Remembering our roots – Lido and Echi Kondo

Times Contributor

 

Lido’s father moved from Japan to Southern Alberta in 1917, and acquired land for farming from the CPR. Lido was born on the family farm northwest of Strathmore, in 1928. His destiny as a farmer came when his father passed away suddenly in an auto accident in January 1946. Lido had to leave school before he graduated from Grade 12, to manage the family farm.

Echi’s parents came to a farm at Raymond in Southern Alberta in the early 1900’s and Echi was born in 1927. At the age of six years old, she went to stay with her grandmother on the island of Kyushu, and went to school there. Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan, and the most southerly of the four main islands that form Japan. It now has a population over 13 million. She returned to Raymond at the age of 21. I asked her what the war years were like living in Japan. She advised the biggest problem was shortage of food, and the frequent bombing of a nearby railway line by American bombers. The line was used by freight trains carrying fuel and oil for the Japanese military. Near to where she lived, there were natural caves, where she and her family lived and hid, during difficult times.

Lido and Echi met at the Buddhist Church in Picture Butte. They were married there in 1954, and this marriage gave them two daughters and now two granddaughters. Following their wedding, they continued mixed farming near Lyalta, until they retired in 1995. They moved to Strathmore in August 2000. 

Their community activities include being long time members of the Lyalta Community Club, and he served on the board of Strathmore Co-op, before its amalgamation with Calgary Co-op. Lido is a member of the Cheadle Lions Club.

Lido and Echi joined the Wheatland Whirlers Square Dance Club in 1975, its second year of operation. They retired from dancing in 2010, for health reasons. Lido enjoys playing golf and is an avid curler with the Senior Men’s club. Reflecting on past years, Lido advised when he started farming, much of the farm power was provided by horses. They both remember the arrival of electricity in 1957, natural gas in 1960, and the telephone in 1962.They remember the four auto dealers on 3rd Avenue, and board walks where there is now pavement.

When they moved to Strathmore in August 2000, the population was close to 7,000. They commented on all the new stores that have been built on the TransCanada Hwy, and the relocation of many of the downtown businesses.