Description of the Country:

The general character of the landscape of the prairies is the same throughout. Small clumps of trees and bushes

or lakes seldom break the monotony of the green flatlands. The appearance of the open prairies is like an ocean;

there are no visible boundaries except the distant horizon. If a cannon were fired at a horizontal height of 4 or 5

feet the bullet could travel for hundreds of miles without striking a tree or bush. ~St. Joseph's Colony 1905-1930

Location:

St. Joseph's Colony is located in the province of Saskatchewan. The borders of the colony are: on the south, 8

miles south 52 latitude; on the east, a broken line with the farthest point being 32 miles east of 109 longitude; on

the border of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. The area covers 42 miles from north to south and 72

miles from west to the farthest eastern edge. The district forms a regular rectangle which is broken only on the

east side and comprises 77 townships with an area of 2,772 square miles. ~St. Joseph's Colony 1905-1930

The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection is pleased to provide this publication

which shares the history of Tramping Lake in Saskatchewan especially important to

the settlement of German-Russians immigrating from the Catholic villages of the

Kutschurgan District, South Russia (today near Odessa, Ukraine). Tramping Lake is

situated in the eastern part of St. Joseph's Colony.

TRAMPING LAKE AREA – Villages & Towns

(insert Map)

Maple Creek Area

After the North-West Mounted Police had been established at Fort Walsh, settlers began to

explore the Cypress Hills area, living along the creeks and doing small-scale ranching. The

Department of the Interior was operating a First Nations farm on the Maple Creek, a few miles

south from the present town site. In 1882-1883 the First Nations (mainly Cree, Saulteaux,

and Assiniboine) were moved to Qu'Appelle, and the farm was then operated by Major Shircliff,

an ex-Mounted Policeman.

In the winter of 1882, a Canadian Pacific Railway construction crew of 12 decided to winter

where the town of Maple Creek now stands. This marked the establishment of Maple Creek.

Big Muddy Badlands, a series of badlands in southern Saskatchewan and

northern Montana along Big Muddy Creek. They are found in the Big Muddy Valley, a cleft of erosion

and sandstone along Big Muddy Creek. The valley is 34 miles long, 2 miles wide and 520 ft. deep.

The valley was formed when it was part of an ancient glacial melt water channel that carried great

quantities of water southeastward during the last ice age.

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, an interprovincial park straddling the southern Alberta-

Saskatchewan border. It is Canada's first and only Inter-provincial Park.

Fort Walsh, is part of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. It was established as a North-West

Mounted Police (NWMP) fort after and at the location of the Cypress Hills Massacre.

Grasslands National Park, represents the Prairie Grasslands natural region, protecting one of the

nation's few remaining areas of undisturbed dry mixed-grass/short grass prairie grassland. The park

is located in the WWF-defined Northern short grasslands eco-region, which spans across much of

Southern Saskatchewan, Southern Alberta, and the northern Great Plains states in the USA. The

unique landscape and harsh semi-arid climate provide niches for several specially

adapted plants and animals. The park and surrounding area house the country's only black-tailed

prairie dog colonies. Other rare and endangered fauna that can be found in the park include

the pronghorn antelope, sage grouse, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, prairie rattlesnake, black-

footed ferret and eastern short-horned lizard. Flora includes blue grama grass, needle-grass, Plains

Cottonwood and silver sagebrush.

The Great Sand-hills, is a sand dune rising 50 feet above the ground and covering 1,900 square

kilometers. Native prairie grass helps keep the sand together. The sand dunes are fringed by small

groves of aspen, birch, and willow trees, and by rose bushes, chokecherry and sagebrush. Subjected

to strong winds, the dunes are always moving, creating an ever-changing landscape for

photographers..

LEADER INFORMATION (near Maple Creek)

Homesteaders began arriving in large numbers in 1907; most were German immigrants from

southern Russia. An RCMP detachment opened in 1909, and ensured all the settlers had

adequate supplies to last the winter. By 1911, the Canadian Pacific Railway purchased a

quarter section of land as the prospective site for a settlement. The railway arrived in 1913 and

the village of Prussia was incorporated in September of that year. By 1917, anti-German

sentiment surrounding the events of World War I prompted the community to change its name,

as well as its German street names to numbers. The new name was chosen after a contest

won by two local girls, Bertha Keller and Muriel Legault. They were inspired by the arrival of

the Regina Morning Leader newspaper on the passenger train. The village name was officially

changed to Leader on September 27, 1917; soon after, it incorporated as a town on November

1, 1917.

Following World War II the town's population grew, reaching a peak of 1236 in 1966. Since then

the town's population has decreased, following Saskatchewan's overall trend of rural flight.

Before combines, fields were harvested with Threshing Crews

Pascal/Cavell Farm School Information:

First classes held 1906-1907 in the Old Pascal Church

First School was built in 1907 on NE 35-37-20.

School was name after Bishop Pascal.

First teacher was Joseph Kane.

New School was built in 1921 on half mile west on NE 35-37-20

New School was built in 1908.

In 1919, the town of Coblenz changed its’ name to Cavell, and named after a famous British

Nurse. But the school kept the name of Coblenz.

In 1940, the north Cavell School was closed and Coblenz had to change the name.

In 1947, the school was renovated to face 2nd

Avenue.

Leipzig School Information

First classes were held in 1913 in the Hall above the Pool Room in the Leipzig Hotel.

Class size in 1913 was about 15-18 students.

A one-room school was built in 1913 on Colonge Street and Heidlberg Avenue.

In 1922, evening classes were held for adults.

In 1923, there were grades from 1 through 8.

Original school building used until 1960.

In 1926, the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to Leipzig.

Classes were held at the convent until 1963 when additional rooms were built on to the Leipzig

school.

In 1968, Leipzig High school students were transferred to Wilkie.

Term ending December 31, 1915 -- School was held in a hall over the pool room at the corner of Cologne St. & Railway Ave. All those entered as grade 1 had never been in school before.

June 18-30 (1915) -- School was closed for summer vacation, and to move into the new school.

June(1915) -- This month, school was held in our new school which was completed.

1916 - February - School closed for three weeks because of no coal.

September 4-8 (1916) - School closed by order of the Medical Health Officer.

February 6, 1917 - School closed for T. Kaufmann's wedding.

October 22-26 - School Closed - Chicken pox epidemic.

1918 - Salary per annum - $1000.00.

Third week in March - School Closed - Measles.

First week in April - School Closed - Teachers' Convention in Saskatoon.

Fourth week in October - School Closed - Spanish Influenza.

Month of November - School Closed - Spanish Influenza.

June 9, 1921 - No School - Provincial Election.

May 16, 1922 - school closed by order of the director due to illness - Scarlet fever.

Medina School

The Medina school was built in 1910.

First school teacher was Mr. Macdonald.

School was closed in 1958.

Wilkie, Saskatchewan

The Influenza Epidemic of 1918

By Rev. Edw. J. Dinsley

"An overall impression of impending gloom."

In the fall of 1918 the influenza epidemic in the prairie districts resulted in traumatic experiences

of most people. I would believe that at least five percent of the Wilkie district population died

because of the extensive and intensive onset of the disease.

There was no hospital in Wilkie in those days. The lone doctor in the community, Dr. R.A.

McLurg, was very busy making house calls to the dozens of patients who were in bed with the

flu. Finally, the doctor came down with the disease himself. The Methodist minister attempted to

substitute for the doctor by visiting the many homes with influenza patients to take temperatures

and to report abnormal conditions to the doctor.

There were so many children not attending school that the school was closed and turned into a

temporary hospital. Those residents who were well enough to be able to go out on the streets to

shop for their groceries usually wore a gauze mask which covered mouth and nose. The mask was

impregnated with a camphorous medication intended to reduce the risk of germ-spreading while

communicating with others. At one stage during the epidemic, there was talk of the imposition of

a penalty on anyone appearing in public places without a mask.

Terms like "ominous" and "bizarre" might have been used in attempting to describe the eeriness

of the fateful period. Just imagine going to bed in the evening not knowing who in the household

might not be alive at dawn. A person would wake each morning with melancholy wonderings as

to who in the neighborhood might have passed away during the night. From nearby cities, stories

were heard about coffins in piles awaiting burial by a dwindling group of grave-diggers.

Along with all of these realistic aspects of the epidemic society cowered under a threatening

mystery: the enigmatic sensation that the war enemy had furtively "planted" the influenza germs

on this continent. I do not think that "germicidal warfare" had yet become a public concept in

1918.

In my own home, each member of the family was in bed with the illness. It seemed to take about

ten days for one to recover and to regain strength. Any sick family in the community usually

depended upon kind neighbors who regularly brought in hot soup and cooked meals. Friendly

neighbors also took responsibility for sufficient fuel supply in the houses -- kindling wood and

coal. In our prairie history, this illustrated another occasion when a true spirit of love shone forth,

where wonderful friends extended themselves to care for those who were less fortunate.For some

influenza patients, the prescribed medicine brought about horrible nightmares. In my own case, I

remember each gray November afternoon when I would dread the approach of nightfall with

prospects of yet another long dark night of frightening dreams.

During the length of the epidemic, there was a temporary erosion of spirit, and there was

bereavement of the loss of family members. However, the weeks proceeded in a disjointed sort of

way until Christmas arrived and then the New Year's season seemed to somehow begin to point

the way toward normalcy again. With the November termination of four years of war, and then

the finish of the destructive epidemic, the dawn of the year 1919 was welcomed with some little

hope and with some inspirational thoughts for enhanced political status and improved medical

welfare for all people.

A Harvest of Memories

A History of Rural Wilkie

Wilkie Post Office, War Memorial Plaque, Grain Elevators and McLurg High School

LEIPZIG, SASKATCHEWAN

The Hotel

Dominic Miller’s – construction of the Leipzig Hotel – written by Frank J. Miller

(Dominic’s son)

“Dominic was considered to be one of the better established farmers in the district

and was asked to build a hotel. The Leipzig hotel, at the time of construction was

three stories high. World War I caused enmity between the English and the

German people, especially when liquor was involved. The Saskatchewan

government passed the law of prohibition, closing hotels. After the closures of the

hotel, two bowling alleys were installed in the Leipzig Hotel, also a pool room and

a barber shop, operated by Mr. Lebeau.

Dominic Miller built the bowling alley in 1916

In 1922 the hotel was sold to William Delainey, who removed the top story of the

hotel. From 1929 to 1935 there was a liquor store operated by several people.”

Dominic Miller (our Great Uncle) was a combination of ambition, stamina and

optimism. His hard luck story began in Mannheim, Russia then coming to North

Dakota and having six children. The family moved first to Oregon and then to

Canada. His wife was very ill and needed many operations. Their children ranged

from 8 years old to a baby. Dominic had to take over his wife’s duties of feeding

and caring for the children and looking after his sick wife as well. During that time

he also managed to build a prosperous, thriving farm and then moved on to

become a successful business man as well. He is buried in Leipzig.

His brother Jacob built the livery Barn in 1913 in Leipzig. Both men loved and

knew good horseflesh. Great Uncle Jacob moved to Oregon when he retired and

is buried there.

My father William (Lambert’s son) must have spent considerable time with these

two uncles. He broke horses to make money before he married our mother.

Wilkie, Saskatchewan

Lambert Miller is listed as brother to Balzar Miller on the 1900 Stutsman County (Jamestown)

census. Balzar indicates that they arrived in North Dakota in 1899. Lambert would be 18 years

old.

Lambert married Katherine Volk in 1900 in North Dakota.

Lambert Miller is listed on the Jefferson County 1910. He is listed with Kate/wife; and five of his

eleven children including my father William (Wilhelm) as follows: John, Elizabeth, Agnes,

Wilhelm and Carl Edward.

Letters from ‘Der Staats-Anzeiger’ – a German paper published in Bismarck, North Dakota

indicates Lambert moved to Canada in 1914.

Lambert Miller is listed on the Maple Creek Census in 1916. He is listed with Kate/wife and

seven of his eleven children – Rose and Mary are now included.

Lambert Miller is listed in letters as one of the people involved in building a Catholic Church in

Neuliebenthal, Saskatchewan and as one of the Trustees.

Lambert moved and starts a homestead outside Wilkie, Saskatchewan between 1920 to 1923 in

the Glen Logan school district with nine of his eleven children. (Wilkie – Harvest of Memories)

Uncle Johnny (John) moved out and lived with John and Mary Folk (Volk) – Grandma

Katherine’s brother outside Kelowna, British Columbia (John/Mary Folk owned a fruit orchard

there).

Aunt Lizzie (Elizabeth) married Jacob Risling in 1920 and farmed outside Wilkie,

Saskatchewan.

Uncle Roy was born in 1923. Aunt Aggie (Agnes) married Martin Williams in 1923.

Lambert retired in Wilkie, Saskatchewan with Katherine. Katherine died in 1961. Lambert

travelled throughout North America visiting his numerous children and their families. He died

in 1969 - Medicine Hat, Alberta while at his daughter – Elizabeth’s home. He is buried beside

his beloved wife, Katherine in the Wilkie cemetery.

The Catholic Church

Throughout the history the church played a large part in the daily lives of my ancestors. When

they moved to Wilkie it continued to be the central part of their lives along with schools.

Throughout the centuries my ancestors believed and educated their children at a time when

many other countries and people didn’t believe it necessary. The church and school were the

first two building built in any community they occupied.

St. John Baptist

The Catholic Church in Wilkie was originally St. John Baptist Church. By the 1950’s the Catholic

population was too large and they began building a new huge church – St. James started in

1953. Both my father and my grandfather were involved in helping build the new church. –

St. James

Letters that mention my Grandfather – Lambert Miller.

In Bismarck, North Dakota the Germans from Russia published a newspaper ‘Der Staats-Anzeiger’. They often published letters from the villages in

Russia and also people travelling around the vast lands of North America.

Presently - people have contributed family letters as well to Germans from Russia Historical Society which helps members researching elusive

ancestors. A special thanks to the GRHS for their valuable help.

Der Staats-Anzeiger Bismarck, North Dakota

22 January 1914

Film 3639, Vol. 8, No. 26, Page 8

Denbight, North Dakota January 8, 1914

Lambert Miller traveled a few weeks ago to Canada where he is taking up

homesteads for himself and his parents. Much success, Lambert, and let me hear from you again!

L.L. Engelhart

Gallon, Saskatchewan, Canada February 12, 1914

Since I left Towner in North Dakota, I have suffered many misfortunes. On April 8, 1913 I traveled with my family to Portland, Oregon, the promised

land, but on the way was sorely tried. My wife became ill and I had to look after my six children alone, so I decided to go to Canada. On the way, my

wife was more dead than alive. At Maple Creek I took her to the hospital, and I was alone in the hotel with the children, the oldest 8 and the youngest

1 year.

Finally, I took my family and went to my brother Lambert’s home, but my

wife again got sick, so I headed to Rugby, ND, where she went into the hospital again and had to endure two operations, which went well. Enough

trouble is enough! (The report from Kasper Dirk was received earlier -

Editor).

Dominik Miller

Schulz, Saskatchewan

March 18, 1914

During the past three weeks the snow has disappeared and people have started the fieldwork. Many have actually seeded wheat but yesterday we received snow again.

Mr. John Fenrich returned from North Dakota on March 15 where he found himself a wife. Her name remains unfamiliar to me.

The International Harvester Co. provided 1John Ducks 1700 bushels flax,

located in the town of Prussia. During the first day, the Sheriff kept watch on the flax and the business. Mr. Ducks told the Sheriff he had nothing to fear

and that no one would steal the flax. The Sheriff agreed and went to sleep.

However, during the night, he woke up and felt something was not right. As he went outside to investigate, he found that three wagons were already

loaded with flax. The Sheriff ordered the people to shovel the flax back to where they found it or they would go to jail.

Romald Dirk requested that I report to him where the Krassna, South

Russia natives live here in the New World. Dear friend, I cannot name all of them in Der Staats-Anzeiger because there is not enough room to do so. All

I can tell him is that all Krasna natives who left Russia in 1910 are here. Additionally, there are many others who emigrated earlier.

Well, soon we will have a church in this area. The trustees are John Tumbach, Lambert Miller, Peter Schmidt and Felix Lutz. The name of

the community is Neuliebenthal and the land was purchased from Felix and Frantz Lutz. The church measures 26 by 68 feet and is 16 feet high. It will

cost $2,000.00. The construction is underway. Construction of our school is complete.

Joseph Tumbach

WILLIAM (WILHELM) MILLER

‘Wild Bill’

‘memories and facts about my father’

William was born in North Dakota in 1907, second son and fourth of Lambert and Katherine’s eleven

children. At that time North Dakota was untamed land where homesteaders built their farms and

properties without conveniences or help from the governments. Families were large and children from

the age they started walking, learned how to work. Our ancestors built schools and churches to also

teach morals, principals and education.

Growing up on a farm, my father’s first chores were gathering kindling, wood or feeding animals. By the

time he was ten at the latest he was helping with harvesting and planting as well. He would attend

school only when he didn’t have to help with day long chores.

There are letters with the German’s from Russia Historical Society that say Grandpa moved to Canada in

the Maple Creek area (St. Joseph’s colony) in 1914. William was 7 years old. Shortly after Uncle Johnny

was sent to work out and lived with my Uncle John and Aunt Mary Folk who owned an orchard near

Kelowna, British Columbia. I can only speculate why Grandpa would send his eldest son away and keep

two girls and my father to help him with the hard labor required. Mom often told me my Aunt Lizzie

was as tough as a man – and a worker. She would be eleven at the time. For whatever reason, I know

that my dad must have worked in a manner few would understand today, even though he was seven.

As he grew older, William gained the nickname ‘Wild Bill’. Stories that have circulated around about his

antics would explain why. William liked to gamble, drink and party. My memories of my father are

mainly of his laughing, teasing, encouragement and card playing skills. His other skills weren’t trivial

either - he could ride the wildest of bucking horses and his shot (whether guns or darts) was awesome

to watch.

When I was about ten or eleven our horse, Bond refused to leave the barn when I was going out to ‘get

the cows’ because it was blustery and stormy. He began bucking and twisting with ferocity. I fell off,

stunned. I was used to bucking horses by that age. I started crying – not because I was hurt – but

because I was a little ashamed of myself for falling off. While sitting on the ground, crying, I watched my

dad come out and mount the horse. I think he understood why I was crying because he didn’t say

anything to me. I watched the most amazing bucking-bronco ride I’ve ever witnessed. At first I was

surprised because I rarely saw my father ride a horse, then I remembered my father could have ridden

in rodeos and won the purse. When the horse stopped acting up, dad dismounted and handed me the

reins. He gave me a boost up (Bond was a 19 inch high horse) just smiling. I rode off to get the cows

without even thinking about being traumatized or scared.

My dad surprised me many times. When I was old enough to know him, he had stopped many of his

previous activities but his skills sometimes showed through. He loved to read and both mom and dad

encouraged us to love reading too. I was fascinated with words, cowboys and horses. When I was

younger I would say I was going to be a cowboy in Whomping when I grew up. (I picked it because I read

about the place reading Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour when I was young). Dad enjoyed my saying that

and would tell me to explain to others what I was going to be when I grew up. Finally, after laughing, he

explained it was Wyoming – not Whomping.

My father gambled and broke horses for a living until he married. In my investigations I discovered he

had two uncles in Leipzig, Saskatchewan. One owned a livery stable and one owned a hotel. I imagine

my father spent much time at both establishments. He managed to stay fancy free and single until he

was 32.

Then he met Emma Edith Frey – his polar opposite. Emma’s family begged and pleaded with her – trying

to change her mind. But she was over 21, lived in Canada and could make her own decisions. Emma

didn’t drink, smoke, gamble or swear. Emma’s upbringing said that life was all about hard work,

seriousness and being pious. Emma was a true lady. But Emma was stubborn. Against her family’s

wishes she married Bill.

On September 16th

, 1938 Emma married her beloved William in Wilkie, Saskatchewan

Their love for each other withstood all obstacles from poverty to death. For his wife, Bill gave up

everything to make her happy. Emma in turn learned to laugh and not take life so seriously. And

regardless of what happened their love for each other was tangible and never faltered.

The first order of business – Emma did not consider breaking horses and gambling to be a livelihood – so

Bill got a job working in a sawmill in Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia – riding logs

down a river to prevent their jamming. I don’t think my father was much interested in farming, although

he knew how to do it very well. I imagine riding logs was just edgy enough that he agreed to a more

stable job.

Two of my brother’s were born in Port Alberni – Reginald William in 1939 and Lambert Anthony in 1941.

Then trouble started. Bill decided to join in a fight for worker’s rights. Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s

Unions were much needed. If you wanted to work you followed company rules, there were no rules

applying to wages or conditions. My dad wanted to improve especially the wages. I don’t think

‘conditions’ were much on his mind. He liked to live dangerously and I don’t see how conditions might

be improved – riding logs down a river. Now there are machines that have replaced manpower. In the

process of gaining some rights there were many fights and hard feelings floating around. I learned how

to be loud and vocal I’m sure from my father. I don’t think he sat silently on the side-lines waiting for

others to protest for him.

One day a manager in the mill gave the order to lower the ‘bull-whip’ that pulled the logs into the mill

even though Bill was still on the logs. I am sure it was a deliberate move. My father went into the river

and dropped 40’ – his back broken. That he managed to get out himself and lived to tell the story is a

tribute to his strength and determination. But his days of ‘riding’ the logs was over.

With his father’s help, he returned to Saskatchewan to farm. Lambert was about to retire. He sold his

farm outside Wilkie and with the money bought a farm for dad and a house in Wilkie, Saskatchewan for

himself and Grandma.

While I was growing up my father and his youngest brother (Uncle Roy) never got along. The story I

heard was that although all Bill’s siblings were established and didn’t need the money – nine of them

didn’t mind Grandpa’s helping dad - but Uncle Roy did. Considering it was dad at home who helped

Grandpa farming the most and Uncle Roy as ‘baby’ – didn’t have to do much - it is odd that he is the

one that would complain. Uncle Roy demanded that dad pay him his ‘rightful’ share – which dad did

(pride was another trait my father had and taught me) and he had to mortgage the property to do so. It

set us back badly and we grew up as ‘poor as church mice’. Dad didn’t tell me this story because I never

asked. I heard it from others though.

I never saw much of Uncle Roy, but most dad’s other brothers and sisters visited all the time. I liked my

Miller uncle and aunts for their ‘happy-go-lucky’ natures. By the time I was aware mom’s Frey family

accepted my father – I suppose appreciating how much he gave up his wild ways for mom. The Frey

uncles were not that interested in children it seemed and mainly ignored us. But the Miller’s were

always ‘fun’ to be around, playing cards with us, teasing us or hiding candies in their pockets to tempt us

to give them a hug. I remember lots of laughter and card playing whenever they visited. Mom played

cards too – but now they played Rummy or Crib or Bridge – not ‘five-card stud’ or other poker games

dad used to play.

Dad played superior cards regardless of what the game was called. Dad used to make us play cards

whenever no one else was around to play with. Most my brothers and sisters liked playing cards. I,

however, found playing cards a boring game. I preferred moving and doing physical activities. At a card-

party at the school one year the only person that seemed even slightly interested in having me as their

partner – was my dad. I was very absent-minded when I played. So, I became his partner and he won

the tournament by himself. (4 to a table – move to the next until the winner).

Farming was easier now. We had vehicles – a tractor, a combine, a seeder, a truck for hauling grain and

a car mainly used to go to church or the times we had to go to town for groceries. Sometimes we went

with them to town. They would stay at Aunt Nora’s playing cards and we would get .25 cents which

gave us a ticket at the theatre and a box of popcorn. We loved the movies as we didn’t have hydro – so

no television.

But in the winters we lived four miles from the highway on a gravel road. Mom stocked up for the

winter and often she did no shopping for months. We had no hydro or running water so life was still a

tough round of work even for us as we grew up. My mother still cooked on a wood and coal stove. This

stove still heated our huge, rambling house. Mom still washed clothes with a wringer washer and hung

the clothes out to dry.

I took a trip in 1973 to see the old farm. My cousin’s – Tom & Philip Frey were tearing down the house to use the

lumber to build a cabin at Cochin Lake, north of North Battleford

When Bill and Emma moved back to Saskatchewan in the mid-1940’s, more kids soon arrived. First they

had a daughter, Nola Dianne on March 5th, 1947. The priest in Wilkie was not happy with the fact there

was no saint in her name. A few years later they had another daughter, Mary Magdeline on August 23rd,

1949. Now the priest was happy again – although maybe Mary Magdeline might not have been. A

year and a half later another son was born – Larry John, March 4th, 1951. Emma was busy. My mom

made our clothes and was a fantastic cook. She kept the house and her children very clean. She also did

chores – churning butter, hauling water for wash and milking cows – just to name a few. Yes, life was

much easier now.

Reg, Lambert (Dusty), Nola, Mary & Larry with Dog – our dog.

Then Patrick Alfred came along – on March 17th, 1953. Then Isabelle Anne was born on October 19th,

1954.

All dressed up in our Sunday best for Church in Wilkie

We went to church faithfully on Sundays. We were all baptized, went to First Holy Communion and

Confirmation. Reg and Lambert mainly helped dad with the seeding and harvesting. We all learned how

to drive the truck and haul grain and shovel grain. In the winter we often went nowhere except school

for months if the weather was cold and stormy. There were few visitors in the winter.

There was only one day – a real custom to our ancestors – that was never missed. January 9th, was

dad’s day. This day was much more important than all holidays except Christmas and Easter. This was

St. William’s day. I will always remember the celebrations on dad’s Namesday. The feast was superb –

with home cured hams, chicken, kuchen, strudels, cookies, cakes, pickles, buns and sausage to name a

few things we had. Dad made homemade wine – chokecherry, Saskatoon berry and even raspberry.

Compared to wines I have now they probably would never win a contest – but we were allowed to have

‘sips’ and thought it was very good, although raspberry was very bitter and always needed sugar added.

This was the only day that Emma allowed Bill to have ‘alcohol’ in the house (other than his wine – which

I never saw him drink unless he had company). My mom’s brothers were phenomenal musicians and

all had instruments to play. They could pick up a tune without reading music sheets. Our kitchen was

cleared in the center (a large kitchen about 26 feet long – hardwood that Nola and I washed/waxed and

polished faithfully every Saturday). Then we danced and adults danced with the children as well. We

learned the waltz, the fox-trot, the butterfly, the bunny-hop and the polka.

Some winters – as January is a very harsh month in Northern Saskatchewan – people would leave their

cars on the highway and we would go pick them up using horses and a hayrack. I would always want to

go on that ride regardless of how cold it was. The sleigh-bells would jingle as the horse hooves would

make a crunching sound in the packed snow and the moon and stars would glitter off the banks piled

everywhere. It was always a mysterious awesome trip and was exactly like I imagined Bethlehem and

Mary and Joseph’s trip to the stable was. I don’t know why – but that feeling has never left me. Now I

know it was desert lands but I still have that feeling whenever I think of riding to pick up our friends and

relatives on a crisp, cold winter night.

In the summer we often visited Uncle Emil and Aunt Mary (mom’s brother, dad’s sister) who had

children our ages, Uncle Eugene and Aunt Eva (mom’s brother), Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Jack (dad’s sister)

and Aunt Lenora and Uncle Jimmy who lived in Wilkie. Most the other relatives visited us and on dad’s

side mostly lived in British Columbia. Nola and I went to catechism in Wilkie (Catholic Church Sunday

school) to prepare for Confirmation/First Holy Communion. We stayed with grandpa and grandmother

Miller, (Lambert & Katherine). My grandmother would be diagnosed ‘obsessive compulsive’ by today’s

standards, but that didn’t prevent her from treating us like little princesses.

Once during lent when we stayed with them. Each night after supper we always kneeled at a chair

while Grandma leading the way – said the rosary. We also did this at home with mom leading the

prayers. But grandma would say the rosary in German and we weren’t as proficient in that language as

we could have been. In German ‘pray for us’ and ‘pee the bed’ sound very similar. So Nola as loud as

could be said ‘pee the bed’, probably knowing very well what she was saying. There was dead silence –

then grandpa started laughing. Grandma did too – although she was very quick to correct Nola’s error.

Nola didn’t like the outdoors or animals much. I loved both. I fought, thought and connived to get out

of working in the house in any way I could – usually to no avail. But I never gave up trying. Nola looked

for ways to stay in the house. In some ways I don’t blame her. Every time she stepped into the yard,

mom’s prize gander – a huge white bird, would attack her. I could go out, Larry could go out or anyone

else could go out and be fine.

We sometimes had to help to separate a calf from a milking cow as well. Nola just cringed but couldn’t

escape that chore. And of course it seemed that the cow, sensing her distaste, would head in her

direction – thinking maybe it was the weakest link? Once a cow came at her – and although Nola was

neither a jumper nor a runner – she managed to run and clear a wagon to gain safety in an instant. She

was also terrified of horses and thought of every trick in the book to make sure we only walked if we

ever had to ride the horse. I would always prefer that outside work.

I was pregnant with Natasha (1973) and we brought along a friend, Ruth.

The wagon Nola jumped in to escape the cow.

Not all our chores were pleasant. One of the worst chores I can imagine was picking stones in fields –

literally all day long with the sun beating down on us and no shade. I tried to get out of it every time – I

was allergic to dirt. I can’t understand why no one sympathized with me, just as I can’t understand how

we didn’t all get skin cancer. But we didn’t. We stopped for lunch –not to go home – but a packed

lunch where we moved into the sparse shade of some lonely cottonwood to eat. Then it was back out

picking stones.

The other chores that were ongoing from the time I can remember were gathering kindling, hauling

water or wood and wiping the dishes. As Nola was the older – she washed – and I had to dry the dishes.

At some point in my life I learned – always finish your chores first – then enjoy leisure time which was

spent reading my beloved books or riding in the wind. I love the wind even today for two reasons. The

wind always clears my head. If I get uptight or confused the wind always manages to blow this away.

The other reason is because the wind is a great excuse to have messy hair

Then Emma and Bill’s last child was born – James Peter in 1959. By this time we were growing up and

he fast became our communal baby. Jimmy worshipped our dad and followed him around like a puppy-

dog when he was old enough. Reg was now working in Wilkie – an Auto-body man and Lambert (Dusty)

had joined the Navy. After the navy he married Marie Merchant and was living and working in Toronto.

One day in October, 1964 – tragedy struck. William ‘wild Bill’ died. It was harvesting time and dad went

out to the fields to run the combine early in the morning, long before I was awake. Reg came home

from work that evening and went out to the field to relieve dad. It was dark. The news he brought

home was heartbreaking. Later we found out dad died from a heart-attack. We will never know why.

He comes from very hardy stock – his parents, siblings and his ancestors’ way back to Mannheim lived

into their 80’s and 90’s. Dad was only 57. It was a very hard situation to deal with. I was 15 and this was

the first real ‘hardship’ I had to face. My mother was my rock. She helped me through this and revealed

a strength I have rarely seen.

Left to right: Lambert (Dusty), Pat, Larry, Nola, Mary, Reg

Emma holding Jimmy, Isabelle

Life changed forever. Mom, who didn’t have a driver’s license, moved into Wilkie and rented the farm. A few years later she sold the land to Tom Frey, her nephew. We all grew up and moved away.

Reg continued to work in the auto-body industry. He married Wannetta Parks and had three children, Lorri, Anita (Tony) and William.

Lambert continued to live in Ontario, working in electronics. He had two children with Marie Merchant, Suzanne (SuzieQ) and Jo Anne. In 1976 he was divorced and moved to Calgary where he lived, still in electronics until he died in 1999.

Nola is married to Garry McGill and has three children, Lana, James and Kevin. She worked in various professions from a nurse’s aide to office work. She is carrying on the tradition of cooking very well.

Mary married twice. She had one child Natasha with her first husband and two, Shaun and Paul, with her second husband, George Forbes. She has also worked in various jobs from office accounting to packing household goods to weather observing. She is now an author and writer.

Larry married Joyce Evans. They had one child, Christopher. He is living in Ontario and is an auto-body man.

Patrick married Donna Dirk and has three children, Jason, Chandra and Amy. He is an engineering consultant on the oil-rigs and travels all over the world.

Isabelle is married to Martin Fletcher, a British soldier and is presently living in England. They have one daughter, Heather.

James started working on the oil-rigs after finishing school. He was killed in a car accident in 1982.

My mother continued to live in Wilkie. She was the strongest person I have ever met. I have absolute and complete respect and love for my mother and all she taught me. She is now an angel in heaven, looking after her children. She will live in our memories forever.

Mom with her card buddies

Beside our father where she always wants to be.

MULLER STORY (pronounced Miller in the English Language).

This is my ancestor’s story of hardships,

Discrimination, persecution and adventures too.

They suffered and did much to create the wonderful, easy

Life we all have in North America today.

With no conveniences, isolation, little or no support from governments

and extremely hard work, this is my thanks to them.

Acknowledgements to: Various websites; Wikipedia; Germans from Russia Historical Society

(GRHS) in Bismarck, North Dakota; My mother’s information I had written down and Nola, my

sister. A special thanks for all your help in compiling this information.