I have known Arnold and Helmay Loewen for many years. Back in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s, Arnold (referred to as “Arnie” by many of his friends) cut my hair (he’s now retired). Helmay was his assistant.
I also recall playing for their daughter’s wedding with my band in 1987. But what I did not know was that this husband and wife team were very good musicians.
Sure, I had watched them play in the annual Agricultural Society fair parades. But playing on the flat deck of a moving vehicle is no test of one’s musical talent.
So, when Arnie and Helmay invited (requested by invitation) me to a Sunday afternoon jam session and dance at the North Battleford Pioneers’ Association hall on Railway Avenue south, I decided to go.
I was pleasantly surprised at the ability of the 15 or so musicians who had donated their time to jam and play for the dance. Most of the musicians were in their 70’s; some were in their 80’s.
I was quite amazed at the vigor and enthusiasm of the crowd, most of whom were in their 70’s and 80’s. And, I was particularly impressed with the skill, versatility and vocalization of Helmay and Arnold. The Loewens are indeed very good musicians.
I met with Helmay and Arnold on Friday, December 9, 2016 at the Co-op Café in order to get their life history and a good account of their musical careers. Here is their story (as told verbatim by Helmay Loewen):
Arnold Loewen (Arnie) was born and grew up in the Robin Hood, Saskatchewan. He was the seventh child in a family of twelve (nine boys and three girls). Arnold took his elementary education at the nearest country, one room school (Park Bluff). He later took higher grades to complete his education.
As Arnold’s older siblings moved through the school system and completed their education, they took jobs away from home. One of his brothers bought a guitar from a friend and brought it home for the younger ones to practice. Later, another brother brought home a violin.
Arnold picked up the instruments occasionally. He was able to get a squeaky tune out of the violin and a few chords on the guitar. He also got a harmonica and learned to play it well.
During this time, card parties were in vogue – a popular community activity held in the schools. After the locals tired of cards, they would dance for awhile and then have lunch. Occasionally, Arnold and his sister, Anne, would play for these impromptu dances – sometimes alone and sometimes with others.
When Arnold finished elementary school, he helped out on the farm until he was 18 and then worked on various jobs away from home. At age 20, he took a job with a shingling and roofing company in Lloydminster. His life was busy so he put music on the back burner until later. I now turn my attention to Helmay Loewen and her life and musical career.
Helmay Loewen (nee Kildaw) was born to Henry Kildaw and Mary Kildaw (nee Anderson) at Rabbit Lake on January 1st, 1942. She was a sister to six older siblings and four younger children – a large family by any measure. Large families were quite common in those days.
Helmay took her elementary education at Marron School and completed her education at Medstead Central School.
Helmay grew up on a small farm where everyone had their chores to do. Working outside was much preferred to working inside. However, there was much work to be done both outside and inside.
“All of our family members were musical and loved to sing. So, with no other entertainment (no TVs, no friends close by) available, we did a lot of family entertaining (singing and playing instruments). To this day, whenever some of us get together, there is always music. My dad played an awesome harmonica and it was a real treat when he decided to play it. Moreover, when my oldest brother, Ken, left home to work, he brought home an acoustic guitar, and each one of we children learned to play it. We helped each other. We couldn’t read notes so we played by ear. My older brother, Clarence, taught me most of what I learned. He was really good at singing and playing the guitar. So we started singing (and adding harmony) too. Later on, Clarence played with other bands including the Swing Alongs from North Battleford. We sang at house parties, card parties and birthday parties. I (Helmay) enjoyed singing the Kitty Wells and Hank Williams songs, and other songs, that were famous at the time.
“When Arnie and I met, it wasn’t long before we started singing together. Then after we got married, I moved to Lloydminster where Arnie was working. We settled down to raise a family of three children (Wendy, Ed and Lorna) who followed in their parents’ footsteps and also became singers. Our children liked the old western music (the same as us, and which we sang and played). Then when the Beach Boys, Beatles and other pop groups became popular, our children’s musical tastes changed. But they still liked some of the old Western songs. I would get them to sit down and and sing with me. One day I realized that Lorna could sing harmony. She still does. And, when Ed was about eight years old, he loved playing hockey, and he would sit down and make up hockey songs.
When Wendy was eight years old, we were invited to join a talent show sponsored by the Nelson Lumber Company Ltd. We sang “Mother, may I” and other songs. We were competing against Lloydminster’s main band, ”The Western Aces” and other groups but the Western Aces we came in came in second anyway. Our children and Arnie and I still get together on occasion and do some singing.
In order to be a stay-at-home mom, I took in boarders (relatives and friends) and did some baby sitting while the children were growing up. When our youngest, Lorn, started junior high school, I started working at a corner grocery store (North- end grocery). I also started to get more involved in curling at this time. Arnie was also very much into his curling.
When Arnie and I made our move to North Battleford, we continued with curling. And when we sold our house, we donated a large box of trophies to an organization in North Battleford.
While Arnold was working, in his spare time on weekends and holidays, he took his barbering and hair styling course in Edmonton. When he received his certificate, he was able to secure a space on December 7, 1978 in the new Co-op Mall in North Battleford and opened the Hair Loft (men’s and women’s hair styling).
In August of 1979, Arnold and I moved to North Battleford. Along with Arnie, I went to work in the Hair Loft. Arnold owned and operated the Hair Loft until 1993 at which time he sold it. While still cutting and styling hair, he also started driving school bus. He drove for 17 years.
After selling the Hair Loft, due to customer demand, Arnold started a little shop in the basement of our home which he aptly named, “Arnie’s Hair Den.” He operated the Hair Den until we sold our house and bought a condo. While cutting and styling hair in the Den, we made a lot of good friends – good solid people. This was where we first met Richard (Rick) Hiebert (He was a faithful client in the shop).
In the 1980’s, we took up old tyme dancing lessons. We really enjoyed these, as well as curling.
In the 1990’s, we rediscovered our music and singing. We hadn’t done much while the family was growing but now we were able to pursue it. Arnie had his violin and harmonica and now he purchased a banjo, mandolin and Dobra guitar. In 2006, Arnie finally won first prize with his harmonica at the Fiddle and Harmonica Contest held every year at the Western Development Museum. He worked exceptionally hard at it – practicing – for three years and finally succeeded. What a happy day that was!
Arnie and I played every winter at the Western Development Museum - January jams, spring flings, and those were the days venues for quite a few years. We also played at the Knights of Columbus Hall brunches every month. And we played at nursing homes and other functions. We also played a lot of jam sessions at Speers, Blaine Lake, Medstead, Lloydminster, Maymont, and the Pioneer Hall in North Battleford. One of the highlights was when we jammed with Darrel De La Ronde and Saskia in Maymont. This duo toured with Gary Fjellegarde. They were wonderful singers and musicians. They lived in Maymont for awhile.
Some of the friends we have played with include June Chrest, Jack Alm, John Archer, Bob Mallet, Bil Muzyka, Pius Fritz, Ross Currie, Orest Demyon, Norm Woytowich, and many others.”
Arnie and Helmay are inherently modest people. They don’t trumpet their popularity and successes. So it’s up to me. Music, and especially playing music, was and is an integral and fundamentally important part of Arnie’s and Helmay’s lives.
Over the years and decades, their lives have been enriched by their music, and our communities are a better place for it. They have received high praise and many accolades for their music, including comments like, “two wonderful musicians.” Arnie and Helmay hope that they will be able to play music for many years to come because it keeps them young and brings joy to others. Indeed yes, they are known as “The Loewens and Company.”
