I received word through the Christmas mail on the passing of Tom Kirk of Victoria, B.C. Tom passed away in June at the age of 84 years. His grandparents, Edwin and Elizabeth Kirk, and Edwin's father, Charles Kirk, come to the area in 1912 to file on land just over the border in the Spinney Hill district.
Edwin had a family of two sons, Ted and Herb, and they grew up to marry the MaLaverty sisters, Maude and Jessie. When Charles McLaverty passed away in 1915, Isabelle, Charles' wife, stayed on the farm near the river in Baljennie. Ted and Maude continued to farm the land until 1936 before moving to Langley, B.C. Isabella McLaverty moved with them. Herb and Jessie had an auction sale and packed their belongings and they moved to Victoria, B.C. when Tom Kirk was three and a half years old. Tom had one brother who died at birth. His other siblings were sister May and brother John.Ìý
The farmland they had settled on was poor, mostly rocks and hillsides, not far from the North Saskatchewan River. They also had a big creek running through the land that supplied them with water.
Tom Kirk married Joanne and made his new home in Victoria, B.C. They raised a family of one son and two daughters. They all lived in British Columbia.
In July 1987, Tom Kirk and his wife Joanne made a special trip back to Baljennie and the Spinney Hill areas to look up the old farm building sight. There was nothing left but a few old logs where his old home had been and a few old caragana and lilac bushes to help mark the area. They made a second trip back to the area in June 1994 with some of his family. They had a visit with Stanley and Dorothy Mills. They also visited with more relatives at Rocky Mountain House, Alta. on their way home.Ìý
On a trip to visit relatives on Salt Spring Island, Stanley and Dorothy Mills took the ferry to Victoria to visit with Tom and Joanne Kirk. The Kirks took them on a tour of the city.
Sympathy goes out to Dwayne and Cheryle Bater of North Battleford on the recent passing of Cheryle's mother Edith Jonson of Winnipeg, Man.
Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills of Battleford was their old school chum Robert Maxwell from Edmonton, Alta. He also visited with his sister Anna Brehon formally Ìýof Maymont. Robert was on his way to spend Christmas at Portage La Prairie, Man. with his son Glenn and wife Sheila and girls. Robert also made a stop to visit family and relatives at Maymont.
Sympathy also goes out to Robert Maxwell as his sister Anna Brehon of North Battleford passed away shortly after Robert had visited. Anna was 88 years old. Anna's parents George and Hazel Maxwell came from the Mount Hope area to a farm in Baljennie in the fall of 1944. Anna and her brother Robert walked to attend the old Baljennie county school.
They family were in the area until 1957 when Robert’s retired to a house in Maymont. Stanley and Dorothy Mills bought the farm and moved there in July 1960. Anna and Colles Brehon were married in the old house still standing on the Mills farm. Anna and Colles raised a family of one son and three daughters. Colles passed away a few years ago. Anna stayed on the farm as long as she was able with the help of her son, Doug Brehon. Later she retired to North Battleford. Anna was a busy lady on the farm and as a 4H leader. She was also active in church groups and in the community. She will certainly be missed by her family and all her friends.
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