Obituary
Born May 4, 1916 in Stockholm, Saskatchewan, Mom was one of seven children born to Johan Ludvig Abrahamson and Anna Louisa Persdotter. Mom « Grandma » was the last child of the family to pass to a new-found peace.
Mom told me many times that she loved her childhood down on the flats. One of the things she loved to do during bright summer nights was to lay in a wagon box looking in wonder at the starlit night.
Mom loved to read and developed a great love for poetry. She also had a beautiful singing voice. Back in Mom’s childhood days, fun times had to be creative. She along with her brothers and sisters used to walk from home to Turtle Lake for swim days. This was a twelve mile walk both ways. They would make this trek many times and always loved it, making many good memories. Mom loved to swim.
As a young lady life became more demanding, for girls especially. They were expected to find work outside of the home. Mom always loved to work even if it was heavy, hard for a slight woman. One job she had for an extended period of time was keeping house and milking eight cows, morning and night. All this for $5.00/month. Mom said a pair of shoes cost $2.00 at this time. Mom and Dad were married on October 26, 1937 and they started their married life together. Mom’s Dad and Mother gave them a horse and a cow to help them get started. Then the baby boys started arriving. Dennis was born on May 20, 1937. Things were very tough in the 30’s. Dad was a hard worker and Mom did all she could to help. Dad’s farm labour jobs only paid $8.00/month. The family number increased when Lee « Gordon » was born in 1939 on July 9; and I, « Don » was born on May 18, 1941, Bill came along on February 19, 1943. The family did a lot of moving in those years. Mom told me they had to move 13 times in one year. As one of the jobs was cutting and sawing wood, Dad always wanted to have his own sawing crew. Part of the reason for all the moves was trying to get full time work on the railroad. Back then if you didn’t have seniority you could be « bumped » so we were on the move. Mom was always packing and gathering her boys together. Three of Mom’s boys started school in Livelong. In 1948 we moved to Paradise Hill for Dad’s job on the railroad. He was never bumped from Paradise Hill. Dad took a barber course in Saskatoon and set up a Barber Shop. He still continued to work his job on the railroad. We also built a small barn just on the edge of Paradise Hill. We had a few cows and rented some pasture where the barn was built. We cut slough grass hay with a scythe and cocked it up with forks. We hand separated the milk and sold delivered milk to customers around the village at .15/quart. During all this growth period Mom was the one to keep a close watch, as she would say, on her boys. Mom was very determined to make sure we knew if we did something to dishonour the family name she would not be happy. After the boys were out on their own, Mom turned to knitting and crocheting. Mom knitted many toques that she donated to be sent to third world countries. Mom also made many pies that she donated to senior’s events. Mom loved to work with her hands. She had gathered more than 100 dolls together, and she made clothing for all of them. Mom also spent many hours studying her Bible. She and I took many trips to Saskatoon for her to get treatment for her Liquid Macular Disease in her right eye. On those trips we would visit a lot and religious concerns would come up and she always told me to « Read your Bible. » I know Mom is in a better place today. She has her Mom and her Dad and her oldest brother, Torsten, close by her.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helifred Helen (Abrahamson) Hall, please visit our floral store.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Helifred Helen Abrahamson Hall May 4 1916 September 17 2021 (age 105)..
Décès pour la Ville: ST-WALBURG, Province: Saskatchewan