Mabel Ethel Krieger (nee Holtz)

Ethel Mabel Holtz was born on October 6,1924 at the family homestead south of Morden, Manitoba. Her mother Alma was visiting her folks in the prairie city and expecting to return to Chicago when Mabel arrived prematurely. Weighing in at a robust 10 ½ lbs, Mabel and her mother soon returned to Illinois where her anxious father August was carving out a meager living as were several of Mabel’s uncles.

The roaring twenties were in full swing across the continent and the windy city was the home of the infamous Al Capone and his extended crime family. It was also the time of prohibition and rum running was a constant challenge for law enforcement. Following a brush with the law and a bout of poor health, August and Alma decided to return to the gentler Manitoba surroundings with their infant daughter who was now two years old.

For the next fifteen years the family settled into the rigors and financial hardships of farm life in rural Canada as the nation drifted through the dirty thirties. Home schooled by her mother for her early education, Mabel eventually attended Lindall Elementary School, before moving to Diamond School for grade seven.

Her grandfather had bestowed the name “Mabel” because of its biblical meaning of “beloved” in preference to Ethel, although her baptismal certificate referred to her as “Evelynn”. Despite the severe economic conditions, the family gradually grew with the addition of Ruth, Elsie, Billy, Lillian, Jeanette and Diane. Mother Alma lost twins Robert & Elizabeth following the birth of her other seven children.

Following school, Mabel worked for various families in the community before accepting a position in a clothing store in Morden. In 1939, she met Walter Martin Krieger at a baptismal service in Pembina River. Impressed by the handsome stranger, but separated by 20 miles of harsh prairie with limited vehicular access, the courtship nonetheless continued with tenor renderings of “Apple Blossom Time” and the old hymns of the church. On May 6, 1942 Mabel & Walter Krieger were united in marriage in Winker.

Walter was in the air force by this time and, the morning after the wedding, he was shipped off to Lachine, Quebec. Mabel eventually joined him there and they moved around the military circuit in Ontario for the next year. Carrol June Renee arrived the following June while Mabel stayed with her parents in Winnipeg. A life-altering event occurred when Walter was about to be shipped overseas and Mabel feared she would never see him again. Fortunately military brass intervened and Walter was assigned to training pilots for combat duty-an exercise only slightly less hazardous. Walter ended his air force force career in Trenton, Ontario.

Son James Walter arrived in 1946. Seeking more opportunities then those provided on his parent’s farm, and more room than afforded by the small house he had built there, Walter drove to the Mather area of Manitoba to meet his boyhood friend Jake Harms. Soon, the young family had sold their home and moved to the Sinkerville area in southwestern Manitoba just across the US border. They lived in a pioneer house on the farm until it was destroyed by fire on June 2, 1949 and the family lost all its possessions-imprinting forever Mabel’s fear of fire. Daughter Sally Anne Jeannette soon made an appearance and work on a new home started in 1951, following a bumper grain crop that autumn. Robert William arrived on October 26 (Walters birthday) completing the family of four. The family found a spiritual home at the Calvary Baptist Church in Killarney, Manitoba and a beloved pastor in Lloyd Priebe.

The years in Sinkerville were good ones with friendly helpful neighbours and a community that looked out for its own, but, fearing that the future of farming did not provide economic stability for the growing family, Mabel & Walter cast about for alternatives that would result in their children not having to leave home for university and employment. Following the advice of Uncle Louie, the family sold the farm and moved to the west coast of Canada in 1959.

Upon arrival in British Columbia, the family lived in a motel on the King George Hwy in Surrey, across from the Queen Elizabeth High School, while Walter built a new house on 106A Ave. Over the ensuring three plus decades the family moved to various homes in the lower mainland. During this time, Walter was mainly employed as a carpenter in the construction trades and to help the family fortunes, Mabel worked at Woodwards, and also managed a motel and apartment block.

Mabel accepted the Lord when she was seven years old and her spiritual commitment continued throughout her life as a passionate witness for Christ, outstanding role model for her children and dedicated Sunday school teacher. As a young girl of fourteen she went door-to-door telling neighbours about Jesus as her community underwent a major revival. Later Mabel and Walter were founding members of the Ellendale Heights Baptist Church (now Cedar Grove) in Surrey.

In September 1998, Mabel’s beloved husband Walter died after 56 years of marriage. It was a huge blow for her and the family but she soldiered on in her own house for another seven years before moving to Abbotsford for a year. In the winter of 1999, the family suffered another grievous loss when son Jim died suddenly of diabetes. In 2005, Robert Lamont, her son-in-law, died after a lengthy illness. Mabel lived eight years in an apartment in Fleetwood before moving to Evergreen Baptist Home in White Rock where she lived for a year before declining health resulted in her hospitalization. The last four months of her life were spent in the care of her children. Despite her health challenges she still loved to sing about heaven “where the roses never fade”.

Mabel was a woman who loved deeply .She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her brother and sisters and her children’s spouses. She was a great prayer warrior and loved bible study. She loved to cook and sew and entertain friends and family. She loved visiting her best friend Stella. She loved long car rides and green trees. Mabel loved Jesus and Walter and never tired of talking about them. Hers will be an abundant entrance. Well done thou good and faithful servant.