Friesen & Wiebe Building Supplies and Construction

One oi" the bigger building supply establishments in Winkier is a relatively new organization started in April of 1968 in temporary quarters on Provincial Highway No. 32. The business grew so rapidly that in November ol’ the same ycan the owners moved to their present loca~ lion. purchasing Country Lumber Yard at 570 Centen- nial Street. Abc Wiebe, one of the founders of Fricscn and Wicbc Building Supplies Ltd, is well qualified in the building trade, having owned and operated a lumber yard and saw-mill in Paraguay, South America. Moving to Canada in 1967. he worked at a local lumber yard for a your and formed a partnership with John Friesen.

Prairie Cabs

The “Prairie Cab”, built on the prairie for prairie weather, has become synonymous with farming in Manitoba. Mr. P. L. Reimcr, owner of the moderate sized operation. started production in 1968 after he sold the John Deere farm implement dealership in Winkler. Converting the buildings at 358 « 6th Street to a manufacturing operation, he began producing tractor and combine cubs for the prairie markets. Employing a stall 01' than their production grew by leaps and bounds. with sales reaching all the corners of the Manitoba and North Dakota markets.

Winkler Real Estate & Insurance Ltd.

In 1950 Mr. Fred Rietzc purchased the Insurance business from D. I. Locppky. At this time he was also a partner with his brother Harold in the Bowling and Billiard Business on Mountain Avenue west 01' the pres- ent silt: ol‘ the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. He continued his bowling and billiard business until it was destroyed by fire in 1961. The insurance business was continued in the building next to the Harvest Inn, and in the same year Mr. Rictzc purchased the Winkler Real Estate and Insurance business from Albert Schulz. This became his first venture in the Real Estate business. Shortly after, the Winkler Theatre building was pur- chased which was remodelled and he moved his business to 334 Main Street.

In 1969 be incorporated his business under Winkler Real Estate and Insurance Ltd. and is the president ofthc company. His son Randy has been working with him since 1968. Mr. Rictzc has served on the Winkler Council for 6 years, and acted as Chairman of the Winkler Town Planning Committee. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as cider, treasurer and trustee for the last 30 years. Mr. Rietzc is very active in promoting Sports activities.

Hildebrand Agencies

Hildebrand Agencies located at 236 Main Street is one of Winklcr‘s newer business establishments, as only recently, Mr. Bill Hildebrand, former owner of Winklcr Furniture, purchased the business from Kroeker Realty. Mr. Hildebrand has had many years of experience in

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dealing with the public and has been active in community service as United Way Campaign Chairman.

Wiebe Funeral Homes Limited

Wicbc‘s Funeral Home, with head ol'ficcs located in Winkier, celebrated its let year of operation during Manitoba‘s Centennial year. Mr. Nick Wicbe, the under- taker and owner went into the funeral business in 1949, after receiving his Embalme‘r’s License in Toronto. He came to Winkler and purchased the funeral home then owned by Frank J. Dyck. A few years later (1935) a branch was opened in Altona with his brother Hank serv- ing as manager.

A Further expansion took place in 1955, when through a partnership arrangement with the late Alex Minty. the business expanded into the town of Morden. Five years later (1960). a new modern funeral home was built in Winklcr on 8th Street. Then in 1964, they purchased the Pine View Chapels in Morden, making Wicbc Funeral Homes Ltd. the largest funeral service in southern Manitoba,

Kroeker Seeds

Abram A. Krockcr, formerly of Winklcr and now a resident of East Kildonan, was one 01'st Manitobans to receive a Good Citizenship Award at the awards banquet at the Tourist and Convention Association annual con— vention Saturday, November 21, 1970.

The Kroekcr family has been closely associated with this community for most of the past century.

In two grandfather Abram Kroekcr with his young wife homesteaded on the quarter section of land which later becamc the “West End” of Winklcr. Their first homcsitc was at what is now No. 238 on 14th Street, north of the Salem home. and they were thus Winklcr‘s first residents.

Ever since those pioneering days, and through the following decades which saw the building of the railroad. the establishment ol'a community, and the growth ofthis community to its present eminence the Kroekers have been a part of“ its agricultural scene.

In I928, Abram Arthur Kroekcr and his family began farming six miles south-east of Winkicr. To solve the problems created by drouth and depression, he diver- sified his farming operations with a succession of new ventures: in 1931, corn growing for grain; in 1933, seed corn production; and in 1936, Western Canada’s first corn—drying kiln. Also, in these and later years potatoes. forage crops, seed grain, cattle. hogs and unions were added. As time passed, the ventures and innovations which had been considered daring. proved to be sound, and many were eventually and successfully adopted by other farmers in the area.

Today, two associated family companies carry on the Farming and agribusiness tradition: A. A. Kroeker & Sons Ltd. operate farms in the Winkier area and are engaged in the production of table, seed and processing potatoes. onions, turnips, hogs and cattle, with brunch operations [under irrigation) at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and Outlook. Saskatchewan. Krockcr Seeds Limited serves the farming community of the area as a