step.
The boys ready to play hockey at the Colonsay rink.
Off to Sunday school - don't be late. Only the Clines were later than the Selbys.
Our second daughter Candice. (1965)
Family of seven.
Back: Garnet, Me, baby Candice, Hube & Rod; Front: Tim & Jacquie
Candice dancing for her Dad.
Candice - First day of school!
Finally got my sixth child, Rex (1969).
A little tough love for Rex here.
Rex in Grade 1.
Candice with Rex and the cats.
Rod in his glory on the Euclid; his 1st job in road construction. (1970)
Garnet on his graduation. (1972)
Tim on his graduation. (1974)
Jacquie on her graduation. (1976)
Family is complete - time for a family photo. Had to include our farm.
The Selby Clan (1972)
Back: Jacquie, Hubert, Evelyn (me) / Front: Tim, Candice, Rodney, Rex, Garnet
Hubert's birthday with family gathering.
Family has grown even more here at Hube's 65th birthday celebration in1986.
Marion Neubauer fed all of us at her restaurant.
Art Schatz, a close friend joined in. (His wife Hazel had already passed away.)
My Dad, Stan, was absent because he was in the hospital for minor surgery.
Uncle Ray with Jacquie, Tim, Rodney & Garnet.
Years later, Uncle Ray with Rod, Tim, Garnet, Jacquie.
Baling day. Back: Theodore Brossart, Wes Yausie, Hube, Grandpa Herbert
Front: John Brossart, Rod, Garnet, Jacquie, & Tim
The CCIL combine. Hubert with Candice, Uncle Ray driving, me at the side. (late 1960's)
- Chapter 7 -
Children - Grown Up
Yes, the children have grown up. It is almost like we had two families. The first four and then the last two. I know the first four were our practice run, so maybe we were a bit harder on them than the second run. Also, the finances were a bit different by then. It was what it was, times were changing as were we.
They always came home, if they could, for special occasions. But they also had their lives to live. When we did get together, it was wonderful. To have a house full of family, was what I had always dreamed about!!!
I am hoping each and everyone will write their own version of their lives. It will be something to read. To me, their lives are varied. Each one different, as each child is different, but most interesting. I am so proud of all of you! As one teacher said, “You done good.”
By our 40th Anniversary, our kids were pretty much grown up.
Although they didn't always act it.
Back: Tim, Garnet, Candice / Front: Rex, Rod, Jacquie
The whole gang at our 40th anniversary. (1991)
Back: Laurie, Jacquie (sitting), Cory, Rod, Anne, Rex, Garnet, & Cathy
Front: Tim, Evelyn (me), Hube, & Candice
Our immediate family at my Dad's funeral. (2006)
Back: Tim, Rex, Rod, & Garnet
Front: Candice, Evelyn (me), Hube, & Jacquie
The boys with Hube on his 65th.
Back: Tim & Garnet
Front: Rex, Hube, & Rod
Hubert with his girls: Jacquie & Candice.
Back: Tim, Garnet, photo bombers "Hannah Hands" & "Carmen Face"
Front: Rod, Evelyn (me), & Rex
With my girls: Jacquie & Candice
These photos taken on Hube's 90th.
Candice and Hube
Rex and Hube
Hube and Candice
Rex and me
- Chapter 7.1 -
Rodney
Rodney Morley, our first baby, was born Dec 9, 1952. As a little boy, he would spend his time with his Daddy. Rodney would work right along side Hubert making chop by shovelling grain into the chopper. This chopped grain was fed to all of the animals. He also helped his Dad with the chores and believe me, there were lots of chores on our mixed farm.
Rodney's brother Garnet came along 12 months behind him. They each had their own tricycle. They had many hours of play on these bikes and when their younger brother, Timothy, came along, they would all tear around the kitchen table leaving many bruises on the cupboards. They had fun!
Rodney and Garnet were paid an allowance to feed the chickens and collect the eggs. Rodney jumped at the chance to make some money and before long he had enough to buy a 2-wheel bicycle. His pride and joy! However, due to his misfortune of parking it behind Grandpa Bert's car, it got backed over. Grandpa scraped up enough money to buy a new bike to replace it. Grandpa Bert is a special part of Rodney's memories. He loved the sleepovers at Grandpa's in Colonsay. He would roll cigarettes for him, eat his arrowroot cookies, and just hang out with his Grandpa.
The farmhouse only had 2 bedrooms so as the family grew, the boys moved into the basement and in the summertime, they would sleep out in the bunkhouse. One summer morning, Rodney and Garnet could hear their Mom screaming for help in the barnyard. Hubert was being attacked by the bull! Rodney, on only his bare feet, was first on the scene. Garnet was not too far behind. They and their dogs took the bull's mind off of their Dad. Wes Yausie came and helped to load that bull and it was soon off to market! Rodney was just 10 or so when he jumped in the moving one-ton '49 Ford Truck and applied the brakes to stop it from barreling down into the pig pasture and slough. Along with their farm chores, there was always the job of getting rid of the gophers in the pasture. Many hours were spent with their dogs, Smokey, Sandy, and Nap, drowning those gophers out of their holes.
Rodney started school when he was six. Being born in Dec he would've been only five starting in Sept, and that wasn't allowed. At that time, Colonsay School was in its own district. So where we lived was one mile too far south of that district. Along with our neighbours to the south, Rodney attended Zelma School. He joined the baseball team. So much fun! The team even had their own little grey uniforms. Rodney's positions were field, third base, and he even tried pitching. Bruce Murray and Walter Stanford were his coaches. To get to the school he had to ride on benches in the back of a covered half-ton truck. It was so dusty in the summer. In the wintert, he remembers riding in a Bombardier. Mel Stanford was his bus driver. One time Hubert had to take Rodney on the stoneboat by horse to Wes Yausie's farm one mile south to catch a ride to school. Wes was another bus driver and he drove a big blue station wagon with four rows of seats in it.
Our Selby Farm is 6 miles south of Colonsay and 6 miles north of Zelma. When Colonsay joined the Saskatoon East School Unit, we and our neighbours sent the children to Colonsay. Rodney was in Grade 5. There wasn't a gymnasium in the Colonsay School so all of the sports were outside or at the Colonsay Rink. Rodney loved to skate and played hockey until he was 14. He enjoyed curling for fun. He wasn't much for competition though, so around this time, Rodney joined the school band and played the brass wind baritone horn. That made Grandpa Bert happy because he played the trumpet and bugle. The school band played for the grand opening of Dr. Bicum Park in about 1969. (When Rodney was 23 he took up broomball and enjoyed this for another seven years.)
Rodney would meet a whole new group of students by joining the Colonsay School. By Grade 9 they had some very good friendships; both girls and boys. Don Pidlisney, Glen Modenhauer, Dan McVicar, Cameron Yausie, Wendy Cranch, Shelley Kirk, Kathy Stark, and of course Rodney's most favourite friend was a young lady by the name of Anne Brochu. This group would go to dances and drive around town and down the backroads.
Rodney's first vehicle was a 1968 Ford half-ton truck which he bought half with his Dad. Rodney's first car was a rust-coloured 2-door Mercury Meteor Montcalm 1966.
Rodney worked for a highway construction company when he finished his schooling. In 1969 he drove a Euclid, building highways for GMW Company for 2 years. In the dead of winter, Rodney and Cameron Yausie set off to take one of these Euclids to Wabowden, Manitoba. It was -40 degrees celsius and yes, there were issues along the way! However, they made the trip there and back, generally safe and sound.
Rodney wanted to farm and so he bought a cultivator and tractor with his construction pay. He started farming with Grandpa Stan in 1971. Stanley and Minnie had moved to Saskatoon in the 1950's and rented out their farmhouse. Grandpa Stan would come out and work on the land for several years until he decided to have an Auction Sale in 1991.
Anne Brochu grew up on the Brochu Farm east of Colonsay. After she finished school, she moved to Humboldt for two years and worked as a dental assistant. Then Rodney and Anne decided to make a life together, so in 1973 on Oct 20th, they got married in Colonsay and moved to Stan and Min Dwornik's farm across the highway from Elstow.
A baby boy, Cory Ray, came into Rod and Anne's life on Nov 20th, 1977. Cory started playschool in 1981 in Colonsay. Grandma Evelyn attended his field days (Playdays) up until his 6th grade. Cory participated in broad jump, triple jump, and racing. So much fun! In high school, he was involved in shot put, discus, and javelin. Cory was also involved in hockey until he was 14. Rodney made sure that they had pigs and sheep on their farm so Cory knew what chores were and how extra cash could be made. During the summer much time was spent at Grandpa Hubert and Grandma Evelyn's (our) farm picking rocks, picking bales, and feeding the animals.
When Cory graduated in 1996, he started working for the Colonsay RM as a grader operator. He lived at our farm in the little white house for a year. He moved to Whitecourt, Alberta in Jan of 1998 for two years and worked on the oil rigs. He left for Australia for a year and upon return had various jobs. He then started a job for Jillian Construction in Edmonton, where he still works today. He is a superintendent and oversees and runs various construction projects. He met his partner Kim Armstrong in 2012 and they currently live in Edmonton.
Along with raising Cory with Rodney, Anne has been an amazing life partner. Being the wife of a farmer and holding down several jobs in Saskatoon over the years has kept her very busy. While Rodney worked on the land, Anne was always working in their yard and garden. A lovely groomed yard is proof of their hard work! Anne retired from her other jobs to work solely on their farm in 2005. And of course, Anne has always been there to lend a hand in driving the grain truck and also as the chauffeur moving trucks around since the land was always "miles away", even as far as the Zelma area.
Now let's talk about Rodney's farming life! Rod and Anne have always had amazing friends and neighbours; always helping each other out. He started out renting land from Grandpa Stan and eventually purchased that land. Since 1991, Rodney farmed "The North Farm", which was actually Uncle John and Aunt Marie Dwornik's farm, which Hubert had purchased in the 1960's. Rodney purchased land by the Zelma Reservoir beside Hubert and Evelyn's "South Farm". As we (Hubert) decided to retire, Rodney took over farming our home section. This left Hubert and me farming just the South Farm for a few years. Eventually, Rodney took that over too. As was said earlier "a lot of miles apart". All the way from Elstow to Zelma Reservoir. Anne's sister, Joanne, and brother-in-law, Wes, have been a crucial part of their farm life. Wes has been there at harvest for many, many years, taking his holidays just to truck the grain. Cory has also played a big part in helping his Dad and Mom, taking time off of his work schedule to come home for seeding and harvest.
Now Rodney has semi-retired. Only farming his home quarter and Evelyn's home section which as of 2021 is now considered a 100-year Pioneer Farmstead since Grandpa Bert purchased it in 1921. In 2021 Rodney and Anne have been farming for 50 years. Rodney's hobbies include snowmobiling, hunting, and fishing. Instead of buying a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, he decided to purchase his newfound treasure, a "Yellow Ford Mustang Car".
Rodney and Anne built their new house in 1997 and tore down the old one in 1998. This was a well deserved and welcome change after 24 years. After years of using cisterns as a water supply, now a water pipeline from Saskatoon ensures good drinking water and no more hauling with truck and tank on trailer. Rodney and Anne thoroughly enjoy their new house and it should prove to be an excellent retirement home.
Anne & Rod
Rod & Anne
Family photo
Kim and Cory
Funny Cory.
Family photo.
Cory's graduation
My handsome grown-up grandson, Cory.
Rod & Anne's new house, with Anne's beautiful flower garden in full bloom. (approx 2020)
Rod & Anne's farm yard before the new house. (approx 1985)
- Chapter 7.2 -
Garnet
Garnet Hugo was born on January 28, 1954. Garnet found school quite easy and was a bright student. He was also athletic and played hockey and football in high school. When he was in Grade 12, he went to Provincials for football. It was an exciting trip and game. His little sister Candice travelled with her parents to watch the game. Once Garnet finished school, he wanted to travel the world. He spent a few months hitchhiking around Europe and was able to spend some of this time travelling with my sister, Audrey, who has always been closer in age to my older boys than to me.
After trying his hand at farming and working at the Potash mine, he eventually decided to move to the Maritimes and took a carpentry course. He made beautiful pieces of furniture and luckily he had sent a beautiful chest of drawers to us as an anniversary present from the kids. I say luckily, because, tragedy struck and the house that he and some friends were renting, had a fire and he lost all of his possessions, including all of his carpentry work and other personal items like photos, to the fire. At this point, he decided to move back West. He first moved back to Colonsay and worked for the town doing a great job on all of the maintenance required, including planting trees. He expected to live there long enough that he decided to buy an RTM (Ready to Move) house and set up his home in Colonsay. Eventually, he decided to make a home in Edmonton, Alberta, where he put his carpentry work to good use in the construction industry. He also met Cathy Calder and eventually they married and had two sons, Mitchell born August 5, 1993, and Bryan born April 9, 1996. Currently, both Mitchell and Bryan are working on becoming Electricians. Cathy is a hairstylist and continues to teach water aerobics. Garnet has been working in the construction industry for the past three decades, doing all sorts of high-end trades, including finishing carpentry, plumbing, painting, etc. You name it, he does it. A handyman of all trades.
Garnet loves hunting and fishing so when he isn’t doing a renovation on his house or tinkering in his garage, you might find him out on a fishing trip, with Bryan often joining him. Lately, he has taken up a new hobby of autobody work. He does this for his and the boys' vehicles and has become quite proficient. He does good work. When he has had enough of working, he likes to relax in front of the TV and watch all sorts of sports.
Uncle Tim with Mitchell, Garnet & Bryan
Garnet holding Bryan, Cathy in back, Mitchell on step, & Evelyn (me)
Garnet, Cathy, Bryan, Mitchell, Evelyn (me), Jacquie, & Hubert
Cathy, Mitchell, Bryan, Jacquie, Garnet, & Evelyn (me)
- Chapter 7.3 -
Tim
Timothy John was born on October 21, 1956. Tim was always and continues to be the joker of the family. I think this side of him must come from Hubert. From a very early age, Tim was quick-witted and clever. Always making us laugh and finding the light side of things. For example, when friends of his younger sister, Candice, would call, he would answer the phone in a high pitched voice, pretending to be her. It never fooled anyone but he found it funny and it made others laugh, and certainly embarrassed his little sister. He used to tease and tease and tease the younger siblings.
Tim wasn’t all fun and jokes. In high school, he decided to get involved in politics and become the President of the SRC (Student Representative Council). This was at a particularly challenging time at the school, when there was a difficult principal. Eventually, the community was able to have this principal replaced. We were very proud of Tim for sticking up for his and his fellow students’ rights and pushing for change.
Tim also decided to travel the world after school and hitchhiked around Europe for many months prior to taking up residence and working on a Kibbutz in Israel.
When Tim returned to Canada, he became an electrician and took over Shirley’s Electric in Colonsay and had his own business for a number of years. He then decided to expand his trade and took his Instrumentation Diploma at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) in Edmonton. He worked at a number of jobs using both his electrician and instrumentation trades. At one point in time, he was even able to work in Vancouver for a number of months and lived with his sister Candice and her then roommates. He spent a number of years in Leduc working in the oil industry. Eventually, his love of travel, and love of diving lured him to work internationally in the oil industry, where he could work for a number of weeks on, and then spend his weeks off following his passion of diving. This eventually led him to set up his home in Roatan, Honduras. Here he met his wife Alicia and had a ready-made family with her son Dillow. They have since renovated a building for medium-term boarders and built and operate the Bay Side Hotel across from Halfmoon Bay in the lovely town of West End, Roatan. They also keep very busy with their retail business of tourist trinkets in the hotel shop and also at the Cruise Ship terminal. Dillow was studying at university in Costa Rica. He has since returned back to Roatan and is currently looking after the hotel for his parents.
Tim comes home to visit every couple of years and most of his siblings have been able to visit him in his tropical paradise. I have been fortunate enough to visit him three times in Roatan. I have really enjoyed getting to know Alicia and Dillow on my last two visits. Alicia is an amazing cook and all of us have thoroughly enjoyed our stays with them over the years.
Tim in the 1990's
Alicia and Tim
Alicia, Tim, and Dillow in Roatan, their home.
Another family photo.
- Chapter 7.4 -
Jacquie
Jacqueline Louise was born on July 30th, 1958. Her first teddy bear was actually a little plush elephant named Nellie! Jacquie loved to play with her dolly in her little wooden crib. She loved making mud pies, playing in the sand pile with her brother Tim, and hanging out in the barn. As she grew up she spent time trapping gophers with Tim for a dime a tail! Stooking, baling, and picking rocks was fun too. Hubert would often take Jacquie in the Deutz tractor for the day of cultivating. Her little blue "girl's" bike kept her busy in the summertime. Watering and feeding the chickens as a youngster, then graduating to watering and feeding the pigs. She loved the big old sows and their baby piglets, collecting and cleaning the eggs, and sending the pigs off to market, which gave her an allowance so could buy the extra clothes she wanted.
At five years old, she took "Brownies" however when she turned six, she wanted to twirl a baton. So she twirled until the age of 14. She loved every sport however fastball was her favourite. Jacquie graduated grade 12 in 1976 and moved to the big city of Saskatoon and worked as a waitress. Realizing her heart was in the country, she moved back to Colonsay and got a job with a general contractor, Mac Duff. This is where she took on the role of a sheet metal fabricator. This was at the time when the diesel furnaces were changed over to natural gas furnaces. Jacquie learned how to use many different tools and improve her painting skills at this time. She also worked at the potash mine for Duff as a labourer.
At the age of 22, she fell in love with Laurie Meddins and they were married on June 28, 1980. They moved onto his Mom and Dad's farm south of Viscount and began farming with their parents' help. For income in addition to the farm, they started a contracting business of yard maintenance, house cleaning, painting, and any other extra work they could get. While Jacquie was bookkeeping for her brother Tim and a couple of other companies, she got her school bus driver's license and started a full-time local rural route for Viscount in 1995. In 2006, Jacquie applied at Viscount School to become a part-time Education Aide.
Laurie's health failed and Jacquie lost him in the Spring of 2007. She continued farming and then started operating machinery for the neighbours as well. Jacquie took on the role of helping her mother-in-law (Gladys Meddins) until Gladys's daughter moved her to Calgary.
As Hubert and I aged, Jacquie has always been available to drive us to our appointments and help us with the farm, house, and general care as needed. In 2014, Hubert passed away. So when I decided to move into Colonsay in 2016, Jacquie helped me with the move and continues to take me to my appointments, and be my travel and daily companion, etc.
Laurie and Jacquie never had any children, however, her nieces and nephews have given her so much pleasure. She loves spending time with all of them. Jacquie still lives on her farm and thoroughly enjoys it, as well as driving the School Bus and spending time at the school as an Educational Aide.
Jacquie will always be my "Daughter" but at this stage in life, she has become a good friend and companion and we spend many hours in each other's company. I am so grateful for our friendship. I must have raised her well. Ha Ha!
Jacquie and Laurie on their wedding day.
Jacquie wore my wedding dress, which my Mom made almost 30 years prior.
Laurie and Jacquie, out-standing in their field.
Jacquie became very close with her mother-in-law, Gladys Meddins.
- Chapter 7.5 -
Candice
Candice Johanna was born on July 4, 1965. She was due July 1 and was supposed to be a Canada Day baby, but decided to hold off her arrival until the United States' Independence Day. She was born 7 years after her closest older sibling Jacquie, so there was quite a gap. Since Rex was only 4 years younger, they were kind of like our second family. The older kids had all moved away by the time Candice was around 11 years old. We had more money and more time with the younger two, so they went on a lot more trips than the older ones, including: Southern States, Alaska, Hawaii, and lots of Canada. All of these trips were in the Camper or Motorhome, except for Hawaii. Candice would get frustrated when we didn’t drive very far on any given day. She recalls once when we started out in the Motorhome and she decided to take a nap. When she woke up, she asked if we were there yet and wasn’t very happy to discover we had only driven a few miles and stopped so Hube could have a cup of tea.
Candice was involved in 4-H for many years – mostly sewing. She played a few sports but mostly volleyball in high school. We enjoyed taking her and some of her teammates to their weekend tournaments, often using the Motorhome. As for the rest of their teen years, we were a little more relaxed with rules so they got a little more freedom than the older ones, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
When she was 17 years old, she went on a Lion’s Club exchange to Japan and had an amazing experience. She has kept in touch with one of her host families (Kunio) until this day. Candice enjoyed her schooling and being the President of her SRC (School Representative Council) in Grade 12.
After high school, Candice received her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan. There again, she enjoyed her time involved with the Commerce Students’ Society as the “Third Year Rep” and then "President" in her fourth and final year.
After university, she moved to Vancouver and became a Chartered Accountant. She lived there for a little over 10 years during which time she moved from Public Practice in Accounting, to working in Industry for a bottled water company, and then to Private Equity, where she travelled quite a bit to Europe for work. She ended up taking a position for a different company in Calgary, where she first started working for and then fell in love, with Jim Grenon, her life partner for the last twenty-plus years. Jim’s children Christine and Aleck came into her life and we instantly had two lovely new grandchildren. Jim comes from a large family – nine children total, so Candice also gained a large loving extended family.
Hannah and Carmen were born in 2005 and 2007 and completed their family. In 2012, Candice, Jim and the two younger children moved to Auckland, New Zealand for a lifestyle change. They have been able to come back and visit often and stay very connected with family and friends. Candice and Jim both love to travel and have made that a priority throughout their lives together. They often travel with extended family and large workgroups. They also love to host parties and have quite extensive social and business commitments. Since moving to NZ, Candice stopped working outside of the home and loves being a stay-at-home mom.
Hubert and I have gone on a few trips with them and visited them often at their home in Calgary. Since Hubert’s passing, I have joined them on various trips to Europe and spent three Christmases with them in New Zealand. Although they are physically a long way away, generally we see each other frequently, and I have been fortunate to spend lots of time with all four of their children as they grow up.
During 2020, there were a number of changes to their lives, starting with the onset of Covid-19 and no travel outside of New Zealand, which was quite an adjustment. As had been the plan for a while, Christine and Matt (recently engaged) moved to live in New Zealand and make their lives there. Aleck finished his Business Degree and started working at Jim's company, TOM Capital. Due to Covid-19, their family got a wonderful December 2020 Christmas present with the arrival of Aleck in New Zealand to "work from home", as was happening at the time in Calgary, although with much earlier starting hours for him. This was the first time since 2012 where the whole family not only lived in the same city, but also the same home. What a wonderful opportunity for all of them. Aleck returned to Calgary in July 2021.
As for the younger girls, both enjoy attending Takapuna Grammar School (high school). Hannah spends her spare time with choir, musical theatre, surf lifesaving, and netball. Carmen focuses on a long list of sports including: basketball, netball, water polo, and also surf lifesaving and netball. Jim is able to keep involved in his various businesses from a distance, and Candice continues to focus her efforts on parenting and homemaking. Everyone really misses travelling and spending time with extended family and looks forward to reuniting with a long overdue visit back to Canada in the very near future.
Candice at her University of Saskatchewan, Bachelor of Commerce graduation (1987)
With Candice in Vancouver at her Chartered Accountant Convocation (1990)
Candice and Jim (1999)
Jim, Candice, Aleck & Christine. (2002)
Together in New Zealand, Feb 2021
Hannah, Jim, Candice, Aleck, Christy & Carmen
Hannah, Candice, Aleck, Jim, Carmen, Christy (Asher in arms) & Matt
- Chapter 7.6 -
Rex
Rex Fraser Selby was born at 12:02 am on November 16, 1969, and is our youngest child.
In his early years, Rex liked to play with his toy cars in the sandpit by the power pole and loved hanging out with his dog Charlie that Aunt Audrey gave to him. Rex was quite the pumpkin farmer and he had a lucrative business selling them along with trapping gophers for one cent a tail. Rex was fond of animals and had a variety of pets including Stomper the Skunk, George the raccoon, wild ducks, jackrabbits, and anything else that Hubert rescued in the field. While Rex was looking after Rodney’s dog Fred (the German Shepard) and Tim’s dog Ginger (the Doberman), Coco was conceived. Rex didn’t realize that perhaps the dogs should have been staying apart during their visit together.
Elementary School was challenging for Rex, but he always tried his very best to complete the work asked by his teachers. I would read Curious George and Charlie Brown books to Rex at bedtime to encourage a love of reading. Rex was always busy before and after school helping us on the farm. When Rex reached junior high, he became very involved in extracurricular activities in the school. Cross Country Running, Volleyball, Curling, Basketball, Track and Field, SRC, S.A.D.D., and Drama Productions kept Rex very involved and he enjoyed being an active member of Colonsay School. Rex made lifelong friends in school and has many memories of canoe trips with Mel Ryan and the annual “Let’s Get Smashed Bash” up the road at the Shier farm. Rex worked diligently in high school and his hard work was rewarded by being on the Honor Roll, which made all of us very proud. In June 1987, Rex graduated from Colonsay School with a Grade 12 diploma.
After graduation, Rex stayed in Colonsay and continued helping us on the family farm. Rex decided to further his education at the University of Manitoba in the fall of 1988 to pursue Mathematics and Science coursework. Rex decided after two years of University to go on an adventure and he joined the Canada World Youth Exchange Program and headed off to Port Alberni, BC to volunteer at a Fish Hatchery and Senior Citizen home with his friend Teddy from Indonesia. Rex then travelled to Lombok, Indonesia for five months to build bathrooms, roads, and immerse himself in the life of an Indonesian villager. Upon his return to Canada, Rex continued to work in the human services field with the Cooperative Youth Program, 4H program, Canadian Caribbean Agricultural Youth Exchange program, and working as a Daycare provider.
Rex married Elise Dionne and welcomed her son, Rylan in 1994 and they moved out east so Rex could pursue an Education Degree at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. Rex and Elise went on to have Brett Dylan on September 19, 1994, and Celine Renee on September 27, 1997. After Rex convocated in 1998, they moved back to Saskatchewan to be closer to family, and he began his teaching career in Langenburg, Saskatchewan. Rex and Elise went their separate ways and divorced in 2003, but Rex was a very loving father and continued to spend as much time as possible with Brett and Celine. In his early years, Brett was active in hockey, volleyball, track and field, and later Triathlon at the Saskatchewan Summer Games. Celine loved dancing, music, volleyball, basketball, and spending time with friends.
In 2005, Rex met Karen Braaten through mutual friends and together they made a family in Saskatoon, and Karen fell in love with not only Rex, but Brett and Celine too. They have been together ever since.
Rex has taught almost every subject in the Sask curriculum during his teaching positions at Weyburn, Patuanak, Young, Imperial, and currently Bruno, but prefers to teach Physics, Mathematics, and Physical Education. In addition to teaching, Rex loves being a coach. He coaches high school cross country running, volleyball, and track and field. His athletes love his energy and enthusiasm and refer to him as “Selby”. Rex has coached at summer camps for Volleyball for many years and thoroughly enjoys working with young athletes and learning alongside other coaches. He also coached at many Sask Summer Games and in 2012 his team won a Gold medal in Girls Volleyball.
Rex and Karen are so proud of Brett and Celine and who they have become. They feel so fortunate to have them close to home and visit with them as much as possible.
Brett married Morgan Doucette in June 2019 on my Selby family farm and now reside in their own acreage just north of Colonsay. Brett works at the Allan Potash Mine and Morgan works at Combine World near Elstow. To everyone’s delight, Zeke Berrix Selby was born on October 23, 2019, and Rex and Karen became proud grandparents. Brett and Morgan love the outdoors and spending time with family.
Celine accepted a Volleyball Scholarship to Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and convocated with a Commerce Degree in May 2019. She was valedictorian for her class and received academic awards. After returning to Saskatchewan, Celine is now pursuing a career in naturopathic medicine. She lives with her boyfriend, Wyatt Arndt, who is attending the University of Saskatchewan in the field of Agriculture.
Rex and Karen enjoy their school holidays together and have travelled abroad with Brett and Celine as well as a couple. They enjoy cruising in their convertible with their rescue dog, Mikasa, and visiting with friends and family.
Rex with Brett at 4 months.
Rex with Celine on his University Graduation Day (1998)
Picking apples with Rylan and Brett.
Brett, Celine & Rex.
Family Photo 2021: Brett, Zeke, Morgan, Rex, Karen, Celine & Wyatt
The whole gang 2021: Brett, Zeke, Morgan, Karen, Rex, Celine & Wyatt
(Special appearance by Tank, Sadie & Mikasa)
- Chapter 8 -
Life on the Farm
The house you see in this chapter is the home that I came to live in, in 1951. The wind charger beside the house is what supplied some electricity to the house and powered the lights. When the wind blew, the batteries in the cellar were charged. It was a 32 volt system. If it was a very windy day, one could even wash and iron clothes. If I couldn’t use an electric iron, I used flat irons heated by being placed on the hot wood stove. Of course in those days, we had to iron our shirts, blouses, skirts – everything! Not many people on our road had that system. The power came into our area in 1953 and it certainly was a big help to us and all of our neighbours. I believe that the natural gas came into our area in about 1979. This was another advancement on the farm, hugely improving our heating system over the diesel one we were using prior to that.
When we started farming, we had about four cows, three sows, and two horses. We had a small cow barn, where we also kept the sows, and at the other end of the barn, the two horses. We slowly built up our herd. Eventually, Hube had so many cows, there was no more room, so by 1956, we had to build a large barn. It held all of our milking cows and about six sows and their little ones. We still kept the old barn for the rest of the herd. Then he bought a milking machine. What FUN!!! The cows were scared of it!!! He would milk the cows then bring it to the house where I put it through the cream separator. We were selling about three five-gallon cans of cream every two weeks. We didn’t get much money for the can of cream initially, about eight dollars, but it was money. After a few years, the price went up quite a bit. The cream was picked up at our door for a few years, after that, we had to ship it by train to Saskatoon.
We also had turkeys; in fact, we hatched our own. Sold them in the fall after we had slaughtered them and dressed them out. Some years we had as many as 30 turkeys. That was “my money”, the rest of the money was “ours”. Hube never had any of his own. We also sold eggs because we had chicken hens in the barn upstairs. That was also “my money”, until the children started looking after the chickens and then it was their money.
Of course, we had cats by the score. Always in the barn, never in the house. Always two or three dogs - the boys had to have their own special dogs. Talking about animals, the most hogs we had on the place was about four hundred at one time. By that time we had built the hog barn. That was in 1969, the year Rex was born.
As the children were growing up, they always brought home wild baby animals. (Hubert brought them home for the kids too.) Crows, rabbits, wild baby geese, baby ducks, two raccoons, one skunk. Of course, not all at the same time. There was usually some wild animal at the farm. The two baby geese grew up, flew away in the Fall and came back the following Springs. One racoon lived for two and a half years. The skunk, named Stomper, was around for a couple of years. Never de-scented and never had a big accident.
As our boys were growing up, they enjoyed hunting, skidooing, and hockey – always busy. The girls were into 4-H and learned to sew very well, no thanks to me. All of the kids were involved in sports at school. Fun times for us parents too, going to all those different games.
We had Theodore Brossart do the baling on the farm for many years. Then Hube and Wes Yausie purchased their own baler and with their sons, did the work themselves. Every year for many years, the Frederickson family came out from town to help pick bales. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun too.
We always grew a big garden with lots of potatoes, enough for us as well as for Ron and Iris’s family. After the Frederickson kids and our kids grew up and moved away, we needed other help so we would phone some of the boys in town to come out and help pick the bales: Bruce Helmkey, Michael Newbauer, Dean Rourke, & Shane Richards. Those boys really worked hard so I made sure they would get a good dinner and supper on those days. As time went on, we decreased the size of our garden but I still have one to this day. Everyone in the family has had a chance to pick and eat those delicious baby potatoes from the garden - even the grandchildren, and soon my Great Grandson Zeke will too.
One big project for our family in the Spring was picking rocks. Hube did not have a rock picker, he had anywhere from one to five rock pickers. The last few years it was one rock picker – me! No, I am wrong. There were a number of other rock pickers besides our family. Again, we phoned some of the young high school people. I know we had Curtis Whitrow here a lot of times, then his brother Jason and sister Jennifer; also Ryley Fraser, Jeff Kowalski, Braden Buckingham, and others.
Over the years that Hube and I were farming, there were so many advancements in the equipment we used. When we first started out, Hube used a "one-way" (a type of seeding machine) to plant the crop. We then advanced to the drill you see in photos, and eventually progressed to the even more advanced and sophisticated drilling equipment that Rodney used in the later years when he took over doing all the farm work. There was a big change in all of the implements used, from the spring work to the harvest season. We first hauled our grain with a one-ton truck to the Zelma Wheat Pool and to the Colonsay Pool elevators. Then we bought a two-ton truck and used it for a while. Some years later, Hube and Rodney bought a tandem truck, and Rodney hauled the grain. Harvesting the crops started with a basic threshing machine in the 20's through 50's, advanced to using our new advanced CCIL Claas combine in the 60's and then to Rodney's further advanced John Deere air-conditioned combine sometime in the 1990's. We also continued to expand the size of our land. We purchased three more quarters of land north of Colonsay in 1967. Then in 1971, we purchased one quarter section adjoining to our land, from Roy Plotzki. We finished completing our full section in 1991 by purchasing the last quarter from Roy and Judy Moldenhauer. Sometime in the 1990's, we bought five more quarters from my Mom and Dad Dwornik. By that time Rodney was doing the majority of the land work and Hubert was his right-hand man.
One thing about our harvests was the busy time of taking out meals to the combines and trucks. The men did not have time to come in for supper, so I usually took the meals out to the field. When just Hube and I were at it, I would do the trucking, Hube the combining, and we would just have sandwiches. The camper, and later the motorhome, were great at that time, too; we could stop and eat our meal in the comfort of the motorhome, rather than just sitting in the cab of the equipment. By then we weren't in quite so much of a rush to finish harvest. Somehow we knew it would get done and there was time to stop to eat, and sometimes even time for Hube to enjoy a cup of tea.
We continued to add buildings to the farm even after we stopped having kids. We added the Workshop in 1977, which was a great place for Hube to tinker on his machines, and for us to store additional equipment and the Motorhome in the winter. We started building the greenhouse, as an addition to our house, in 2000. The greenhouse was something Hubert always wanted. He was nearly eighty years old when we started, and we did not finish until 2002. We just use it to grow flowers for our own enjoyment. We can enter it directly from our house. We spent many hours and many afternoons sitting in our greenhouse together, enjoying our lovely plants.
Hube and I were, and I still am, very proud of our farm and our accomplishments, which we could not have achieved, had it not been for our family. Our family was, and is, everything to us.
Toasty warm on the inside.
Winter 1997
The machine shed going up. Built in 1965 when Candice was born.
The machine shed completed.
Building the greenhouse (2000 - 2002)
Greenhouse completed.
With George the raccoon.
With Stomper the skunk.
With one of the wild ducks that we raised, which migrated home annually for a few years.
Candice & Rex with the chickens.
Hubert driving the Deutz tractor pulling the press drill. (1960's - 1990's)
Rodney with his seeding equipment. (1990's - 2000's)
Garnet built the ramp in 2014 for Hubert.
Our beautiful crabapple tree blooms every year.
Hubert with the bale elevator
The Frederickson family came annually for a number of years to help pitch bales.
By Tractor: Tim, Jackie F; Front of bale rack: Hube, Jacquie, & Evelyn (me)
Top, left to right: Mona, Cindy, Candice, Rex, Trish (in Ron's lap), Ron, & Iris
Hube and I were a team on the farm. He was in charge of the outside work.
But I helped out lots.
I was in charge of the inside work.
But he always did the carving! (And first tasting...)
Garnet, Garlin Olsen & Hube butchering.
Cutting meat (1981): Rodney, Tim, Hube & Rex.
Tim cleaned and set up this old wagon for me in 2013, to turn into my current lovely flower wagon.
See the hog barn in back. This was built in 1969 when Rex was born. We put up the chop bin (where the men are working) the following Spring.
Building the workshop. (1977)
The house from the south, prior to adding the deck and the greenhouse.
We added the deck in 1987, the year Rex graduated.
Hubert with the old "two-ton" and the new "three-ton" truck (new in the 1980"s). He is cleaning grain the "old way" here in 2008 for fun. Pretty good for someone who had heart surgery 2 years prior.
The biggest of our trucks, the "Tandem", purchased jointly with Rodney in 2005.
A frosty winter day 2021.
Path to chicken house and corral.
Replace with Google Doc. Try to make sizing look sensible.
Cutter and horses (Maude & Barney) that Hubert and I purchased from his Dad when we started farming.
Threshing equipment (Used before my time, approx 1925 - 1950)
The house that I moved into in 1951, with the bunkhouse on the left and the cutter on the right. The tall tower is the wind charger that provided electricity to our house and powered the lights.
View of the house from the south-east corner of the yard.
The original hog barn as seen from the house.
The original hog barn as seen from the south-east corner of the yard.
Hubert with his first swather and the "Minnie" (Minneapolis) tractor.
Hubert with the John Deere combine and tractor and his first truck (the 1949 Ford "one-ton" truck). The swather and combine were purchased in the 1940's from a couple of local dealers in Colonsay.
The green "CCIL Claas Combine" (purchased in 1967) on the left, waiting to unload grain into our two-ton Ford Truck, once Stan/Rod's (dad/son's) red "Massey Combine" is finished in the back.
The "Co-op Implements Combine" was purchased in 1977.
"John Deere Combine" (purchased in 1996) unloading canola into the "Tandem" truck. Both this combine and truck were co-owned with Rod.
Present day combine
Hubert and the Fordson tractor pulling the "one-way" seeding tool.
Bert (back) and Hubert (front) on their tractors. (1946)
Einar Franson with his Pool Elevator replicas. He just happens to be posing by the Forslund elevator in this photo.
Here is Einar's replica of the Colonsay Elevator. We were able to get both of these photos from his daughter. He gave away all of his elevators to good homes in 2021 at the age of 91.
Our "one-ton" truck purchased in 1949 for $2,160. Photo taken in 2020 when Rex got it to recondition. (A work in progress.)
With our new "two-ton" truck (new in 1970's).
- Chapter 9 -
Family and Friends
My parents instilled in me how important family is. Although I came from a small family, my dad had six siblings, my mom had three, and it was very common for us to always get together. Maybe that was why I always wanted six children, to keep in touch with one another and care for others. It was always fun when I was young and has continued to be fun as my family grew with my own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.
Here is a little bit about my Aunts and Uncles on my Dad's side. Dad was the second oldest of 7 children. Uncle Mike (Dwornik) and Aunt Mary had two children: Mervin and Carolyn. Their first farming days at Elstow, they rented Dad and Mom’s land, two miles north of Elstow for one year. I stayed with them for two months. This was the year we started school at Elstow, before Mom and Dad moved into town. Aunt Mary was a quiet person and a hard worker. Uncle Bill (Dwornik) and Aunt Annie had us at their place for a lot of holidays. How I loved to brush Uncle Bill’s hair. He would let us do it for hours and never complained. They had two daughters: Evelyn and Alice. Dad and Uncle Bill got along well. They combined (harvested) together for a number of years. Uncle John (Dwornik) and Aunt Marie (Babiuk) had two boys: Julian and Ralph. (And yes, my Mom's sister married my Dad's brother.) Adeline and I loved holidaying at Uncle John's and Aunt Marie's. After Uncle John's death, Aunt Marie, Julian, and Ralph came to live with us for a while. Eventually, Aunt Marie married Uncle Pete Klamut. Aunt Caroline (nee Dwornik) and Uncle Mike Carlos, farmed southeast of Viscount. I spent a couple of summers there. They had three children: Allen, Iris, and Natalie. Iris, at this time, is one of my closest cousins and friends. Then there was Uncle Pete (Dwornik) and Aunt Mary-Ann. They lived in Manitoba. He was a pilot in WWII. They had two sons: Ronald and Wayne. Last but not least, Uncle Frank, who was only five years older than me. He was a close friend and Uncle when we were youngsters.
Here's a bit about my Aunts and Uncles on my Mom's side. Mom was the oldest of the 4 kids. Mom’s brother Peter (Babiuk) married Lena. They had three children: Eugene, Evelyn, & Elaine. They had farmed at Benito, Manitoba. Aunt Lena was a fun loving aunt. Mom's sister Marie (Babiuk) had married Dad's brother, Uncle John (Dwornik). (Just to repeat - yes the 2 sisters married the 2 brothers.) Uncle John and Aunt Marie had 2 sons: Julian and Ralph. A few years after Uncle John's tragic and untimely death, Aunt Marie (nee Babiuk) married Uncle Pete Klamut; a kind and gentle man who we gratefully welcomed to the family. The last one in the family was Uncle Paul (Babiuk) and Aunt Mary. They had two children: Lorne and Juliana. Uncle Paul was also kind and gentle. I didn’t get to know Mom’s siblings as well as Dad’s when I was younger, because they lived so far away, and we didn’t get to travel much at that time. In the later years, they eventually all moved back to Saskatoon for some amount of time and we got much closer then.
For most of my years growing up, I had my one sister Adeline. She was older than me and we were only a couple years different in age, so we spent a lot of time together. Even after we both grew up and moved away from home, we lived relatively close since she lived in Saskatoon and I lived on the farm near Colonsay. Adeline and Arnold had 2 daughters, Ruth and Lana, who were in-between the ages of our daughters Jacquie and Candice, so their family would often come to the farm and their girls would play and play with my children. We would also visit them and have holiday celebration meals with them at their home in Saskatoon. Once they were older, Ruth married Morley Dufour and resided in Calgary. They have 2 children, Sadie and Gabe. Our dear Ruth passed away after a long courageous battle with cancer in 2015. Lana married Brad Speirs and they reside on Vancouver Island with their two children, Abby and Logan. Sadly, in August 2021, I bid farewell to Adeline when she passed suddenly. I feel very blessed to have had her in my life all of these years.
Of course, I also have my sister "Little Audrey". She was born close to the time when I moved away from home so we didn't grow up together. In fact, she was closer in age to my older kids than to me. She would spend time with us and play with the boys as they were all growing up. My parents moved to Saskatoon in the 50's, so Audrey spent her youth there and once she was grown up she moved to Alberta. Audrey received a ready made family when she married Ron Ferber, and they reside just outside of Calgary. Their children are Lee Ann and Reed. Lee Ann married Steven. Reed married Katherine, and they have two daughters, Lucy and Lily. It is so interesting how the age gap shrinks as we get older. Audrey and I have become very close as adults and we have been fortunate to spend much quality time together later in our lives. I consider us to be very close sisters. It has been wonderful to have both of my sisters, along with their families, in our life.
Hube came from a very small family, just one sister Mary. Mary was also the older of the two and they were only a couple of years apart in age. All of his other relatives lived either in England or in the USA, and although we got to know and love many of these physically distant relatives very much, the visits were few and far between.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why our ties were so close to Mary and her husband Ray. After Hubert's Dad passed away, Mary and Ray were his only close family. Mary and Ray moved to Komoka, Ontario shortly after getting married. That's a long way away when you are both farmers - a 24/7 job. Fortunately, Mary and Ray were able to find nephews and friends to look after their farm so they could travel, including coming to visit us a number of times. We also had friends and family (often Rodney and Anne) look after our farm so we could travel and also go visit them a handful of times. We all got along very well. Mary was always helpful around the kitchen when she was visiting and sent the most endearing Christmas Present package to our family every year. It was a Christmas Eve tradition to open that package. One never knew what you might get but we always had fun and a good laugh, making for a very memorable tradition. Uncle Ray was always so laid back and easygoing. Everyone loved Uncle Ray. It was a great loss for Hubert when we lost both of them, only a couple months apart, back in 2014. Hubert also passed away later on that same year.
Family can also come in the form of friends that are so close that they feel like family. I have been blessed to have so many wonderful friends in my life. Here is a little bit about some of them.
The Zelma United Church was a very big part of our lives for a number of Hube and my early years together. Most years in the 60's the church was full with a good following. One of the reasons we started attending less regularly was because the boys changed schools from Zelma to Colonsay in 1964, but we always remained very close to a number of families there. Even after support fell off, the community still gathers for an annual church service. Every year as a rule, on the last Sunday in July, the Zelma United Church gathers together. We have a service in the church, then gather for lunch and socialize at either Richard and Sharon Shout's yard, Lloyd and Noreen Johns' yard, or as we have done in the last number of years, the churchyard. For these annual services, our minister usually is someone from way back in the previous years when services were held weekly. The Cline family did supply us with a minister for a good number of years for the annual ones because there were at least four ministers from that family alone.
Regarding my childhood friends: I have kept in touch with some of my friends from my childhood, and remember fondly others that have a special place in my heart. Granted a number of them have passed away, but the good memories still linger on.
As Hubert and I settled into our life on the farm and in the Colonsay community, we made many friends with neighbours and community members of all ages. This community has been very good to us and is still so to me. There are friends that we can count and rely on. We support and care for one another's health and well being. I wouldn't know where to start if I had to name them all, but they know who they are and how special they have been to us. I have included photos of a number of friends in this Chapter, but the book would never end if I tried to include everyone. That's a good problem to have.
There are a few young couples and their kids who have become like additional children to us. Anne’s sister, Joanne and her husband, Wes, became part of our family, as have their children and grandchildren. Wes has been helping Rodney with harvest for many years, doing the trucking. Gerald and Ruth Yausie, our close neighbours and their families, are also a part of our family. We watched their little ones grow up and develop into such great citizens with families of their own. We had numerous RCMP detachments in Colonsay through the years. One of the constables we got to know real well was Michelle Hisey from Alberta. Her boyfriend (then later her husband) Bowen Dolhan, worked for us for one year. After she left Colonsay, she was part of the RCMP Musical Ride. They did become a part of our family – Bo and Michelle, and their three children.
Danceland at Manitou Beach. Hubert and my favourite place to dance.
Our Danceland friends
Annual Zelma Church service.
Ringing the church bell.
Zelma Church friends.
Back: Lloyd & Bob Johns
Front: Sharon, Jean & Earl Johns
Sharing a laugh with Lloyd Johns.
The Greschuk family; Dora Churchill (nee Greschuk), Orville Dunlop (brother-in-law), Alex Greschuk, Eileen & Nick Greschuk
Elstow School reunion 1986
Joanne & Wes Bader - extended family.
Joanne & Wes Bader's grandchildren Kelsey & Declan.
Gerald & Ruth Yausie - dear friends and neighbours.
Gerald and Ruth's children: Brad, Amber, Lynn & Carmen (oldest to youngest; clockwise from left)
With Emma Yausie
Rita Lawrence & Stella Nickel
Hubert with Jim Watson
Valeen Hunt and her husband
Grandpa Herbert Selby blowing his trumpet. (1967)
Grandpa Herbert's last birthday. He turned 87 years old.
Back: Hube, Evelyn, Rex, Candice
Grandpa Herbert Selby on his 80th birthday out at the farm with Hube.
Hubert with his sister Mary at our 40th Anniversary celebration.
Audrey, Ron, Lee Ann & Reed
Audrey's family celebrating husband Ron's 75th Birthday (2017)
Left to right in groupings: Steven & Lee Ann, Ron, Reed & Katherine with daughters Lucy (11) and Lily (9), Audrey
Mary & Ray sitting on the frame of our Greenhouse. (2002)
The Green Family in Dallas, Texas: Gordon, Jeanne, Mary Belle, Gene, Nancy, Gordon Jr.
Mom and Dad's 60th anniversary (1988)
Mom on her 80th birthday (1990)
Sharing a joke with my Dad.
I had a hard time keeping up with my 94 year old Dad. Here we are dancing.
Cousins (1996): Ruth, Candice, Lana, Jacquie
Cousins (2006)
Back (tall): Garnet, Mitchell, Cory, Jacquie, Rod, Ruth, Lana, Candice (with Hannah in arms), Rex, Lee Ann, Tim
Front (short): Sadie, Celine, Bryan, Brett, Gabe
- Chapter 10 -
Special Occasions
Throughout life, we celebrated many special occasions: anniversaries, milestone birthdays, and family weddings.
We celebrated our 25th anniversary with a supper held in the community hall with over 100 invited guests. Mary & Ray came from Ontario; Jim & Ida Watson from Nelson BC, and various aunts, uncles, and cousins from different parts of the Sask and Canada. We did the same thing for our 40th and 50th anniversaries, only it was open to all of our friends. We started the last two in the afternoon with a program of songs by our Zelma trio, a Ukrainian dance by Paul, Adam, & Kent Breckner, and Tom Breckner entertained us with a medley of songs. In the evening a pick-up supper was catered by the Colonsay Ladies with a dance closing off the night. The bands were Ted Klassen for the 40th and Frank Ball for the 50th. There was lots of great socializing at both celebrations.
My birthday was celebrated a few times with our close friends Jean & Norris Poole, and John & Gladys Whitehead as John, Norris, and my birthdays all fell on March 26th. At those times, Don & Norma Eley, Wilf & Evelyn Garner, and Gordon & Pearl Findlay also joined us. This group would also enjoy the dances at Danceland, Manitou Beach, for many years.
As a family, we celebrated Hube’s 65th, my 65th, and other special birthdays. My dad, Stan, did so enjoy gathering together as a family, and we celebrated a lot of their birthdays and anniversaries. Any excuse for a gathering.
Our 25th Anniversary.
Our 40th Anniversary.
Our 50th Anniversary. Grandchildren: Christine, Aleck, Bryan, Mitchell, Brett, Celine.
Our 60th Anniversary.
Hube's 65th Birthday celebration at Marion Neubauer's restaurant.
My 65th Birthday celebration at Red Lobster.
Hube's first old age security (OAS) and Canada pension plan (CPP) cheques.
My first OAS cheque. (Received April 26, 1996, worth $395.55)
Easter egg hunt at Saskatoon Inn (1997)
Mitchell, Hube, Cathy, Brett, Garnet, Bryan, & Rylan
The whole family, Easter at Saskatoon Inn (1997)
Standing: Laurie, Anne, Cory, Rod, Tim, & Rex
Middle: Cathy with Bryan, Garnet, Jacquie, Mitchell, Rylan, Candice, Christie, Brett, & Elise
Front: Hube & Evelyn (me)
Christmas 1976: Year of our 1st Hawaii trip and 25th Anniversary.
Dancing at my niece's wedding.
40th Anniversary
Hube and I loved to dance!
50th Anniversary
Santa Hube
I saw someone kissing Santa Claus...
Christmas 1981. Santa Tim with Cory.
Santa Cory (1983)
Joint birthday celebration. Hube's 90th and my 80th.
Celebrating our birthdays, all March 26. John Whitehead and Norris Poole.
With Ray and Mary on our 50th.
All of us were at the wedding and my "little" flower girls, Iris and Audrey, wearing their original muffs.
Celine, Bryan, Brett, Hubert, Mitchell testing Hubert's ice cream. (approx 2002)
Again in 2008. Hannah has joined the gang.
Tall: Brett, Mitchell, Hube, Bryan / Low: Celine, Hannah
Ice cream making was always a special occasion. Usually done around Easter, when it was warm outside, but snow could still be found.
Having fun with Mary and Ray's annual Christmas parcel. Left to Right: Anne, Evelyn, Jacquie, Hube, Rex, Candice, Garnet, Cory, Rod, Tim.
For a really large family dinner, we would put a piece of plywood on top of the kitchen table, where we could seat up to 20.
Clockwise: Rod, Anne, Cory, Laurie, Jacquie, Rex, Candice, Evelyn, Tim, Bryan, Garnet, Min, Stan. (Hube photographer)
- Chapter 11 -
Travel
Hubert and I did enjoy travelling. The first long trip we took was in 1960 to Ontario by car, to Mary & Ray’s, with our first four children. We did not stop at restaurants, instead took along our Coleman camper stove, food from home, our cooler, packed it all in our car, and away we went. We stopped at motels along the way. Tim kept asking, “Are we there yet?”. No, it took us a few days. Garlin and Mary Olsen and family looked after the farm work.
The next year we had a similar trip, this time heading west to Vancouver by car. This time Norris and Jean Poole and their family moved out to the farm. We had a great trip. Stayed overnight at the Athabasca Falls. There were some abandoned cabins there so we took a couple of blankets into one that had a door and slept there. There were deer in the area in the morning with the sun shining when we had our bacon and eggs. The children had a ball, a great experience. We went on to Vancouver and visited the Powells, the Westons, the Demchuks, and saw the Pacific Ocean. We stopped at McGavin’s Bakery in Vancouver and they gave us two loaves of bread and wouldn’t let us pay for them. Had a great holiday. Came home in three weeks time. We had also picked strawberries on Lula Island.
In 1965 we went out to Turtle Lake with Mary and Garlin Olsen. We went fishing every day. The boys snagged their lines!!! We went on to Meadow Lake to visit Hube’s former teacher, Mary Koopman, married name Turgeon. Candice was just a baby.
When Candice was in grade one, Hube, Rex, Candice, and I went out to Creston, B.C. where we saw the apple orchards. I believe that was the year that we rented a camper, put it on our half-ton truck. I said “our” truck. It was half Rodney’s and half Hubert’s. They both put money into it. Candice brought back an apple for Mrs. Davies, her Grade One teacher.
In 1975 we purchased a three-quarter-ton Ford truck and ordered an eleven-foot camper, toilet included, for it. That summer we made another trip out to see Mary and Ray in Ontario with our brand new “home away from home on wheels”. Jacquie, Candice, and Rex came with us. Jacquie and Hubert took turns driving. In Northern Ontario, we had to escape a flurry of “no-see-um” pests that were eating us alive in the middle of the night. We crossed Lake Huron by ferry to arrive in Southern Ontario. As we passed the Tobermory Islands we decided to take a tour boat back to them to see the “Flower Pot Rock Formations”. Just Beautiful! We carried on to Mary and Ray’s at Komoka near London. They were harvesting peas and beans. Very interesting! Before we left for home, we showed our children the mighty Niagara Falls as “we”, Hube and I, had seen them before on our honeymoon. A spectacular sight!
In 1977, our two youngest ones and Hube and I left home on July 3 with our Okanagan camper to go north, yes, “North to Alaska”. What a trip we had. Candice celebrated her 12thbirthday on the road near Vegreville, Alberta. We had a flat tire in Northern Alberta and travelled quite a distance before we were able to buy a replacement for our three-quarter-ton truck. Finally, at Watson Lake we were able to get a spare tire and we could all breathe again. We had no cell phones at that time and service stations were few and far between. At Tagish, Yukon, Hubert fished and caught a trout. At Whitehorse, we visited with Kathy Shier. Then we stopped for a visit with cousin Allen Carlos, and who should be there but his parents, Uncle Mike and Aunt Caroline from Watrous, Sask! The next day, we were off to Dawson City but had to stop at two other places. It took us three days to get there. At Tatchun Lake we all caught fish – pike. Candice thought she was snagged and called for Dad’s help but no, she had a fish too. We listened to the loons that night. Lovely!! We crossed onto the “Top of the World Highway”. Wow! To Fairbanks, Alaska, then back going south to Mount McKinley Park, where we took a shuttle bus to see the Mountain. No guardrail and a very steep drop off, so that was quite a memorable drive up the Mountain.
We took a ferry from Haines, Alaska to Prince Rupert. On that ferry we made lifelong friends with David and Mary Valdez, from near El Paso, Texas. Then at Prince George, we visited cousin Juliana and Lloyd Thiessen at their home. Over six thousand miles and one month later, we arrived back home. I think Garnet looked after the farm.
Rodney and Anne looked after our farm for four weeks during the winter of 1978/79 when we went to Texas and Florida with our camper. Candice and Rex went with us. They had two weeks holiday and missed two weeks of school. We visited relatives along the way. Rodney and Anne were busy as we had a lot of hogs by then.
The next trip started in December 1982. Again we went to Dallas to visit with Hube’s cousin Gordon Green and his wife Mary-belle and their adult kids and grandchildren. Rex and Candice went with us in the motorhome and flew home in two weeks time, not wanting to miss school. Again Rodney and Anne helped us out by looking after the farm and being there for Candice and Rex when they got home. We continued on to Las Vegas, then Pasadena to watch Super Bowl 83 – “Washington versus Miami”. Over one hundred thousand fans attended and we were there!!! On the way home, we saw the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, and so many other places. We made over seven thousand miles on that trip. We were still talking in miles, not kilometres, in those days.
In the summer of 1983 we went to Banff where we picked up Mary and Ray, and cousin Doris Green from England. Did some touring to show Doris the sights.
In 1989 we made another trip, of course with the motorhome, back to Texas. We met Mary and Ray there and went west to Las Vegas, San Antonio, and the Alamo. Had a good winter touring around with them. They left by airplane in early February and we stayed on until close to the end of the month.
In 1990 we made a trip north again. Just Hube and myself for two months. We stopped at Whitehorse – saw Allen and Paula Carlos and family, Konnie Poole and her husband (Jean and Norris were there then too), Norma Shier and Cathy. Then at Dawson City, David and Val Brickner treated us royally, showing us their gold mine.
Then off to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway, saw Karen Diebert (Anne’s niece), flew to Tuktoyaktuk, and saw the Arctic Ocean. Back to Whitehorse where we met the Teneycke's, off to Alaska – picked bales at Palmer, to Anchorage, back to Whitehorse, then through central B.C. to Vancouver. Picked up Candice and Karen Yurkowski (now Tidball), made a short trip through the San Juan Islands in Washington State, and then on home. A trip I shall forever treasure.
In 1992 we went to the East Coast of Canada and attended the Governor General’s Garden Party. It was Canada’s 125th birthday. We saw Old Quebec, a copper mine, Hartland Bridge, had motor trouble in P.E.I., and spent one week at South Lake. Made great friends with the Stewarts. Then continued on to Newfoundland to see icebergs, whales, St. Anthony, and Twillingate. What a trip. So many wonderful memories!
We spent two months in the U.S. in 1997 travelling around in our motorhome. This is the year we worked on a float for the Rose Bowl Parade. That was great! Then in 1999, we flew to Vancouver Island and spent a couple of weeks with Mary and Ray there. And a year or two later, we took our motorhome and spent part of another winter on Vancouver Island.
Those were all the trips we made with the camper and motorhome, (except for the one to Vancouver Island). There were a number of other trips we made too.
In 1976, Hube and I flew to Hawaii, along with Mike and Joice Baliant and their friends. A few years later we took Candice and Rex there too. It wasn’t as carefree as before, not as safe for travellers. We went to two islands the second time. Still had a great experience.
In 1977 we had three big trips. Prior to our big motorhome trip to Alaska, Hube and I also made a trip to Europe that Spring. We went on a Co-operative Implement Charter flight, to Germany, to tour the Deutz factory. We owned a Deutz tractor, in fact, a couple. We toured castles, churches, and a vineyard. Then we moved on to Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway to tour the Volvo factories. That was a most interesting trip.
Then in December 1977, we went by train to Mary and Ray’s for Christmas. The train trip took a couple of days.
During the late 1980's and early 1990's, I flew out to Vancouver a couple of times. The first to keep Candice company when she needed a dose of “Mom”, and the second time to attend her Chartered Accountant Convocation ceremony.
In 1999, Hube and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean with Jim, Candice, and Warren, a friend of theirs. The following year we went with Candice, Jim, Aleck, and Christine to Acapulco, Mexico. Another fantastic trip.
In 2001, we went to Cuba for Hubert’s 80thbirthday.
I believe it was in 2002 that Hube and I flew to Roatan and spent three weeks with Tim. He drove us around and showed us the island. We watched him and his crew do their deep sea diving. We went fishing and Hube caught a black fin tuna.
Again in 2002, Elise, Celine, and I went with Candice, Jim, and family to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We had a great time.
In 2005, Candice and I took a short cruise (four days) out of Los Angeles. That was nice. We saw Hollywood and all the sights. That was just a couple of months before Hannah was born. I did fly out to Calgary to be at Hannah’s birth. Now that was an experience!
Hubert and I went out to Calgary for a number of visits between 2005 and say 2010, while Hannah and Carmen were young. We were there for a couple of Christmases as well as a couple times in the summer. That was about all of the travel that Hube was up for in those years as it took a lot of mental and physical effort for him. It was good of him to make those trips.
We enjoyed travelling in our Camper prior to upgrading to the Motorhome. This trip was to Mary & Ray's in 1975.
We spent many hours and many miles exploring and enjoying North America in our Motorhome.
With Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn at Canada's 125th Birthday Garden Party in Ottawa (1992)
Hube overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at St. Anthony, NFLD. Icebergs in background. (1992)
In Vancouver with Candice in 1988, her first year so far away. Had a big day and needed a rickshaw ride for a rest.
Clarke Lake, Sask. Always had really good luck fishing here.
Lac de Isles, Meadow Lake Provincial Park,1996: Candice, Evelyn, Hube, Stan (Dad), Min (Mom), Garnet, Cathy, Bryan, Mitchell, Jacquie, Laurie, & Rod
We attended the Rose Bowl Parade Jan 1, 1997 and worked on this float for about 10 days in late Dec, leading up to the parade. It was a great experience. Neat to participate after watching it on TV so many years.
Tuktoyaktuk - where we dipped our toes in the Arctic Ocean. (1990)
Baling in Alaska on the same trip.
Niagara Falls 1975: Rex, Evelyn, Candice & Hube (Jacquie took photo)
Trip to Ontario: Hube, Candice, Evelyn (me), Mary & Rex
The house we rented at Fort William, Ontario. (1960)
Our 3rd night on way to B.C. (1962)
Turtle Lake - someone has snagged their line. (Lots of snagged lines and very few fish caught.)
Hube, Mr. Weston with the kids: Rod, Jacquie, Tim & Garnet, and their fish.
Hubert, me, Joice & Mike Baliant in Hawaii (1976)
Hubert and me in the ocean in Hawaii (1976).
In December 1978 we took a month trip to the southern states. Here we are with Mary Belle & Gordon Green and Nancy & Gene's son Andrew McWhorter, in Longview, Texas on New Year's Eve.
The Gulf of Mexico - Galveston, Texas 1978. It was cold but we were so excited to be picking seashells, we forgot how cold it was until we had to turn around and walk the long way back to the camper. See the icicles on the bottom of the truck.
In the summer of 1977, we headed "North to Alaska".
Hubert, Rex & Candice panning for gold in Dawson City.
On our way to Alaska, we stopped at Watson Lake, Yukon Territory and left our own "Selby Sign" at the "Sign Forest".
In 1977 we had three big trips. First was our spring trip to Europe. Here we are wearing "Bobby" hats in London.
Our 3rd trip in 1977 was in December when we took the CN Train to London, Ontario to visit Mary and Ray for Christmas. We slept on the floor behind our seats, which was only a little more comfy than the seats.
With Candice on our Cruise out of Los Angeles in 2005. Last "Mom & Daughter" trip before Candice gave birth to Hannah.
Hollywood Hills in the distance (2005).
White Sands, New Mexico, 1983
Prior to the Super Bowl, where we had an absolute ball! However, we had to cheer for Washington because we were sitting next to their fans. (January 1983)
- Chapter 12 -
Grandchildren
We became grandparents in 1977, when Rodney and Anne had their little boy, Cory. That was one terrific joy for all of us and it took 16 years before we had the next grandchild. But in that time we went to Cory’s hockey games, his summer playdays at school, and all kinds of things that little boys do.
The next one was Mitchell in 1993, in Edmonton. I was there a week after he was born. Again a real joy.
Then Brett, in the fall of 1994, was born and was brought home to our farm. We watched him growing and becoming a little boy. He had a half-brother, Rylan, three years older. Rylan liked the farm and playing hockey. It was fun to watch both boys growing.
Unknown to us at the time, Christine came into the world in 1995.
Bryan joined his brother, Mitchell, in the spring of 1996. Garnet and Cathy became quite busy in their lives in Edmonton. We missed out on seeing them growing up, but every year we would catch up on their lives.
Dillow was born in 1996, but he did not come into our lives for a few years and I am slowly getting to know him.
Aleck and Celine were born in 1997. Aleck is Jim’s second child in Calgary. Celine is Rex’s little girl. I went to Halifax to see my “Petunia” in October 1997. Such a little sweetie. I was there for two weeks, so I had my baby “fix”, also watched the boys do their boy sports. Such lively children.
As the children grew, I loved to read to them all, though Cory was into older activities now.
In 2005, Hannah came into this world and I was there for the birth!!! Now she was my little “Rose”.
In 2007, Carmen was born, also in Calgary. Now there were four little ones to see in that city. Carmen was my
“Sunflower”. Don’t ask me why, those three girls became my flowers. Sorry Christy, now what flower would you have been?
I read to my grandchildren and made up stories, or told them “The Three Bears”. I know you did get tired of hearing them.
I do not have the words to tell you, my grandchildren, what you all mean to me. Just know that I love you and wish you nothing but the best for your future.
And now I am a great-grandmother. Brett and Morgan’s little boy, Zeke, was born in October 2019. So the next generation begins.
Living Room Sleepover
Back: Aleck, Bryan / Front: Celine, Mitchell, Brett & Christine
Grandma in her glory, surrounded by grandchildren (2011)
Back: Hannah, Grandma (Me), & Carmen / Front: Cory, Mitchell & Brett
Rylan with baby Brett. (Rex's boys)
Brett with baby Celine (Rex's children)
Brett and Celine wearing Grandpa and Grandma's hats.
Sunbathing with Celine on a beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Brett - big hug!
Celine - my "Petunia"
After Celine and Brett carved the turkey.
Celine's high school graduation.
With Mitchell, Garnet's first child.
Here's Bryan, Garnet's second child.
Mitchell in his wagon that Jacquie & Tim fixed up.
Garnet with Bryan.
Our first grandchild Cory, Rodney's son.
Grandpa snuggling with Cory.
Here is Cory all grown up.
With Cory and his partner Kim.
Mitchell and Bryan
With Bryan
Mitchell and Bryan grown up.
Bryan giving me a dose of love.
A successful Easter egg hunt (2008): Bryan, Celine, Carmen, Mitchell, Hannah, & Brett
Easter 2009: Bryan, Mitchell, Christine, Brett, Hannah, Carmen, Celine & Aleck (waiting for the ice cream...)
Grandchildren at the table. (2000)
Front moving clockwise: Bryan, Mitchell, Christine, Aleck, Brett, & Celine
Hawaiian dress-up. Celine, Christine, Aleck, Brett, & Bryan
Brett & Celine holding baby cousin Hannah.
Brett with his cousins, Hannah and Carmen.
Now a grown-up Hannah, holding Brett's baby - Zeke.
Carmen cuddling a sleeping baby Zeke.
Uncle Rex and Cory. (Christmas at Rod & Anne's)
Cory and Uncle Rex with their wild ducks in the Colonsay Parade.
Cory holding his cousin Mitchell.
Cory playing with a slightly older Mitchell.
Alicia, Dillow and Tim
Dillow and Alicia
Dillow
Sharing a laugh with Dillow
Easter egg colouring. Bryan, Mitchell, Rex, Celine, Brett, Jacquie. (Approx 1999)
Mitchell's birthday party with the cousins at the Colonsay Swimming Pool.
Back: Cathy, Garnet, Christine, Rylan, Aleck, Jim
Front: Bryan, Mitchell, Brett, Celine
4 Generations approx 1962: Minnie (mom), Paulette Babiuk (grandmother), Evelyn (me) & Jacquie (daughter)
3 Generations in 1931: Minnie (mom) holding Adeline, Paulette Babiuk (grandmother) holding Evelyn (me)
With Hannah, Candice's first born.
With Carmen in our matching hats. (Candice's second born)
Hannah (left) and Carmen (right) with their cousin Dillow in Roatan. (2019)
Playing "Liar's Dice" with granddaughter Carmen. I won!
- Chapter 12.1 -
Great-grandchild
Well, as if having children and grandchildren wasn't wonderful enough. On Oct 23, 2019, our youngest son Rex, became a grandpa and I was blessed with the arrival of my great-grandson Zeke Berrix Selby, son of Brett and Morgan. We decided he deserves his own chapter because there are just so many adorable photos of him. Enjoy!
Welcome baby Zeke.
Hanging out on Canada Day 2020
In his "My Dad is Awesome" shirt and his Dad's big boots! So funny!
Already taking after GG (Evelyn) on the riding lawn mower. (With the old one-ton truck and Selby sign in back.)
The 3 Selby men in 2019.
Grandpa Rex holding Zeke and proud Daddy Brett in back.
Brett, Zeke and Grandpa Rex (2021)
Grandma Karen and Grandpa Rex with Zeke. (2021)
Brett, Zeke with GG Evelyn (2020)
Brett, Morgan & little Zeke (with Tank & Sadie)
With Zeke on my 90th Birthday supper at Brett & Morgan's home.
- Chapter 13 -
Hubert's Later Years
This is a chapter I have not looked forward to writing. It is also a chapter that I can look back on and say, “How wonderful I had these extra years with Hubert”.
Hube’s health had been good all of his life. Of course, he had his aches and pains, but never complained. He always had minor stomach problems and when necessary, would go on a diet of milk and bread, and things would settle down.
Around 2001, he was having breathing problems, and after one test and another, he was diagnosed with having COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). He couldn’t exert himself as he used to, so he was given different inhalers, which helped him a lot. He couldn’t walk too far at a time. Of course the doctors figured he must have smoked all of his life. When he said no, he never did, they figured it was because he was a farmer. As his breathing worsened, Rex and Karen bought Hube a used golf cart and that was his transportation around the yard. He really used that cart a lot. He would drive out to the garden to watch me putter around. I took down a lot of fence around our farm, and he would drive out there to watch me. He always felt bad that he couldn’t help me.
He did a lot of repairing on our round granaries, and I would help him. We used our motorhome a lot then, and would stay overnight either at the North or South Farm.
In 2006, Hube had major bypass heart surgery. He went into the hospital at the beginning of February, had a quintuple bypass on his 85thbirthday, and was in intensive care for five days. He was in the hospital for over two months, first at University, then at City. From there he went to Parkridge Center for three weeks. He came home in early May with a tube in his stomach, as he could not swallow food since his heart operation. Finally, in August, he could eat soup and liquids. But he kept working on the grain bins. He was going to have them all ready for harvest.
His stomach bothered him in June of 2009, the doctor prescribed him pills, but he was allergic to them, and he went into a deep depression. Hube had to go to the Dube Center at the University Hospital for three weeks.
Then on the last day of 2009, going into the house without help, he fell and broke his pelvis. That quieted him down for a couple of months. There was no operation, as his bones were too thin to repair with rods. He still enjoyed visiting people, so we saw a lot of our family and friends.
In 2011 Hubert had a severe case of pancreatitis. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks. No liquids or food for three days. Again another attack in 2012, but luckily this one was not nearly as bad.
We went to see Gladys McVicar in Watrous Hospital in September 2013. McVicars were close friends of ours and she was a first cousin of Uncle Ray’s. On October 5th, 2013 we went to her funeral; a very tiring experience for Hube. He again had trouble swallowing, so it was liquids, soup, and Boost. Terry O’Grady helped our family by taking us on short trips to the South Farm, Hube’s favourite place. Hube also enjoyed Garth Blachford’s visits every two or three weeks.
He started sleeping in his recliner chair in Oct, so I joined him on the sofa. It was closer, in case he needed me. Also, his breathing became more laboured.
I believe he became more confused as time went on. He hallucinated. This could have been from the medicine for his breathing and swallowing. Our family came as often as they could to visit him, as did Terry.
Ray passed away on Dec. 24, 2013, and Mary passed on Mar 5, 2014. Hubert took it all in stride. Tim came home from Roatan on May 26 to do something with his Shirley’s Electric property. Garnet and Bryan came out on June 1st to build a ramp for Hube to use.
On May 28th, everything went wrong for Hubert: he had stomach pain, his throat hurt to swallow, and he was very weak. He could only swallow Ensure, Boost and juice. We requested Home Care. Hube did not want to go to the hospital. We had Corrine from Hanley come and checked him out. Yes, we were going to get help.
On the 5thof June, Jacquie went into the city to pick up a hospital bed. Tim helped me move things around in the living room and that became Hube’s final bedroom. From then on, there was either a nurse or an aide to help us with Hube’s caretaking. He was constantly choking, so we would help him into a sitting position. Family were there to help out. I was told to take a respite on Thursday, June 19. Tim took me to town to get groceries, stop at the Credit Union, pick up mail, and get my hair done. Anne stayed with Hube while Jacquie caught up on her sleep. Rodney and Rex had also stopped in the day before.
We were so hoping Hube could wait until the 27thor 28th because Candice and her family could not easily get here from New Zealand before then. But it was not to be. After Anne left for home on the 19th, I sat with Hubert. He left this world that night around 2 am. It was a peaceful passing. Jacquie and I were at his side, Tim was in the next room. It was time for Hubert to rest. (June 20, 2014).
Hubert on his way into by-pass heart surgery. Granddaughter Hannah along for the ride on his 85th birthday, Feb 24, 2006.
Hubert always loved feeding the kids, even when he was in the hospital!
Hubert sharing a special moment with Brett.
And now one with Paper Bryan.
Terry O'Grady was a very good friend, right til the end.
Hubert and me with our oldest son Rodney
The boys goofing around on Hubert's 90th birthday.
Back: Garnet, Tim / Front: Rex, Hube & Rodney
Cory helping his Grandpa make ice cream on his 90th birthday at Rod & Anne's. (Sidekick Hannah doing her bit too.)
More special moments (Jacquie, Hube & Candice)
Family dinner at Parkridge Centre (2006)
Clockwise: Candice, Evelyn, Aleck, Christine, Hube, Karen, Hannah, Rex & Jim. (Brett & Celine were off playing with Hube's wheelchair. Jacquie took photo.)
"The Reward of Toil is Rest."
Farewell my love...
- Chapter 14 -
Life now
Life has certainly been different since Hubert’s passing in 2014. I was determined to stay on the farm for a few years. The first winter, Jacquie and I flew to New Zealand to be with Candice, Jim, and the girls for the Christmas season. We were there for five weeks and had a most enjoyable time, were shown around the country, and learned a lot about beautiful New Zealand and its people. A number of other family and friends joined us closer to Christmas, including: Christine and Aleck, Rex and family, some of Jim’s family, and finally Candice’s long-time childhood friend Colleen McFadden (nee Moldenhauer) with her husband Kevin and their 3 daughters.
Two things that I really enjoyed on this trip was flying a helicopter and going to Hot Water Beach at low tide to build our own natural hot pools from the bubbling hot thermal water and the cooling ocean water. Of course, being with family helped a lot. I again flew to Candice’s place for Christmas in 2016, accompanied by Audrey. She was there for two weeks. Jacquie came for my last two weeks so she was with me on the way home. Morley, Sadie, and Gabriel were also there for two weeks. I did enjoy their home on the Pacific Ocean beach.
Jim and Candice treated me to a couple of cruises with them and family. In 2016 we started from Venice, Italy and in 2017 we launched from Barcelona, Spain. During those cruises, we saw so many historical sights including the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum. Audrey joined me as my travelling companion as I was not comfortable by myself in the airports due to my age. The cruises were great and the tours on land were unbelievable. I enjoyed Athens, Santorini, Split, and Venice. So many great sights to see.
I flew to Roatan in 2016 with Garnet to see Tim and Alicia. A lovely place and was treated very well. Their son, Dillow, came home for a weekend to meet us. The beach was beautiful and warm. The hotel, tours and food, were all exceptional.
Jacquie and I flew to Roatan for Christmas 2018. Candice and family joined us there too, as well as Tim’s friend Rocky and family from Alberta. What a New Year’s Eve Party!!! Food, family, fireworks – all under the stars. We did so enjoy Tim’s hotel on the beach.
In April 2019 I joined Jacquie, Hannah, and Carmen on a Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida while Candice and Jim attended the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Candice joined us for a number of days in Disney World after. What a wonderful trip. We had so much fun. I was a little sick for a few of the days so that held me back a bit, but was able to find the energy to go out most days. The highlight was the new Avatar ride. I had been to Disney World back in 1979 and now again 40 years later. I well remembered the “It’s a Small World” ride and enjoyed that again but at this age, didn’t attempt the “Space Mountain” rollercoaster as we did way back then.
Maybe the last flight away for Christmas for me was in 2019 back to Jim and Candice and family in New Zealand. Again had a great holiday and spent much of the time formulating the framework for this book.
I spend a lot of time now at the Colonsay Seniors Centre. We have coffee every morning with the gang. We take turns hosting. No work to it, just serve coffee and sometimes a treat.
Us Seniors attend concerts, play cards every Wednesday, join the surrounding towns Seniors’ groups, or do other activities. They are always friendly gatherings.
During winter 2016 there was a lot of snow and the farm became too big of a chore for me. Gerald Yausie or the R.M. snowplough operator, Vern, would come out and clean out my driveway and the yard. That was when I said “No more winters out here for me!”. As luck would have it, Tim’s renter was moving out, so I moved in.
I still spend summers out on the farm. I love my garden, mowing the grass, enjoying the countryside, looking out over the field; maybe seeing a deer, a moose or a coyote. In 2018, a family of foxes lived in my yard - two white and two red babies with their mom – even coming onto my deck. What a thrill!!!
One of the things I enjoy out on the farm is my wood heater, as did Hubert. For many years every fall, Hube and I, would go down to the South Farm with our chain saws to get our winter burning wood. We used to bring truckloads of dead trees home. I still use my chain saw in my yard. Yes, we have our natural gas furnace, but the smell and sight of the wood-burning heater in the wintertime, is out of this world.
My family has always been close to me, and they are continuing to be here for me now. Always willing to help me, for which I am very grateful.
Jacquie has been my right hand for a large part of my present life. We try to take in a number of Fall Suppers every year. The yearly dances at Elstow - she usually gets me there along with some of my senior friends. Then she does the driving to Saskatoon for my medical appointments. If she is not able to do it, there is always Rodney and Anne or Rex and Karen to get me where I need to go. We also go on our country drives on the weekend. As I said, “They are here for me”.
On my garden tractor mower in front of my flower wagon.
With my rose bush
These are real whitetail deer - they came unexpectedly.
My garden
Christmas Mitts December 2018 (Rex & Karen's, Saskatoon)
Main photo; Morgan, Brett, Anne, Celine, Karen, Rod, Rex, & Evelyn (me) (Jacquie took photo) / Top inset photo: Kim and Cory (Edmonton)
Christmas Mitts and Santa Hats December 2018 (Tim and Alicia's, Roatan)
Back: Hannah, Candice, Me, Jim, Dillow, Tim, Alicia / Front: Carmen, Jacquie
Celine's Graduation from St. Mary's University, College of Commerce. May 2019.
Salty's - A good place to eat in Halifax.
"Your Father's Moustache" - the restaurant where Celine worked during University.
Rex - the "Proud Dad"
Roatan with Tim & Garnet, Christmas 2017.
Love to beachcomb. Me, Garnet & Alicia
I bought brand new "white" furniture for my new digs. I could never have white anything on the farm!
My house in Colonsay. Moved to this house for the Winter season starting in 2017.
Here we are taking a ride on Dave & Loa Titman's train. (2018)
Exploring across from the Mintkawetz farm. (The Rhodes Farm)
Jacquie and I spend a lot of time together these days. She takes me to my appointments in Saskatoon as needed, helps me around the house and the farm, is often my travel companion, and we go on many interesting local adventures.
The "Crooked Tree" on a day trip with Jacquie.
Rodney harvesting in 2020 on the "West Corral".
Also in 2020, Evelyn having her annual combine fix.
Keep on truckin!
- Chapter 15 -
The Pandemic
Well, that last chapter "Life Now" was supposed to be the end of this book (except the appendices) but I guess I need to add a little something about the pandemic. Around March of 2020, Covid-19 came into our life. We had heard about it in other countries but never imagined it would affect us very much. As I write this now in later 2021, as life is getting back to almost normal, I do not look back fondly on this pandemic. It was like we lost an entire year of our lives. As if the year was put on hold. We didn't get to spend time with our friends. I missed having coffee every morning and playing cards weekly with them.
However, I was much more fortunate than many. During 2020 and 2021, we had plenty of time to work on this book. We might not have ever finished, if not for Covid-19. So thank you for that Covid! Also, Jacquie was so good to me and came over and took me on numerous road trips. We toured much of Saskatchewan and saw many sights and places that I had never been to before. Only day trips. I am also blessed to have family who live close by and we would visit them frequently, being careful to be socially distanced. I am grateful to still have the farm, where I would spend days mowing the yard and gardening, living a somewhat normal life under the circumstances. Even though it has been very difficult for many, it's not all doom and gloom. I know for certain life will be happy again. The future will be bright. Always look for the positive because it is there if you look hard enough.
I was ahead of my time. This photo was taken in 2019 when I was a little sick in Disney World. We never knew then just how often we would be wearing masks the next couple of years...
Just a regular day in the life...
Spacing and sizing to be fixed by Crystal when added to book.
- Chapter 16 -
My 90th Birthday
In 2021, I celebrated my 90th Birthday so I get to add a chapter to the book for this too.
Covid was still a big deal in Canada, as it was everywhere in the world so we were pretty much in lockdown and required to socially distance from others. We were able to keep in our little family bubbles but had to be careful as no one had any vaccinations yet. So as you can imagine, I had very little expectations for celebrating. But much to my surprise, the celebrations started on Monday and continued all week long.
On Monday, Rex and Karen came over with supper which was lovely enough on its own, but the icing on the cake was that Karen played the guitar and sang for me the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah". Karen is very private when it comes to performing for others, so this was an almost once in a lifetime opportunity. She sounded absolutely beautiful and I felt so special to be able to hear the performance.
On Tuesday, Jacquie had to go to Saskatoon and when she came home she stopped at my place and brought in the most beautiful white potted orchid (with 17 large blooms) as a present from Candice, Jim and family in NZ, who definitely weren't able to make it to my birthday. This was a big surprise. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep it alive but to my amazement, it lasted well into July - over three months.
On Thursday I had my hair done by Lori Fraser, and she gave it to me as a birthday present. She would not accept any payment. She also gave me a basket of chocolates and treats. All week I was getting birthday cards in the mail.
Friday, the morning of my actual birthday, I woke up to a very decorated birthday house (Big Bob's) across the street. It was all decked out with balloons saying "Happy Birthday Evelyn, Mom, Grandma". All of this, just for me.
Then I went to the restaurant for a socially distanced coffee gathering with the gang. Florence Halvorsen had made me a birthday cake, and they all joined in singing Happy Birthday to me. So the celebrations continued.
Jacquie had to work at the school that day so after school, she picked me up and we went to Rodney and Anne's for my birthday supper. I expected it to be quiet with just the four of us, all trying to socially distance from Jacquie who was at school all of that week, but I had another wonderful surprise. Turns out there was a "ZOOM" call scheduled just in time for my birthday cake and singing of Happy Birthday. Can you imagine, almost the entire family, 27 of us, talking on the one little computer screen to wish me a happy birthday! It worked out really well and everyone could participate, whether in Roatan, New Zealand, Edmonton, Calgary or somewhere close in Saskatchewan. We spent over an hour on that call and everyone got all caught up and had a lot of laughs.
That evening, I was also presented with numerous congratulatory messages, including one from each of the following: The Mayor of Colonsay, The Reeve of the RM (Gerald Yausie), The Minister of Parliament for our area, The Premier of Saskatchewan, and the Prime Minister of Canada. I was also given a lovely potted daisy plant from the family, along with a gift certificate from the Watrous Greenhouse, so I could splurge on my plant purchases this year. I also received a beautiful balloon arrangement from Wes and Joanne.
So that was a big week and more than I ever expected for my birthday but Saturday came and I found out it wasn't over yet.
Saturday morning Scott Brickner and his four-year-old son Conryn hand delivered a beautiful bouquet of red roses.
Jacquie came over in the early afternoon and she said we had to take the Christmas lights down outside and that she needed my help. Well of course, these days I'm not much help with these things but I didn't dare argue with her so out I went. Then I heard a lot of commotion and the fire sirens ringing, so I assumed there was a fire somewhere. Then from around the corner of the house, appears Karen taking a video of me. I look down the street and first I see the big Colonsay Fire Truck, next another fire truck and the fire chief. I wonder what is going on and then I see the Happy Birthday signs. They are all waving at me. There is no panic, there is no fire, and I realize this is a Birthday Parade for me - a "Socially Distanced Birthday Parade" because we have to still deal with Covid. They are all waving, holding signs, ringing their bells, honking their horns. Well, I just couldn't get over it. The vehicles just kept coming. I think there must have been about 60 of them. Some went around two times. What a parade! What a terrific week! What a fantastic birthday! Family and friends - they made it very special indeed.
No need to stop celebrating yet, I had one more party and that was dinner at Brett, Morgan & Zekes, with Celine and Wyatt as well. Time to enjoy more of my family and another birthday cake, which Zeke helped blow out the candles.
The view out my kitchen window on the morning of my birthday!
ZOOM Family Birthday Party:
Top row: Candice & Jim (NZ); Celine & Wyatt (Saskatoon); Audrey (Calgary)
2nd: Karen & Rex (Saskatoon); Kim & Cory (Edmonton); Alicia & Tim (Roatan)
3rd: Cathy, Garnet & Bryan (Edmonton); Morgan, Zeke & Brett (Colonsay); Carmen, Aleck, Christy, Hannah & Matt (NZ - New Zealand)
Bottom row: Anne & Me (Elstow); Jacquie & Rod (Elstow); Dillow (Roatan)
Brett, Zeke & Morgan
Gerald & Ruth Yausie, Dan McVicar (front passenger)
Fay & Russ Johnson
Accepting a birthday balloon from Rita Lawrence
Jay Palm hauling his flatbed of Colonsay kids
Facebook page "Thank You" from Tim
Rod & Anne and Wes & Joanne
Lloyd and Noreen Johns
The parade is over and was a great success. Family photo time: Jacquie, Morgan, Karen, "Evelyn - the Birthday Girl", Rex, Zeke, Brett, Celine & Wyatt
Proud GG (Great Grandma) and Zeke
- Chapter 17 -
Reflections
What I learned from the different Chapters of my Life:
- When I began life it was so different from when my grandparents began their life. I look around and see the difference that two generations can make in every aspect of life – technology, mechanization, farming, education.
- My childhood was a “Bowl of Cherries”, but unknowingly it taught me to be frugal, compassionate, look out for my fellow countrymen and to care for people.
- High school was a real learning experience about life, not only from books and teachers, but a lot from my parents and people around me. There are different opinions, respect them and learn.
- Leaving home I learned about responsibilities and love, its trials and tribulations – mental health, politics and life.
- Marriage – What an experience. So wonderful and loving, to always have someone by your side. I learned to stand by my partner – no matter what.
- Raising a family – Wow!!! I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I know I made mistakes and I hope my children forgave me when I “lost it” as all parents do. We are not perfect. I loved and still love my “kids”. What a joy.
- The children leaving home, now that was something. I was excited for them, always worried about them, but didn’t let them know it. They are grown up and they have to wing it on their own – be there when they need your help. Cheer with them on their accomplishments.
- Life on the farm was busy, but very enjoyable. It had its ups and downs but overall, farming was a great way of life.
- Family and friends have been one of the most important aspects of my life. I was blessed to have loving parents, a supportive husband, my dream of 6 children and then such a fantastic extended family. We also had so many close friends (many have passed on), because we were surrounded by such wonderful communities. Our children’s friends became our friends. It just fills my heart with joy thinking of them.
- There were so many special occasions - Birthdays, Christmas & Easter gatherings, Anniversaries - not only ours but my parents, special school events. Life was never dull. So many good memories.
- I was blessed to have a husband who loved to travel. He loved people and seeing new places. Always something new – we made lifelong friends along the way – New Mexico, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. Traveling was the “Maraschino Cherry on my Sundae of Life"!
- My grandchildren and great grandson – what can I say! They are wonderful and perfect in every way because they are my grandchildren!
- To have lived with my partner, Hubert, for over sixty years, we got to know and love one another, in spite of any mistakes we made. No one is perfect. Hubert was good for me and I cherish those last years with him. The very last thing he said to me was “I love you”.
- Life does go on. I had and still have so much support from my family and friends, this includes all of the Seniors in Colonsay. They have all encouraged, supported and stood by me. This is what a community does. My Family has always been here for me as well, supporting and encouraging me. They have given me so much joy. Right now with the coronavirus pandemic, each and every one of my family members are concerned for my health, safety and happiness. They are always enquiring how I am. It is very humbling. I am so fortunate to have a family like mine. Life is Good!
- The pandemic - eventually we will look back and see it as just another test to see how we can deal with life.
- I have been so fortunate to have reached the age of 90. So many others have not. To have my health, my family, my friends - What more could I want! I feel blessed.
This fox and its family found shelter on my farm and brought joy to my heart.
Life is good!
- Chapter 18 -
Thank You
A very special thank you to Candice for suggesting and making this "Life" book possible. Without her knowledge, persistence, and a lot of effort, this book would have never come to life. Also a large thank you to Jacquie for all of her work and time spent on this project. Without Jacquie, we could never have finished it either. Her energy is endless and she tirelessly helped with all of the technology on this end and was our main source of additional history and photos. Of course, many thanks to the rest of my family, siblings, and cousins for all of their contributions.
I am so grateful for the work my dad, Stan, did when he wrote his and my mom's history. Without it we would have no written account of our past. I must not forget Hubert's dad, Herbert, and his recollections, as recorded by Jacquie.
Although Hubert was no longer here to help create this book, he was by my side for over 60 years, co-creating our amazing life and wonderful memories. I miss you Hube and forever hold you close to my heart.
This book, along with all of the history recorded, will be very valuable for the future generations. It has been fun.
Sincerely,
Evelyn/Mom
- Chapter 19 -
That's a wrap!
No narrative.
We've been silly.
We've had some fun.
I've had some wonderful times with my "Little Audrey" over the years.
And we had some great laughs...
- Chapter 20 -
And on we go...
No narrative. Please move the photo to this page, reduce size as necessary. No caption needed - chapter title is good enough.
- Chapter 21 -
Appendix 1 - Dwornik History: Anton, Natalia & Children
Crystal working on separate document
- Chapter 22 -
Appendix 2 - Stanley Dwornik Family History
Photo pages to be inserted into the document that is already in the spreads.
No caption needed. Place in Appendix 2, Section "J. Stanley Dwornik & Minnie Babiuk", directly under the heading and start narrative on the next page.
Back: Evelyn, Audrey & Adeline / Front: Stanley & Minnie
Adeline, Audrey & Evelyn (about 2010)
Anton & Natalia Dwornik - insert in Appendix 2 as noted. No caption required.
- Chapter 23 -
Appendix 3 - Minnie Dwornik (nee Babiuk) Family History
Crystal working on separate document.
Photo page is empty to line up Appendix #4 properly. This should also be deleted.
- Chapter 24 -
Appendix 4 - Bert & Florence Selby Family History
Revised and updated in 2006 by Granddaughter Jacquie Meddins (nee Selby) from original history written by Bert Selby in 1974, included at end of this Appendix.
Herbert (Bert) Selby was born May 3, 1889, at Storborough, sub-district Wareham in the county of Dorset, England. Son to William Charles Selby and Sarah Selby (nee Heath). Bert had two brothers and two sisters. Charles George was born in 1876, Ethel in 1878, William in 1881, and Ada in 1884. This making Bert the youngest. Bert’s mother, Sarah, died on March 1, 1890. Bert was only ten months old. Bert’s father, William Charles, a locomotive railway engineer for the clay mines for Poole Pottery, could not raise five children alone. He kept Ethel, William, and Ada, and sent Bert, with oldest brother George, to live with Grandma and Grandpa Heath and Aunt Mary, Sarah’s sister, at Ridge Furzebrook (near the Clay Mine Pits). Bert always referred to George as the one who raised him. It is understood that Mary Elizabeth Heath (Aunt Mary) was also instrumental in raising both George and Bert.
Bert gained three years experience as a railway engineer for the clay mines, following in his father’s footsteps.
At the age of 20, Bert served in the 4th Battalion Dorset Regiment. He enlisted to serve in the Territorial Force of the County, Nov. 4, 1909 and was discharged Jan. 24, 1912 so he could make plans to move to Canada.
So at the age of 23, Bert sailed from Southampton, England in late April 1912. He was ten days on the water and landed in Portland, Maine, USA in May. He rode the train (Grand Trunk) to Toronto. He had an appointment with the head office for locomotive firing or perhaps driving, as he had the experience from the England Clay Mines. He had to make three trial trips “OK” without pay. As with any job, he had to start at the bottom, which meant shoveling coal into the burner of the engine. Bert had polio as a child which left him with a deformed thumb. This made this job difficult. He made one trip but it took a better part of a week, which was not “OK”, and his money was running out. He had to forget about the railroading as he was just about broke. He decided to work around Toronto until fall and then head out west “on the excursions” (his words). He took jobs working for contractors and in a slaughterhouse plant.
Back in England, George, Bert’s oldest brother, had married May Wellstead. Charlie Wellstead was May’s brother. Charlie married Phoebe and lived in Young, Saskatchewan from the 1930’s to the time of their deaths in the 1970’s. Charlie Wellstead was already settled in Canada’s West. Bert knew Charlie from England and had kept in touch with him, and so Charlie expected Bert’s arrival in September at Zelma, Sask. He met Bert at the train station and off they went to Mrs. Haughn's for breakfast: ham, eggs, coffee for $0.25 each.
Bert lived with Charlie Wellstead for the first fall and winter in his 8 x 10 foot shack. Charlie’s homestead was one mile south of the Walter Stanford Farm. Charlie Weston’s home was where, what we now know as Hubert’s "South Farm", north of the Zelma Reservoir. Charlie Wellstead and Charlie Weston worked together, and then, so did Bert.
Bert stooked oat sheaves and drove a bundle team his first fall for them, still 1912. Bert had considerable knowledge of machinery and as "the West" at that time was making a switch from oxen and horses to tractors, he found himself quite at home operating the power machinery of that day. In1913 and 1914, Bert ran a Rumly Outfit (tractor) near Colonsay. He also worked as a hired hand turning prairie sod in the summer and threshing grain in the fall.
In the spring of 1914, Charlie Weston and neighbours were rounding up their horses in the hills south of Zelma. The horses had been foraging for themselves since they were turned loose the fall before. Charlie Weston knew Bert was looking for a homestead and found that N.W. ½ section 21, 31 28, West of 2nd was still open. Bert went to Lanigan and filed for it.
The 1st World War broke out in August 1914. Bert and Charlie Weston went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they signed up for overseas. Bert was not good with artillery because of his thumb, so he was made the Official Sergeant Trumpeter on horseback in the 29th Strathcona Light Horse Infantry. He was given word not to enlist but that they would send for him. He finally got word to report on Dec. 3rd, 1914, and was protected against cancellation as he was doing his living duties in the forces.
While overseas in England, Bert fell in love with Florence Emily Green.
Florence Emily Green was born April 29, 1880. Daughter of Hubert Owen Green and Mary Ann Green (nee Bater), she grew up at Corfe Castle, England, in the Station Master’s House which was right beside the Railway Station. Her father, Hubert Owen Green, was the Station Master. Florence had four brothers. Percy was born in 1878, Ernest in 1883, Harry in 1890, and Thomas in 1893. Second born Florence would have surely helped in the raising of her younger brothers. She has been mentioned as the light of their home by Thomas. Tea was often served in their home, and always on lace tablecloths and with special fancy dishes. Dress was also very important as the Station Master was held with very high prestige.
Florence taught kindergarten in England and also worked for several years for Miss Alice Cleal’s Clothing and Sewing Store, which was known as a Haberdashery.
Bert met Florence at a Hall Social. They were married on April 11, 1916 in England, in the Parish Church of Great Bookham in the County of Surrey. Bert was 27 years old and Florrie was 36. Nine years difference. That same year in the fall, Florence’s father passed away on November 15th at 58 years of age, and her mother passed away Dec. 26 at 64 years of age.
The war was over in 1918. Bert and Florrie came to Canada March 22, 1918, back to the Prairies and to the town of Zelma. With the help of the Mellish Brothers, they built their first house in Zelma. It was 18 feet square.
At discharge August 15, 1918, through a special order in council, a veteran homesteader had to break 30 acres and take off two crops and apply for patent. Bert did this. Bert and Florrie would make many trips to their homestead 10 miles south of Zelma where Florrie would spend the day in a shack or garage type building. She was not very happy, because she was scared of an old eccentric neighbour they called “Kleppe”. In fact she was worked up so much that a fox ran through the yard and it terrified her. Bert would be working as a hired hand for local neighbours and Duff at the time. Florrie was much happier to stay in Zelma in their little square home.
Bert did not have his own equipment yet. Now Duff was an implement dealer and had his own homestead two miles south of Zelma. He sold Bert some machinery “on time” (agreement to pay later) – a Fordson tractor and plough and a seeding implement. Bert sold his homestead to Duff and bought a car from him. It had been previously stolen and the thief had poured lye or some such chemical on it in order to disguise it, making it rusted and marred. As the paint and metal had been damaged, Bert ended up paying a considerable amount less for the car.
The government awarded Bert with a soldier settlement land script which helped him to buy the ½ school section where the home farm is today (2006) for $4,400.00. He also bought two big black Clydesdale horses and named them Maude and Suzie. Bert and Florrie moved their 18 square foot home out to this ½ section and ploughed a fire guard around it. There was only prairie wool (grass native to the prairies) everywhere. They planted their shelterbelt (trees) around the yard.
Bert and Florrie bought two more horses from the homesteaders that lived on the Bert & Grace Anderson Farm on #2 highway by Young, Sask. One was a white stallion whose name was Buster and it cost $10.00. This was with their own money. Bert turned this horse into a gelding and he lasted for years and years as a good working horse. The government would have no part in helping to pay for a horse that was so cheap! They said it would be no good. Although they would pay $30.00 for a grey horse name Rex which didn’t last nearly as long.
The Settlement Board (government) also helped to buy a fanning mill for $47.00. This device cleans chaff and other debris from grain. Hubert (Bert and Florence’s son) dug it out of the back corner of the garage and got it working in the year 2004.
The next two horses were bought from Mr. Simmons who dealt with wild prairie horses. These broncos were light driving horses named Dick and Fan. Fan died at a young age. Dick turned out to be their main riding horse and lived for years. They had many horses as they needed a team of five horses to pull the discer and a four horse team to pull the drill. They all took their turns in the field. Buster, the gelding, and Maude, the Clydesdale, were actually the best team. The two Clydesdales together, Maude and Suzie, were just too hard to handle and control. Bert would open the gates as Florrie would steer the horses through. She would have to make a circle, then Bert would jump on the sleigh on the go! Little Mary and baby Hubert would be down inside it.
Bert and Florrie bought their best mare from Mr. Simmons. Bell was her name and she raised most of the colts. Mr. Simmons and Mr. Charlie Cline had stallions which fathered most of the colts. Hubert remembers Mr. Simmons being able to control his stallion very well. This was quite a high spirited horse, of which Hubert remembers a frightful time, but Mr. Simmons got it under control immediately.
Bert and Florrie had a cutter for winter transportation. The framework was made of wood and covered in canvas. Later in years, Bert and his son, Hubert, built the fanciest cutter in the area. When this cutter wasn’t used for transportation anymore, it was used as a shelter at the top of the laneway, by the grid road, for the children of Hubert and Evelyn Selby to wait for the school bus. In 2006, Hubert and Evelyn still have this fancy cutter with the bobsled runners, but it is no longer in very good shape.
Bert and Florrie started their family. On Oct. 21, 1919, Mary Gwendoline was born. Hubert Edward was born 1 ½ years later on Feb 24, 1921. The two children went to school at Stonemount which was located one mile south and a half mile east of the home farm. The school was resituated there for a more localized population (instead of the school section which Bert and Florrie had bought). Hubert did not like school at six years of age. The older girls were mean to him and would steal his lunch. Bert said Hubert could wait and start a year later. So he did.
Mary and Hubert had many chores to do. There were five cows to milk. Hubert remembers milking before he was in school. That noise at the bottom of the pail, it was so loud. Mary would milk two cows and Hubert would milk two cows. Then they both would milk the last cow at the same time, on either side of the cow. Oat sheaves were fed to the horses. It was always a big job to get the sheaves out of the stack. Hubert pulling on the strings and Mary with her arms around Hubert’s waist, pulling on him. So many times the strings would break, throwing them back, both on their behinds.
They stooked sheaves for 14 years for feed. Stooking was making teepees with oat straw (sheaves) so the rain would run off. Sheaves were made by tying the straw in the center with string by a machine called a binder.
Chores also included feeding and watering the chickens. They had to let the clucking hens out and off of their nests and put them back on as well. The nests were made out of plum boxes filled with straw and an apple box for the top. They always had a few pigs to feed as well.
A very big job every spring was to plant the garden. During the summer there was weeding, and then harvesting the garden as the produce grew.
There was a shortage of water. They dug 12 dry holes before they finally got their well October 26, 1929, which is the well that is there today in 2006. They had a shallow-well for drinking water, which was by the garden along the laneway which just had a hand pump. The hand pump is relocated in Hubert and Evelyn’s Solarium today and works electrically to circulate the water in the fish pond.
In their spare time, Hubert and Mary would catch gophers for a bounty. This means for every gopher tail they got they would receive $0.01. Mary remembers opening her first bank account with $5.00, all from catching gophers.
Hubert and Mary had two long haired, mostly black, dogs. Hubert’s dog was named Jip and Mary’s named Dido. There were always many mice under the oat sheaves. The dogs were very good at their jobs of catching the mice. Mary and Hubert would take their lunch for the day of stooking. The dogs always got the dried crusts of bread that were taken for them as treats.
Hubert remembers years before school spending a lot of time at the Weston’s in their big two-storey house. Charlie Weston spent a lot of time teaching Hubert how to catch gophers in traps.
Charlie and Alice Weston were married in 1908. They were the first couple to be married in the Zelma Church. They were quite a bit older when they had their only daughter Isabelle (now Isabelle Powell). Their farm was originally owned by Charlie Bishop. Bert Bishop had the farm across the road. Bert and Charlie Bishop had built the big barn and the big house there. Charlie and Alice bought it for $9,000.00 from a big company that foreclosed on the Bishops. The land had been summer fallowed the previous year, which made for a very good buy.
Bert met George Peek in the fall of 1912. Charlie Weston took Bert for a haircut at George Peek’s, ½ mile west of Zelma. Peeks and Selbys became very close friends after the war. They visited back and forth and often traveled to Brown’s Beach on Manitou Lake for picnics.
George Peek married Ada during the war. They had four children. Corb Peek was Hubert’s best friend and Mae was Mary’s. Yvonne was slightly younger. Frank was older and died in his teens from appendicitis.
Feb 14, 1922, Bert Selby was awarded an Hounourable Service Badge from World War I.
On October 3, 1951 Mary Gwendoline Selby married Raymond Henderson. They spent their honeymoon out at the West Coast of Canada. When they got back they attended Hubert Edward Selby and Evelyn Caroline Dwornik’s wedding on November 9, 1951.
While shopping for Hube and Eve’s wedding, Florrie broke her arm in a revolving door and ended up in the hospital the day of their wedding. Hubert and Evelyn made a visit to the hospital that day and soon after jumped in the car with Ray and Mary. They all headed east to Ontario, Hube and Eve for their honeymoon at Niagara Falls and Ray and Mary to settle at their home farm near London, Ontario.
Hubert and Evelyn traveled back to Sask. by train. It so happened that the Sask. Roughriders were also riding the train back after the Grey Cup. What a Party!
Hubert and Evelyn lived with Florrie and Bert for a few days. Then Bert and Florrie bought a house in Colonsay from Ernie and Kate Davies. This house is gone now. The R.M. building with the library and Seniors Centre locates the property (2006).
Bert was always involved in the Sask. Wheat Pool from the very beginning. He missed the first meeting but attended the second meeting and was put on the committee and was on it until the Forslund Elevator closed (one mile north and one mile east of the home farm). He was the Wheat Pool Secretary for that district for 13 years.
Bert also played the trumpet at every Armistice Service and was a member of the Legion all his years. He also sang in the United Church Choir. In 1974 Bert was too sick to attend Choir so they held a hymn sing for him, in his own home, of which he really enjoyed.
As young children, Hubert and Mary remember Florence, their mother as not being very healthy. She had many fainting spells. There was always a flask of brandy to help her. They remember crying because she was always so sick. Bert cared for and nursed Florence until Nov. 30, 1953 when Florence passed away at the age of 73 from bowel cancer.
Bert continued to live in Colonsay but was out to the farm almost every day to help out however or wherever he could. There was always work for him and the grandchildren loved his company. Bert Selby passed away from emphysema July 11, 1976 at 87 years of age.
Original History, Written By Bert Selby, 1974
(No editing was done.)
I sailed from Southhampton in late April, 1912, was ten days on the water and landed in Portland, Maine in May. Went by train (Grand Trunk), to Toronto. I had an appointment with the head office, for locomotovie firing or perhaps driving, as I had three years driving in England. I found out I had to get three trial trips OK without pay. I made one and it took the better part of a week, and not OK. I had to forget railroading as I was just about broke. I decided to work around Toronto until fall and go out West on the excursions. I knew Charlie Wellstead back in England and was in touch with him so he knew when to expect me.
I landed at Zelma in September and Charlie Wellstead met me, and went over to Mrs. Haughn's for breakfast, ham and eggs and coffee for 25 cents each. Wellstead and Weston were working together so I lived with them and stooked and drove a bundle team that fall, still 1912. In 1913 and 1914 I ran a Rumly outfit near Colonsay. In the spring of 1914 Charlie Weston and his neighbours went to the hills south, to round up their horses which had been foraging for themselves since they were turned loose the fall before. Charlie Weston was on the N.W. 1/2 21, 31, 28, W2nd. He knew I was looking for a homestead and told me. So I went to Lanigan and filed on it. August 1914 war broke out. I was Serg Trumpeter in the 29th Light Horse and signed for overseas and got word not to enlist, but they would send for me. I got word to report the 3rd of December and I was protected against cancellation as I was doing my living duties in the forces. At discharge in 1918, through a special order in council, a veteran homesteader had to break 30 acres and take off two crops and apply for patent. This I did. Mr. George Duff had sold me some machinery on time, so I sold him the homestead and bought the south 1/2 11, 34, 28, W2nd, under the Soldiers Settlement Board in the Forslund District, where Hubert and his family live and farm today.
I missed the first Wheat Pool meeting although I had already signed the contract. The next meeting I attended and put on the committee and was on the committee right up until Forslund was closed and was secretary for 13 years of that time. In 1912 when I landed in Zelma and district, it was pretty well settled, but some quarters still open for homesteading in the hills some twelve miles or more from town. I was very unsettled, but from the first day I got here, a relief got hold of me. I like the "West" and its people. I still do and I am still here 62 years this coming September.
Signed "Bert Selby" (in 1974, at 85 years of age)
Additional page in Bert's hand writing:
I met George Peek in the fall of 1912. Charlie Weston and me drove up to George to get a haircut. I was just landed out here from "East" (Toronto) and was staying with Charlie Weston. From that time on George and myself became friends and I remember talking over old times. George came to Canada at the time the Bar Colonists came. George spent his first year or so at Yorkton and looked for a homestead North of Yorkton, but failed to find any of the quarters suitable. So he came to Saskatoon and filed on the farm we know now west of Zelma. Later he bought the George Bater quarter which gave him the half section. George must have filed on his homestead before the railway (Grand Trunk) came through. I remember him telling me of walking to Saskatoon. The first year or so George worked in the City Power House as stooker, firing the boiler in winter. He would walk out in the spring and live his six months homestead living duties in summer and walk back to the city and work again in the Power House. Now of course he could not have had an outfit at this time, but George and Charlie Weston worked together a lot, both homesteading at the same time and some kind of arrangement could have been worked out. On one of his walking trips to or from the city, the trail was through bush along side of the river and George happened to look up and there was a bobcat or linx crouched on a limb above him. "Looking me straight in the eye" says George and "I quickly backed and detoured".
The first summer he built his buildings and dug rocks, financing himself by working in the winter. His first outfit was three bull oxen and a white pony. I just faintly remember seeing George with a load of wheat and a team of oxen. In the spring of 1913, I worked in the Colonsay District, for two years and didn't see too much of George until my discharge from the army in 1918, and a big change had taken place. George was married and had a nice set of buildings, and we were together a lot, visiting, picnics at Brown's Beach, etc., from that time on.
Mary and Hube (1937)
Bert, Florence, Hubert & Mary (1941)
Mary and Hube standing by the cutter/caboose (approx 1947)
Bert and Florence standing beside the cutter. (1946)
Florence Green 2nd from left in front, with parents Hubert (front) & Maryann Green (sitting on far right). (Other women likely aunts and friends.)
Hubert Green, station master, in middle of his four sons.
Florence Green was a teacher prior to meeting Bert. Here she is (far right) with her students.
Florence on the left with 2 close friends.
Bert and Florence Selby on their wedding day (April 11, 1916)
Florence Green, 21 years old (long before meeting and marrying Bert Selby)
NOTE - Crystal to insert original that she has. ALSO - the ALPHA heading will have to change now.
Florence, Mary, Bert & Hubert
Mary & Hubert (1927)
Hubert and Mary with the horses
Hubert with a skunk. (1937)
Bert Selby (right), a locomotive engineer at the Poole Clay Pottery Mines, Dorset County, England (1911).
Bert Selby (driver) on a Rumley tractor, working in Saskatchewan, Canada (1913).
We became very close to Hube's relatives in Texas. These are descendants of Hube's Uncle Percy, who was one of Florence's brothers. Gordon Sr was Hube's first cousin. He and his wife Mary Belle have passed away but we still keep in touch with Gordon Jr and Jeanne, who so kindly provided us with the "Lineage" on the prior page. (We excluded Florence's other brothers to conserve space on this tree.)
Haying day. Mr Rich (neighbour) on top of the hay rack, Hubert sitting with the dog, Mary standing, Bert back on the machine.
Threshing in the olden days. Tractor and sheaves on left, threshing machine in the middle with the straw discarded in the pile at the back and grain goes in the horse-drawn wagon on the right.
Bert's father Charles Selby
William Selby and Ethel Pells' wedding family photo.
(Selbys on left, Pells on right. The father, Charles Selby is missing - not sure why)
Back: Bert (sitting), Ethel, & George Selby. Next, unconfirmed but likely bride's: father, sister, mother (Annie Pells), & brother (sitting)
Front: Ada Selby, William Selby & his bride Ethel Pells (aka Ciss), & likely another sister of the bride.
Bert's car in the front, Hubert & Evelyn's new car in the back. (circa 1950's)
Bert's car in the Colonsay Parade in 1985. Hubert driving with Ray in passenger seat and Evelyn and Mary in the back.
Hubert Owen Green - Florence's dad
Maryann Green (nee Bater) - Florence's mom
Sophie Bater - Florence's aunt (Maryann's sister)
Florence with her mom, Maryann
- Chapter 25 -
Appendix 5 - Chronology of Land/Homes
Contents:
Anton & Natalia Dwornik..................Page?
Stanley & Minnie Dwornik................Page ?
Bert & Florence Selby
Hubert & Evelyn Selby
Rodney & Anne Selby
- Chapter 26 -
Appendix 6 - Rural Municipality (RM) Maps
Contents:
1. Colonsay RM (North)...............................................Page ??
2. Colonsay RM (South)
3. Blucher RM (Elstow)
4. Blucher RM (Elstow) - Index
5. Morris RM (Zelma) - Overview
6. Morris RM (Zelma) - Expanded Insert
- Chapter 27 -
Appendix 7 - Family Trees
Contents:
1. Evelyn & Hubert's Family Tree - 5 Generations ....Page ??
2. Evelyn's Family Tree - 4 Generations
3. Hubert's Family Tree - 4 Generations
(will page reference work for pullouts?)
- Chapter 30 -
Photo to insert - Bert Selby Appendix
No narrative. Just put this photo on left page opposite Bert & Florence Selby ... Contents page.
Bert & Florence with the grown children, Hubert and Mary.
- Chapter 31 -
Photos to insert in Appendix 7 - Chronology of Lands
test
"Selby Farm" - Hubert & Mary in front of the house in 1929. (The "18ft x 18ft" original plus the kitchen add-on, later referred to as the "old kitchen".)
Bert (left) & Hubert (right) at the pumphouse. Photo taken from driveway in Feb1946.
"Uncle Bill's Farm" - Photo courtesy of Julian Dwornik's "Dwornik Legacy" file. (This building still exists as of 2021.)
"John Varey Farm" - We lived in this house for about 8 years when I was a child. The yard and buildings no longer exist.
"Stan & Min's Farm" -Aerial photo taken in 1954, from the south-west.
"Rod & Anne's Farm" - Aerial photo taken approx 1985, from the north-east.
(Note: this is the same farm as Stan & Min's, about 30 years later. See how the trees have grown.)
Anton & Natalia Dwornik's house on their farm.
Anton & Natalia's Farm.
"The Top of the Road" at "Hubert & Evelyn's Farm" Home Quarter in 2021.
(Bert & Florence purchased via a soldier settlement 100 years ago, in 1921.)
Aerial view of "Hubert & Evelyn's Farm" (photo taken 1997)
The "North Farm". Hubert repaired all of the granaries in 2006, months after his heart surgery.
The "North Farm". Evelyn (me) in front of the motorhome. Hubert and I spent a lot of time there repairing the granaries in 2006.
The "South Farm", facing the south-east.
The "South Farm", facing the north.
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