Babkirk still rocks at age 90

Albert Babkirk’s 90th birthday at Banana Belt Hall Feb. 7 was festive. Clockwise, from left, are Tanielle Gnass, Babkirk’s great-granddaughter; Herman Burback; Albert Babkirk; Jerry Stout; Dakota Wolstenholme, Babkirk’s great-granddaughter; and Scott Fontaine, Gnass’s boyfriend.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

The party streamer above Albert Babkirk’s head read “aged to perfection,” but age isn’t a factor for a man who turned 90 Feb. 3. Babkirk still has the energy to play the harmonica, stomp his feet and laugh with everybody. Dozens of people attended a birthday party for Babkirk at Banana Belt Hall Feb. 7. He was on stage most of the time, playing his harmonicas and stomping his feet to some old-time songs. Others joined him, including Herman Burback with his violin and Ed Morawski on guitar and they performed ‘Good Hearted Woman’ and ‘Four Leaf Clover’ among others. Babkirk said he wanted to play a “seven-step” dance. “But how can that be when you can only do one step?” he laughed. Later, seven of his great-grandchildren – Karley Bilsky, Sarah Bilsky, Leirin Edwards, Nolan Edwards, Ainsley Wolstenholme, Dakota Wolstenholme and Mckenna Wolstenholme – sang a couple of songs for him. Then Kerri Gnass, Babkirk’s youngest daughter, gave a history of his life. Babkirk was born to Winnifred and Sunny Jim Babkirk Feb. 3, 1919 and delivered by Mrs. Lesage, one of two midwives in the area. Family and farm obligations meant Babkirk did not go far in school. “Albert likes to joke he completed half of 12, which is true, but it was only to Grade 6,” Gnass says. “The fact was, every hand was needed for labour – in the fields, growing gardens, building homes, infrastructure – especially a large strapping lad.” She also says his father blazed a trail south of High Prairie to Banana Belt in the winter of 1929, where he and his older brother, James Babkirk, filed homesteads. As a teenager, Babkirk drove a school van north of High Prairie. He remembers receiving his first $20 bill, which was a paycheque for 20 days’ work. “He immediately turned it into one dollar bills so he would have a ‘roll’ in his pocket,” says Gnass. “He also remembers getting his first car, a ‘38 Ford with a rumble seat. He says, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘Ooooh, I was classy!’” Babkirk made two commitments at 21, marrying Rena Madge Perry Oct. 20, 1940 and enlisting with the Canadian military. He trained in Calgary, Grande Prairie and Red Deer and shipped to Italy in 1943, but it was not a happy time for him. “Albert experienced not only the horrors of war, but the heartache of separation from family and the death of a young daughter back home, worlds away. What a relief when the war was over, families reunited,” says Gnass. After the war, he and his wife eventually made Banana Belt their home and had one boy and four girls. His wife passed away in April 2007, but he continues to live on his farm with some of his children and grandchildren. Gnass also highlighted her father’s devotion to the community, especially hockey. “This man has an incredible pride in, and love for, his community. He has always been an avid hockey supporter, easily making himself heard at Regal games over the years and receiving the prestigious Fan-of-the-Year award a few times. “Albert is very pleased to have been able to donate money for the new recreation centre for the area. He loves seeing kids of all ages playing hockey – the exercise, the camaraderie – and would be tickled pink to have a Junior A or B league in High Prairie,” says Gnass. Babkirk has contributed money to the new CT Scan unit and he supports the Palliative Care Society. Gnass also described her father’s passion for his harmonicas. “He started playing at a very young age; music seemed to flow through his veins. His kids were learning dance steps as toddlers, singing as soon as they could speak. After long, physical work hours, there was nothing more relaxing than to gather with other community members … and have a big ol’ barn dance.” Babkirk accompanied the Lloyd Somers Band in the 1950s and 1960s and he was part of The Rhymaires from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Gnass ended by saying her father is truly a valued elder. His grandchildren have their own memories of him, including sleigh rides. “We did lots of horse-drawn sleigh rides growing up,” says Denise Edwards, “and he had Ski-Doos for us to ride too.” He also taught them the polka in the kitchen. The music – singing, dancing and playing – is a special memory for her. “Grandpa would have been the happiest (when he was) teaching us to dance.” Moose hunting is one of Babkirk’s favourite pastimes, says his nephew, Jim Babkirk. “We did a lot of hunting,” he says. His uncle also worked as a cook for oilfield companies. “He could bake buns, cakes and pies. He was a great cook.” Later, family members recited a poem based on the song ‘Happy Birthday’ and everyone enjoyed the huge birthday cake, which had one candle in the middle for him to blow out.

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