Alma, the youngest child of Florence and Olaf Anderson was born, September 25, 1922, in a little hospital at Hospital Point on Francois Lake. Along with her older brother John and sister Doris she grew up on a farm at Streatham on the shores of Ootsa Lake. Her childhood memories include wonderful Christmases when friends arrived by sleigh, a home filled with music and a sense of the freedom and beauty that surrounded her. A sad memory was the passing of her mother when she was 13 years old.
April 30, 1926, Chuck was the fifth child born to Jim and Maggie Addison, a family that eventually grew to eight children. Chuck was raised on a farm near Carberry, Manitoba. Chuck left home when he was 14 to work. He learned welding and worked in an ammunitions factory, then enlisted in the army. The war was ending by the time his training was over and when he was discharged from the army he accepted his army buddy, John Anderson’s, invitation to come to Ootsa Lake.
Chuck and Alma met and thus began a love story that lasted almost 60 years.
It was around this time that Chuck developed another lasting relationship. Through a home bible study he understood that he needed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
Chuck and Alma spent their first winter at Takysie Lake where Chuck worked in Wilton Barker’s sawmill. The next year they began to carve a farm out of the forest at Streatham. During the winter months Chuck would work in one of the many small sawmill operations, sometimes running his own, and would work on building up his farm the rest of the year.
They were a hospitable couple. Alma was a wonderful cook. She grew a beautiful garden until her health failed and she had to turn this over to Chuck. Her home was immaculate. But what we remember her for most was her love and devotion to Chuck and her family. She was in constant prayer for their needs and her grandchildren and great grandchildren were a source of delight to her.
Chuck always had the time to visit with people, to go and saddle up the horses to give someone a ride, to help out in the community or church, to have some fun. He enjoyed making people happy—from carrying candies around for little kids to carting bags of vegetables and buckets of strawberries from his bountiful garden to friends.
Chuck had an ongoing love for horses. Over the years he raised Shetland ponies, during the gymkanna years his time and energy went into looking after Heather’s and her friend’s horses, and in recent years he has really enjoyed team penning.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
They are survived by:
Daughter: Heather (Robert) Anderson
Grandsons: Dwayne (Danette) and Dallas (Melissa)
Great Granddaughters: Emily and Abby
Brother: Keith (Kay) Addison
Sisters: Doreen (Jim) Dickson and Betty (Elmer) Mott
Funeral services were held Sunday, March 6, 2005 at the Wistaria Hall, Pastor Lyle Haight officiating.