Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

Winton had welcomed them, but, in order
to achieve membership a re-baptism was
required. Elizabeth balked at this, saying,
“I was baptized according to my faith once
and since my faith has not changed I will
not agree to rebaptism!” Jac admired the
strong will of his wife and accordingly they
continued attending church as non-members.
Understandably they missed the intimate
warmth of the communion which was denied
them. And so they struggled with their
dedication to their faiths until they became
aware of the Brüderthaler congregation at
Dallas, Oregon. Their need for total acceptance
by a congregation led to another upheaval,
sale of business and home, etc. The
move to Oregon proved to be a mistake. The
congregational acceptance was illusory and
as Jac said, “the rains were endless”.
Six months later the family was back in
Winton. Things went smoothly. Jac was back
in business and the family grew once again
with the birth of Linda in 1924. However,
infant mortality was always a threat and
Linda died at the age of nine months. When
Frank died at age 10 in 1926 Elizabeth
mourned, “Maybe God is punishing us for
moving here”. They remained in California
for another year (Edwin Harold was born
there in February, 1927) before deciding that
their true home was in Manitoba.
Back to Manitoba.
Daughter Helen tells a moving story of
how father again sold everything. He kept
a Star touring car which he customized by
affixing a large rack for food and utensils,
and enclosing the “running boards” for
clothing and other basic needs. Then with
five children ranging in age from 16 years
to 3 months (all in one car!) Jac and Elizabeth
started a motoring trek that would lead
them up the west coast, through the Rockies
and into Alberta where they were able to
rest up in the welcoming arms of several
relative families.
Roads in western Canada were still
mostly unsurfaced and often impassable in
rainy weather but the family set out for
Manitoba hoping for the best. After several
occurrences of having to enlist help from
farmers with horses or tractors to pull their
car through mudholes Jac decided his family
had suffered enough and so, in eastern
Alberta, he put Elizabeth and the three
youngest children on the train to Winnipeg.
With daughter Helen and son Jacob Paul
staying behind to help, he got the car into
eastern Saskatchewan. There they finally
surrendered to the rains, left the car, and
also took the train. Weeks later when drier
weather had made the roads driveable again
Jac returned to bring the car home to Steinbach
(surviving a head-on collision in the
process).
They were glad to be back among old
friends and resuming their relationship with
the Brüderthaler congregation. They moved
No. 11, December, 1997
Young Peoples’ Group at Kleefeld, circa 1908. Left to right: First row Helen Bartel (Mrs. Is. Toews), Elisabeth
Bartel (Mrs. John Toews), Nettie Toews (Mrs. Wiebe), Maria Isaac, Katharina Toews (Mrs. Frank Hiebert).
Second row: Mrs. Jac. Bartel, Helen Bartel (Mrs. Is. Toews), Elizabeth Hiebert (Mrs. Jac Regehr). Third row:
1, 2, 3 Diedrich Dueck, 4 Jacob E. Regehr, 5. Fourth row: Rev. John I. Penner, Frank L. Isaac, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Can
readers identify others? Photo identification courtesy of Helen Rieger, Box 3730, Steinbach, Manitoba, R0A
2A0.
Family group photo taken at Walt’s Studio, 1947. Back row: Simon and Helen Rieger, Jakob Paul and Elizabeth
Regehr, Lydia and Bill Regehr, Amanda and Ronald Reimer. Front row: Edwin (married Marie Kroeker
1951), Jakob E. and Elisabeth Regehr, Clifford (married Donalda MacLeod 1952).
into a house on Main Street (the later site
of the Municipal Hall) where, in 1928,
Elizabeth gave birth to Clifford Stanley.
55
Regehr Garage.
Almost immediately Jac was again selling
tractors and cars for J.R.Friesen. The John
Deere Company had brought new competition
to the farm equipment business and Jac,