Larret, Pat (nee Long)
Patricia Louise was born in 1968.
She moved to Winnipeg in 1987. She trained to
be an Esthetician at the Winnipeg Scientific
School of Beauty. She married Dennis Ronald
Larret of Winnipeg on June 30, 1990. They
lived in Winnipeg and had two daughters,
Brittany Nicole born in 1991 and Amanda
Michelle born in 1993. In 1994 they
moved to an acreage near Birds Hill, Manitoba.
Dennis and Pat separated in 1995. Pat currently
lives on the acreage with Doug Larret. Doug
works as an Alarm Technician and Pat works at
the Shell station in Birds Hill. Pat and Doug
have one son, Aarron Douglas Francis, born in
1996. Pat enjoys raising her family, her
horses, dogs and cats, as well as tropical fish
and birds.
Lawn, Jack and Margaret
In December 1971, we moved from our
Crandall farm to the Skinner farm in the Rural
Municipality of Hamiota, as Margaret's parents
had retired and moved to Hamiota. We
continued to farm the Lawn family farm at
Crandall.
Our sons, Kenneth and Allan, took all of
their education at Hamiota, graduating from
Grade XII in 1985 and 1987 respectively.
During their school years, they were involved in
volleyball, soccer, curling, and also played
minor hockey. We enjoyed many years of going
to see their games near and far. They each took
a two-year course in Farm Machinery
Mechanics at the Assiniboine Community
College in Brandon after completing high
school. Kenneth graduated in 1987 and Allan in
1989.
After their years at college, they each in turn
returned home to start farming with their Dad.
Eventually they each purchased some more land
from Eddie Kirk and started to build up their
own cow/calf operation.
In December 1990, Ken decided to move
into his grandmother's house in Hamiota to live,
and married Evelyn Joyce Saban of Souris,
Manitoba on July 3, 1993. Presently they live in
Hamiota. Evelyn owns and operates her own
hair dressing business, "The Hair Studio" in
Hamiota.
On August 29, 1994, Ken and Allan's crops
at the Crandall farm sustained a high percentage
of hail damage due to a storm that passed
through the area during the wee hours of the
night. Then another devastating hailstorm
passed through our area here in the Rural
Municipality of Hamiota on August 29, 1995,
leaving a trail of destruction for miles. Our
crops were hailed 100% plus a lot of damage to
the house, farm buildings, vehicles, machinery
and shelterbelts. Hours were spent cleaning up
the debris and fixing what could be repaired.
Jack and Margaret moved to Hamiota in
October 1995. Our youngest son, Allan, married
Deanne Rhonda McKay of Newdale, Manitoba
on October 14, 1995. They live on the family
farm three miles west and three miles north of
Hamiota. Deanne is a registered nurse and
nurses at the Neepawa Hospital.
In 1995 and 1997, Ken skipped his curling
rink of brother Allan (third), Dave dark
(second) and Randy Lints (lead) to win the Zone
10 Men's Playoffs, which entitled them to
compete at the Safeway Select Provincial Men's
Curling Championships in Winnipeg and
Morden respectively. Then in 1999, Allan
skipped the rink of brother Ken (third), Dave
dark (second) and Dale Brooks (lead) to win
the Grand Aggregate at the Brandon Men's
Bonspiel with 14 consecutive wins to capture
the provincial berth to the Safeway Select
Provincial Men's Curling Championship in
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Then in 2000, they
won the Zone 10 Men's Playoffs to compete at
the Safeway Select Provincial Men's Curling
Championships in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1997
and 2000 they were pleased to be one of the top
8 teams to qualify for the Safeway Select
Championship Playoff round.
In 1996 Allan's mixed rink of Pam
McTavish, Dave dark and Deanne Lawn won
the Zone 5 Mixed Playoffs to go to the
Manitoba Mixed Curling Championship in
Winkler, Manitoba, making it to the semi finals
of the "B" side. This year, 2000, Ken's mixed
rink of Megan Bond, Neil and Sheila Gregory
won the Zone 5 Mixed Playoffs to go to the
Manitoba Mixed Curling Championship in
Virden, Manitoba.
Allan and Deanne have a daughter, Chelsea
Breanne, born in 1998 and a son,
Brendan Taylor, born in 2000. They were
both born at the Brandon General Hospital.
We have lived now for 4 1/2 years in
Hamiota, but our grass roots are still on the
farm, as Jack still farms and helps out where he
can. He also enjoys curling, golfing, pool and
the occasional game of horseshoes or bowling,
while Margaret enjoys gardening, cooking,
baby-sitting and helping out with a few
community activities.
Over the years we have enjoyed many
camping and fishing trips with family and
friends, plus trips to Florida, Weslaco, Texas,
Arizona and many other US states, Hawaii,
Western Canada and Eastern Canada to Ottawa.
We hope to be blessed with many more
healthy years, which would enable us to do
more traveling.
Lawn, Sidney and Mabel
Mabel was in the Virden Hospital with a
broken right leg when Sid was admitted on
December 20, 1966, having suffered a stroke.
Shortly, he was moved into the same ward as
Mabel until he had another stroke that took his
life on Friday December 30, 1966 at the age of
72 years, the day after Mabel's 80th birthday.
Mabel was soon able to return to her home
at 1245 -7th Avenue in Virden, Manitoba and
lived there alone until March 1973 when she
moved into the Virden Sherwood Senior
Citizens Home. She lived there for several years
and enjoyed taking part in games, cards and
table shuffleboard to help pass the lonely hours
until December 1981. At this time she was
admitted to the hospital again in Virden and
passed away on January 15, 1982 in her 98th
year.
The funeral service was held at the St.
Mary's Anglican Church, with Rev. Condo of
Virden and niece. Rev Joyce Dickin of Regina,
Saskatchewan officiating. Internment was made
in the family plot of the Crandall cemetery.
Daughter, June (Lawn) Anderson and her
husband, Holger had four children: Eric born
1950, married Henna Harska from Finland in
1978. They have one son, David born in 1978.
Lynn Anderson married Kim Wilson in
1975 and has one daughter. Crystal (1973) and
two sons, Stephen (1976) and Andrew (1981).
Crystal has three sons, Christian, Jordan and
Kane.
Kenneth Anderson, born 1955, married
Nicole Leveque in 1977. They have two
daughters, Melinda (1979) and Christie (1981).
Ken is an engineer for Canadian Pacific
Railway.
Evelyn was born in 1958. She married
Claude Dandonneau in 1976 and has a daughter,
Catherine (1979) and one son, Jean-Paul (1981).
Holger and June celebrated their 50th
anniversary in 1998. Holger retired from the
C.P.R. in 1986 and June from nursing in 1974.
They enjoy travelling and camping in a pop up
tent trailer. June is still a Sunday school teacher
in Winnipeg.
Lawrence, Bertram K and Mary V
Submitted by Lena Lawrence
Continuing from their history from 1970 is as
follows.
They became involved in the Golden Age
Club held in Miniota each month, making many
new friends. About this time Bert began buying
model horses, making harnesses for them, then
fashioning buggies wagons, sleighs, etc. to
which they were hitched. Everything was made
by hand even to the tiny links of chain for the
harness.
His wife Mary designed the clothing, with
some help from their granddaughter Diana
Miller, for the dolls. All were done to scale and
looked very authentic. In summer they
decorated their car with several horse drawn
outfits and attended many fairs over the years,
winning prizes and recognition for their efforts.
Bert Lawrence continued farming on a
smaller scale for a number of years, well into his
eighties, a lifestyle he enjoyed. He and Mary
made several trips to B.C., the U.S.A. and
Ontario in later years. It was on their trip to
Seattle Washington that he bought his first
model horse, the beginning of his hobby. He had
decided that if he were to have a hobby, it
should be based on farm life, with which he was
familiar. They celebrated their 65th wedding
anniversary in 1980.
They were travelling by train to Lethbridge,
Alberta when Mary suffered a heart attack. She
was taken to the Regina Plains Hospital, where
she passed away on May 3, 1981. She was
buried in the Crandall Cemetery.
Bert continued to live on the farm until May
of 1982, when he moved into Lilac Residence in
Hamiota, Manitoba. He attended church in
Crandall but also took part in a weekly Bible
study in Hamiota. The old time dances held in
Crandall during the winter months continued to
be a source of enjoyment for him as well.
Bert enjoyed gardening and took great
pleasure in his flowerbeds around his suite,
winning several prizes for them in the senior
class from the local horticultural society.
He spent a little over 10 years in Lilac
Residence with help from family and home care
in the latter years. Due to failing health, he
became a resident of Birch Lodge Personal Care
Home where he lived for 11 months. He
continued to enjoy his surroundings, activities
and especially enjoyed the old time dance
music, never missing a chance to join in the
dancing, well into his 99th year.
He passed away in Birch Lodge on January
8, 1993, surrounded by family members in his
99th year and was buried beside his wife, Mary,
in the family plot in Crandall.
Lawrence, Ivan and Lena
We still live in the farm at NW 11-13-25
and enjoy our home and surroundings. We have
more time to work and develop new flowerbeds
and care for the lawn area. I have always liked
to grow flowers, but now have Ivan's help as he
has retired from active fanning. We still
maintain a keen interest in what is happening on
the farming scene.
Our sons, Kenneth and David, have taken
over the farms formerly owned by us, their
grandparents Bert and Mary Lawrence (NE 10-
13-25), and William and Eileen Nankivell (SW
12-13-25).
Our children have moved on in their chosen
careers.
Diana married Gordon Miller of Isabella,
Manitoba on September 9, 1972 and they live in
Brandon, Manitoba. They have two children,
Sean and Tania.
Ronald married Doreen McBain of Hamiota
on June 11, 1977 and they also live in Brandon.
They have two children, Melanie and Mark.
Donna's marriage to Dale Brown of Oak
River, Manitoba took place on June 24, 1978.
They farm in the Oak River district and have
three children, Erin, Amanda and Ryan.
Kenneth, before returning home to farm,
spent two years in southern Alberta, working on
farms and doing some housing construction.
Ken lives on the home farm. He is gradually
adding more cattle to his operation and has
sown land that formerly grew wheat into grass.
He grows mainly oats, barley and canola at this
time. Ken enjoys working on his computer and
is an avid reader.
David married Sherry Thompson of
Hamiota on August 21, 1982. They have four
children, Michael, Scott, Kelly and Kaitlyn.
They live in the home formerly owned by
David's grandparents, Bert and Mary Lawrence.
We have always taken a keen interest in
being involved with our church and community.
We were both Presbytery representatives for
quite a few years. Ivan was Sunday school
superintendent for fifteen years and church
Treasurer for the past thirteen years.
I was a member of the W.I. and U.C.W. for
many years until they disbanded. I served on the
Prairie Christian Training Centre board in Fort
Qu'appelle, Saskatchewan for seven years.
Old time pattern dancing has been and
continues to be an enjoyable pastime during the
winter months. Through them, we enjoy the
friendship of many people sharing the same
interests.
Our eleven grandchildren are a source of
great pleasure as we watch their development.
The eldest, Sean and Tania are graduating this
year from the University of Manitoba. Our
family all live within 60 miles of home so we
see them often.
We look back over the years and wonder
where they have gone. So many changes have
taken place in that time span, and we wonder,
despite the gamble of farming, that perhaps we
were lucky to have raised our children in a
seemingly less stressful time, or so it seems
now, what with all the new technology and the
computer age.
Lawson, Hugh
Hugh Donald George Lawson was born in
Balcarres, Saskatchewan in 1917. As an infant
he moved with his parents, Joseph and Jannie
Lawson, to the Crandall district.
He took his schooling in Crandall, taking
part in sports and various activities throughout
his growing years. He worked with his father,
and drove many miles in an open cutter in the
wintertime taking Dr. Fraser to aid those who
were ill.
In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy. He married
Iris Wait of Waldron, Saskatchewan. On being
released from the Navy in 1946, he bought a
farm at Oakner, Manitoba. He was also active as
a lay minister in the Anglican Diocese of
Brandon. He served in many parishes
throughout the Diocese. He retired from
farming, moving to Hamiota in 1987, where he
continues with his lay ministry, serving in the
Diocese in many capacities through the years.
He serves at Christ Church in Hamiota, the two
seniors' homes in Hamiota, and Morley House
in Shoal Lake on a regular basis. He is also
active in Anglican Memorial Camp.
His family includes Leslie and Betty-
children (Clint, Linda, Roger) Leigh and Bruce
Fraser (Donald and Shaune) Robert Edward-
deceased, Rick and Karen Lawson (Travis,
Tracy, Shannon) Rhonda and Murray Eastcott
(Julie and William) Colin and Evie Lawson,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He enjoys his garden (vegetable and
flowers). At Christmas time he enjoys telling the
Christmas story with lights along with his
neighbours, thus helping to make a beautiful
entry to Hamiota.
Leary, Barry and Jacqueline (nee Vance)
I was born in 1942 and lived in Crandall
until 1959 when my parents, Russell and Pearl
Vance, moved to Alberta where I finished high
school and Business College in Calgary.
I married Barry Leary of Calgary, formerly
of Miniota, Manitoba in 1963. Our daughter
Heather Ann was born in 1967 and our son
Scott Raymond in 1971.
In 1992 Heather married Cameron
McCulley of Calgary where they now reside.
They have a daughter, Amy Lyn born
in 1996.
Scott presently resides in Winnipeg,
Manitoba and married Marsha Wojtowicz of
Dauphin, Manitoba on August 12, 2000.
Russell Vance passed away on December 2,
1980 at age 77 and Pearl Vance (Angus) passed
away on November 1, 1993 at age 86. They are
both buried in the Crandall cemetery.
Pearl has two surviving sisters, Shirley
Richardson of Miniota, Chris dark of
Westlock, Alberta who just celebrated her 90th
birthday, and a stepbrother Wallace Warren of
Brandon, Manitoba.
My memories include singing in the church
choir, practicing for festivals at Hamiota,
belonging to 4-H Crandall Careful Clippers
learning to sew, spending time at the rink figure
skating, curling, watching hockey games,
travelling to Brandon on shopping excursions
and attending Brandon Fair.
Lee, Charles Ralph Jr. Family
I was born in Hamiota in 1942 the
second son and fourth child of Charles R. and
Winona. Having been named after my father, I
became C.R. Jr. My first few years were spent
on the farm west of town, but when father
retired for the first time, we moved into town in
the early 1950's, father having purchased the
Fred Young house. Father was always involved
in farming and with cattle, so it wasn't long
until he purchased another quarter section,
which was about enough to keep two boys busy
in those days. Growing up in a small town was a
wonderful experience, as we knew virtually
everyone, and each town in those days had
decent athletic facilities. I was fortunate to be
raised in an era where there were enough boys
of approximately the same age as I in the area to
form some pretty good teams in baseball,
hockey, football, and curling. We were fortunate
to win several Regional and Provincial
championships in hockey and baseball over the
years, and in 1957, as a member of the Oildome
All Stars, the league all star team became
Canadian champions. In recognition of that
championship, the team members, management
and coaches (of which father was one), were
made members of the "Order of the Buffalo
Hunt', Manitoba's highest honour. Living in
town, both my brother Don and I were
newspaper carriers. I handled the Winnipeg Free
Press for some six years. Not only did this give
us some business preparation; it kept us in
spending money during this time of our youth.
I graduated from high school, and in 1961
joined the Royal Bank of Canada at Rivers,
Manitoba. While there I met Carolyn Wareham,
daughter of Bill and Marg Wareham, owners of
the Rivers IGA. Carol and I were married in
1963. I left the bank from 1963 to 1969, but was
always in the financial services sector. I rejoined
the Royal Bank in 1969, and while much of my
working life has been spent in Winnipeg,
Manitoba we have worked at various other
locations throughout Rural Manitoba. In 1995
we relocated to Shoal Lake where I am currently
Market manager Business Banking. Carolyn
also worked for the Bank for some 30 years, and
recently retired as Branch manger at Birtle,
Manitoba.
We have two daughters; Barbara married
Brett Chapman, lives in Winnipeg and has a
four-year-old son, Cory. Karen is married to
Randy Steinke, and lives in Beausejour. They
have a ten-year-old daughter, Kendall and twin
seven-year-old boys, Aaron and Reid. Both girls
are employed in the financial services industry;
Barbara as Assistant Manager with Canada
Trust, and Karen works part time with the Royal
Bank of Canada in Beausejour.
Growing up, the outdoors was a big part of
my life, and I still like to hunt and fish. I still get
back to Crandall for this past time, and as well,
still have family at Crandall. I look back fondly
to my youth in a small-town, and feel very
fortunate to have been part of a wonderful
community.
Lee, Don and Mardie
There have been some changes since the last
Crandall Chronicles was published.
My father, Charles R. Lee passed away
November 1976. Mom moved to the seniors'
residence at Hamiota where she enjoyed her
later years. She took driver training and got her
license, and thus was able to drive other seniors
to bingo, fowl suppers, shopping etc. This was
when she was 70 years old. Mom passed away
November 1986. She really enjoyed her suite at
the seniors' complex, and all the friends she
made there. She was the correspondent for the
local paper, a task she thoroughly enjoyed, and
it showed her keen sense of humour. Mom and
Dad are buried in the family plot in the Crandall
Cemetery.
Mardie's mom, Geraldine Steen, and Ken
Smith sold their farm at Pope in 1980 and
moved to Hamiota where they built a new house
and have enjoyed their retirement years. Ken A.
Smith passed away March 4, 1997 and is buried
in the Scotia cemetery in the family plot.
Geraldine still lives in Hamiota where she keeps
a watchful eye on her great-grandchildren's
sporting activities.
Mardie and I built a new home on the farm
in 1974 which was a big undertaking for us, but
with a lot of help from friends and neighbours,
we got it done and have thoroughly enjoyed
rural life; it seems like we are always building
something.
Our oldest son, Gordon, farms with us. On
October 3, 1987, Gord married Sandra
Leithwood of Brandon, Manitoba. They have
two children, Jamie and Jordon. Both are active
in all sports. Each play hockey on various
teams, so it keeps the parents busy as well as
Grandma who doesn't miss many games. We
were very proud of Jordon who played with the
11 and under Hamiota Red Sox who won the
Manitoba Provincial Championship in 1999, as
well as his Dad who coached the team. It always
seems better to win out over larger towns and
city teams.
Sandra is a Nurses' Aide at Hamiota Birch
Lodge, a position she has had for several years.
Our youngest son, Brian is married to Cathy
Wasylyshen. They live in Toronto, Ontario, and
Brian has a son Matthew by a previous
marriage. Matthew is seven. Brian, at present, is
senior buyer of ladies wear for Zellers and
Cathy works in Civil Services with the Federal
Government. They enjoy the big city and all it
has to offer, but it seems a pretty fast pace to an
old farmer.
Gord, Sandie, Mardie and I presently run
fifty to fifty five cows and farm fifteen quarters
of land. On January 1, 1999 Mardie retired form
nursing at the Hamiota District Hospital; she
had been an L.P.N. for 34 years. Many
friendships developed with fellow nurses and
doctors, as well as patients and their families in
this length of time. She really enjoyed her time
as a nurse, but is also enjoying her retirement,
hoping to do more golfing, fishing etc. So far
she has taken on another acre of lawn to look
after.
We both enjoy fishing and golfing. We
generally spend some time each summer at the
Lake of the Prairies. It is close by and the
fishing is fairly good. I also am involved with a
group of fellows who go north to some remote
lakes each year. This really spoils you for
fishing around here.
Hunting in the fall is also a favourite past
time. A group of friends and family have gone
to Saskatchewan to hunt geese, and I think this
has been going on for 35 years. Many good
memories and friendships have developed, also
some great stories. My mother's brother, Ralph
Marlow, of Swift Current, was the one to get us
started going out there. We had an old
farmhouse rented at the far end of Diefenbaker
Lake. This is the start of the Mississippi flyway
for migrating geese. We have had people from
different areas join together for a few days of
hunting; most of these groups were Crandallites
or associates. Deer season is also a fun time and
we have great memories of years gone by.
We get enjoyment out of each of these
seasons, and maybe that is one of the reasons
life has been so enjoyable.
We have truly been blessed with good
health, good friends and good neighbours, and
look forward to many more years.
We have been to Hawaii twice and intend to
retire there, but so far our lottery ticket hasn't
paid off.
Lelond, Homer and Florence
Homer Lelond was born at Miniota,
Manitoba the fourth child of five sons and two
daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Lelond. He
received his education in Glenlochar and
Miniota schools, was fond of sports, and played
baseball.
After leaving school, he worked on farms
and at various other jobs, and in 1929 took over
the barbershop and poolroom in Arrow River.
On October 22, 1936, Homer married
Florence Wallace, youngest daughter of Mrs.
R.B. Wallace of Arrow River. They started
farming on 8-14-25, and continued to farm until
they retired. They lived on the farm until
Homer's death in 1980. During their retirement,
they spent eight winters in Weslaco, Texas, at
Pine to Palm Trailer Park. Florence moved to
Brandon in 1980 and lived in Brentwood
Village and in 1999 moved to Killarney.
Florence has continued to spend her winters in
Texas and has just returned from her 29th winter
in the south.
Homer and Florence had two children-
Wallace born in 1937 and Christine,
born in 1940. Both children received
their education at Crandall school.
After leaving school, Wallace went to
Brandon where he tried several jobs, and finally
settled on the Brandon Transit System for his
employment. In August 1961 Wallace married
Elaine Stephens of Brandon and they have two
children-Darren and Melorie. Darren is married
and has one child, Mitchell. Wallace passed
away on August 24, 1992 and is buried in a
Brandon cemetery.
After Chris finished school at Crandall, she
took a business course in Brandon and was
employed by the Department of Highways until
her marriage to Bill Medd of Brandon in
December of 1959. After their marriage, Bill
wrote his Civil Service exams and became a
Conservation Officer and was stationed at the
following Manitoba communities; Killarney,
Cranberry Portage, Lynn Lake and Snow Lake.
In 1981, Bill was promoted to Fire Control
Officer and they moved to Thompson, then to
Beasejour. In 1988, Bill became the
Superintendent of Fire Programs and moved to
Winnipeg, Manitoba. They lived in Winnipeg
until his retirement in 1996 when they moved to
Killarney. Bill and Chris have three children,
Dianna, Lawrence, and Robert. Dianna is
married and has one child- Robert. Lawrence is
married and has two children, Kolbey and
Christopher. Robert is married and has no
family.