VENZIL AND KATHERINE ANDER submitted by Tom Ander

At the turn of the century Venzil and Katherine Ander immigrated to Chicago from Czechoslovakia. A couple of years later they came to Canada and lived for a short time at Woodside and Plumas. They lived at Gladstone in 1912 and 13, where Venzil operated a tailor shop. Their youngest child Tom was born at Gladstone.

In 1914 they arrived at Amaranth and homesteaded at NE 22-19-10 in the Smalley District. In 1918 the family m0ved to Portage la Prairie and operated a tailor shop and boarding house until the spring of 1923 when they returned to the homestead at Amaranth.

Katherine was a midwife in the district for many years. She suffered a stroke and died in 1952.

Katherine and Venzil were blessed with nine children:

Amiel - never return‘ed from W.W.I.;

Frank and wife Tena of Surrey, B.C. have four children - George, Dorothy & Ella of B.C. and Harvey of The Pas, Man.;

Mary of Elmhurst, Illinois has one son Hermann Oberli;

Martha Gartenmann of Elmhurst, Illinois has two daughters - Marguerite and Nancy;

Irene Cole deceased 1969 in Portage la Prairie;

Lydia and Roy Stanley of Princeton, B.C. have three children - Tom, Jack and Mellva all of B.C.;

Tom (his twin sister died in infancy);

another infant daughter died at Plumas.

Tom took over the family farm in 1936. In 1941 he married Katherine Glowa of Alonsa. They have one daughter Barbara. Tom was Justice of the Peace for the Amaranth District from 1969 - 78. They sold the farm in 1978 and now reside in Portage la Prairie.

TOM AND KAY AN DER submitted by Kay Ander

While driving with my family, one hot summer day, just a few miles north of Amaranth we had a flat tire on our car. While they were busy repairing the tire I sat and wondered, “Who would ever want to live here along this gravel ridge road?” Well, I ate my own words many times since then. It was about a year later while on our way to Langruth we had an occasion to stop in at the Ander place. Tom was living alone there. We were introduced and after the men talked their business over we went on our way.

Well, about a week later Tom phoned and asked me if 1 would like to go dancing. I just could not see why that stranger would ask me to go out, but I thought it over and accepted. Tom had no car so we travelled by train or bus. Tom's sister Irene, was married to Bob Cole, a train conductor, so we spent a lot of time meeting the train and had suppers together there when Irene came out. I received many bouquets of fresh flowers. On one of these train runs, Tom gave me an engagement ring and we set a date of February 23 for our wedding day. We were married in the St. George’s Church at Alonsa. It was snowing a little and everybody forgot their confetti so we got sprinkled with snow. After a turkey dinner at my folks with only a few friends, we left for Winnipeg on the train for a honeymoon.

On our way home we stopped in Portage, took some pictures and stayed at Coles overnight to catch the train for Amaranth. The Roy Stanleys were there to meet us. Lydia had a lovely dinner waiting for us,

The Tom Ander family. Left: Kay, Tom and Barbara.

even a decorated cake so we had two wedding cakes! Lydia and Roy brought us home with a team of horses and a sleigh with bells on it. When I opened my suitcase there was confetti everywhere!

Tom had Bill Cromie doing chores. Bill came by the next morning to wish us well and that was the first time I met Bill. Bill and Meg were the first people I met at the farm and we became very good friends.

We were very happy in the old house but the third spring we decided to build a new home. After a day of tearing down the house who should come along but Tom’s brother Frank and Tena from Winnipeg with their four children and a little dog. Well they only stayed overnight. I was glad to see them come but more so to see them leave as it was very uncomfortable trying to do anything. We only had a new 10 X 12 building to put our belongings in but we lived in it all summer. When I baked bread I would put it into the pan on a shelf under the table. Over the table there was another shelf for dishes. There was a cot at one end of the building, one dresser and a cook stove. l canned, cooked and baked for the threshers and a couple of extra men as they were helping

Tom and Kay Ander.

Tom build. Percy Cooper and Bill Smith helped Torn lay the foundation of the house and all the good neighbors helped build it. It was hard to get building materials as it was rationed then. Dad and John came to help and stayed nearly a week. They slept on the floor and laughed about the bread being so handy if they got hungry in the night. They helped Tom finish the house as it was the early part of November. The first night in the new place we had a visitor, a “bat”. Tom got up and luckily got rid of him.

Barbara was born January 3rd, shortly after we moved into our new home. She was a real good baby and I was able to paint the house the next spring with not much trouble from her. That was a nice mild winter, not much snow.

We enjoyed our thirty-seven years of farming at Amaranth and that little ridge road was beautiful. We had crocuses right in our front yard before they took half of it for the new road. There were roses and tiger lilies and below the ridge, yellow and pink lady slippers and several kinds of fruit. We enjoyed life on the farm and it was not easy leaving to move to Portage. We have many advantages here in Portage but we will always have a soft spot for all our neighbors and friends in Amaranth and especially the W.l. Ladies. It is nice to be near our daughter and son-in-law but we enjoy our visits “Home” often.

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