Percy Elton Alexander was born June 15 1900 in Knox Benson Co. North Dakota and passed on December 11 1982 in Lethbridge Alberta. He was the eldest of Eight children followed in order by Margaret Lillian, James Herman, Carl Leslie, Eva Lucille, Mabel Ethel, Wilfred William, and Mildred May Isabelle who was 21 years younger and who he named.
My dad came with his parents William and Annie to Alberta from North Dakota in 1904. They first settled in Granum but moved to Claresholm and then to Barons. He was an avid reader and a wealth of knowledge but he did not start school until 1909 when Wheatland School was built.
In 1913 Percy and all the family moved to Agassiz BC but within a few years were back in Alberta farming in the Barhill Area. In 1921 Percy and his brother James Herman subcontracted to dig ditches for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. That winter the brothers returned to the farm in Aggasiz where they struggled along milking cows cutting wood and farming for the next three years. In 1925 they returned to Barons and shortly after my Dad bought a farm next to his Father William south of Iron Springs but it was irrigated land and he did not like that. In 1925 Dad and my Uncle Herm bought 250 acres of dry land summer fallow southwest of Lethbridge from Jean McClenagan
and lived in an old house on the property (they may have built this house - not sure but I remember it). While my dad was living with his brother Herman and sister in law Grace our oldest female cousin Shirley Anne Grace Alexander was born. She was always my Dad's favorite niece. Sometimes after dinner he would stretch out on the floor for a half hour siesta and Shirley Anne with her curly Orphan Annie hair would crawl all over him. This must have prevented his rest but he wasn't bothered by it. He never forgot her birthday May 11 always remembering to send her a card even in 1977 when he had a lung cancer operation--- he still had to do the card for Shirley.In 1938 Dad and Uncle Herm added to this land and soon after farmed separately and adjacent to each other. Uncle Herm married in 1931 and Percy in 1939 and they each built new homes.
Dad married Irvina Frances MacLean on August 1, 1939. They had met at River Junction (district where the farm was located) card parties and dances. I once asked Dad why he was so late marrying and he said women scared him. He was quite shy and soft spoken compared to his brothers Herman and Carl but my Mom must not have frightened him because they had a long and happy marriage of 43 years. They had a really big 25th anniversary party in 1964 with all their family and friends.
I had the best dad going. He read to me ad a kid and never went to Lethbridge without bringing me back a comic book a chocolate bar or a kid'samagazine. I not only grew up with a Mom at home but a Dad as well especially after harvest thru to spring seeding he was always about to help me withwith my homework or drive me to music lessons or whatever. He did all the farm work himself occasionally hiring a single man or a married couple to help. He was a carpenter plumber painter mechanic to name a few skills. Our house was so comfortable .. he built it with hardwood floors and a large living room and dining room where we had many family gatherings.
He was always worried about the weather and if it looked like hail he would run from one window to the other concerned about being hailed out or sometimes worried about lack of rain or grasshoppers. Winters were spent reading andj curling. Summers were always holiday time when we would go somewhere nice to tnd mountains or somewhere in BC or to the United States because it was so close... Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Coer d'Alene and places in British Columbia were favorites.. Once we went to Yellowstone Park and another time out to Vancouver Island to visit my Mother's Brother and Aunts Flora and Phoebe.
AND his fishing. He especially liked Cameron Lake fishing with his buddy Frank Niedermier who had a boat.
In 1966 Dad sold the farm and move to Lethbridge where he had the best garden of veg and the best roses glads mums tulips and a perfect lawn. Both he and Mom were perfectionists. During this time they did a lot of traveling aand became grandparents which they enjoyed.
My father had a very serious operation in 1977 and lived for another 5 years but they were a struggle. But although suffering from ill health he never complained. He was always very calm and agreeable and soft spoken.... When he did pass on Dec. 11 1982 it was expected but a real shock.. we had a very sad Christmas that year. I will always remember him with love. He was so steadfast and realiable and loving. I miss him a lot to this day and look back on my childhood which was almost perfect.. never have I felt to safe and loved. Bless you Daddy.
My dad came with his parents William and Annie to Alberta from North Dakota in 1904. They first settled in Granum but moved to Claresholm and then to Barons. He was an avid reader and a wealth of knowledge but he did not start school until 1909 when Wheatland School was built.
In 1913 Percy and all the family moved to Agassiz BC but within a few years were back in Alberta farming in the Barhill Area. In 1921 Percy and his brother James Herman subcontracted to dig ditches for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. That winter the brothers returned to the farm in Aggasiz where they struggled along milking cows cutting wood and farming for the next three years. In 1925 they returned to Barons and shortly after my Dad bought a farm next to his Father William south of Iron Springs but it was irrigated land and he did not like that. In 1925 Dad and my Uncle Herm bought 250 acres of dry land summer fallow southwest of Lethbridge from Jean McClenagan
and lived in an old house on the property (they may have built this house - not sure but I remember it). While my dad was living with his brother Herman and sister in law Grace our oldest female cousin Shirley Anne Grace Alexander was born. She was always my Dad's favorite niece. Sometimes after dinner he would stretch out on the floor for a half hour siesta and Shirley Anne with her curly Orphan Annie hair would crawl all over him. This must have prevented his rest but he wasn't bothered by it. He never forgot her birthday May 11 always remembering to send her a card even in 1977 when he had a lung cancer operation--- he still had to do the card for Shirley.In 1938 Dad and Uncle Herm added to this land and soon after farmed separately and adjacent to each other. Uncle Herm married in 1931 and Percy in 1939 and they each built new homes.
Dad married Irvina Frances MacLean on August 1, 1939. They had met at River Junction (district where the farm was located) card parties and dances. I once asked Dad why he was so late marrying and he said women scared him. He was quite shy and soft spoken compared to his brothers Herman and Carl but my Mom must not have frightened him because they had a long and happy marriage of 43 years. They had a really big 25th anniversary party in 1964 with all their family and friends.
I had the best dad going. He read to me ad a kid and never went to Lethbridge without bringing me back a comic book a chocolate bar or a kid'samagazine. I not only grew up with a Mom at home but a Dad as well especially after harvest thru to spring seeding he was always about to help me withwith my homework or drive me to music lessons or whatever. He did all the farm work himself occasionally hiring a single man or a married couple to help. He was a carpenter plumber painter mechanic to name a few skills. Our house was so comfortable .. he built it with hardwood floors and a large living room and dining room where we had many family gatherings.
He was always worried about the weather and if it looked like hail he would run from one window to the other concerned about being hailed out or sometimes worried about lack of rain or grasshoppers. Winters were spent reading andj curling. Summers were always holiday time when we would go somewhere nice to tnd mountains or somewhere in BC or to the United States because it was so close... Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Coer d'Alene and places in British Columbia were favorites.. Once we went to Yellowstone Park and another time out to Vancouver Island to visit my Mother's Brother and Aunts Flora and Phoebe.
AND his fishing. He especially liked Cameron Lake fishing with his buddy Frank Niedermier who had a boat.
In 1966 Dad sold the farm and move to Lethbridge where he had the best garden of veg and the best roses glads mums tulips and a perfect lawn. Both he and Mom were perfectionists. During this time they did a lot of traveling aand became grandparents which they enjoyed.
My father had a very serious operation in 1977 and lived for another 5 years but they were a struggle. But although suffering from ill health he never complained. He was always very calm and agreeable and soft spoken.... When he did pass on Dec. 11 1982 it was expected but a real shock.. we had a very sad Christmas that year. I will always remember him with love. He was so steadfast and realiable and loving. I miss him a lot to this day and look back on my childhood which was almost perfect.. never have I felt to safe and loved. Bless you Daddy.
Percy Elton Alexander was born June 15 1900 in Knox Benson Co. North Dakota and passed on December 11 1982 in Lethbridge Alberta. He was the eldest of Eight children followed in order by Margaret Lillian, James Herman, Carl Leslie, Eva Lucille, Mabel Ethel, Wilfred William, and Mildred May Isabelle who was 21 years younger and who he named.
My dad came with his parents William and Annie to Alberta from North Dakota in 1904. They first settled in Granum but moved to Claresholm and then to Barons. He was an avid reader and a wealth of knowledge but he did not start school until 1909 when Wheatland School was built.
In 1913 Percy and all the family moved to Agassiz BC but within a few years were back in Alberta farming in the Barhill Area. In 1921 Percy and his brother James Herman subcontracted to dig ditches for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. That winter the brothers returned to the farm in Aggasiz where they struggled along milking cows cutting wood and farming for the next three years. In 1925 they returned to Barons and shortly after my Dad bought a farm next to his Father William south of Iron Springs but it was irrigated land and he did not like that. In 1925 Dad and my Uncle Herm bought 250 acres of dry land summer fallow southwest of Lethbridge from Jean McClenagan
and lived in an old house on the property (they may have built this house - not sure but I remember it). While my dad was living with his brother Herman and sister in law Grace our oldest female cousin Shirley Anne Grace Alexander was born. She was always my Dad's favorite niece. Sometimes after dinner he would stretch out on the floor for a half hour siesta and Shirley Anne with her curly Orphan Annie hair would crawl all over him. This must have prevented his rest but he wasn't bothered by it. He never forgot her birthday May 11 always remembering to send her a card even in 1977 when he had a lung cancer operation--- he still had to do the card for Shirley.In 1938 Dad and Uncle Herm added to this land and soon after farmed separately and adjacent to each other. Uncle Herm married in 1931 and Percy in 1939 and they each built new homes.
Dad married Irvina Frances MacLean on August 1, 1939. They had met at River Junction (district where the farm was located) card parties and dances. I once asked Dad why he was so late marrying and he said women scared him. He was quite shy and soft spoken compared to his brothers Herman and Carl but my Mom must not have frightened him because they had a long and happy marriage of 43 years. They had a really big 25th anniversary party in 1964 with all their family and friends.
I had the best dad going. He read to me ad a kid and never went to Lethbridge without bringing me back a comic book a chocolate bar or a kid'samagazine. I not only grew up with a Mom at home but a Dad as well especially after harvest thru to spring seeding he was always about to help me withwith my homework or drive me to music lessons or whatever. He did all the farm work himself occasionally hiring a single man or a married couple to help. He was a carpenter plumber painter mechanic to name a few skills. Our house was so comfortable .. he built it with hardwood floors and a large living room and dining room where we had many family gatherings.
He was always worried about the weather and if it looked like hail he would run from one window to the other concerned about being hailed out or sometimes worried about lack of rain or grasshoppers. Winters were spent reading andj curling. Summers were always holiday time when we would go somewhere nice to tnd mountains or somewhere in BC or to the United States because it was so close... Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Coer d'Alene and places in British Columbia were favorites.. Once we went to Yellowstone Park and another time out to Vancouver Island to visit my Mother's Brother and Aunts Flora and Phoebe.
AND his fishing. He especially liked Cameron Lake fishing with his buddy Frank Niedermier who had a boat.
In 1966 Dad sold the farm and move to Lethbridge where he had the best garden of veg and the best roses glads mums tulips and a perfect lawn. Both he and Mom were perfectionists. During this time they did a lot of traveling aand became grandparents which they enjoyed.
My father had a very serious operation in 1977 and lived for another 5 years but they were a struggle. But although suffering from ill health he never complained. He was always very calm and agreeable and soft spoken.... When he did pass on Dec. 11 1982 it was expected but a real shock.. we had a very sad Christmas that year. I will always remember him with love. He was so steadfast and realiable and loving. I miss him a lot to this day and look back on my childhood which was almost perfect.. never have I felt to safe and loved. Bless you Daddy.
My dad came with his parents William and Annie to Alberta from North Dakota in 1904. They first settled in Granum but moved to Claresholm and then to Barons. He was an avid reader and a wealth of knowledge but he did not start school until 1909 when Wheatland School was built.
In 1913 Percy and all the family moved to Agassiz BC but within a few years were back in Alberta farming in the Barhill Area. In 1921 Percy and his brother James Herman subcontracted to dig ditches for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. That winter the brothers returned to the farm in Aggasiz where they struggled along milking cows cutting wood and farming for the next three years. In 1925 they returned to Barons and shortly after my Dad bought a farm next to his Father William south of Iron Springs but it was irrigated land and he did not like that. In 1925 Dad and my Uncle Herm bought 250 acres of dry land summer fallow southwest of Lethbridge from Jean McClenagan
and lived in an old house on the property (they may have built this house - not sure but I remember it). While my dad was living with his brother Herman and sister in law Grace our oldest female cousin Shirley Anne Grace Alexander was born. She was always my Dad's favorite niece. Sometimes after dinner he would stretch out on the floor for a half hour siesta and Shirley Anne with her curly Orphan Annie hair would crawl all over him. This must have prevented his rest but he wasn't bothered by it. He never forgot her birthday May 11 always remembering to send her a card even in 1977 when he had a lung cancer operation--- he still had to do the card for Shirley.In 1938 Dad and Uncle Herm added to this land and soon after farmed separately and adjacent to each other. Uncle Herm married in 1931 and Percy in 1939 and they each built new homes.
Dad married Irvina Frances MacLean on August 1, 1939. They had met at River Junction (district where the farm was located) card parties and dances. I once asked Dad why he was so late marrying and he said women scared him. He was quite shy and soft spoken compared to his brothers Herman and Carl but my Mom must not have frightened him because they had a long and happy marriage of 43 years. They had a really big 25th anniversary party in 1964 with all their family and friends.
I had the best dad going. He read to me ad a kid and never went to Lethbridge without bringing me back a comic book a chocolate bar or a kid'samagazine. I not only grew up with a Mom at home but a Dad as well especially after harvest thru to spring seeding he was always about to help me withwith my homework or drive me to music lessons or whatever. He did all the farm work himself occasionally hiring a single man or a married couple to help. He was a carpenter plumber painter mechanic to name a few skills. Our house was so comfortable .. he built it with hardwood floors and a large living room and dining room where we had many family gatherings.
He was always worried about the weather and if it looked like hail he would run from one window to the other concerned about being hailed out or sometimes worried about lack of rain or grasshoppers. Winters were spent reading andj curling. Summers were always holiday time when we would go somewhere nice to tnd mountains or somewhere in BC or to the United States because it was so close... Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Coer d'Alene and places in British Columbia were favorites.. Once we went to Yellowstone Park and another time out to Vancouver Island to visit my Mother's Brother and Aunts Flora and Phoebe.
AND his fishing. He especially liked Cameron Lake fishing with his buddy Frank Niedermier who had a boat.
In 1966 Dad sold the farm and move to Lethbridge where he had the best garden of veg and the best roses glads mums tulips and a perfect lawn. Both he and Mom were perfectionists. During this time they did a lot of traveling aand became grandparents which they enjoyed.
My father had a very serious operation in 1977 and lived for another 5 years but they were a struggle. But although suffering from ill health he never complained. He was always very calm and agreeable and soft spoken.... When he did pass on Dec. 11 1982 it was expected but a real shock.. we had a very sad Christmas that year. I will always remember him with love. He was so steadfast and realiable and loving. I miss him a lot to this day and look back on my childhood which was almost perfect.. never have I felt to safe and loved. Bless you Daddy.
