Remembering our past Walt & Olive Hayes

Times Contributor

 

Walt Hayes’ parents were born in Idaho, and grew up and worked in the agriculture and livestock areas of that state. When they read the glowing adverts promoted by The Canadian Pacific Railway Co. stating “Come to sunny Alberta, Canada – and make your fortune, on 160 acres of irrigated land” – they came to investigate, and purchased property in 1907, in the Gleichen area. There were no roads, no trees, just wide open prairie.

Time marches on, and Walter arrives in 1924, to complete the Hayes family of four boys and two girls. He attended a rural, one room school at Shamrock, for Grades 1-9, followed by Grades 10-12 at Gleichen High School.

In July 1942, a farm accident resulted in his father being hospitalized for three months. Because of WW2, there was a shortage of farm help, so Walt took over the general farm operation. As the years progressed, he became totally involved in the farm’s management, and started to gradually buy the farm. To further his education and farming ability, he attended the Southern Institute of Technology (S.A.I.T.) in Calgary, from 1947 to 1949, and graduated from courses on Agriculture, Mechanics and Building Construction.

Around this time he was introduced to a Home Economics and Dietician student at S.A.I.T – Olive How. She was born in Saskatchewan in 1929,where her father was the livestock manager for the Provincial Government, and her mother was a nurse at Battleford Provincial Hospital. She has one brother and one sister. Walt and Olive were married in August 1949, and have three daughters, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 

Walter and Olive lived on the original Hayes farm from 1949 to 1994 – becoming an integral part of the Gleichen Community for 45 years. They were long term members of the Meadowbrook Community Hall Board, The Gleichen Lions Club, The Curling Club, Home and School Association, and active members in the local square dance club. 

As a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, Olive represented as Grand Esther, and travelled to different Star Chapters in Alberta. 

In 2008, Olive, accompanied by three daughters and three grand-daughters, completed the Strathmore Triathlon. She still clogs with The Strathmore Stompers in the winter, and plays golf in the summer.

Both enjoy their hobbies – for Walt it is his woodshop, while for Olive it is sewing and quilting.

Prior to retirement, they enjoyed travelling to Arizona in their motorhome, or cruising to different countries around the world. Since retirement, they have both enjoyed good health, good friends and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

(“Remembering our Past” is a bi-weekly special column to The Strathmore Times

that features a local senior or couple, and their lives in and around Strathmore and Wheatland County. If you know someone who should be featured in this article, please call the Strathmore Times at (403) 934-5589 and leave your request.)