Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.05.2002, Page 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla ♦ Friday 10 May 2002
My Career as an lcelandic North American
The purpose ofthis column is to encourage
and enahle people of lcelandic descent
throughout North America to exchange
information about their careers, in a “this
is what I do ” format. Contributors will be
invited to provide photos.
This column recognizes people of
Icelandic descent who have made or are
now making significant contribution to the
Icelandic/North American community.
Please let us know if there is someone spe-
cial you know who should be featured. Send
us bio notes and a photo. Ifyou don't have
bio notes available, let us know and we’ll
arrange an interview.
All the Way from Piney to Oak Point
Winnie (Olason) Johnson
PHOTO COURTESY OF EVELYN THORVALDSON
Winnie Olason Johnson was born to William and Christine
Olason of Piney, MB. She is a ‘Fun Amma’ to thirteen
grandchildren.
HEvelyn K.
Thorvaldson
WlNNIPEG, MB
There is something about
Winnie that interests
me. So much so - I felt
the need to share her story.
Why on earth would this young
lady, in 1946, come all the way
from Piney to Oak Point in the
first place? And, why is she
still there? How does she
accomplish all the things set
before her - and all of it with-
out fanfare?
Winnie was bom to
William and Christine Olason
of Piney, MB, both originally
from North Dakota whose par-
ents emigrated from Iceland.
Piney is southeast of Winnipeg
very near Rousseau, MN.
Many people of Icelandic
descent settled there. Winnie
and her siblings all attended
school in Piney, until her sister
Margaret married. As newly-
weds Margaret and her hus-
band Ron Bean both accepted
teaching positions in Oak Point
in 1945. That was the begin-
ning of the story of “How
Winnie came to live in Oak
Point!”
Oak Point is on the eastem
shores of Lake Manitoba.
Named for a point of land jut-
ting into the lake covered with
oak trees. Today, Oak Point is a
sleepy little town hidden off
highway 6. At one time, there
were stores, a garage, a
buzzing school, churches, and
the ‘Oak Point Picnic’ on July
lst. All that is gone now. The
community does still keep
alive the hall where many old
time dances, social gatherings,
funeral receptions and such are
held.
In 1946, Winnie and her
sister Anne traveled from
Piney to Oak Point. Their plan
was to assist their sister
Margaret with her new baby
and attend school there. Winnie
completed Grade XI in Oak
Point followed by a year in
Winnipeg where she graduated
from Success Business College
and began to work for Royal
Tmst.
Connections, still in Oak
Point, led her to meeting the
‘love of her life’ Lorne
Johnson. They were married at
the Unitarian Church on
Banning Street in Winnipeg.
They farmed with Lorne’s
father Einar until 1951 when
they settled on their own farm
in Oak Point, Lot 13, known as
‘the old Nelson place.’ Cattle,
sheep, pigs, chickens, and for a
short time mink, were the mak-
ings of the farm. Together,
Lome and Winnie worked the
farm.
Their firstbom, daughter
Diane arrived in 1950. As she
grew, she was the all important
helper with chores and the
other children who followed,
Lome Neil in 1953, Kerry in
1958 and Lorraine in 1961.
The children were all schooled
in Oak Point and St. Laurent
for the senior years.
Winnie accepted a position
in the office of the Rural
Municipality of St. Laurent in
1968. In 1978, she was
appointed Secretary Treasurer
which she capably handled for
thirteen years. During this
time, Winnie graduated from
the Manitoba Municipal
Administrators’ Certificate
Program at the University of
Manitoba, receiving her diplo-
ma in 1979. In 1981, the Rural
Municipality of Coldwell hired
her as Secretary Treasurer
where she remained for eleven
years, retiring in November,
1992. She was extremely
knowledgeable in her position
and often did her job above
expectations. She was tmsted
and well respected.
In 1994, Lome died after
having experienced ill health
for several years. This found
Winnie alone on the farm,
where she remains to this day.
She said, “I couldn’t imagine
ever moving from it.” After
selling the cattle, Winnie has
rented out the land. She is close
in distance and heart to Lome’s
brother Nelson and his wife
Gwen; brother-in-law Emil and
wife Anne, and sister-in-law
Aenone and husband Reg, who
live in Woodlands and operate
the store and gas service at
Studler’s Store on Highway #6.
Winnie had always had the
desire to visit Iceland. And so
in 1998, she decided to join the
charter group from Winnipeg.
She had kept in touch with rel-
atives in various areas of
Iceland. Her plan is to go again
soon. Winnie has attended the
Icelandic Language classes in
Lundar the past two years and
has been a remarkable student.
Her interest is so keen, and her
ability to leam and retain is
excellent. Her learning does
not stop after the classes. She
goes home and reads more and
more. She is also Amma to
thirteen grandchildren. Not just
an ‘Amma’ but a ‘Fun Amma.’
She is creative, loves inventing
games with them, such as
“playing pretend.” This is her
own version of using their mid-
dle names, and expanding on
the ones that have an Icelandic
middle name. They all become
an ‘Icelander’ for the game
time. The kids love it! She is
always there for her children,
helping out with minding the
younger ones when needed.
Since retirement, Winnie
has been a volunteer on the St.
Laurent Seniors’ Resource
Program. She has served as
Treasurer for the past three
years. This program is dedicat-
ed to the elderly who need
medical attention and care. The
morning of the interview,
Winnie cancelled an important
appointment to transport an
elderly woman to Selkirk for
medical care. She is a caring
person in her own community
of Oak Point and can be relied
upon for special help where
needed. Winnie is a member of
the Icelandic National League
Chapter in Lundar. She takes
time out to bowl at the St.
Laurent Bowling Lanes, and
has been active in a league
there for some time.
Winnie’s children and
grandchildren are her priority.
The eldest, Diane lives close
by in Oak Point. She is married
to Gary Diell (son of Mel and
Rita). They have three children
Dennis, Pamela and Lisa.
Lome Neil died at the untimely
age of 27 years leaving his wife
Frances (daughter of Fred &
Lil Johnson) and three small
children Brandi, Jennifer and
Crystal. Frances and the chil-
dren live in Winnipeg, but keep
in close touch with Amma
Winnie. Kerry graduated with a
B.Sc. degree from the
University of Manitoba in
1979. He and his wife Laura
have two sons Thomas Lome
Neil and Erik Jon. Lorraine, the
youngest, was married to Brian
Chartrand. Brian died at a
young age leaving Lorraine
and their sons Leon, Adam and
Tyler. She later married Doug
Marini and together they have
sons Michael Lorne and
Matthew.
Winnie has three sisters
Margaret (Ron) Bean, Anne
Beck and Sally Olason. Her
brother David and wife Lynn
live in Phoenix, AZ.
Winnie is a vibrant and
interesting lady. It is a pleasure
to know her.
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