Remembering our roots ~ Art & Dianne Taubert

John Godsman
Times Contributor

 

On his mother’s side, Art’s grandfather was born in Hofensdalh, Russia and his grandmother was born in Ashley, N.D. His father, Felix Taubert, was born in Kletzshen, Germany and immigrated to Hussar around 1925, where he married Katie Kaiser, and started farming.
Art was born on the family farm on Nov. 18, 1933 with Grandma Katie serving as the midwife. Art was oldest of four brothers – Eddy, Albert and Teddy. He attended Fairyvale School through Grade 6; then, after the family moved to Rosebud in July 1947, he attended Rosebud School through age 16, before joining the work force as a farm labourer. When he was eight or nine years old, he was already driving a tractor and working in the field. By the time he was 11, he worked through harvest with Albert Schaffer, hauling grain from the combine. In 1958/59, he worked for Dick Cosgrave of chuckwagon fame, and got to spend a lot of time working at the Calgary Stampede. In the spring of 1953, he started working for his grandfather; then in November on his 20th birthday he signed a farm lease contract, witnessed by Ray Schooling and Mr. Bell, and started farming. In 1965, Art purchased the Crory farm from Jim Mclean, but didn’t move in until they had built a new house, where he and Dianne still live, ten miles north and west of Hussar.
His grandpa was a very patient and good teacher and mentor, as they would discuss things before proceeding and doing what Art wanted to do. Sometimes Art’s way was right, and other times it wasn’t. Then Grandpa would say “see, now you know”. Art still thinks that experience is the best teacher.
Dianne’s great-great-grandparents on her father’s side, moved from Scotland to Lanark County, Ont. in the early 1800’s. Her grandfather was born there in 1867. He married Margaret Miller in 1891. Dianne’s father William Watt was born in Staffa, Ont. in 1899. The family moved to Rossington, Alta. in 1914, and Dianne’s parents moved to Rosebud in 1932.
Dianne’s mother Gladys Alberta Edgar was born in Edmonton in 1905, to parents Thomas and Margaret Edgar, the same year Alberta became a province. They had moved to Alberta from Ontario in 1903.
Dianne was born at Drumheller, the closest hospital to Rosebud, on Feb. 29, 1940, which means she only has a birthday every four years. In 2012, she celebrated her true 18th Leap Year Birthday!
Dianne, who is also left-handed, went to school in Rosebud and Standard through Grade 12, followed by Business College in Calgary, then worked in the offices at Alberta Distillery, then as a secretary to the Plant Personnel Manager at AGT in Calgary.
Art had moved to Rosebud when he was 14, and attended school there for another couple of years, which is where he met Dianne. After leaving school, he worked with several local farmers including Dianne’s brother Jim Watt. Art and Dianne were married on Oct. 28, 1961. Their wedding dance was held in Rosebud, with Linton Treacy and his orchestra providing the music. Linton also played at their 50th Wedding Anniversary party held in Hussar. They have four children – Kristen, Kim, Kevin and Koren – and now have eight grandchildren.
Their family and friends soon discovered that the Taubert farm was a great place to get rid of animals they couldn’t keep, which is how they inherited most of their cats, dogs, horses and chickens!
Art and Dianne are now retired grain farmers, living on the south slope of the Wintering Hills.
Reflecting on the past wonderful 54 years in the Hussar area, surrounded by family and friends, they remember their involvement with many organizations like Cubs and Brownies, 4-H clubs, hockey and figure skating, curling, Credit Union Board, Seed Plant Board, the Sundowners Seniors Club and the Historical Society. Dianne played a big part in the creation of the latest Hussar Heritage Book, and is already working on the next one.
Dianne remembers that the Booster Club started the very first ‘Summer Daze’ in 1974, and almost every year since, Art has cooked the pancakes on the Breakfast Wagon. He has only missed two years, once because he was in the hospital, and once they were away travelling.
He has cooked pancakes for many, many breakfasts, suppers, and holiday crews. She figures the number of pancakes cooked must be in the millions! Dianne was a partner in the “Something Special” store in Hussar with Kay Fraser, Karen Treacy, Lorraine Conley and Lois Thompson.
Changes they have seen in the area include installation of the windmills, the elevators are gone, the bigger farms and loss of small family farms, and fewer people now live in the area.
They have all enjoyed their life on the farm, and enjoyed being a part of such a busy, caring community. There can be no better place to raise a family, knowing that there are friends and neighbours to help, whenever the need might arise, and whatever it might be.