This is Part Two which covers the late summer and fall seasons in Regina. Inasmuch as the winter, spring and early summer, as illustrated in Part One, have their own beauty, the seasons shown here in Part Two are again unique and captivating. We never imagined our mission would include such aspects of life in Canada, especially not in Regina, SK--the heartland of Canadian winters and Saskatchewan Roughriders territory to boot. We anticipated being in India well before now. However, the Lord had other things in mind for us. We attribute our personal family history research and success to the delay in obtaining visa's for India. Without such a delay, we would not have remained in the MTC for 90 days where we both enjoyed miraculous family history success, nor would we have come to Regina for over 8 months now where there is a temple close by to do the ordinance work for Sister Leary's ancestors and their descendants and nor would we have been so close to the roots of Elder Leary's family in Manitoba, where they homesteaded in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Manitoba connection has been facilitated by a cousin there who has helped tremendously with Leary family history research. In fact, just recently this same cousin, who had been working on a archival family history community project in Roseisle, Manitoba, found an obituary in an 1901 issue of the Morden Chronicle for Maria Leary nee Sneyd, my great great grandmother, with a reference to her place of birth and childhood in Ireland. I have searched for this now for about a year and my cousin has been searching for this for many more years. We recognize these blessing from the Lord and acknowledge the vital importance of this work for our deceased ancestors and their descendants.
In addition to all this, we have thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the people here in Regina and sharing our testimony with them and helping the Elders and Sister Missionaries teach investigators and less active members about the truths and blessings of the gospel. We take satisfaction in assisting with the work of planting seeds and seeing the fruits of that take hold. Just recently we have been blessed in seeing a man and his son, who are naturally gracious and kind, progress from saying "I won't be interested in joining your church" to offering a prayer in which this same man asked his Heavenly Father "that this journey may continue". They have now been to church and are continuing to investigate the restored gospel.
Of course our specific assignment in Regina has been document preservation which takes up about seven hours each day, including travel time, from Monday to Friday. We spend this time participating in the work of salvation for those that have gone before us who are now in the spirit world--many of whom, once they exercise their agency and accept the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, are waiting on their posterity to do the temple ordinances for them. The actual work we do of course includes document preparation for digital imaging in the Saskatchewan Archives by working with archived homestead and civil court records for the late 1800's and early 1900's. Every 2000 pages of such documents have about 400 names of ancestors of living descendants. Bishop Dilts, who manages the work, images about 600,000 pages of these prepared documents each year. That's about 120,000 names of ancestors of descendants that are living today for whom the temple ordinances could potentially be done. Once these records are indexed, they will be a valuable source for family history research for any whose ancestors lived in Saskatchewan during those earlier times.
As a result of our Archive experience we have come to know and love Bishop Dilts and his family and Sister Porter from Utah who works along side with us. Sister Marx also became a good friend while she was here serving in the Archives for a few months but has now been transferred with another assignment to Winnipeg. We also appreciate the help that is provided by local members who come in once in a while; and we are grateful for the visits from the Elders and Sister Missionaries, many of whom volunteer their services for several hours each week.
As a last note you may be wondering about our India visa situation. On that front there has been no change--we still are waiting patiently. However, some recent discussions are taking place with the Missionary Department of the church with respect to our status and we anticipate some permanent assignment to be offered before too much longer.
--AUGUST PHOTOS CONTINUED--
TRIP FROM CORONACH, NEAR THE USA BORDER, TO REGINA
Above is the beginning of our Saturday, August 3rd adventure from near Coronach, southern Saskatchewan to Regina. Don & Lindy Kirby are the owners of the Country Flavour B & B and farm located just west of Coronach where we stayed Friday night enroute to Regina back from our trip to Minot, ND. We found this couple very friendly and helpful to their guests and the breakfast was great. The above photos show their home and farm along with their dog which accompanied us on an early morning walk around the farm.
Flowering canola field across the road from the
Country Flavour B & B
Aust's General Store in Big Beaver about 20 kms east of Coronach. This has been a family store for over 50 years and is a well known tourist destination. Mr. Aust, the current owner of the store, is pictured above with Sister Leary and Sister Marx.
Sitting Bull was a famous First Nation Lakota Sioux Chief who defeated General George Custer and his 7th Calvery at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He took refuge on Canadian soil after defeating General Custer in 1876.
Sitting Bull, with a part of his band, made his escape into British Territory, and, through the mediation of Dominion officials, surrendered on a promise of pardon in 1880. In July and August, 1888, in a conference at Standing Rock, Dakota, he influenced his tribe to refuse to relinquish Indian lands. Sitting Bull died in 1890 when followers tried to rescue him from the reservation police. (http://www.sittingbull.org/)
Historical picture of Castle Butte with the North-West Mounted Police on horse back riding through the area on patrol on the lookout for rustlers, robbers and outlaws during the turn of the century and later during the 1920's rum runners and gangsters due to prohibition who crossed over from Montana. For an interesting summary of this time see the following link:
http://www.virtualsk.com/current_issue/outlaw_rule.html
Montie Montana was born and grew up in the Big Muddy area. He was a famous trick roper and movie star along with his wife pictured above.
Typical stagecoach of this earlier time in history
Famous trail of Butch Cassidy that ended in Canada at the Big Muddy Valley just north of Big Beaver
This 45 calibre revolver was owned by Dutch Henry who was a notorious Montana character. He was later murdered and his purported killer spent 7 years in jail in the Minnesota State Prison.
93 year old sister of Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy
Sam Kelly cave in the Big Muddy Valley.
Sam Kelley (alias Charles 'Red' Nelson) was one of the wiliest, most dangerous and most wanted outlaws of the Big Muddy. Yet, when he turned himself in to a Montana sheriff in 1904, suddenly, there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of a single crime. That's the way things worked in the Big Muddy region of Canada and the U.S. Witnesses got scared, or they disappeared for a while. http://www.virtualsk.com/current_issue/sam_kelley.html
Typical historical photos of First Nation people in the region.
Big Beaver Nature Center and a couple of amazing missionaries--Sister Marx and Sister Leary.
We visited the Big Beaver Nature Center in Big Beaver. Sister Marx and Sister Leary after we explored the displays and exhibits. The center had an amazing collection of historical photos and articles on the area--some of which are illustrated above.
The Willow Bunch--Big Muddy Trail marker looking north (upper photo) and south (bottom photo) located between Big Beaver and the Big Muddy Valley. This is a famous trail for First Nation people, settlers, traders and the North-West Mounted Police and as well for the bad element including outlaws and rustlers.
One of several unnamed small lakes reflecting beautiful ecologic systems along Hwy 34 north from Big Beaver.
Big Muddy Valley in background of photo
Canyon on the south side upon entering the Big Muddy Valley
Big Muddy Badlands escarpment cliff walls on the north side of the valley which expose Tertiary continental sediments including a white ash layer at the base overlain by thin coal seams interbedded with layers of sand and silt.
Typical geological section of the Big Muddy Valley walls
Abundant range cattle forage in the Big Muddy Valley floor
Castle Butte
Castle Butte on the south side where the trial noted at the bottom in center of the photo leads to the top of the butte--a 10 minute climb but very steep in places.
Elder Leary climbed to the top of Castle Butte. The ledge on the top was very narrow and dangerous for children. The view was spectacular.
Above three photos are views from the top of Castle Butte.
Typical caves such as these in the Big Muddy Badlands made for ideal hideaways
for rustlers and outlaws.
Two missionary rock hounds, Sister Marx and Sister Leary, having a great time exploring for rocks and minerals and First Nation artifacts such as spear and arrow heads.
Sister Leary tries her hand at geology
The Big Muddy Valley is covered on its valley floor by glacial outwash gravels. Here one can see the evidence of higher water and erosion of the soft sediments in times past by such outwash channels that were fed by glacial meltwater thousands of years ago.
The above photos are of the Big Muddy Badlands and Valley
Unnamed lake along Hwy 34 with very prominent marginal evaporate sodium sulphate deposits. Such deposits are a natural response to lakes that have no active fresh water entering the basin or in other words are starved and also have little or no streams draining them. In such conditions certain salts deposit on the lake margins and bottom as a result of seasonal evaporation. Such deposits are toxic and lead to a dead ecologic zone especially noticable along the lake margins.
These unusual mineral deposits have accumulated since the last glaciation and are still being formed today. 
Stockpile or tailings heap from an old sodium sulphate dredge mine where the material was dredged from off the bottom of Shoe Lake. The site was once served by railway. Shoe Lake is located about half way to the north between Big Beaver and Regina. Other such lake bottom deposits are currently being mined in Saskatchewan such as the deposit at Chaplin Lake that straddles the Trans Canada Hwy west of Moose Jaw. Some of the Saskatchewan potash mine operations mix potasium chloride from their operations with sodium sulphate material from recent lake deposits to make fertilizer.
Shoe Lake stockpile/tailings heap. Former railway bed at the base of the heap.
Probably sodium sulphate crystals--Mirabilite.
A lone farm house now abandoned. No doubt a family lived here.
Picturesque Claybank located about 65 kms southwest of Regina.
Avonlea, located some 15 kms to the east of Claybank, is also a site of badland physiography with buttes and hoodoos in Cretaceous sediments. However, when we got there it was late in the day and no road access was available.
When clouds form in the region, they are typically like this one where two stacked wind directions in the atmosphere are evident. This is not necessarily a very threatening storm cloud. This photo was taken just south of Regina. We find the cloud formations here somewhat unique and different from the Calgary region.
The above photos were taken enroute from Big Beaver to Regina.
The Archive Crew--Bishop Dilts, the Leary's and Sister's Marx and Porter with Sister Haner in red and Sister Harding in green who came to do service work for an hour or so with us. The Sister Missionaries and Elders usually come each week at different times for an hour or so to do service in the Archive Center.
Sister Harding always wants to hug us but she can't.
The Archive Crew plus Don, the man in the burgundy shirt who is a government Archive employee, and Elder Rivera, the tallest one, and Elder Martin his trainer sitting in the front. This is Elder Rivera's last day. He is being transferred to Winnipeg tomorrow.
Sister Leary has trouble getting up there so she needed a little help.
This Elder needed a Mom and a Dad on his mission and we were it. Elder Rivera said we were his adoptive parents.
Elders before transfers tomorrow at our apartment. Elder Martin in front as usual. In the back from the left--Elder Turner, Elder __? in transit, Elder Hornberger, Elder Rivera and Elder Quist.
The Archive Crew. I think Bishop Dilts (back left) is cheating a little by standing on his toes.
Elders gathered at our apartment
Above photos are of the Elders gathered at our apartment and at the Archive Center before the last goodbyes at transfers for Elder Rivera and others.
Sister Leary and a little pride creeping in. Admittedly this was a large civil file with two folders to accommodate the large size. These files are now ready for imaging.
Sister Marx saying: "See I can do it too". Two perfect files as she would claim.
Typical canopy of summer Elm trees shading the street and homes of the area. This one is on north Elphinston Street. Many streets in Regina have such picturesque Elm tree arches that extend for many city blocks.
The city of Regina operates several such public swimming pools throughout the city. They all have life guards as well.
Elder Leary opted to have his hair cut at this salon operated by a wonderful Chinese lady who got to know him as a missionary and always asked questions about his mission and church. This salon is located in the middle of "The Hood", a somewhat run down neighborhood in Regina. This particular time, when I went, she was away on vacation on Vancouver Island.
The summer season is one of beautiful sunsets. These photos were taken behind our apartment.
SOO LINE HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN WEYBURN
Above photos are of the Soo Line Historical Museum in Weyburn. We visited this by chance while on our way again to Minot, ND for Sister Marx. As it turned out this museum holds the largest collection of silverware in the world--over 5000 pieces. See the write-up above.
Prairie summer grasses near Estevan
Dual production wells near Estevan
Dragline and open pit at a lignite coal mining operation located just south of Estevan. Estevan & Coronach Coal Mines provide coal for 75% of Saskatchewan's electrical power.
Elm trees along Regina Avenue
Regina sunsets from our apartment in mid August
Wild mushroom in Wascana Lake green space
Your missionaries in a treed area on Hillsdale Street across from the Archive Center.
Moon shots on a cloudy night in Regina remind me of the light of the gospel shining as a beacon in a mist of worldly darkness.
Tree worm at the Archive Center tree outside our office area.
Regina Legislative Building grounds
What I would call clip clouds--An interesting formation in Regina again showing multiple wind directions.
Sister BigEagle and two grandchildren in her care--Cassie and Talin. We took them to the temple today so they could see the grounds and inside the front doors. Sister BigEagle is planning to go to the temple this year.
--SEPTEMBER PHOTOS--
Another Regina street with a beautiful summer canopy of Elm trees.
THE ROYAL SASKATCHEWAN MUSEUM IN REGINA
Both of the above explanations for the disappearance of dinosaurs seem reasonable based on the evidence and it may be the case that both are true.
The above photos were taken in the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina. The displays of wildlife, natural history and the First Nations people are all outstanding, not only in artistic quality but also with respect to teaching information and knowledge.
Kyaking and canoeing are popular on Wascana Lake.
The sun beams attracted my attention in this early morning cloud formation.
Sister Marx last day at the Archives. She has a background in counselling and social services and as a result is being transferred to Winnipeg to assist President Thomas in counselling missionaries that are struggling on their missions. We will miss her but know she is on the Lord's errand.
Sister Marx became a great personal friend to us. We had many things and interests in common including good humor and laughter, rocks and minerals, nature, arts and science and of course the doctrines of the gospel. She had previously been a gospel doctrine teacher prior to her mission just as Elder Leary had been.
The Regina Temple at night. We have spent a great deal of time here doing ordinance work for Sister Leary's ancestors and their descendants--with more work still to be done. It is a very beautiful temple. President Hinckley first announced the temple, while visiting Regina, knowing that the number of members at the time did not justify a temple. Nevertheless the Prophet felt inspired while here and went ahead and announced the building of a house of the Lord to the local members on August 3rd, 1998. The temple was dedicated after an open house to the public on November 14, 2002.
Civil Court records taken from storage boxes and prepared in files ready for image preparation.
Bishop Dilts, proudly presents his first grandchild at the Archives--Thomas Bruce Thomson, son of Cassie and Dale Thomson.
More beautiful sunsets with the effects of the setting sun on cloud formations. See the two prominent wind directions again.
Wedding party in Kiwanis Park
Wascana Creek
Sister Leary on a footbridge over Wascana Creek
Albert Street bridge over Wascana Creek known as the longest bridge over the narrowest body of water in Canada. In this photo it doesn't look like the narrowest body of water but that is because of the dam here with Wascana Lake on the other side of the bridge. However downstream and upstream from Wascana Lake the waterway is apparently "just a trickle".
Fall scenes along Regina Avenue
Fall colors officially begin in Regina as photographed above on September 14th in Kiwanis Park and along Regina Avenue in the southwest part of the city.
After Zone Conference on September 19th we drove Elder Bower and Elder McDaniel to Weyburn. They have a poorly kept trailer and garage for what they call home. They said the local branch has helped them with clean up but more needs to be done.
Green area along South Albert Street
Wascana Lake and Wascana Drive bridge shrouded in early fall colors
A close up of the bridge and the colors
Lakeshore Drive on the west side of Wascana Lake
Above two photos taken along Lakeshore Drive on southwest side of Wascana Lake.
Pine Island in Wascana Lake
Above two photos taken along Broad Street just north
of the Archive Center.
More early fall scenes on September 19th in southwest Regina.
Wascana Lake
More early fall scenes on September 20th in southwest Regina.
Roberta's last day of work as a receptionist and assistant archivist for the Saskatchewan Government Archive Office. Roberta always took time to see how we were doing in our separate work area and we enjoyed listening to her experiences and stories.
TRIP TO LACOMBE, ALBERTA
Railway bridge on Hwy 15 near Kindersley
Waterway to south of above bridge
Lacombe Hospital just north of Red Deer, Alberta
The five Albertan's from amoungst our fifteen grandchildren sitting on a concrete wall at the Lacombe Hospital. Each are very special to Grandma and Grandpa. Their Uncle Melvin, who is in hospital, knew each of them.
A proud Grandpa with his two grandsons in Alberta
A moment with our three Albertan granddaughters while waiting for a table for dinner.
Our trip to Lacombe, Alberta and time with family while there. Early Saturday evening on September 21st, we were advised that the health of my brother Melvin was failing while in hospital in Lacombe after 3 surgeries in two months on his hip as a result of a fall. The first surgery was to replace the hip. The following two surgeries were necessary due to MRSA which is an antibiotic resistant contagious staff infection. As a result, we left by car on Saturday evening from Regina and arrived in Lacombe about noon on Sunday. We visited with Melvin early Sunday afternoon and later in the afternoon we were joined by our two sons and their families, Chad & Tonya from Airdrie with three children and Mark & Lyndsey from Calgary with two children. The above photos are of our trip to and from Lacombe and of our time with family in Lacombe. My brother subsequently caught pneumonia and passed away on October 5th in his 85th year. We were all grateful to have seen him near the end of his life.
Below is a photo and very short article that was published, following Melvin's passing, in The Daily News in Kamloops where he and his family lived for many years.
JOHN MELVIN LEARY
Born: May 23rd, 1929
Passed on: October 5th, 2013
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Melvin Leary on October 5, 2013 in Lacombe Hospital at the age of 84. Mel was born in Whitecourt, Alberta on May 23, 1929.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Muriel, parents Marie and William Leary.
Survived by his three sons: Bryan (Nancy), Allan (Donna), Keith (Colleen), two sisters: Eileen (Noel) Ford, Josephine Baxter (Ray), brother George (Margaret) Leary as well as eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and nieces and nephews.
Mel loved the outdoors. He enjoyed many years hunting and camping with family and friends. He will be missed by all.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Muriel, parents Marie and William Leary.
Survived by his three sons: Bryan (Nancy), Allan (Donna), Keith (Colleen), two sisters: Eileen (Noel) Ford, Josephine Baxter (Ray), brother George (Margaret) Leary as well as eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and nieces and nephews.
Mel loved the outdoors. He enjoyed many years hunting and camping with family and friends. He will be missed by all.
TRIP BACK TO REGINA
Photos taken on our way back to Regina from Lacombe of Alberta and western Saskatchewan rolling prairie during early fall harvest time.
Late September fall scenes in Regina and cranberry pork roast dinner for the Archive Crew at the residence of the Dilts family. This was a fabulous dinner hosted by a most remarkable family that we have grown to love dearly.
Peter Huang on the left (bottom photo of the two above) was baptized in a Calgary YSA Ward in 2008 after immigrating from China in 2005. We have been visiting with him, often with the Elders, and helping him to understand the gospel and English better by reading and answering questions from the Book of Mormon. He is a great young man working as an electrical engineer in Regina. He actively attends church now and is preparing for his patriarchal blessing. Above are Elder Martin (top center) and Elder Fratcher (top left).
--OCTOBER PHOTOS--
Senior Missionary Conference in Regina on October 3rd. From left to right with the wives seated in front of their husbands--Elder & Sister MLS serving in Dryden and going home, Elder & Sister Eckert MLS serving in the Regina Stake, Elder & Sister Langston Office Support , Elder & Sister Menlove Office Support, President & Sister Thomas; Elder & Sister Leary Archive Document Preservation, Elder & Sister Bruns MLS in Carry The Kettle, Sister Porter Archive Document Preservation and Elder & Sister CES serving in Winnipeg.
Above five photos are all of Wascana Lake
Archive Center
Blood red leaves on shrub at an apartment complex near the Archive Center
Sherwood Drive
Above photos are from fall scenes during early to mid October in Regina.
Bishop Dilts and his grandson Thomas Bruce Thomson at the Archives. Little Thomas is the newest member of our staff of volunteers. He comes with his mother on occasion and enjoys watching and learning how the work is done.
WATER AND/OR HUMIDITY DAMAGED ARCHIVED CIVIL COURT RECORDS
Water Damaged Unfolded 4" X 8 1/2" Saddle Packets
Unfolded & flattened documents with black mould damage & some rust damage
around metal staples
Above damaged documents cleaned and prepared for imaging.
Water damaged ribboned envelope. Water damage, including mold and ribbon bleed, seen when envelope is unfolded. Pink coloration comes from bleed from the previously attached red ribbon.
Typewriter ink bleeds a blue coloration on some types of document paper.
More examples of water damaged documents.
Types of antique metal fasteners used on the Archive documents. From left to right including staples, eyelets, rivets, clasps, clips, stick pins and brads. Most of the fasteners were made of brass. They are notorious for damaging old documents especially when impacted by water or high humidity as can be seen in many of the photos below.
Above three documents with rust damage from metal staples and other fasteners.
Rust damage from paper clip and staple. The three photos below show progressive bleed of rust through four or five sheets of paper below this top sheet. Brass paper fasteners, various types of paper clips and metal eyelets were commonly used on the Archive Documents we work with.
Removed paper clip on top right shows bleed to left through sheets of clipped paper. The brass fastener on the left, also shown in photo below, shows bleed to the right up through the same sheets of paper.
The brass fastener and reaction rim around same.
Bleed down through another five pages of documents from the brass fastener.
Photographs, which we commonly find in the Court Records, showing damage from a paper clip and some mould. Top before cleaning. Bottom after cleaning with some peeling of the photo film.
The above water and humidity damaged documents are common in certain restricted portions of the Civil Court records. When we encounter them, dust masks are advisable to prevent possible respiratory issues. I think untold numbers of ancestors of those who search and find their names and something of their life story in these records are going to be very thankful, first--for all those who have researched to find their names and second--to all those who have labored to make these documents available online.
LATE OCTOBER FALL SCENES IN REGINA
--FIRST SNOW ON OCTOBER 21st--
Fall Warnings
The geese are starting to band together more now in preparation for departure day to southern climes. We also see flocks arriving at times from points further north. A certain population remain in Regina throughout much of the year except from the time of permanent snow to the beginnings of spring thaw.
The Regina signature---arched elm trees that create long tunnel streets.
Snow first came on October 21st and 22nd and then departed. And, we are very happily hoping for an extended fall. The above trees are probably tamarack--showing beautiful fall coloration as they loose their needles. There are many scattered around the city.
The above two photos are from a Donald Wyman Crabapple Tree across Hillsdale Street at the Archives on October 22nd. The fresh fruit of fall is amazing.
This has to be one of my favorite fall photos and it's taken right from the veranda of our apartment early in the morning on October 23rd.
Fall Calm
The fall colors and scenes in Regina are simply outstanding; and we have tried to capture the beauty as best we can. You can tell by the number of pictures of fall scenes and other seasons of the year in this blog that we thoroughly enjoy the natural beauty of the city and Southern Saskatchewan.
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