Deutshlander Emerson Village Memories

In 1925 father (Wilhelm Remus) and mother (Maria Deutschlander) retired from farming (five miles north of Emerson) to spend the evening of their lives in Emerson. They had accomplished what they had so ardently worked for – to give us, their children, a start in life that we need not work out amongst strangers. The boys were all farming, Reinhold now on the east side of the Red River, Will (William Carl) at Halbstadt, having married Josephine Paterson in 1923, Fred and Walter on the home place (just north of Emerson), with Tillie, who had been house keeper, and I was to continue my High School so that I might teach.

Their Emerson home (that is, their retirement home in Emerson) was very comfortable. How often they sat in their rockers in the kitchen musing on the changes they had seen from the light of the fireplace to electric hardwood, from walking to powerful cars, from newspapers, telephone and radio.

Many a pleasant evening was spent with (Adolph) Schwarks and Stegs, old friend who too had retied from farming.

Many a pleasant visit mother and father had from relatives and friends who had come from Berestowitz. Aunt Susanna’s (Patzer) first visit was in 1925. Three times Biedermanns (Wilhelm Biedermann and his wife Amilie nee Harwardt - she was Maria's aunt) came from Leduc, Alberta. August Dreger arrived unexpectedly on day. Father knew him at once and great was youth. When Mr. Dreger saw mother he said to her, "And what nice teeth you still have! Are they your own?"

"Of course they are mine", mother retorted. Later she laughed merrily and said, "So they are mine – I paid for them".

Ever and again they spoke of those days of long ago in Berestowitz.

On Sundays, or whenever there was a service she was in her place in church, for she loved the word of God and knew that her soul as well as her body needed nourishment.

On February 8, 1928 Tillie married Thedore Gruenke. Walter married Ruth Gruenke on December 15, 1928 and on October 19, 1929 Fred married Louise Gruenke.

May 3, 1929 brought a sudden and terrible tragedy to our family. Reinhold, who was on the way in his truck to visit mother and father, was struck by a train at the crossing near their house. He was rushed to Winnipeg, but all was in vain, for next day he passed away. Mother’s firstborn, the only child that had walked the streets of Berestowitz with his little hand in hers, was no more. With his death a part of mother died. The song that was on her lips often as she worked was seldom heard again. Many months later I heard her sing again for the first time, and I was so glad because I thought her joyousness would gradually return, but it didn’t.

Aunt Julianna Kuball (nee Deutschlander) had died in July 1923, Aunt Pauline Boggs (nee Deutschlander) died after a few years in Morris, and Aunt Carolina Rapske (nee Deutschlander) had passed away in Russia. Mothers two closest friends, Mrs. Steg and Mrs. Schwark died. In May 1935, Josie, who had been a kind and loving daughter to her, passed away after a long illness.

In 1936 I married Johann Christian Clausen-Mohr and went to Alberta. Little did mother or I dream that in a little over two years I would be back to live even closer to her than any of her other children.

In 1937 Will married Sophie Manziuk, who like Ruth and Louise, was very considerate of mother. Indeed mother was very fond of her daughters in-law.

Post Script

Maria died in Emerson on December 12, 1944 and Wilhelm died in Emerson on December 21, 1954. Both are buried in the Emerson Cemetery.

Please send any information and queries to Bill Remus at