Remembering Our Roots – Hal & Susan Lust

Times Contributor

 

The great-grandparents and grandparents of Hal Lust farmed in Southern Russia in the early 1800’s. His grandparents had seven children – six sons and one daughter. The daughter married a Russian farmer in Odessa, Russia and stayed there, while the rest of the family, which included the six boys, moved to the United States, then to Canada one or two at a time, as they could afford it, starting in 1895. The last child arrived in Canada in 1901. They began farming operations in the Cypress Hills area southeast of Medicine Hat, but as the new generations were born, very few of them stayed in farming.

Hal was born in Medicine Hat in August 1941 and attended elementary and junior high schools there. He completed his education in Lethbridge, after his father moved the family there, to continue his cattle business. Hal has one brother and one sister (deceased).

Susan’s family originated in Northern France and Sweden, and moved to the U.S. and then Alberta in the early 1900’s. Susan Dancoine was born in January 1948, also in Medicine Hat. She has three sisters (one deceased).

Hal and Susan met in Calgary through a mutual friend, and were married in Strathmore in December 1990. Hal has two daughters and three granddaughters from his first marriage, while Susan has a son and a daughter, and two grandsons.

After Hal graduated from high school in Lethbridge in 1960, he moved to Calgary and worked for GMAC, a wholesale division of General Motors. During those years, he also bought and sold many houses, and he told me that he banked every penny of the profit from the sale of these houses.

Strathmore Motors was started by a group of 17 investors from Calgary, and opened for business in April 1976. In February 1977, Hal was advised by General Motors that shares of Strathmore Motors had become available for sale. Hal jumped at the chance to get involved in a GM retail franchise, and subsequently purchased 50 per cent of the shares of Strathmore Motors and recapitalized the company using the money he had put aside from the purchase and sale of houses. On May 1, 1978, Hal assumed his duties as operating partner of Strathmore Motors, with a staff of nine people. Then on January 1, 1984, he became sole owner of Strathmore Motor Products, as he had purchased all the outstanding shares from the original 17 partners.

It was during this period of time (July 1979) that his first love Alma-Mae died of breast cancer, at the young age of 36 years.

Other residents of Strathmore have told me it was not uncommon to see Hal in the winter, out on the lot in the early morning shoveling snow, and in the summer washing cars, before beginning his regular daily duties.

Hal has been very involved in all aspects of community activities since 1978, when the population was 2,400. He is a shareholder of Strathmore Golf Club, is a member of and supports the AG Society and Chamber of Commerce. He is a stalwart member of The TransCanada Merchants Association whose aim is to keep #1 Hwy running through town. Susan is a volunteer at The Alliance Church and a Rescue Animal Advocate. But, mostly she loves cooking, especially when all five grandchildren are visiting.

Strathmore is a great place to have a business, and Hal reports that most years have been good, with the exception being the introduction of Trudeau’s National Energy Program in 1980, a deep recession in the 1990’s and GM’s cutbacks three years ago.

During these periods, Strathmore Motors volume of business dropped considerably, but he commented “the Good Lord brought us through it all.”  

It might be noted that the most serious of these ‘down turn’ periods were the GM cutbacks of three years ago, when franchises were discontinued by General Motors all over North America. There was a week during that period when Hal was uncertain whether the franchise in Strathmore would be continued or cancelled by General Motors. 

Hal reports this was the most pressure-filled week in his life, but good things started to emerge after that terrible week. The Oldsmobile and Pontiac lines were discontinued by GM, and Strathmore Motors is fortunate enough to have been given the more popular Buick and GMC lines.

What was once Strathmore Motors – Chevrolet Oldsmobile, became Strathmore Motors – Chevrolet Buick and GMC, with a staff of 31 people today. Hal goes on to say “regarding my business and personal life, the best move I ever made was coming to Strathmore. It has good access to everything in all directions – east, west, north, and south. If you want to go to a theatre, a fancy dinner, a pro-hockey or football game – the big city is just down the road.”

“Retirement is definitely on the horizon – Susan and I have seen most of the world, and in the coming years, we plan to travel to the few places on this earth, that we haven’t been to yet – if the good Lord is willing. Travel has made us both realize how fortunate we are to have been born in this great country of ours.”