BERDAHL: Margaret (Peggy) 

Margaret (Peggy) Berdahl, a long time resident of the Hesketh and Drumheller Area, passed away in the Drumheller Continuing Care Centre, on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at the age of 91, following extended health problems. Peggy, the oldest of three children, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil on July 19, 1916 to her parents Martin Sember (an early homesteader who moved west from his Ontario birthplace as a teen) and Rhoda (Comyn) (an immigrant from England) while on an extended visit to that Country. When Peggy was still an infant the family returned to the Hesketh area where she grew up. Peggy attended school at Appleyard, Lenox and Hesketh Schools, and also a short time at school in Calgary, before returning home, as a young girl, to help her parents. It was at this time that she met Gilbert Berdahl, a neighbouring farm hand. On December 18, 1937 they were married at the United Church Manse in Drumheller. They immediately started farming west of Hesketh, only two miles from the farm on which she had grown up and continued to farm there for 63 years raising a family of five children.

The expression “behind every man is a good woman”, was certainly true in Peggy’s case. Peggy was instrumental in their successful farming operation. She participated in every farming activity, and in fact, regularly took over the entire farm responsibilities. Whatever Gilbert did Peggy was right alongside helping him. They sold eggs, turkeys, chickens, milk, cream and garden produce. She made butter, separated cream, canned chicken and beef, and cured their own bacon. Peggy baked her own bread and had a large garden which supplied the family for the year. She picked and canned saskatoons and made chokecherry syrup. Gilbert & Peggy basically lived off the farm. Everything was homemade if possible. She did not have running water, until 1975 so Peggy carried water in for all daily needs including washing clothes and family baths. Mom was not a high profi le person but preferred to be the “worker bee” behind the scenes, content with the role. She was always one of the last ones to clean up at the end of the day or after an event. Although she was not recognized formally, she was known for her hard work by friends, family and everyone who knew her - church or community. She was always right in there, up to her elbows making it happen. Mom resisted many modern changes, such as the idea of women wearing pants; the new conveniences that made life easier for women such as microwaves, automatic washers, etc., and she could always “make do.” Her wants were few, her needs were simple. She was one of a few who was totally content with very little. Mom exemplified her strong Christian values through her dedication to Church, family and community. She totally accepted her husband as the “head of the household,” and accepted his decisions totally, even when she had other views of her own. Peggy encouraged and supported education and careers for each of the children. She had a humble and gentle nature - loved animals , especially cats and they loved her. She loved board games such as Crokinole, Scrabble, various card games and Bingo. As a young girl Peggy’s father gave her a new treadle sewing machine which she has always treasured, declining any attempts to get her a new machine later in years. She made her own wedding dress. Peggy was an exceptional seamstress and made clothes for herself and the children. She continued sewing things for her grandchildren, especially the girls. Peggy was able to continue her love for sewing at Sunshine Lodge where she did many alterations and repairs for the residents and staff, giving her a sense of usefulness and fulfillment. She felt a strong need to be “useful” to the end and continued to sew until about the last six months of her life when she became too sick to do so. Sacrifice was a key characteristic of her life. Peggy bought very little for herself, forfeiting conveniences and luxuries for basic farm necessities. Peggy enjoyed carpentry and built sleighs, a go-cart, shelves, storage boxes, doll cradles, toy boxes, seating benches and closets to name a few - all out of scraps of wood. Peggy was a wonderful cook and will be remembered for her legendary chocolate cake, cinnamon buns, pies, fried chicken and homemade bread.

Peggy and Gilbert moved to Sunshine Lodge in Drumheller on May 1, 2001, where they lived until she became hospitalized in December 2007 and had to give up their room there. It was then that she accepted the fact she was no longer able to care for herself. Peggy was then relocated to Continuing Care on February 19, to the same room which Gilbert had been only weeks earlier. Peggy passed away eight weeks later in the same bed her husband had been in, on the same day of the week to be reunited with her husband and other family in a better place. Peggy was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert Berdahl on February 6, 2008, Peggy is survived by son Gordon (Carol), daughter Carol (Russ Gill), daughter Elaine Berdahl, daughter Jean Hare, and son Dennis (Susan), 9 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, brother George Sember, sister Gladys Olson and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral was held at Grace Lutheran Church, April 7, 2008 at 1 p.m. with Interment following, at Drumheller Cemetery. If you so desire, any donations may be made to the local SPCA, or Lutheran Womens Missionary League, Grace Lutheran Church. 

DUMANCIC: Mirko  July 4, 1944 – April 5, 2008 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mirko at the age of 63 after a battle with cancer. Born on July 4, 1944 near Osijek, Croatia he immigrated to Canada in 1968 and settled in Calgary with his older brother Marjan. After working in construction for several years he moved his young family to Drumheller where he spent close to thirty years. Mirko and wife Karen then made their dreams come true and moved to the “bush” in central B.C. Mirko was a strong man and a straight shooter and will be dearly missed. He leaves behind, in Canada, wife Karen, son Ivo (Nicole and Xander), daughters Marija and Katarina, brother Marjan, niece Angela (Friso and Anna) and nephew Tom, in Germany brothers Nedeljko and Marko, in Croatia sisters Ana and Katica, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina sister Zora and brothers Jure and Zdenko and their families. A funeral mass will be celebrated by Father Mario Basque on Friday, April 11 at 11 am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 151 – 3rd St. W, in Drumheller. If friends so desire in lieu of fl owers donations can be made to the Drumheller Area Health Foundation – for Palliative Care, c/o Drumheller Health Center, 351 – 9th St. NW, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y1. PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES, Calgary & Red Deer (403) 216-5111