The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1955, Side 17

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
15
up lor the austere fare. For sleeping,
bunks were made up in tiers, in ship’s
cabin style, and there was even the
common scramble of a “lower berth.”
It was a time of challenge, testing
men’s mettle, but likewise, as often
where men have broken new ground,
it was the golden age of our settlement.
There was, in the hearts of men, the
thrill and joy of promise and high
hopes for the future.
The above appeared in the Star-Phoenix of
Saskatoon on November 9, 1955. The author
Gudmundur F. Gudmundsson is a son of the
late FriSrik and ThorgerSur GuSraundsson,
pioneer homesteaders in the Mozart district
in Saskatchewan. Gudmundur was raised on
his father’s homestead and at present is one
of the leading farmers of that district. He
was Reeve of the Rural Municipality of El-
fros for a number of years. —Ed.
BETEL OLD FOLKS HOME
Betel was founded by the joint ef-
forts of the Ladies’ Aid of the Ice-
landic Lutheran Church of Winnipeg
and the Icelandic Lutheran Synod,
but it has, from its beginning some
forty years ago, enjoyed the support
of the Icelandic community as a whole
regardless of church affiliations. The
Home appealed directly to the hearts
of all Icelandic people on this
continent as no other institution has
done. By making donations to Betel,
large or small, the people sought <-0
express their respect and gratitude to
the Icelandic pioneers to whom they
owed so much. Generous contributions
together with the kindly and faithful
services of the staff of the Home and
its Board of Directors, have provided
hundreds of elderly people with care
and comfort during these many years;
and Betel has become known as the
“Home of the Happy Sunset.”
The successful operation of Betel
did not only make Icelandic people
everywhere conscious of their duties
to the aged and infirm, it encouraged
them to build and operate other old
folk’s homes, where they were needed,
betel had set the example.
This original Flome is now in urgent
need of renovation and additional
structures so that it may function ef-
ficiently and accommodate the many
applicants awaiting admission. It is
estimated that the total cost of the
necessary improvements and expansion
will be approximately $180,000.00.
The Government of Manitoba has
made a grant of $42,500 towards this
project which has encouraged the
Board of Directors to seek subscriptions
from the Icelandic public for the bal-
ance of the necessary funds. The
campaign, headed by Dr. P. H. T.
Thorlakson is now under way. Mrs. J.
Augusta Tallman is campaign super-
visor; Mr. Grettir Eggertson, chair
man of the Central Committee; Mr.
B. Egilson, vice-chairman and chair-
man of the Advisory Committee; Mr.
Gus Gottfred, vice-chairman; Mr. K.
W. Johannson, treasurer; Miss Stefanie
Bjarnason secretary; Miss Alma Elding,
secretary and Judge W. J. Lindal
chairman of the Publicity Committee.
A large number of people have vol-
unteered to serve on the various com-
mittees. The Central Committee hopes
that local campaign committees will
be formed in all Icelandic com-
munitees, being confident that people
of Icelandic descent will wish to show
their appreciation for the humanitarian
service rendered by Betel throughout
the years and will want to aid in re-
building this old and beloved insti-
tution. —I. J.