Remembering our roots – Marie Teare

Times Contributor

 

Marie’s parents lived in Norway, and knew each other, before moving to North America in the early 1900’s. Her father – Andrew Emile Hildahl, moved to North Dakota, then to what is now known as Wheatland County arriving in 1905. Here he worked for Harry Groves until he could get his own land, and build a house. At the same time her mother Elise moved from Norway to Minnesota. When her father Andrew had acquired his own land, and built a house, he travelled to Minnesota and married Elise in 1917. Then they travelled back to Alberta and took up residence on the farm, nine miles southwest of Strathmore.

Marie was born in 1920 at Nurse MacKenzie’s Nursing Home, the second of seven children. She attended a one-room school at Glencairn along with up to 35 other children. Her father Andrew, a Mr. Groves and a Mr. Jackson had been instrumental in getting the school built, because in these three families alone, there were 22 children needing education. Marie left Glencairn, and moved to the Strathmore High School for Grade 12. Unfortunately, her mother became quite ill and had to be hospitalized, so Marie left school to return home and take care of her family, while her father worked the farm. About a year later, she returned to Strathmore, where she obtained work with Mr. & Mrs. Palardy. Mrs Palardy was expecting, and soon gave birth to their only daughter.

Mr. Palardy operated Palardy’s Transport, and this is where Marie met Fred Teare, her future husband in the late 1930’s. They were married in 1940, and this marriage produced one daughter and two sons. 

She now has seven grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, plus another one due any day, two great-great-grandchildren, and another one coming. This makes five generations.

Marie’s husband Fred was a trucker for Palardy’s Transport until it was sold to Ray Snider. He continued to work for the new owner until 1950, when he bought the business and renamed it Freddy’s Transport, which operated between Strathmore and Calgary. When he retired in 1976, he sold his business to Wayne Keeling. Regretfully, Fred passed away from cancer in 1988.

Marie’s community activities include being President of the Home and School Association, member of UCW and a Sunday School Teacher. She served in many positions with The Happy Gang which culminated in her becoming President. She was and still is a very good crib player.

Ninety-three years have passed since she was born in this area. She comments there have been many changes in that time, too numerous to list here. After her marriage to Fred in 1940, they lived in a house on Third Ave., now known as The Red Carrot! She lived there for 52 years, before moving to Brentwood for nine years, then to Wheatland Lodge in 2001.

Yes – there have been many changes.