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Longtime resident passes away at age 82

Baljennie News
spring rural scene
Photo by Louise Lundberg

Sympathy goes out to the Mills family of the Battlefords and the Buckle and Flannigan families of Prince Albert on the recent passing of Molly Flannigan (nee Buckle-Preston), Stanley Mills’ last surviving aunt. Walter Olive, Stanley Mills and Elaine Theriault attended the funeral in Prince Albert.

Sympathy goes out to the Greer and Rowlands families on the recent passing of Robert Greer. Robert was born in Spinney Hill on Oct. 22, 1936. As a baby he and the family moved to Elkhorn, Man. He moved back to the Sonningdale area in 1953 to work for his uncle and other farmers. He married Irene Rowlands in 1956 and farmed in the Baljennie area for a short time. Then they moved to Saskatoon and later to Edmonton, Alta. where he worked as a plasterer.

The family returned to Baljennie area to work on a farm in 1964. They were able to purchase more land and moved the Consolidated elevator house in Baljennie to the old Tom Boulton yard. They added an addition to the house. They had a family of two daughters and five sons. Robert continued to farm while Irene drove school bus for a number of years.

When Robert wasn’t able to do the farm work anymore a grandson took over. He was an activite member of the Baljennie community and was involved with the Baljennie Multiple 4-H Club. He served as councillor for the RM of Glenside for a good many years. Robert remained on the farm, in failing health, after spending a few days at Battlefords Union Hospital. He passed away June 20 at the age of 82. A celebration of life was held June 24 at the Battlefords Agricultural Society grounds and he will be laid to rest in the Baljennie St. Bridgete’s Cemetery at a later date.

Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills was their only daughter, Elaine Theriault of Mississauga, Ont., and their youngest son, Glen Mills of Penticton, B.C.

More work bees have been held at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford to repair the antique gas tractors and stationary engines. One by one they are getting some completed. It takes a lot of time to do all the little fiddly jobs required. More work bees will be held. The next one is Friday, June 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hopefully some of these antiques will be ready for Those Were the Days coming up in August. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers who come to the museum to help.

After such a long, cool spring, hot summer weather is here. Now there is a need for a soaking rain shower to help the crops. There has been some hail.

School is completed for another year and schoolyards have been busy with sporting events and students have been enjoying interesting field trips. Graduations are being celebrated and now all can enjoy a busy summer vacation.