Remembering the Good Family by Donnett Elder

Hi! this is Renae’s mother, Donnett Elder.
So nice to meet you and to hear from you on all this history.

I do remember my mother in law, Gretta Ruth (Good) Elder talking about her younger sister, Helen. She always spoke so fondly of her, her marriage and with sadness of her early death in England. I could tell she felt a very deep loss there. My brother in law, Ernest Elder will be able to tell you many more stories about these times with his Mother and Father. So I will have Renae forward some of this to him and he can relate some stories for you.

The Good family came to Saskatchewan in April, 1905 and Saskatchewan became a Province that year, September 1, 1905. Their arrival at that time made them pioneers and when Saskatchewan celebrated its 75th birthday, 1980, Gretta, her two brothers, Clifford and Ira all received plaques honoring them as pioneers in Saskatchewan. I thought that was the coolest thing that my mother in law was a pioneer. They were all still living then, of course, but Gretta died in 1981. Howard Elder died in May, 1976.

My Mother in law, Gretta Elder, was a great cook with many of her recipes coming from New Brunswick such as the one dish I particularly liked, fish chowder. Ymmm ! Another was brunt sugar chiffon cake but not sure if this was an eastern recipe. She made it with perfection. Her hospitality was always great with wonderful food, all of it home made. She canned everything and all was good.

There were four Good daughters, Ethel married a Deakin and lived down east in New Brunswick, Gertrude married a Rainey and lived in Ontario, Gretta married Howard Elder and lived in Saskatchewan, and Helen married to a Charlton.

Nice visiting with you,
- Donnett