Helen Strutt celebrates her 100th birthday

By Joan Janzen

Family and friends of Helen Strutt attended a come-and-go tea Saturday afternoon, April 22, to celebrate her 100th birthday at Kindersley Heritage Manor. Helen has enjoyed a long and fulfilled life, which began at Alsask.

She was born on April 22, 1923, at Alsask Hospital and attended the country school at Pinkham while her dad worked with the CNR. The family later returned to Alsask, where Helen completed her Grade 12 at Alsask’s four-room school.

Photo submitted: Helen Strutt on her 100th Birthday!

She enjoyed playing softball, volleyball and ping pong, and as a member of the Girl Guides, she looked forward to camping every summer. In her teens, she loved to dance at the local dances, and for only 10 cents, she could watch a movie at the Alsask Community Hall once a week.

Helen loved children, and babysat two hours a day, Monday to Friday after school, for which she was paid a total of 25 cents!In a letter to her granddaughter, she said her family spent the winter months listening to programs such as “Amos’ n Andy” and vocalists like Dean Martin on their Westinghouse radio. She and her family survived the drought and dust storms of the Dirty Thirties. As a result, they became very resourceful and compassionate for those who had less than they did.

Although Helen’s family didn’t own a car, they enjoyed the privilege of a free pass on the train, and the Greyhound bus travelling from Saskatoon to Calgary stopped at the Alsask Royal Hotel.

After high school, Helen attended Normal School in Saskatoon. It was a big change from her country school, and she soon became homesick. She went on to teach at Glaslyn, Dodsland and Brock, where she met her husband, Herb. They were married in 1951 and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in July 2021.

Helen’s daughter Susan Fuhrman remembered her mom loved to watch “Coronation Street” and do crossword puzzles. Her homemade coconut macaroons were famous throughout the community. “As kids, we only got to eat the ones that didn’t turn out quite right,” Susan recalled, and Helen never touched them since she didn’t like coconut.

Throughout her life, Helen was involved in the Anglican church and the music festival, always grew a huge garden and sang in the Brock Community Choir. Helen and Herb lived on the farm until they were in their early 90’s. “They were both in really good health, and both still drove,” Susan recalled.

Helen has five children: Susan (Don) Fuhrman, Roger (Kathy) Strutt, Claire (Richard) Seibold, Lenore (Richard) Delday and Cecile (Robert) Bradshaw. She also has twelve grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Her husband passed away on January 25, 2022.

“She was a very involved gramma and attended everything her grandkids were doing. We’re grateful to have our mom with us for so long,” Susan said.