The Icelandic Canadian - 01.08.2009, Síða 52

142
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 62 #3
<Jlooking d3ack (Dvex
Wy Shoulder
Looking back over
my shoulder
By Rosa Benediktson
Benson Ranch Inc.
Sigurdson and Watson Kirkconnell, is scat-
tered throughout this memoir.
Helga was a strong matriarch who
served as a role model when Rosa's beloved
husband Sigurdur (Siggi) died suddenly
leaving her a widow with four children
who ranged in age from five months to
thirteen years. Now Rosa found herself
thinking of Stephan G and Siggi, asking
herself what they would do under the cir-
cumstances. She found comfort in her
father's poetry, the love of her family and
community and vowed to carry on to the
best of her ability with her children. Two
years of study at the Olds Agricultural
College in her teenaged years stood Rosa in
good stead as she navigated on alone.
The book traces her life and travels,
including a celebratory trip to Iceland in
1953 to honour her father. There are copies
of her addresses to the Markerville commu-
nity in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
The written word played such a
prominent role in Rosa's life. It is extraor-
dinary that the sending of accounts of their
travels to persons in Iceland now allows us
a glimpse into the life of this remarkable
pioneer family.
I strongly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Florence Holigroski
Rosa Benediktson traces the life of her
ancestors from northern Iceland to the
Markerville area of Alberta, after a short
stint of living & farming in Wisconsin and
Gardar, North Dakota.
Rosa's parents, Stephan G Stephansson
& his wife Helga, created a family of love
for their four sons and three daughters.
Stephan wrote his beloved poetry at a small
desk late into the nights after long days of
farm work. His poetry, translated into
English by Kristjana Gunnars, Paul