Remembering our roots – Bill & Mary Hendricks

Times Contributor

 

Bill’s father, John, was born in 1897 at Earling, Iowa, one of eight children. He served in the American army in 1918 before coming to Canada in 1920 with his family. They came to Canada riding in three box cars containing their horses, machinery and household items, coming to Rockyford where Bill’s grandfather, Hugo, had bought land after visiting relatives there and liking the area.

Bill’s mother, (Othilia) Till Flammang was born in 1898 in Mapleton, Iowa, one of 16 children, and also came to Canada in 1920 with her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Tony Muenchrath. Till worked as a telephone operator and also in the drugstore in Rockyford. John and Till were married in St Rita’s Church in Rockyford in 1923, and had seven children, including Bill, who was born on the farm just north of Nightingale on Sept. 21, 1935. He started school at Valley Gardens School until that school burned down in 1944. He then attended Baintree School to finish Grade 3. He was then bused to Nightingale School for grades four through nine, followed by a year at St. Rita’s Separate School in Rockyford. In those days farming took precedence over education so Bill’s formal schooling ended at the age of 16. In 1949 he received a plaque for his spring wheat sample at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair as a member of the Rockyford 4-H Grain Club.

Mary’s grandfather, Cornelius Lauweryssen Sr., was born in Holland in 1866 and came to Canada in 1911 following correspondence with Gerrit VanOerle who had already come to this land of opportunity. He moved his family here in 1912, which included Mary’s dad, Cornelius (Corny Jr.) and they lived in the Akenstad district. Corny (Jr) was born in Holland in 1898, returning to Holland in 1926 where he married Adriana van Eekelen, Mary’s mother, who was born in 1902 and came to Canada as a bride to a whole new way of life with many hardships. 

Mary was born on the family farm, located northeast of Strathmore (just half a mile from where they now live), on April 2, 1937. She was told that Dr. John Giffen had to come across the field with sleigh and horses because the road was impassable due to the snow! As the last to be born, she rounded out the family of two boys and two girls. When it came time to start school, it was the same distance to either Berta Vale, Akenstad or Strathmore Schools, but as her brother was already attending Strathmore, that’s where she went. Remember, these were the years before school buses, so they either rode their bikes, walked, or were driven to school by their parents. She attended grades one through eight at the old two storey school, and was the only graduate in June of 1955 who had attended all 12 years of school in Strathmore. She received many awards throughout her school years, including winning the Schulte Cup at an oratorical contest and The Governor General’s Medal as a result of Grade 9 Departmental Examinations. She remembers swimming in the ‘original’ swimming pool which was filled with rather green-looking water from a nearby ditch! She took piano lessons from Mrs. Jessie Kennedy at the Strathmore Train Station, taking Royal Conservatory of Music exams and playing piano for many events and dances. After graduating from High School she attended the University of Alberta (Calgary Branch) and on obtaining her Teaching Certificate, she taught one year in Gleichen and then in Strathmore where she taught Grades 2 and 3 until June, 1960, after which she became the school secretary (a part-time position) until 1971, first for Principal Ian MacKenzie and then for Principal Art Eeles. But, she didn’t become idle, as she was giving private piano lessons, was a busy mom, bookkeeper and farmwife. The farming included grain and hay crops, cattle, pigs and laying hens, which meant eggs had to be collected and sold. 

It was when Mary attended a dance in Nightingale with Marilyn McLean that she met her husband-to-be, Bill Hendricks, and on July 26, 1958, Bill and Mary were married at Sacred Heart Church in Strathmore. Their marriage produced three sons and they have six delightful grandchildren (three boys and three girls) who range in age from nine to 25.

Looking back, the first few years of their marriage appear to have been very busy. Mary was teaching and Bill drove to his parents’ farm each day. In 1959 Bill started working with Robert Lausen building houses, and in 1962 began building their new house (where they still live), which they moved into in the spring of 1963. They started farming on their own, but it was so dry (with poor crops) that they invested in a sprinkler irrigation system in 1976, which proved very beneficial, especially for alfalfa. Bill worked for M & M Drilling, and Wheatland Propane and Plumbing to bolster their income.

Their community activities include being active in Sacred Heart Parish in Strathmore where Mary has played the church organ since the 1950’s, and has been a long-time member of the Catholic Women’s League, while Bill was the Financial Secretary of the Knights of Columbus for many years. Being avid hockey supporters, they were both involved with Strathmore Minor Hockey during the years all three sons played. The family was also long-time members of the Crowfoot 4-H Beef Club.

Changes in the area – where there used to be no acreages, there are now over 30. 

There have also been many infrastructure changes due to the increased growth.

They have both enjoyed their association with the people of the Strathmore area, and look forward to continuing.