Biography by Kenneth & Dorleen KRAUSE –
Elsie was born February 29, 1920 on the family homestead located 10 miles from Hilda, Alberta. She had a hard life, often helping in the field.
When George was courting Elsie he had a Model A Ford pickup. One night he went to go home but it wouldn't start - having lost the crank, he went to Plan B. He got Elsie out of the house to get into the truck behind the wheel to manipulate the controls - one was spark advance, one was the choke, the other the gas pedal. Well, to get this set-up going George put his back to the hind wheel, grabbed the wheel lifted it, Elsie having a block of wood, would set it under the axel then with the wheel off the ground she'd get in the driver seat to manipulate the controls. George would get on his knees, grab the wheel with both hands and give it a quick spin and Presto four cylinders sputtered into life! Sure can't do that with these modern vehicles - automatics, computers, emission controls, - Oh, the good old days!!
Elsie and George were married March 16, 1941. George took over the Bender family farm and his parents moved into town. Their son, Bruce Wayne was born in 1942. George was conscripted into the army in the fall of 1942, he was stationed in Calgary and Prince George, B.C. I remember George being home on furlough once, holding Bruce on his knee In 1944 her Dad married Ida Frey and they moved to Chilliwack. George and Elsie took over the family farm. A second son, Dennis Gordon was born in 1944; a daughter, Marian Dorothy, in 1949. During these years Elsie often helped with the fieldwork and chores, as well as doing the household duties. The last child arrived on the scene in 1956 - Pamela Joy.
Elsie and George operated the farm, with a growing family, until 1968 when they sold the farm and retired to Medicine Hat. They travelled extensively with their trailer, enjoying fishing and many friends they had made over the years, along with the grandchildren that had started to arrive. In 1977, on their way back from a fishing trip to Campbell River, George and Elsie had a horrendous accident in which George was tragically killed on September 3. Elsie was seriously injured and it was indeed a miracle that she survived! As a consequence of these injuries, she continued to have health problems for the rest of her life.
"Elsie continued to live in her home, and always a consummate gardener, produced enough vegetables to feed the growing number of grandchildren. She had a great love of doing crafts, either quilting, crocheting, knitting, or covering hangers. Elsie always took great pride in her continued independence and being a productive member of the family and society.
Elsie passed away November 13, 2007 at the age of 87 - a life well lived! She will always be remembered by those closest to her as a generous, helpful and hard working mother and grand-mother who was always ready to help out when the occasion required."
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Elsie was born February 29, 1920 on the family homestead located 10 miles from Hilda, Alberta. She had a hard life, often helping in the field.
When George was courting Elsie he had a Model A Ford pickup. One night he went to go home but it wouldn't start - having lost the crank, he went to Plan B. He got Elsie out of the house to get into the truck behind the wheel to manipulate the controls - one was spark advance, one was the choke, the other the gas pedal. Well, to get this set-up going George put his back to the hind wheel, grabbed the wheel lifted it, Elsie having a block of wood, would set it under the axel then with the wheel off the ground she'd get in the driver seat to manipulate the controls. George would get on his knees, grab the wheel with both hands and give it a quick spin and Presto four cylinders sputtered into life! Sure can't do that with these modern vehicles - automatics, computers, emission controls, - Oh, the good old days!!
Elsie and George were married March 16, 1941. George took over the Bender family farm and his parents moved into town. Their son, Bruce Wayne was born in 1942. George was conscripted into the army in the fall of 1942, he was stationed in Calgary and Prince George, B.C. I remember George being home on furlough once, holding Bruce on his knee In 1944 her Dad married Ida Frey and they moved to Chilliwack. George and Elsie took over the family farm. A second son, Dennis Gordon was born in 1944; a daughter, Marian Dorothy, in 1949. During these years Elsie often helped with the fieldwork and chores, as well as doing the household duties. The last child arrived on the scene in 1956 - Pamela Joy.
Elsie and George operated the farm, with a growing family, until 1968 when they sold the farm and retired to Medicine Hat. They travelled extensively with their trailer, enjoying fishing and many friends they had made over the years, along with the grandchildren that had started to arrive. In 1977, on their way back from a fishing trip to Campbell River, George and Elsie had a horrendous accident in which George was tragically killed on September 3. Elsie was seriously injured and it was indeed a miracle that she survived! As a consequence of these injuries, she continued to have health problems for the rest of her life.
"Elsie continued to live in her home, and always a consummate gardener, produced enough vegetables to feed the growing number of grandchildren. She had a great love of doing crafts, either quilting, crocheting, knitting, or covering hangers. Elsie always took great pride in her continued independence and being a productive member of the family and society.
Elsie passed away November 13, 2007 at the age of 87 - a life well lived! She will always be remembered by those closest to her as a generous, helpful and hard working mother and grand-mother who was always ready to help out when the occasion required."
============================
Biography by Kenneth & Dorleen KRAUSE –
Elsie was born February 29, 1920 on the family homestead located 10 miles from Hilda, Alberta. She had a hard life, often helping in the field.
When George was courting Elsie he had a Model A Ford pickup. One night he went to go home but it wouldn't start - having lost the crank, he went to Plan B. He got Elsie out of the house to get into the truck behind the wheel to manipulate the controls - one was spark advance, one was the choke, the other the gas pedal. Well, to get this set-up going George put his back to the hind wheel, grabbed the wheel lifted it, Elsie having a block of wood, would set it under the axel then with the wheel off the ground she'd get in the driver seat to manipulate the controls. George would get on his knees, grab the wheel with both hands and give it a quick spin and Presto four cylinders sputtered into life! Sure can't do that with these modern vehicles - automatics, computers, emission controls, - Oh, the good old days!!
Elsie and George were married March 16, 1941. George took over the Bender family farm and his parents moved into town. Their son, Bruce Wayne was born in 1942. George was conscripted into the army in the fall of 1942, he was stationed in Calgary and Prince George, B.C. I remember George being home on furlough once, holding Bruce on his knee In 1944 her Dad married Ida Frey and they moved to Chilliwack. George and Elsie took over the family farm. A second son, Dennis Gordon was born in 1944; a daughter, Marian Dorothy, in 1949. During these years Elsie often helped with the fieldwork and chores, as well as doing the household duties. The last child arrived on the scene in 1956 - Pamela Joy.
Elsie and George operated the farm, with a growing family, until 1968 when they sold the farm and retired to Medicine Hat. They travelled extensively with their trailer, enjoying fishing and many friends they had made over the years, along with the grandchildren that had started to arrive. In 1977, on their way back from a fishing trip to Campbell River, George and Elsie had a horrendous accident in which George was tragically killed on September 3. Elsie was seriously injured and it was indeed a miracle that she survived! As a consequence of these injuries, she continued to have health problems for the rest of her life.
"Elsie continued to live in her home, and always a consummate gardener, produced enough vegetables to feed the growing number of grandchildren. She had a great love of doing crafts, either quilting, crocheting, knitting, or covering hangers. Elsie always took great pride in her continued independence and being a productive member of the family and society.
Elsie passed away November 13, 2007 at the age of 87 - a life well lived! She will always be remembered by those closest to her as a generous, helpful and hard working mother and grand-mother who was always ready to help out when the occasion required."
============================
Elsie was born February 29, 1920 on the family homestead located 10 miles from Hilda, Alberta. She had a hard life, often helping in the field.
When George was courting Elsie he had a Model A Ford pickup. One night he went to go home but it wouldn't start - having lost the crank, he went to Plan B. He got Elsie out of the house to get into the truck behind the wheel to manipulate the controls - one was spark advance, one was the choke, the other the gas pedal. Well, to get this set-up going George put his back to the hind wheel, grabbed the wheel lifted it, Elsie having a block of wood, would set it under the axel then with the wheel off the ground she'd get in the driver seat to manipulate the controls. George would get on his knees, grab the wheel with both hands and give it a quick spin and Presto four cylinders sputtered into life! Sure can't do that with these modern vehicles - automatics, computers, emission controls, - Oh, the good old days!!
Elsie and George were married March 16, 1941. George took over the Bender family farm and his parents moved into town. Their son, Bruce Wayne was born in 1942. George was conscripted into the army in the fall of 1942, he was stationed in Calgary and Prince George, B.C. I remember George being home on furlough once, holding Bruce on his knee In 1944 her Dad married Ida Frey and they moved to Chilliwack. George and Elsie took over the family farm. A second son, Dennis Gordon was born in 1944; a daughter, Marian Dorothy, in 1949. During these years Elsie often helped with the fieldwork and chores, as well as doing the household duties. The last child arrived on the scene in 1956 - Pamela Joy.
Elsie and George operated the farm, with a growing family, until 1968 when they sold the farm and retired to Medicine Hat. They travelled extensively with their trailer, enjoying fishing and many friends they had made over the years, along with the grandchildren that had started to arrive. In 1977, on their way back from a fishing trip to Campbell River, George and Elsie had a horrendous accident in which George was tragically killed on September 3. Elsie was seriously injured and it was indeed a miracle that she survived! As a consequence of these injuries, she continued to have health problems for the rest of her life.
"Elsie continued to live in her home, and always a consummate gardener, produced enough vegetables to feed the growing number of grandchildren. She had a great love of doing crafts, either quilting, crocheting, knitting, or covering hangers. Elsie always took great pride in her continued independence and being a productive member of the family and society.
Elsie passed away November 13, 2007 at the age of 87 - a life well lived! She will always be remembered by those closest to her as a generous, helpful and hard working mother and grand-mother who was always ready to help out when the occasion required."
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