Some of us seem to buck the June wedding trend in my family. My own two marriages were in the Christmas season; my maternal grandparents were married in December and my paternal grandparents in January. One son married over the Christmas season. My brother and sister-in-law headed to Vegas to get married just before Christmas one year. And my parents Kenneth Lorne Bardahl and Elinor Georgina Anderson were married 27 December 1947. We all seem to prefer our nuptials during the cold dark days of winter.
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| Ken and Elinor wedding photo |
My parents met when my mother went to teach at Jorgenson School in the Leinan district of Saskatchewan, Canada in September 1945. This was about 90 km. from the Lancer area farm where she had grown up. Her teacher training had been obtained at the Normal School in Moose Jaw.
Dad was farming at the time and no doubt soon noticed the attractive new brunette in the community. He had the job of delivering coal for heating the school and it was joked that, after Mum's tenure, the stockpile of coal left at the school lasted for years! Both of my parents loved to dance and no doubt made a handsome couple on the dance floor from the earliest days of their courtship.
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| Elinor Anderson as a young teacher - photo courtesy Reynard Anderson family (no relation) |
Ken didn't have a car to take Elinor on dates but he was able to borrow one from neighbour Carl Hjermanrud . It meant walking the mile or two to pick up the car and the same mile or two return walk at the end of the evening but Dad was so appreciative of this generosity. My parents became engaged in the summer of 1947; both were 21 years old. This is from my mother's "wedding book":
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| Engaged 16 August 1947 - this and all newspaper clippings would be from The Swift Current Sun |
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Members of the community made a collection to purchase them a set of silverplate cutlery. This was always saved for "good" and was polished from time to time as required. The chest formed a repository for other small treasures such as the beaded identification baby bracelets that their 4 children wore home from the hospital.
The wedding occurred on Saturday 27 December at First United Church in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
My mother, never being one for frills and flounces, chose a sensible gray suit for her wedding attire. This was fairly common during and after the Second World War. Yellow roses and a locket from the groom were her accessories. Her attendants were sisters Kathryn and Eunice. Dad's best man was his friend Marlyn Lovestone.
The reception was a small one at the home of the bride's parents at 133 Sidney Street West, Swift Current, with sister Helen Anderson, Helen's friend Pat Whelan and the groom's niece Louise Barton acting as servitors. Helen recalls carrying a tray of buns and having one fall off, landing perfectly into the coffee cup of Louise's father Ray Barton.
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| Ken and Elinor leaving on their Honeymoon |
But the celebrations could not be complete without a wedding dance to follow.
Ken was the farmer and Elinor participated fully with him in farm life during their marriage.
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| Elinor and Ken holding hands across a wide swath of grain |
Their family of 4 children has continued to expand over the years to include many descendants who can be thankful that this couple met and had their Christmas season wedding.
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| Ken and Elinor 25th Anniversary 1972 |
As with most marriages, that of my parents was not without it's challenges. Still, they remained married for life; Dad died in May 1997 just a few months shy of what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.
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