Jessie Wilson, 1918-2008

Jessie Wilson was born to Armand and Lily Johnston, into a family of 13 children on July 9, 1918 in Dalzell, SK. The family moved to the High Prairie area when Jessie was 11 years old. In her teens Jessie went to work for the Knecht family, on their farm. While working there she met her future husband, Woodrow Wilson. They married in 1937 and settled in Salt Prairie, where they farmed. One of the things that Jessie loved was her animals. She had horses, dogs, and cats, she even had a pig. Any strays that wandered into the farm were welcome, she even had a pet moose that she put a red coat on so that everyone would know it was hers and not to harm it, her family also has a memory of her bottle feeding a bear cub in her kitchen. Jessie had a “green thumb” and her beautiful yard and garden, showed how much pride and joy she put into them. Woodrow along with the Zuelke Thomas family worked at each others farms to get the crops and other jobs done. Jessie and the ladies did their share, preparing meals and taking them out to the men in the fields. They were both involved in the community and always there to lend a hand when needed. Both Jessie and Woodrow loved to dance. They were always the first ones on the dance floor at all the local functions, and enjoyed a good time with their family, friends and neighbors. Jessie and Woody were avid hockey fans and faithfully followed the High Prairie Regals each season. Later on, Jessie and Woodrow both worked at the Alberta Vocational College in Grouard. Jessie was in charge of the kitchen, and Woodrow drove bus and taught woodworking at the college, so they had the unique opportunity of working at the same place. Jessie worked at the college full time until 1988. In June 1983, Woodrow passed away. Jessie continued to work part-time for a few more years at Alberta Vocational College. During this time she began to do a great deal of traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, Regina, the Grande Ole Opry and Branson, Mississippi, to name a few. She went on trail rides in the mountains and still keeping her interest in hockey traveled to Edmonton for some of the Edmonton Oilers games and “Gretzky was her man.” She enjoyed going to Las Vegas with friends and had her own little account for her “mad money” to play with at the casinos. Jessie liked to keep busy and volunteered her time at the annual Golden Walleye Tournaments held at Shaw’s Point resort for a few years. In 1999, Jessie sold her home in Salt Prairie to her nephew, Brian Wilson and his family, and moved to High Prairie, when she chose to give up driving. She loved going places and doing things. She spent a lot of time with family, especially her sister, Hazel, as well as, nieces and nephews, getting together for lunches, trips and many other occasions. When she moved to High Prairie, she had to leave her flowers and garden. The landlord of her place in town made flower beds and got her beautiful baskets and bedding plants each spring, so she could still enjoy her gardens on a smaller scale and she faithfully cared for them every summer. Jessie enjoyed bowling with her close friend, Emma Williscroft, and was a member of the Enilda Bowling League for a number of years, she spent time at the Golden Age Club, socializing, playing cards as well as occasional trips to the casino in Grande Prairie with friends. Jessie remained very active and loved to walk. She could be seen walking around town most everyday. For the last three years of her life, Jessie lived at the Pleasantview Lodge in High Prairie, where she enjoyed the company of the other residents, and playing cards and Bingo, and any other activities at the lodge that interested her. Jessie was very independent and usually “did it her way”. She was very much a lady, who lived a good life. She celebrated her 90th birthday this past July. She was among the last of the pioneers that had lived in Salt Prairie and there are getting to be fewer as the years pass by. She was a wonderful person and will be fondly remembered by her family and friends. Jessie is survived by sisters Hazel Rosychuk, Rose Kovacs, Katie Sartorius, Brother Ken Johnston and many nieces and nephews. Jessie is pre-deceased by her parents Armand and Lily Johnston, Husband Woodrow Wilson, her sisters Jean Mackenzie, Beatrice Maves, Margaret Hart, Eileen Paish, Nina McLeod; Brothers Norman Johnston, Ben Johnston and Bill Johnston. If any friends so desire, donations can be made to the Prairie Animal Rescue Society as an expression of Sympathy. A celebration of life was held for Jessie at the Enilda Hall on August 16, 2008.

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