A century of memories: Evelyn Sale looks ahead to her 100th birthday
By Joan Janzen
Evelyn Sale's milestone 100th birthday is just around the corner in 2027.
"That sounds old," she said with a smile as she relaxed in her home at Eatonia Oasis Living.
Evelyn was born to Regina and Daniel Weisbrod on Oct. 3, 1927, at Tregarva, Sask., about 27 kilometres north of Regina. She was the youngest of nine children, with seven sisters and two brothers.
CENTURY OF MEMORIES: Evelyn Sale will celebrate her 100th birthday in 2027 and enjoys life at Eatonia Oasis Living. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
WEDDING DAY: Evelyn and Gene Sale were married on Oct. 4, 1948, in Hoosier. Pictured, from left, are Mattie Sale, Maggie Sale, Ralph Sale, Evelyn Sale, Gene Sale, Dan Weisbrod, and Regina Weisbrod.
"I was the only one who was born in a hospital," she recalled. "They kept my mother in the hospital for 12 days. She was so homesick for her children who were at home."
The family moved to a farm near Laporte in 1929, where Evelyn and her siblings attended a one-room country school. Grades 1 through 8 were taught together, with two grades grouped in the same classroom. When Evelyn was the only Grade 3 student, she was simply moved into the Grade 4 class.
"It wasn't because I was smart. It was for convenience," she explained.
The children travelled to school by buggy, pulled by an old school pony named Topsy. As the youngest, Evelyn eventually rode Topsy herself.
"One day a great big Russian thistle came rolling in front of us and she bucked me off," Evelyn remembered.
She brushed herself off, climbed onto a nearby fence and got right back on the horse.
Like many prairie families, the Weisbrods endured the hardships of the Dirty Thirties. Russian thistles rolled across the fields while towering black clouds of dust darkened the sky.
"You couldn't even see the pattern on the linoleum floors because it was covered with dust," she said.
Despite the difficult conditions, there was always food on the table. The family raised cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys. They also ate rock-hard cod shipped from Eastern Canada, although no one seemed to know how to prepare it properly.
"But I never liked milk because we had no refrigeration and it was always warm. And sometimes if a cow ate stinkweed, the milk was terrible," she laughed. "I still don't drink milk."
As the youngest child, Evelyn said people assumed she was spoiled.
"I don't agree," she said. "It wasn't an advantage because you got all the hand-me-downs. I was 14 years old before I got my first new dress from the catalogue."
Life followed a dependable weekly routine. Sundays were reserved for church, family dinners and visitors.
"But in the winter we didn't get anywhere," she added.
Monday was wash day. Cotton clothes were sprinkled with water, rolled up and left until Tuesday's ironing. Once the baking and cleaning were finished, Friday evenings were often spent playing cards and visiting with friends.
Every Saturday the family travelled to town. While her parents shopped for groceries and visited with friends, the children watched black-and-white movies.
"I was born in the black-and-white age," Evelyn said. She even remembers watching silent films with captions.
In 1943 the family moved to a farm just three miles from Hoosier. With a reliable water supply for cattle, the move also allowed Evelyn to attend high school while living at home.
"I was the first one in my family who had the opportunity to go to high school," she said.
She travelled to school in an enclosed horse-drawn van. One bitterly cold January morning, seven students were riding inside while driver John Lowe guided a spirited team of horses. As they rounded a corner too quickly, the van tipped over.
The students scrambled out immediately because the fire burning in the small stove had begun spreading outside the stove.
After completing Grade 12, Evelyn attended Normal School in Saskatoon before teaching for two years in country schools near Kindersley.
On Oct. 4, 1948, the day after her 21st birthday, she married Gene Sale in Hoosier.
The arrival of their first child in July 1950 required an unforgettable trip to the hospital in Kindersley. Ivan Russell drove Evelyn and Gene to Hoosier in his Model A Ford. From there, the CNR station agent transported them to Coleville on an open railway speeder.
"It was a long, cold ride," Evelyn recalled.
Once in Coleville, Gene found someone willing to drive them along the muddy highway to Kindersley. Their son was born two days later. Another son followed in 1953, a daughter in 1956 and a fourth child, a son, in 1962.
Hoosier remained the centre of family life until the local school closed. Activities then shifted to Marengo and Kindersley. The family moved to Kindersley in 1980, and Gene passed away four years later, in 1984.
Today, Evelyn enjoys life at Eatonia Oasis Living, where her room is filled with photographs of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She credits her cheerful outlook to the example set by her parents.
"My mom and dad were always positive and happy. We had a happy childhood," she said.
As I prepared to leave, Evelyn smiled warmly.
"Any time you want to reminisce and talk, I'm here."
Thanks for reminiscing, Evelyn. It was a pleasure listening to a century of memories.