Maple Creek home to a new centenarian

All smiles: Elmer Forbes shares a laugh with his nephew Wade Forbes

By Marcus Day

Maple Creek News

They came from all over Saskatchewan, some from as far away as Maidstone, Lloydminster in Alberta, and Cranbrook in British Columbia.

The reason? To help Maple Creek’s Elmer Forbes celebrate his 100th birthday.

Saturday afternoon’s come-and-go tea drew about 100 people to the Senior Citizens’ Centre at 103 Cypress Street. Afterwards there was a family supper, which saw the cutting of a giant cake.

Among those present were close relatives like Elmer’s sister, Betty, from Brooks, Alberta, and Maple Creek granddaughters Sandy Forbes and Rena’ Forbes-Ehret.

There was also a huge number of extended family members. Of course, there were also lots of friends.

Against a wall, tables bore family albums and framed photographs of the Elmer family ranch about 15 kilometres northwest of Maple Creek.

There were also framed letters of good wishes from dignitaries. They were dated October 5 (Monday), when Elmer officially became a centenarian.

King Charles III wrote: “My wife and I are so pleased to be able to wish you a very happy 100th birthday. May your celebration be filled with joy, fond memories and the love of family and friends. We send you our warmest good wishes.”

The letter was signed by King Charles Queen Camilla.

Louise Arbour, the Governor General of Canada, wrote: “On the occasion of your 100th birthday, I am pleased to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes.

“Celebrating one hundred years is a truly significant milestone and an opportunity to reflect on a lifetime of experiences, memories and accomplishments. It is also a meaningful time to gather with family and friends in celebration of the moments and relationships that have shaped your journey. May this special birthday bring you much joy, and may the year ahead be filled with continued good health, happiness and peace.”

What becomes clear from learning about Elmer’s history, is that the longevity is a family characteristic. Several close family members reached the 100 milestone, including Elmer’s brother, Harry.

Elmer was born in Maple Creek on October 5, 1926, to Allan and Bertha Forbes, and raised on the family farm in the Kincorth area. He was one of 11 children – five girls and six boys – and attended Somerset School, walking the half mile there and running home for dinner. After completing grade nine, he left school and devoted himself to the family farm.

In one of the earliest photos in a family album on display on Saturday, Elmer is riding a horse. The photo is dated 1944-45, towards the end of the Second World War, when Elmer was about 18.

On June 20, 1950, he married Wilma Weir, whom he met three years earlier at Maple Creek Hospital. Sadly, she passed away on September 1, 1992, at Medicine Hat Hospital, but not before the couple had three children who attended school in Maple Creek: Gloria Jean, Barry David and Shirley Lee.

Elmer and Wilma began buying land and living on the family farm. In 1969, they bought his brother Ralph’s farm, enabling them to raise more cattle.

In 1987, they bought a house in Maple Creek and went back and forth between town and the farm.

After Wilma’s death, Elmer kept operating the farm with family members. In June, 1996, he married Olga (Larson) Erickson.

Even after his son Barry and wife Debbie moved to the farm in December 1998, Elmer continued spend a lot of time there.

In 2011, he was one of several Maple Creek recipients of an Information Services Corporation (ISC) Century Family Farm Award. The others were Keith Berreth, Thomas and David Hodgson, Larry and Gail Russell, and Victor Vasseur.

The ISC award honours Saskatchewan families who have continuously farmed or ranched the same land for 100 years or more.

Elmer now stays in Maple Creek’s long-term care centre at the Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility.

“We are all very proud of him,” said grand-daughter Sandy, who helped organized the come-and-go tea.