| Saskatchewan Lifestyles | History in the Medstead Community |
The Moen Family
By: Arine Moen
I was nine years old when I came to
Canada with my folks, four sisters and one brother from Bra, Telemark
County, Norway in 1927. We came to Landis, Sask. and later moved
to the Prince Albert district.
In 1939, our sister Gertrude died from pneumonia at the age of
eleven years, and then in August, 1942 our mother passed away.
I was called into the Canadian Norwegian Allied Forces in 1942
where I served until 1945. I had applied for my Canadian citizenship
but had not yet received it when I was called into service.
In the spring of 1947, my father and two of my sisters, Hilda
and Ruth, and four of my brothers, Edgar, Kenneth, William and
Glen settled on a farm 2 miles west and 1.5 miles south of Robinhood
(SE27-49-16-W3).
Three members of our family had already left home: my oldest sister
Anne was married to Arthur Cranston and they were living at Wilkie,
Sask. She now lives in Saskatoon along with their daughter Lorraine.
Emma married Hugh Strain. They now farm near North Battleford.
They have four children ---- Joyce (Mrs. Keith Weston), Linda
(Mrs. Ron Saul), one son David and Doreen (Mrs. Kenneth Hagen).
Doreen and Ken and their three children ---- Brian, Hugh, and
Shelly, are living on their farm in the North Battleford area.
Ole and Jean farmed in the Scent Grass area until the fall of
1947 when they moved to Robin hood and later to Meota. They had
four children ---- Carol, Diane, Ken and Sylvia (Mrs. Harry Wilson
of Medstead).
In the spring of 1947, I rented a farm from Nels Gustafson. In
the fall of 1948, I married Viola Helen McClean and we lived on
the Gustafson farm until 1949 when I was able to buy a farm through
the V.L.A., the NE 26-49-16-W3 where we are still living.
We have two children, Barry and Donna. Our son married Anne Duvall
and they are now living in Lloydminister. Donna married Richard
Neufeld and they had their two daughters, Crystal and Tara, and
have moved to Pouse Coupe, B.C.
I have seen some big changes in farming. I stared farming here
with horses, cut the crop with a binder, then strooked it and
threshed the grain. I cut hay with a horse mower, then raked and
stacked it into a wagon and hayrack with a pitch fork.
As for changes in the home, we now have power and sewer and water
and other convenieneces. When we stared here we had to use coal
oil lamps and lanterns and wood for cooking and heating. We had
to carry water from the well which we pulled up with a rope and
pail.
As for transportation, we had neither a car nor a truck. When
we were snowed in during the winter months we used the team and
sleigh, so we didn't travel very far.
As for the rest of my family, Hilda married Tom Cotten, they had
four children, Judy, Dennis, Larry and Bernie. Hilda passed away
in 1954.
Ruth married Gorden Durand, they have a family of six ---- Marilyn
lives in Robin hood, Raymond and Marilyn have one son Lance, age
seven years; Arlys and her husband, Ben, live in Calgary; Debbie
works in North Battleford while Dale, Sandra and Gayla live at
home on the farm in the Glaslyn rural area.
Edgar married Isobel Butler, they had two children, Charlotte
and Bernie. Charlotte is married to James Byle and they and their
two children, Robin and Darci live on their farm near Robin hood.
Bernie lives in North Battleford, Sask. Edgar passed away in 1971.
Kenneth is married to Fern Kildaw and they and their two children,
Christine and Dennis live on their farm south of Robin hood.
William and Marlene live in Calgary, they had three boys, Tim,
Bruce and Bud. William died in 1978.
Glen and his wife, Mae, are living in Calgary.