Fonds 775 - Dauntless Community fonds

Henry Rodermond was born in Holland in 1934 in a small town called Dedemsuaart. His parents were possibly Albert and Jantje Rodermond. He was raised and educated here, and his family owned a chicken farm. In 1945, Dedemsuaart was liberated by the Canadians after World War II, and this was the first exposure Henry had to English and Canadians. Henry would trade eggs with the Canadian soldiers for chocolate. In 1953, Henry's father sold the chicken farm and the family of eight moved to Canada. They sailed on a boat called the "Grot Beer". The family lived in Taber for a year, then settled in Redcliff where they started a poultry farm. Henry went to work on William Poole's farm in the Burdett area, where he met Aavina (nee Mazereeuw), who was also employed there. Aavina was born in 1937 in Opperdoes, Holland. Her family owned a taxi and transport business there, and also marketed potatoes and vegetables. She had four brothers and three sisters. Her family emigrated to Canada in 1948 aboard the ship, the "Tabinta", and settled in the Picture Butte area. In 1951 her family moved to Taber for a while, then on to Burdett. In June 1957 Henry and Aavina were married and they settled in Redcliff. They had three children, Margaret, Albert, and John. In 1961, the Rodermond's decided to farm and bought property in the Dauntless District from Fred Rodgerson on the SE ¼ of 35-11-6-4. They operated the farm from Redcliff since there were no buildings on the land. In 1963, they took up the cattle business, building corrals and buying heifer calves. After that they built a barn and bought some dairy calves for future milk cows. They also raised pigs until about 1983, and sold the rest of their cattle herd in 1990. When the overpass on Allowance Ave. was built in Medicine Hat, the Rodermond's purchased a house that had to be relocated for $550. They moved this house out to the farm. The next year they built a basement for it, hooked up electricity, and purchased a propane tank for gas for the furnace. They moved there permanently in 1965. Henry was involved in playing with a brass band and also played the organ in the Christian Reformed Church for 38 years. Aavina enjoyed gardening, knitting and embroidery.