BARRHEAD - Eight Hillcrest and Golden Crest Lodge residents joined an exclusive and elite club they've spent their whole lives working towards, whether they knew it or not.
On Nov. 27, during a ceremony at Hillcrest Lodge in front of a crowded audience of municipal dignitaries, friends, and family, Leona Stocking, Arthur Gibbs, Bruno Schradieck, Norris Jackson, Marie Glessmen, Jim Ashby, Evelyn Brietkrietz, and Julie Currie joined the 90-Plus Club.
To join, all members had to turn 90 sometime in 2024. Since its beginning in 1996, upwards of 300 members have been inducted.
What some of the new inductees had to say
As part of the celebration, Oswald had the inductees write a little biography of their lives, which she read to the audience. The most popular feature of the bio was the ending, when each inductee imparted a piece of sage advice.
Stocking grew up just west of Barrhead in the Summerdale District. She married Jim Stocking and has four children, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She noted her notable accomplishments as a historical researcher for family, church, and the community, especially what is considered "old Barrhead."
Arthur Gibbs grew up in Camp Creek and worked as a journeyman carpenter, farmer, and business owner. He is married, calling it complicated, and has six children, 23 grandchildren, and an estimated 27 great-grandchildren. His notable accomplishments include importing cattle from Switzerland and building many homes.
Bruno Schradieck, originally from Germany, immigrated to Canada in 1953 when he was 20 and started laying railway tracks in B.C. He also worked in construction, helping to build houses and highrises in the Edmonton area before buying a farm in the Mooseswallow area.
He married in 1959 and had five children, two of whom are still living. He has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Schradieck noted his notable accomplishments in hunting cougars, including one mounted in the Royal Alberta Museum.
Marie Glessman was born and raised on a farm in Naples. She married Rudy in 1954, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary in July. The couple has three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Her occupation was that of a farmer's wife, helping with everything from calving to combining. As for advice? The farm is a good place to raise children.
Norris Jackson grew up on a ranch on the Waterton River near Hillspring.
He notes his most notable accomplishments as winning the Alberta Boxing Championship in 1948, winning his high school free throw championship, draining 98 out of 100 free throws, and graduating in the top 10 per cent from the University of Utah's Faculty of Engineering despite dropping out of high school.
Advice to others: Go to bed and get up early. If you are not an hour early for your duties, you are late, and you should not require anything from others that you wouldn't do yourself.
Jim Ashby, born and raised in Timeu, is married with two children and has worked in many occupations, including farming, various forestry jobs, and oil field work. When asked for sage advice, Ashby said, "The world has changed so much; we can't control change."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
