聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 A century has past with many changes in the world from technology to individual changes. Ivy Peterson (Bannister) persevered through the changes and hard times as she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by many family and friends on March 5. Her actual birthday was March 1 but her celebrations were held over the weekend.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The celebrations kicked off at the Preeceville and District Health Centre, LTC wing with a come-and-go tea, surrounded by many family, friends and community members. The Woodland Chorus performed three of Ivy's favorite musical selections. The group has a special place in her heart as they have previously helped her celebrate other milestones in her life.
`聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ivan Peterson of Sturgis, Ivy's son, was the master of ceremonies for the afternoon and recited her life history. Ivy' s other children Hope Luciw of Hazel Dell and Ryan Peterson of Kelvington also helped their mother celebrate her special day. Before the festivities began Ivy was wheeled into celebrations wearing a gunny sack dress. It had some staff and friends wondering what was with the dress but living up to her word, for fun she wore it to her party. The dress had a special meaning to Ivy as it represented a time and era when they were so poor that all the could afford to wear was home made gunny sack dresses.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tyler Peterson, her grandson, who is presently stationed in Burnaby, B.C. as an RCMP officer surprised Ivy with a special visit and he also brought two letters from the provincial and federal governments expressing congratulations on her 100th birthday achievement.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The family gathered for a private family supper after the special celebrations. Relatives from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, Ontario and Ohio were in attendance to help her celebrate her birthday. She has seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Ivy Peterson (Bannister) was born in Bangor, Sask. and was one of 10 children born to Fred Bannister. They moved from Bangor to the Rockford area in 1930s' after her mother passed away and the family lost everything. They lived in a granary for over a year and in 1931 they built and moved into a house located over looking Schutte Lake. "The trek to school was made longer due to fact that we had to walk around the lake from our house to go to country school," said Peterson. "Over time over dad built a row boat that we rowed over the lake to school -- that shortened our distance. It was a fun time with many close calls," she said. Other modes of transportation included, walking and by Ox and wagon or a stoneboat. Life was hard in those early days in Rockford. They family made their own clothes made on a sewing machine turned by hand, the girls made quilts and hooked rugs and a large garden supplied a lot of the family鈥檚 food.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Over time the family grew up, married and went their separate directions. Ivy is the only sibling alive today. Over time Ivy, she worked numerous jobs, housekeeping working for neighbours and for Frank Robinson at the Red and White Store in Lintlaw.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ivy married Tom Peterson in 1940 in the Rockford area. The young couple moved to east of Lintlaw where they farmed and settled down to raise their family of three children, Hope was born 1941, Ryan was born 1945 and Ivan was born 1947.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Both Ivy and Tom were born of early pioneer settlers and had spent 10 years prior to getting married struggling through the depression when housekeeping paid $5 a month and $15 a month for bush work. Times were tough and they were both deprived of an education. Their hope, faith and love for each other helped the couple overcome many hardships. In 1950 they moved to Hazel Dell where they owned and operated the General Store for 15 years, farmed and Tom drove the creamery truck for over 38 years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Through the years, Ivy raised her family, was part of the Hazel Dell Ladies Club, helped put on dances in Hazel Dell and enjoyed knitting. Her knitting saw her make over 400 Izzy dolls that were distributed by soldiers over seas to young children. She moved and retired to the LTC in Preeceville in 2010 and still remains active and enjoys watching curling, jeopardy, wheel of fortune, family feud and doing crosswords.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "There has been many changes in the world over the past 100 years," said Peterson. "In today's age, respect has been lost. The way homes are built have changed from one room log cabins to mud houses and to fancy homes. Farming has changed from using a team of horses to tractors and large machinery. Education has gone from little to university levels. Senior family members stayed with the family and were not put into nursing homes. Haying was done by scythes by hand, black boards were used in schools compared to computers now. Women went from wearing dresses to slacks. We wrote letters by hand, hauled water from the well and used wood heaters. There was no such thing as indoor bathrooms we used outhouses. We slept on straw mattresses and bathed once a week in a tin tub. Water was added as each family member took their turn bathing. Times have changed but through the times I have over come many challenges but we remained strong," said Peterson.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ivy even remembered to call her grand-daughter for her birthday last week.
