house across the street. During this time Eiki had rigged up his own lighting plant and wired the Municipal building, so i was lucky in that most of the time i had electric lights. Of course there were times when they became quite dim and the coal oil lamps would be put to use. It must have been quite a reliel~ to Mr. Foord, Secretary Treasurer, R.M. of Siglunes, and his assistant, Olive Porteous, when after 6 years we finally moved. The building was not at all sound proofed and it was not very easy to keep two active boys quiet.

During the summer and fall of 1935, Eiki made

himself a snow plane, which consisted of a body made of light weight metal mounted on 2 sets of runners, a model A motor and propeller at the rear. He used this machine as a taxi service during the winter months when road con— ditions made cars useless and horses too slow. Many of thesetrips were happy occasions, as when he brought Jack Finlayson and Agnes Deighton from their respec- tive homes, to catch the train at Ashern, where they proceeded to Winnipeg for their wedding. Beverly {Geisler} Sveistrup had her very first ride from her grand~ parent’s home in Ashcrn, where she was born, to Rudy and Rose’s farm home. But there were sad occasions too. On January 20, 1936, my sister‘s husband, Holger Stromberg, drowned while freighting fish with a tractor train. He was accompanied by his younger brother, Greg, and my brother, Roland Sundberg, and were off Long Point on Lake Winnipeg when they came to a crack in the ice. Luckily for the boys, Holger had advised them to stay away from the tractor train while he attempted the crossing. Eiki took Holger’s father and divers to Long Point. The divers located the tractor but Holger’s body was never recovered. . In the early forties, Eiki bought the corner lots where the old St. George Hotel had stood before it burned down, but it was not until 1944 or 45 that. the new garage was ready for use. .

In 1960 Eric joined the navy and after basic training at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, was sent to Esquimault, B.C. it was in Victoria he met and married Joann Krienke. When Bobbi Jo was 6 months old and Eric had finished his 3-year stint in the navy, they returned to Ashern where they remained until August 1964, when they returned to Victoria, 3.12. During these years Jim remained at home and worked with his father in the gar- age. In 1957 l was offered a partime job in the post office, which was then located in what is now the Robinson Store. in 1963, after writing civil service exams, I became, and still am, a full time assistant,

On October ll, 1967 Eiki died when he was struck by a hit and run driver.

In June, 1968 Eric and family returned to Ashern and he and Jim have operated the garage since then. In 1969 Eric and Soann bought their home on Poplar Avenue and lived there until November 1975, when they moved out of‘ town, approximately 1/5 mile north of Ron Geisler’s farm. Ryan was born February 23, 1971.

For my grandchildren and possibly great-grand- children, I should perhaps inelude a little of my own background. My parents were born in Sweden and came to this country in 1905 ot 1906. They met on board ship. My mother, Amanda Olson, went to USA. where she had relatives, and my father, Theodor Sundberg, remained in Winnipeg. After working in the States for

60

some time, my mother returned to Winnipeg and she and my dad were married. i was the youngest of 4 children. In March 1917. when l was 3 months old, we moved from St. Vital to the homestead in Hil‘ore.

Russ Keeler Family

Russ was born in Hartney, Manitoba, on February 8, 1944. He graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Manitoba in 1967. After graduation he worked as a phar- macist in Brandon and Winnipeg. In 1969 he became part owner of the Viking Pharmacy in Gimli. Manitoba. In February 191%). Russ came to Ashern to work for Mrs. Wright. in July 1970, he purchased Wright’s Pharmacy and renamed it Ashern Pharmacy.

On May 15, 1971, Russ married Linda Bahry of Gimii.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Linda worked as a dental nurse for the Tuxedo Dental Clinic in Winnipeg.

Keelers moved to Aahern and Linda worked part time in the pharmacy. In the summer of 1973, they build their new home. Their daughter, Nicole Leanne was born on December 14, 1974.

Jean and Louise Ker-brat by Herve Kerbrat

Jean Kerbrat left Plabennee France, July 28, 1907, accompanied by his sister Marie and brother Herve. They arrived in Canada by boat approximately a month later.

After a short stay in St. Boniface, Jean, Marie and Herve moved to St. Laurent, Manitoba. In 1908 their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kerbrat and youngest daughter Isabelle, arrived from France. they too, went to St. Laurent.

In 1912 Dad took up a homestead in the Ashern dis- trict, the S.W.b’s of 36-25-7 W and in 1916 Dad’s eldest brother, the Rev. Father Kerhrat also came to Canada from France. He was the parish priest here in Ashern, from 19374938. .

Dad worked at the Royal Alexandra Hotel in Win- nipeg for some six years when he first came to Canada. Later he did winter fishing on Lake Manitoba, in the St. Laurent area. He would bring his team of horses from his farm in Ashern, to haul the fish.

In October 1923 Dad married Louise Therrien of St. Boniface. They farmed in the Ashern district for a number of years, retiring in 195?.

Jean and Louise had four sons, David, John, Herve, Robert and one daughter, Mary. The children all attend— ed Ashern School. Robert and Home live in Ashern. Herve married Mabel Zimmerman. John is married and lives in Nipigon, Ontario, with his wife, Marilyn, and have three girls and one boy. David lives in Kitimat, B.C. He married £lsie Baker, and they have nine children. Five of the family are married and four still living at home. Mary lives in German, with her husband, Joe Kachor. They have two daughters, Debbie, works and lives in Winnipeg, Cindy is married and lives in Cannon.

Mother taught school in the Convent in St. Laurent before she was married. M 31 parents were active in church work. Mother played the organ in the Holy Cross .. Catholic church in Ashern from 19234956. I recall going to church in the early days. The church was just a shell