In the midst of the heartache and pain of the first days, weeks and months after my Dad was killed there were so many incredible people who helped my Mom. Because my Mom was three days from having a baby she was taken to the hospital right after my Dad was killed and was only allowed to leave to make funeral arrangements and then for my Dad’s funeral on June 15th. I was due to be born on the 15th but was born on the 25th. Instead of having a baby my Mom was planning her husband’s funeral. I can’t imagine how difficult planning the funeral must have been under those circumstances. I really don’t know how she would have made it through without God and family.
There was the night nurse in the hospital. I just really found out about her about a year ago. She is still living in Moosomin and I’m hoping to visit with her this summer. I have a lot of questions for her. What does she remember? What did she feel and think? What did my Mom say to her? How did she deal with it? It was her that brought Auntie D to my Mom. I am eternally grateful to this nurse.
My Mom’s parents came into Moosomin the evening of the 12th. They were 7 hours away in Minnesota when they got the call and had to make arrangements for their own home not knowing how long they would be gone. My Grandma T. stayed with my sister while my Grandpa T. was at the hospital with my Mom when I was born. He came back to my parent’s house and held up 10 fingers through the window. I was the 10th granddaughter in a row. My Grandparents were in Moosomin most of that summer and fall taking care of us. I became very close with my Grandma during this time. My sister became close to my Grandpa.
My Dad’s Aunts and Uncles were so important in many different aspects. My sister stayed with them when my Mom’s parents went home for a few days before my Mom got out of the hospital. They helped out with paperwork and lawyers. There weren’t any victim’s services so they took her to Regina and had legislation changed for her. They fought for us. They helped fight for government compensation because the men had escaped from a minimum security jail. My hearing these stories second hand I don’t think I can adequately express the change and the difference that these people made in our lives. I’ve had a very different relationship with my Great Aunts and Uncles than most kids but I still don’t feel like I knew them well enough. Or expressed enough thanks.
The day before my Dad died he was out in the yard talking to Uncle G. about farm machinery. When my Mom saw them out there she was a little annoyed. My Dad was supposed to be finishing the seeding. The next day my Mom realized that the seeding didn’t matter, the conversation was more important. But also, the fact that my Dad had seeded caused another problem. They now had a whole farm season to finish. So, my Grandpa T helped out with making a farm schedule with the farm neighbors and family. The farmers would rotate working their own fields and then come out and do our farm. I find this absolutely amazing. This is community. For anyone who has farmed I’m sure you can appreciate the amount of work it must have been for these people.
My Grandpa T. went to every single day of first the preliminary trial in August of 1976 and then the trial in November of 1976. My Mom was a witness so she couldn’t be there until after she had testified. So my Grandpa would go in her place.
My Dad’s immediate family was not directly included in what I have written but I know that they were also there. But they had their own battles and grief to deal with.
My Mom was so thankful to all of these people and made sure that people knew what they had done for her. I don’t know how you repay this kindness; except by paying it forward.