Abraham J. and Anganetha, Helena (Bergen) Klassen
As written for the Tiefengrund Rosenort Mennonite Church 1910-1980 Anniversary Book

Abraham was born in Gruenfeld, South Russia and immigrated with his parents to Manitoba in 1891, settling at Rosenfeld. In 1900(1*) they moved to a farm in the Eigenheim district, south-east of Laird. Anganetha Bergen had come with her parents from Manitoba. Her sister, Helena was born two miles north of Waldheim.

Helen Klassen, 1909 – 1985 (daughter) wrote the following account of her parents:

"My father, Abraham J. Klassen's homestead was about one and a half miles northwest of Petrofka Ferry(2*). His nearest neighbors were a Ukrainian, a Doukobor and a Frenchman. When communicating with them he sometimes got mixed up in their languages. He did all his farm work with three oxen, Jim, Buck and Bill. When he got married in 1908, his father gave him a horse and his only traveling vehicle was a farm wagon. Easter time came around and they were going home to Mother's parents. To make up time Dad hitched up Bill, who had longer legs and could move a bit faster, with the horse. It was a beautiful day and Bill became thirsty, so the next puddle was on the horse's side and Bill just walked in to have a drink. The horse reared and got his front feet over Bill's head. Before Dad could untangle them, Mother, who was sitting up on the "ladda Set"(3*), fell into the water. When everything was under control again and Mother back in the wagon and wrapped in the "Pels Deck"(4*) off they went, but lo and behold, when they got there, the house was filled with guests. My father could never quite forget his embarrassment at that time.

Helen was born on this homestead in 1909. Then they moved to a farm southwest of Laird, at first living in a little shack on Uncle Isaac Bergen's yard. Here Peter was born in 1910, then they moved into their own house, where Nettie was born, 1911.

The farm was then sold to Mr. Emil Friesen and our parents moved to Laird into a small new house and Dad became agent for the John Deere Company. Tena was born in 1913.

After a while this little house was moved three miles north and 1/2 mile west of Laird, onto Uncle Isaac's homestead which Dad had bought — the present Ervin Friesen farm. Here Mary was born in 1915. Father, with his brothers, built a two story extension onto the little house, but before it was finished, Nov. 1918, the big "Flu" epidemic set in and our Mother, Anganetha, passed away when Jake was seven days old. Grandmother cared for him. In 1919, Father married Mother's sister, Helena, and she brought our baby brother back home with her. Our family was all together again. Seven more children followed this marriage. Peter died in March 1925 at the age of 14. We other all grew up on this farm, got our schooling, religious training, Sunday School, catechism instruction and all 12 were baptized and joined the Tiefengrund Rosenort Church. It has been, and always will be home.

In 1959 our parents moved to Laird. They enjoyed their retirement for 16 years, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 1969. When they could not stay alone any longer they moved to Saskatoon in 1971 and stayed with Helen almost two years.

On August 17, 1973, they were admitted to the Nursing Home in Rosthern, where Dad passed away Dec 29, 1973. Mother stayed on through the winter, then went to Jake's until the Senior Citizens Home in Waldheim was ready. She has been residing there since."

Abraham enjoyed farming and during the last twenty years on the farm his interest in bee-keeping became a reality, as he worked with this. Abraham was a church trustee and school trustee for many years.

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FOOTNOTES

1. 1900 — according to the 1901 Census, the family lived on a homestead 3 miles southeast of Laird, in the Ebenfeld School District.
2. Petrofka — Abraham acquired a homestead approximately 1-1/2 miles West of the Laird Ferry, near the Doukabour village of Petrofka. It was not near Petrofka Ferry.
3. ladda Set — spring seat
4. Pels Deck — fur blanket; as in fur coat