WASYL (SLASTUKIN) VERIGIN FAMILY COOPERATIVE FAMILY LIFE
23 Thursday Nov 2023
Posted Family
in23 Thursday Nov 2023
Posted Family
in14 Tuesday Nov 2023
Posted Family
in31 Sunday Jul 2022
Posted Family
in21 Thursday Oct 2021
Posted Family, Uncategorized
inI have been distracted with personal activities that included:
At my age, this was a full time job.
I am back and will devote regular postings in my blog and I welcome my family and friends to comment and write in. You are always welcome.
This are recent photographs of our family:
Elmer, Tamara (Verigin-Burk), Lori (Woodhouse), Kimball, Nona (Kucher) and Marilyn (nee Verishine) Verigin.
Posted October 21, 2021
EWV
12 Saturday Dec 2020
Posted Family
inMarilyn and I were on a 2012 Summer visit through Northern British Columbia, Alaska and the Yukon with my daughter Lori and her husband Rick Woodhouse.
Since we were in Dawson City YT, it was imperative that we visit the cabin where Robert Service resided during his time in Dawson. Rick videoed me as I recited his poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee”. We also visited Lac LaBarge, the apparent site for the cremation.
Just as I completed my poetic presentation, another tourist family was standing by listening.
Thank you Rick for videoing this and sending it to me
Posted the video 1445 hours, Sunday, December 13, 2020
20 Friday Nov 2020
Posted Family, Uncategorized
inDr Robinson continues to monitor my 2019 Cystectomy and recent CT Scans confirmed that there were “issues” in my right Kidney but that I am still Cancer free. Well that is really good news but he still wanted to have a look at my kidney.
At 1135 hours, Thursday, November 19, 2020, I was invited to the Trail Hospital where an X-Ray equipped cameral probe was inserted through my stoma. I find it amazing at the Technology that exists as I watched the probe meander through all the pulsating tissues until we came to the urinary tract entry to the kidney.
Lo and behold, scar tissue had built up that was compromising empting urine from the kidney. He was able to penetrate that area and went into the kidney itself and attempted to insert a bypass tube through that growing constriction.
He kept trying but his equipment was not able to provide a visual capability to inspect the interior of the kidney so that the tube could not be accurately placed.
He finally decided to stop the procedure as his equipment could not be further adjusted to complete the process.
We did visit the portal of my left kidney and I was treated to a “normal” healing process and I was assured that there was nothing otherwise amiss with my right kidney but that the compromised functioning needed to be corrected.
He immediately explained that a Radiologist in the Kelowna Regional Hospital was better equipped to deal with this challenge as the Specialist could enter the kidney from my back and push the tube through from the kidney side.
The decision was to refer me to Kelowna and their more elaborate equipment.
What was interesting is that, Dr. Robinson kept thanking me for my patience along with the two Nurses who eagerly awaited any instruction that the Doctor may request.
I felt no pain nor discomfort even though I did not receive a local antiseptic nor any pain-killers.
I thank God for our hospitals and their expert and caring staff.
Stand by for further updates…………
Elmer Verigin November 20, 2020
I did get a call from the Kelowna Hospital yesterday….
My Nephrostomy Procedure will take place on December 03, 2020 at 1215.
My daughter Lori and my son-in-law Rick Woodhouse have offered to drive me there.
It is a day procedure but the Hospital requires that I stay overnight in Kelowna.
Posted Wednesday, November 25, 2020 0630 hours
Update November26, 2020 1550 hours
There was a conflict of my understanding of the Kelowna Procedure and what I noted on Google so we called Dr Robinson at 1250 hours today to clarify.
Plan A:
A specialized X-Ray will determine the exact spot in my Right Kidney to enter from my backside. A conduit, intended to drain the kidney past the scar tissue joining my urinary canal to the kidney will be penetrated and that is the first objective.
Whether the conduit is successfully installed or otherwise, a drainage tube will drain the kidney into another bag on my thigh. This bag and the external tubing will be removed in two weeks by Dr Robinson and the procedure is termed a success
If the conduit cannot be installed then the access to the kidney will be in place for Dr Robinson to try an alternate process to drain the kidney as a Plan B
If Plan A and B cannot be achieved to drain the kidney internally the Dr. Robinson wans to discuss Plan C which would involve surgery.
At this point my kidneys are functioning normally and so all attention is to be placed on finding a method to drain the right kidney
Here is a prayer to success in Plans A or B!
UPDATED 1000 HOURS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021
Just to confirm that Plan A worked just fine. I wore a supplemental bag for four days until I needed to visit Interior Health Services (Nurses at the Castlegar Hospital) to remove the bag and cap the drain protruding from my kidney. The drain was plugged and coiled with a bandage over.
The next step is to wait for Dr Robinson to call to complete the Cystoscopy which will may the right kidney function as it was entirely blocked off with scar tissue around my urinary tract.
The Nurses faithfully changed the bandage every seven days.
I was called by the Trail Hospital to come for a procedure at 1155 hours, Thursday, December 21, 2021. the procedure takes place in the Operating Room with no anesthetic. The Doctor enters through the Stoma and adjusts the “wire” placed by the Radiologist in Kelowna and removes the protruding drain.
This all took less than a 1/2 hour.
I will need to go back in three (3) months to have it inspected. This will be a continual procedure except with the interval increased to none (9) months. The objective is to have the kidney function properly as there is no problem with the kidney at this time.
I am feeling just fine and no reprecussions with the Cystoscopy.
Posted 1015 hours, Friday, January 22, 2021 by EWV
28 Tuesday Apr 2020
Posted Family, Uncategorized
inThis story is about a family pet: Billy (the Goat) Verigin.
My father (Wasyl Verigin) had a soft heart. A visit to a farmer friend near Pelly, Saskatchewan resulted in him accepting a gift of a baby goat. “Your young family would love this animal as a pet”, was the farmer’s convincing words as the young goat “kid” was loaded into the wagon box and travelled with my father to our surprise on arrival.
Of course, we instantly loved him and who would not.
Here is a photograph of Billy about three (3) months later:
Billy enjoyed playing with his horns which were always “itchy” and he would allow me to handle him this way. My dog “Duke”, was just a puppy and we formed a triumvirate for all types of games in a friendly manner.
Billy would pose as if he were to charge and I would put my foot up and he would lightly “bump” my outstretched foot. So this would be repeated depending on the time available. Sometimes, Billy would get a bit aggressive and I would run to a nearby poplar tree as he then charged the tree. He would rear back and playfully charge the tree again while I stood casually behind. The way I understood the “game”, Billy was exercising his “combat” skills and aim. This exercise too, would end when both the animal and the human tired.
A) FAMILY RODEO EVENT
Billy got older and my two bothers Lawrence and Russel decided they wanted to play that same game. They were older and were able to reciprocate his “bumps” with harder hits to his horns. Soon the game became rougher and my brothers realized they may need to retreat into the poplar trees and use them as shields to ward off Billy’s aggressiveness.
It was a sunny spring day and the scene unfolded like so:
I now wish I had a movie camera to capture all this for America’s Funniest Videos.
B) THE “PROFESSIONAL” BREEDING RAM ENCOUNTER
Our farm kept sheep to add to our mixed farming enterprise. Two yearling ewes matured and our father decided that they needed breeding to expand the flock. In reality, he was planning a shishliki and at least one lamb could be sacrificed to satisfy his taste.
And so one early spring day, he asked a neighbour if he could “borrow” his ram for a few days for breeding purposes.
I still recall the sunny day with temperatures still hovering below zero with all the cattle on the South side of the barnyard enjoying the bright Sun. Billy lay on his stomach with his left front leg folded under in his usual relaxing pose. Yes he was chewing his cud and every once in a while, he would stretch his head back to permit his horns to scratch that itchy spot on his rear end.
He gave a disinterested glance at this ram that jumped off the wagon box to survey the assembled animals. He quickly noted the two ewes and was quick to realize his purpose for the visit. There was the posturing and sniffing which I noted from my favourite perch on the top corral rail.
Obviously, there is a code amongst animals and for whatever reason the ram, decided that Billy was a possible breeding competitor for the sheep flock and needed elimination. (The truth was that Billy never paid attention to the ewes.) The ram then started backing up from Billy in a straight line for about thirty (30) feet or so. The rest of this rendezvous then unfolded like so:
My father was interested to find out how the ram was doing and came to check. He asked me if the ram was successful and I gave him an update on the entire event.
My unimpressed father was not able to control his temper very well and immediately ran to the house to get the rifle in order to exterminate poor Billy who interfered with nature and my father’s intent.
There was the usual pleading of mother who cautioned him for shooting a beloved family pet.
So Billy survived for a few more years until the next saga but the ram was transported back to the neighbour with his purpose not achieved.
C) BILLY MIXES WITH LOGGING CHAINS
In the winter, my father harvested poplar trees in the Government Pasture abutting our farm. He would be able to fall the trees and haul them into Pelly (about 3 1/2 miles) for customers with wood stoves. Once his customers accumulated enough logs, a large saw would be brought in with a crew and the logs would be “bucked up” into firewood that would fit the individual stove sizes. Bolts wood be split and piled to season for Fall and Winter use.
The bobsled used was designed with a front and rear bunk that can be set apart to suit the load and interconnected accordingly. There would be stakes that were set into the bunks to hold the logs in place. My Dad had chains about 16 feet long that he would wrap around this load about three (3) times and cinch each to tie load as a unit during the haul.
These chains then were my Dad’s pride and joy. He would hang one near the barn door as there was always a need to pull something from time to time and a chain would be handy.
One day the chain was missing. Our Dad came to the family and asked who took it and what may have happened to it. Well no one could answer the question as no one had taken same.
A new chain was hung on the same hook and this was repeated until five (5) chains were missing. Was it the neighbours “borrowing” our chains?
One day as I went into the pasture to bring the cows in for milking, I found one chain. How did it get there? The mystery was soon resolved when we found Billy trying to resolve the “itch” between his horns and moved his horns along the chain. The chain would lock in the narrow section of his horns. Billy then tried to shake it loose to no avail. Off he went into the woods to circle a tree that would catch the chain end at the trunk (usually a willow) and allow him to unshackle himself. These animals are bright!
Our “thief” was caught in the act!
A search of the pasture was rewarded with all chains found and accounted for.
This was another time that Billy was threatened with death and found a reprieve with Mother begging Dad to “back off” from shooting Billy.
I could carry on for many more stories but the notorious Billy The Goat Verigin lived to an elder goat age. In 1958, My Dad passed away and the farm was sold as I had already gone to attend University and the farm was too much for Mother.
My Aunt Lillian loaded Billy on the back of their pickup and off to Buchanan he went. I was told that the coyotes eventually made short work of Billy as he was a wandering animal and possibly searching for home.
There are many more humorous incidents but I will cease here.
Completed, Wednesday, May 06, 2020, 1710 hours EWV
27 Friday Jul 2018
Posted Family, Friends, Uncategorized
inJuly has been historically, a travelling and visiting month for us. This year as with the last 19 years, we took in the celebrations at Whatshan Jam (July 8-10) where our entire family was present that included all four children and their spouses and nine grandchildren with their respective significant others. Our Pro Golfer grandson was on tour and could not attend.
2018 Whatshan Jam photos:
Our three great grandsons managed to be dancing front and center by the stage
Yes they were dancing there until their parents pulled them away so that they would not be trampled.
There were over 400 people in attendance, the largest crowd yet!
We returned home to repack, take in doctor’s appointments and were able to leave at noon July 11, 2018 for Benito, Manitoba on our 54th trip through the prairies.
About Cranbrook, I checked my cell phone and noted four missed calls from Jim Laktin. Thinking something, serious was taking place from the newly elected President of the the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999 (Whatshan Lake Retreat), I decided to call. All he wanted to know was when we were passing through Lethbridge that day as he was in the area delivering 13,000 pounds of cherries to the Hutterite communities. We were destined for Medicine Hat as our half point to Benito, but friendship is precious and we decided to see the new truck that Jim had purchased and this was his first run. Here is Jim and his truck in his new venture as he readies for his franchise marketing Hutterite Chickens for all of British Columbia from the High River Colony.
Jim was unable to attend the Whatshan Jam as he was qualifying for his “Air Ticket” so he could drive this truck. It was great hearing all about his new venture and bringing him up to date on Whatshan Lake Retreat. Of course it took a “few” Scotches to get the entire story out.
We parted the next morning and arrived in Benito (of course for dinner) to sister Mary Khadekin’s house, a little late but the hospitality was all the same. We enjoyed visiting with nephew Kenneth who drove down from Swan River. We were updated on the challenging integrated high school system which is always interesting. His dog Shane would first shove a ball under the chesterfield and then crawl under to get it out. Wish I had him to help me eradicate the Voles in my garden!
After a day’s rest we were invited to spend time with friends Mitch and Dorthy Ozeroff and Sonia Tarasoff at Yorkton Saturday night. There are no handicapped hotel rooms near Veregin to accommodate Mitch’s needs and so we were eager to spend time with these dear long friends and get caught up on all those important Doukhobour matters and of course the laughter about old times when Keith was still part of our close-knit gang.
On Sunday we attended Moleniya at the National Doukhobor Heritage Village at 0930 hours. It is always a spiritual experience as the building erupted with Doukhobor hymn singing again as it has since 1917.
The famous Blini brunch followed with all the toppings. Mouth watering still! Then an entertainment session followed the break with a “Saskatchewan” Choir that was augmented with three singers from British Columbia. It was nice to sing together in the spirit of Heritage Day.
Part of the entertainment in the afternoon was provided by “professional” Comedians, Nadia Rebin on the left as ‘Matrusha’ and Gloria Stushnoff on the right as ‘Trunia’ (they keep changing their pseudo names for security) with their incredible Russian and Ukrainian accents as they discussed world events and those everyday issues that house wives have to deal with.
They then picked on me for a bit before making a surprise commeneration of ’54th trips to Saskatchewan’ mandelions created by Sonia Tarasoff.
We then boarded a bus that started a tour of the early 1900s, 57 communal villages, including the original center of the Doukhobour Communities, Otradniya. The narration was provided by historian Jonathan Kalmakoff who listed the original family names in each village and an account of the animal and material assets that they accumulated along with the lands cultivated on the virgin lands from occupancy to a date a few years later. Very well done!
We also toured some of the cemeteries with the original Tolstoy near Otradniya Village. These two ladies from British Columbia were on the tour
Liz Poznikoff, Curator Doukhobor Discovery Center in Castlegar and Natasha Jmaiff, Translator Doukhobor Pslams, posed at the well kept cemetery.
Just South of Tolstoy and between the Otradniya Village is an unmarked burial place of Peter Verigin (Hospoidnee) mother as well as the well respected Elder Dedushka Mahortoff. It was in the middle of a farmer’s crop and we did not feel appropriate to trample the crop to get access to it.
We then went to the Nadozda Cemtery when the Doukhobor hero, Metvei Lebedev is buried. We sang part of Speetya Orlee Bayaweya as a tribute to the one who led a group of young soldiers to fix their bayonets and stick into the parade ground That Easter in 1895 at a military outpost, declaring that they objective to any act of war against their fellow men and could serve the Russian Army no more. We closed our eyes and could almost hear clearly, the account of that event by Dr. Fred Strukoff in 2005 as he described the scene and the obvious fear in those courageous young men who knew the result of their action, would be lashes that would be their penalty for daring to disobey the Czar.
This event precipitated the Burning of Arms in 1895 and the eventual migration to Canada by the Doukhobors in 1899 from religious persecution in Russian (now Georgia).
Later, we attended a Shishliki Feast at my cousin Peter Verigin’s original farm, a 1/2 mile West of the Tolstoy School Community Center. We were delighted to have my nephew, Tim, the host, his son Tanner (now works at a bank in Norway), Barb Trofemenkoff, (wife of Randy (nephew), who was unfortunately on a fishing trip), Dan (nephew) and Adeline Horcoff, Jason (nephew) and Marcella Morozov. Barry and Nadia Rebin, Gary (nephew) and Lorna Trofemenkoff and a couple (I cannot remember their names), Jack Chernoff, my sister Mary Khadekin and son Kenneth with Marilyn and I. It was a typical Feast with much baking and specialities only available in Saskatchewan.
I am still upset that I never took a picture of this gathering as it would have been a treasure. I must have started imbibing too early?
We decided to go visiting the next day (Monday) and see whoever we could. I wanted to see my old friend and University friend, Dr. Bill Chernoff but he was back in Fredricton attending to some health issues and would be back the following Sunday. Jack, his brother and Bill (after retiring as University Professors) farm their the original grandfather’s homestead along with additional farms purchased since. They talk about setting up a heritage farm for tourism as they still have one farm that has never been cultivated and remains in its original state. Too bad I was unable to see Bill!
We were able to find a number of people at the New Horizons having coffee at 0800 hours. I recognized some and will mention, Ken Bloudoff, __?__ Kazakoff, Sid Relkoff and his workman, Barry and Nadia Rebin and others. A very cheerful and enthusiastic bunch that have raised funds to totally renovate the New Horizons Center including kitchen and adjacent hall. They raise money by making and selling pergies as well as apply for grants. Very well done!
We continued in Veregin, to the home of Gary and Lorna Trofemenkoff and were well received at their house in Veregin
That is Gary on the left with Lorna, Marilyn and sister Mary Khadekin. In some of the discussions, we heard that their daughter is now a graduate Chemical Engineer and their son has been doing some research into their family history which includes the first Business Manager and Vice-President of the Doukhobor Community Office in Veregin, M. W. Kazakoff (MWK). It was interesting that I had a brief mention of this person in Veregin Story 2017 but as parts of the research now being undertaken, we were told that MWK heard that the City of Boston was considering construction of large Storm and Sanitary Sewers in the early 1900’s. MWK travelled to Boston, was able to demonstrate to the City Crews, sewer construction with bricks manufactured at the Veregin Brick Factory. He ultimately was able to sell many carloads of brick which financially assisted the fledgling Doukhobor community. An incredible story indeed!.
We then travelled to the Kamsack Lodge to visit with my first cousin Florence (nee Verigin) Tromfemenkoff, the mother of Gary, Randy, Wayne and Sidney.
Florence is next to Mary from the right with sister Mary and myself. She just wants to go home to the farm that Michael and her took over from his parents John Trofemenkoff. Unfortunately, living alone in her aging condition is not safe for her and so her children moved her into the Lodge. Much of her conversation was “I just do not like it here!”
We passed a neighboring room and had a voice shout “Elmer” and there he was Cliff Paluck visiting his cousin Allan who also resides in this seniors home.
We drove around the main street of Kamsack and this building caught my eye as my Son-in-law Rick Woodhoues (nicknamed ‘Woody’) and my daughter Lori just sold their house and I thought I would send the family this photo, suggesting that perhaps Rick has invested his wealth in Kamsack now??
We drove to the farm of Dan and Adeline Horkoff but they were away and we missed them. So we stopped by the Ice Cream Center in Kamsack for our usual craving.
The next morning we met Peter and Lydia Cherkas at the Prairie Bakery in Kamsack for coffee. We were treated by a discussion with Gerald Bennike, a retired School Teacher and author of the Promised Land. This is a very interesting book, as he intertwines his mother’s Makoroff family (starting at Irkust, Siberia) and his Mennoite father originating in the USA and migrating to Veregin. A worthwhile read.
We reluctantly left at 1000 hours with a destination of the First Klass Auctions on Whitney Avenue, Saskatoon, an operation by Marilyn’s Nephew Jeff, Tracey and family.
Marilyn’s cousins Elaine (nee Maloff) Derkachenko and Donna (nee Maloff) Henderson joined us at the auction while the next photo shows Jeff Verishine keeping tabs on the sales. Yes, Marilyn bought some ‘Depression Glass’.
We followed Jeff and Tracey to their new house on the farm that Alex and Helen Verishine IMarilyn’s father and mother) farmed into retirement about 40 miles NE of Saskatoon.
Firstly, the sunrise as witnessed at the farm. It starts an hour before the sun peeks over the horizon. It is little wonder that the Indians always orientated their dwellings so the entry door faced the rising sun. Sun-rises in British Columbia are compromised as it usually has mountains on either side of it.
The barn on this farm is where I followed my future father-in-law, Alex J. Verishine, as I got enough courage to ask him for his daughter Marilyn’s hand back in April 1961. He looked at me with a smile and suggested that something this important ne4eds to be discussed in the house. So off we went and after a great deal of hugging and some tears, the traditional deal was struck. As I recall, Alex never did say yes but he did not say no and so it became a reality that Marilyn and I were to be married officially at some date to be determined.
That day, Thursday, we were to meet Mitch Ozeroff at huge Ag Fair about 8 miles West of Langham. We also had set up a meeting with my cousin Nadia (nee Chernoff) and her husband Bruce Stevenson at the fair when we found out that they were travelling from Birch Hills and thus save us a side trip to visit them on their farm. What did happen is that Mitch was unable to attend and after many calls on our cell phones we finally connected with Bruce and Nadia. I never realized how huge this yearly event was until we arrived and saw all the parking for the expected 30,000 plus attendants.
Firstly we have Bruce and Nadia and then we inspected a Swather that is 40′ wide and that is just a sample of what equipment was un display.
We were able to meet Nadia’s daughter and son as well as one of their grandsons. A very enjoyable reunion and a great deal of life to catch up on.
The Ag Fair was of little interest to Marilyn and I and Bruce wanted to see all the displays so we parted company in the early afternoon and went to visit the grave sites of Maryilyn’s grandparents, John and Martha Verishine at the Doukhobor cemetery, Kirilowka near the original Doukhobor Village, about 7 miles West of Langham along Highway 5. We then carried on to Pawkrowka cemetery where Marilyn’s Dad and Mom are buried. This cemetery was near Eagle Creek, in view of the North Saskatchewan River. This cemetery was near the second Doukhobor Village of the same name. There were three (3) Doukhobor Villages, total, near Langham Saskatchewan. I sang my Postman song in Russian to their spirits.
We then decided to see if Marilyn’s cousin Leonard and his wife Connie Verishine might be home since they were located 1 mile West and 1/2 mile North of Jeff and Tracey Verishine farm (the original Alex Verishine homestead). Yes they were home and we had a great time catching up on where they were in their lives. It was exciting to hear that their son and one time professional Rodeo Bronc Rider, Billy, got married in Australia and they proudly showed pictures of their young grand daughter. Connie and her daughter Dawn Marie are preparing to travel to Australia in November to visit the family.
Leonard is a retired government pasture manager and still tends 200 of his own cattle on his farm. We planned to return for a dinner later in the week, but eventually ran out of time.
We returned to Jeff and Tracie’s farm for the night and were treated to a great dinner with their son Alex entertaining us with his plans to enter University of Saskatchewan to take Arts and Science in his intent to ultimately get into Engineering. Alex has trained himself to be an Auctioneer and takes his shift at First Klass Auctions.
The next day Jeff talked about his plans to make his grandfather’s farm into a place where all family would come and rekindle the “people place” that it once was. He is planting many trees of all species and trying to stay ahead of the deer who keep pruning them.
That afternoon we went across the road to Jade (Marilyn’s Nephew) and Marni Verishine farm for an afternoon visit. They had invited Marilyn’s cousin Harvey and his wife Diane Verishine. It was an excellent afternoon many memories were discussed as Jade and Marnie’s son Jacob barb-b-cued hot dogs for us.
We then moved to Mitch and Dorthy’s house in Langham. our welcome was a huge dinner with Sonia Tarasoff in attendance. It is always great to experience the positive attitude of Mitch as he deals with his physical handicaps and continues to ring off a sense of humour that never changes with the years. kudu to you Mitch and three (3) extra Kudus to Dorthy in trying to handle being a full time Care-giver.
The next day Marilyn and I visited the house of her Uncle Harry Verishine to have lunch with her Aunty, Cousin Kathleen and Harvey who treated us with another visit. It is important to mention here that the lands in Langham were less of a grain production quality and many Farmers turned to cattle raising as grass was really the best crop and the cattle raised on this land was marketed to provide an income. As a result, Marilyn’s Father, Harvey and his brother Leonard, successfully raised cattle and became horsemen. They could ride, rope and brand their animals.
Land that was assessed as “marginal” was designated as government pasture so that Farmers could place their cattle in this pasture for the summer. All three (3) of the above managed pastures for the government. At this time Leonard still raises 200 head and Harvey 400. Both have retired from the Pasture Manager positions.
At a Verishine reunion, Harvey and Leonard relented to much coaxing and put on a demonstration how they chase a young calf, rope it and trip it over as their horse keeps the tension in the rope, in preparation for branding.
Katheen shared some of the photographs of Harvey in full cowboy dress and some photos of his cattle for your enjoyment.
Yes I am proud of Marilyn’s family as I need to get photos of father and his horse, Leonard as well as his son Billy in full action as a professional Bronc Rider. I intend to gather all this into a story about the family.
as Jonathan Kalamkoff notes in his Doukhobor Genealogy, our Doukhobor ancestors raised cattle in the Molichniyee Vodee area of Ukraine before continuing on in Georgia in 1842, so it was logical for the Doukhobors in Langham to find this economical.
That evening, we called a few friends in Saskatoon to see if anyone would be available for a dinner in Saskatoon as it was obvious that we could not get to see everyone otherwise. Cooperate they did as this is part of our original Saskatoon Doukhobor Youth (at one time) Choir:
Yes it took a full three (3) hours to have our dinner but we had no problem digesting it with the laughter. Actually we saw the faces of ourselves as we were 1958 through 1963. What a nice time!
We took a leisurely exit from Ozeroffs and moved our wagon over to Alex and Elaine Derkachenko house in Saskatoon. Marilyn and I served as Bridesmaid and Best Man at their wedding in 1961 a few months before ours. It is always nice as Alex and I became “brothers” over the years with Alex never having a brother and I have since had my brothers depart. In many ways Alex seems to have very similar views on life and he even fries his potatoes the same way that I prefer. That is a very important brotherhood!
Donna and Larry Henderson dropped by and we had a great visit as a group. Larry is recovering from a minor stroke. A very nice dinner catered by Alex (he is an excellent cook), followed.
The next morning Alex treated me to his favorite Car Wash. My Focus was never treated that well! I also found an optical place where the sweet young lady took my glasses and final straightened the frame out so that I did not appear “cock-eyed”. Stupid glasses cannot handle me sitting on them but after a 1/2 hour she returned with a smile and said “no charge”. The Saskatchewan hospitality is always well appreciated.
That evening we were invited to the new duplex that her son Glen built for her upon her move from the farm in Canora, a few years ago. We met Glen’s partner that works for a Uranium Mining Company and Dr. Veronica Markova. We had a great Dinner and discussed Ryan Androsoff’s work to preserve Doukhobor traditions and Moleniya. Interesting and we all encourage Ryan to do the right thing.
We were ready to leave when Veronica suggested we sing a few Russian songs. I was impressed at what that small party of four could do. Veronica briefed us on her continuing research in linguistics and the manner in which the “Doukhobor” Russian has changed in the 118 years in Canada. We wish her well in het research.
The next morning it was a tearful departure from Derkatchenkos and we travelled to Lethbridge as an overnight and then home to Castlegar the next day.
Thanks to all our friends and relatives that we were able to see and those we missed, we apologize as there never seems to be enough time.
Yes we returned to a full blown birthday party for our daughterat the Colander in Trail, B.C, that night. We that is our life with Marilyn.
Completed August 14, 2014 by Elmer Verigin
11 Thursday Aug 2016
I am one of the fourteen cousins to Michael that some have named the infamous “Fabulous Fourteen”. Mike was the oldest male cousin while, I, Elmer, was the youngest. Perhaps, that is how Mike and I became bonded in a sense.
I recall his mother calling him fondly as “Meenya” and as a child that was the name I used. In chatting with my brother Lawrence, he says that cousins Sam, Peter and Russel were all the same age and had a problem pronouncing his name in Russian and what came out was “Miska.”
I knew Mike as someone that always had something humorous to say when we were young. He seemed to have time to talk to me and that relationship continued through our life-time.
I remember having to travel with Mom and Dad and Mary on a buckboard all the way from Pelly to attend Mike and Verna’s wedding.
Unfortunately, we did not live close to each other and in later years we became even further separated but when we did come to visit, Mike and Verna were always a must see. They, in turn, were generous in their hospitality. When I introduced my wife Marilyn to them, it was the genuine visit which included playing “Doorakee” in cards with the usual complaint that the men were cheating which you all know never happened.
I recall that when they still lived on the farm, we visited them at Christmas time. As we were ready to depart, Mike warned me about this slippery part on the hill located about 600 yards from their yard. He cautioned that cousin Peter Verigin had visited him the evening before. Several minutes later Peter was back and claimed that an icy patch had caused his truck to spin around and come back. This apparently necessitated another drink.
And so, this routine was repeated by Peter several times until finally he was left that evening. So Mike warned me that he was not sure whether Peter was using this as an excuse for another drink or perhaps it was true. We laughed and agreed that Peter was exaggerating and being funny.
Well lo and behold, just as Marilyn and I were still laughing, our 1955 Ford, just spun around and there we were driving back into the yard. Yes, Mike and Verna were standing there in uncontrollable mirth. Of course, we had to have another drink, wouldn’t you?
Over the years, we visited them in all the places that they lived until finally, Kamsack. In later years, we could always find Mike at his favorite Coffee place in the morning and afternoon.
Life was not easy for my cousin as he became the man of the house as a teenager when his father was away. Lawrence, again, recalls how Mike had to represent the family with a rack and horses to be one of the contributors in hauling sheaves to the threshing machine at harvest. Brothers Russel and Lawrence made up one rig and Mike alone handled his. Lawrence recalls how the high wagon used was unstable and Mike had his loaded unit tip over to Mike’s embarrassment but could be well understood considering his age.
He matured quickly and had to find work away from home in order to have spending money.”
I watched him after he took to farming his own farm after marriage and he was frugal with money. He seemed to have all kinds of animals on the farm, trying to make the most of what he had. He was definitely a good farmer.
After retirement, he made a trip to visit all his relatives in British Columbia. We enjoyed his visit well.
Verna and Mike were proud of their son and especially of the grandchildren. We were fortunate to see mike at Eaglestone July 19, 2016. He again told us what all his grandchildren and Great Grandchildren were doing. He was concerned about Marilyn’s cough and offered one of his special cough candies to relieve her cough which is an indication of his love for. people.
We did not realize that this was our last time together.
Rest in Peace Michael and you are now with Verna and many others that are there to greet you!
Our condolences to the family and all of you at this funeral.
Submitted by Elmer Verigin, August 10, 2016
12 Saturday Jul 2014
Posted Family
inThere are many interesting incidents that involved my father and his “sense of humor”.
Imagine a scene on a summer day when the family farm was receiving its TLC with the family of three sons and a father going out on the field and attending to a group effort of:
• Cultivating the summer fallow
• Picking rocks
• Mowing hay
• And just about any of a thousand possible other never-ending jobs around the family farm
and it starts to rain.
Rain and that black soil in Saskatchewan quickly render movement over the resulting wet mud virtually impossible. Time to take a break and let nature take its course and soon the sun will shine again and work can continue while we retreated to the farmhouse.
My two older brothers and I took to lying on the bed and reading a pocket book. Zane Grey and Luke Short compiled many Westerns that awed the typical prairie boy with stories of cattle rustling, coyotes howling and the good guys winning over the bad. Our imaginative minds were rapt and it took a bit to be awakened to the voice of our father.
You see farmers seemed to need to work every waking moment in order to make the farm successful and so our father could not tolerate idleness in his sons. He felt it was his duty to will his siblings to enjoy working as he termed it.
“Why don’t you boys have a rest and go and clean the barn?”: he penetrated our comfort zone.
Obediently we went and proceeded to systematically begin cleaning the manure with five tine forks and scoop shovel unto the stone boat. My brother Russel was the first to break the silence with “are you guys resting yet?”
Well the joke started to become hilarious as we chuckled and cleaned until we were finished and all of us agreed that we had “rested”.
Seeing that we were becoming idle and enjoying ourselves was our downfall as our father suggested that we now could go and check the fence line and make repairs since this was something we could do while it was still too wet to go to the fields.
This little vignette is for your enjoyment as I was smiling while writing.
Written as a recollection of my youth dated July 12, 2014.