Obituary for Wilma Pries
The family invites you to watch the Celebration of Wilma’s Life. Please click here
Wilma Pries was born May 5, 1927 in Kingman AB, to a family of 10 children. She was the first child born in Canada after her parents immigrated from Russia in 1925. The Heidebrechts were a family with a lot of stories, jokes and laughter, even through the incredibly hard years of pioneering in Alberta. Mom’s parents farmed first on rented land, then later on their own farm near Tofield that Grandpa purchased for three dollars an acre.
As a young girl, Mom contracted polio, which ended up causing a curvature of her spine, and back troubles which she struggled with the rest of her life. But that never stopped her from being an incredibly hard worker, both as a young girl, and as a wife and mother on their own farm for so many years.
Mom worked in Edmonton for some time as a young adult, she was even employed as a housekeeper for the doctor that had delivered her back on the farm! In 1949, at the age of 22, Mom travelled to Winnipeg to attend her brother Henry’s wedding, and stay there to work. That winter, she enrolled in a seamstress course, along with housekeeping jobs. That course served her well for the rest of her life, as there aren’t many things she didn’t sew over the years.
In April of 1950, a flood hit Winnipeg, and the place where Mom was living told all the girls they would need to leave the city if they had any options. As Mom had some distant relatives in Brandon, she went there for what she thought would be a short time. The first night she was at their place, they had arranged to go visit some family friends, and Mom went along with them to the Pries farm. When a handsome young David came in from the barn, she always said it was as if God said to her, “That’s the one”.
A year and a half later, November 4, 1951, they were married and began their own farming life in Alexander. On this farm, they raised four children, Lois, Albert, Marilyn and Brian. They farmed laying hens and grain, and did a great job. Those early years were a lot of work as Mom and Dad ran the farm by themselves. Mom told stories of hauling grain in from the field at harvest time, and stopping as she passed the house to run in and check if the young kids were still sleeping. Mom always had a huge garden, and as children, we spent many hours weeding, shelling peas, picking corn, and helping Mom can everything she harvested. She was a great preserver, she said one year she had canned over 300 jars.
They farmed with their family until 1987, when they relocated to Kelowna BC. These were truly wonderful years for Mom and Dad, they loved the milder weather, the fruit in summer, and friends and church. Her children and grandchildren made many roadtrips to BC to spend time with them, and she always so enjoyed having us visit them. One special year, our whole family gathered in Kelowna for Christmas, that was a great time.
In 2007, they decided to move back to Brandon, to be closer again to family. A few years ago, Mom had a great desire to write down the story of her life. She spent many nights handwriting stories, eventually ending up with more than a hundred handwritten pages of manuscript, which we helped her type and arrange. This was a real accomplishment for her, and a treasure for us as a family to have.
Mom had an unshakeable faith in God’s goodness, even through all the struggles and health challenges she faced. She said so many times, “God has been good to me”, and truly believed it. She loved her husband deeply, and was always very thankful for his constant care of her. Mom and Dad’s 71st anniversary was just two days before she went home. Even in her final months at Fairview Home, Mom was still making friends and encouraging staff and residents around her.
Mom went to be with her Jesus on Sunday, November 6, 2022, with family around her. Although she will be missed, especially by David, we know she is running without pain as she always dreamed of.
Wilma Pries was born May 5, 1927 in Kingman AB, to a family of 10 children. She was the first child born in Canada after her parents immigrated from Russia in 1925. The Heidebrechts were a family with a lot of stories, jokes and laughter, even through the incredibly hard years of pioneering in Alberta. Mom’s parents farmed first on rented land, then later on their own farm near Tofield that Grandpa purchased for three dollars an acre.
As a young girl, Mom contracted polio, which ended up causing a curvature of her spine, and back troubles which she struggled with the rest of her life. But that never stopped her from being an incredibly hard worker, both as a young girl, and as a wife and mother on their own farm for so many years.
Mom worked in Edmonton for some time as a young adult, she was even employed as a housekeeper for the doctor that had delivered her back on the farm! In 1949, at the age of 22, Mom travelled to Winnipeg to attend her brother Henry’s wedding, and stay there to work. That winter, she enrolled in a seamstress course, along with housekeeping jobs. That course served her well for the rest of her life, as there aren’t many things she didn’t sew over the years.
In April of 1950, a flood hit Winnipeg, and the place where Mom was living told all the girls they would need to leave the city if they had any options. As Mom had some distant relatives in Brandon, she went there for what she thought would be a short time. The first night she was at their place, they had arranged to go visit some family friends, and Mom went along with them to the Pries farm. When a handsome young David came in from the barn, she always said it was as if God said to her, “That’s the one”.
A year and a half later, November 4, 1951, they were married and began their own farming life in Alexander. On this farm, they raised four children, Lois, Albert, Marilyn and Brian. They farmed laying hens and grain, and did a great job. Those early years were a lot of work as Mom and Dad ran the farm by themselves. Mom told stories of hauling grain in from the field at harvest time, and stopping as she passed the house to run in and check if the young kids were still sleeping. Mom always had a huge garden, and as children, we spent many hours weeding, shelling peas, picking corn, and helping Mom can everything she harvested. She was a great preserver, she said one year she had canned over 300 jars.
They farmed with their family until 1987, when they relocated to Kelowna BC. These were truly wonderful years for Mom and Dad, they loved the milder weather, the fruit in summer, and friends and church. Her children and grandchildren made many roadtrips to BC to spend time with them, and she always so enjoyed having us visit them. One special year, our whole family gathered in Kelowna for Christmas, that was a great time.
In 2007, they decided to move back to Brandon, to be closer again to family. A few years ago, Mom had a great desire to write down the story of her life. She spent many nights handwriting stories, eventually ending up with more than a hundred handwritten pages of manuscript, which we helped her type and arrange. This was a real accomplishment for her, and a treasure for us as a family to have.
Mom had an unshakeable faith in God’s goodness, even through all the struggles and health challenges she faced. She said so many times, “God has been good to me”, and truly believed it. She loved her husband deeply, and was always very thankful for his constant care of her. Mom and Dad’s 71st anniversary was just two days before she went home. Even in her final months at Fairview Home, Mom was still making friends and encouraging staff and residents around her.
Mom went to be with her Jesus on Sunday, November 6, 2022, with family around her. Although she will be missed, especially by David, we know she is running without pain as she always dreamed of.