My life began in Russia in the year of 1922 on a farm in the region called Ufa. Of this I have no recollection. My family came to Canada in 1927. Our first home was on the Gus Kennedy farm, four miles east and two miles north of Glenbush. This modest little house was inhabited by two families: the Henry Kroekers and ourselves. We lived in the lean-to.
My schooling began in 1928 in the brand new Artichoke school. The first teacher was Miss Davies. English was a foreign language. Little did I realize that here I would receive my education to the end of grade eleven. Because of the war years, school was interrupted and I completed high school in 1947 in Rosthern Jr. College. I spent several years in further training in Bible school and College. Here my major emphasis was on sacred music, giving me much opportunity in choir and quartet singing and some solo work. It certainly opened my eyes to sacred music and was made part of my life.
Besides farming I've tried my hand at other jobs, including the Provincial Hospital in 1953. In 54 and 55 I worked at a mental nursing home in Ontario where I met Martha Schoenke, a psychiatric nurse. We were married at her home church at Black Creek , Vancouver Island, B.C. in October 1955.
In 1956 we settled on the farm known as Duncan George's place. One of our first ventures was to get a hundred turkey pouts, but we tried that only once. In 1973 we switched from shipping cream to producing industrial. Then after losing my thumb in 1975, we sold the range cattle and now concentrate mainly on dairying, plus growing feed and some grain.
We have seven children and twelve grandchildren , Walter the oldest has been working in Saskatoon and now is in Grande Prairie, the last year and a half. Marjorie graduated from Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, and now works as an aid in a nursing home in Saskatoon. She's continuing with piano lessons and hope to get her degree eventually. Violet is at Bible school in Hepburn, also majoring in music and piano. Lawrence and Carol are attending Medstead High School; Herbert, junior high; and Gordon our youngest is in Grade five.
We are happy and thankful to be able to raise our family here on the farm.