Fonds paa-7960 - Rolland and Thelma Smith fonds

Rolland Carl Smith was born November 17, 1917 in Beloit, Ohio. He was the son of James and Isabella (Cobbs) Smith, who were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Beginning in 1937, after having graduated from Beloit High School in 1936, Rolland attended the Cleveland Bible College, where he met Thelma Myers, whom he later married. The following year, he was ill and did not return to College, but later continued his theological training at the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute. Returning to Ohio in 1940, he worked as a machinist and preached at the East Lewistown Community Church. Rolland married Thelma on June 7, 1942 at First Friends Church in Alliance, Ohio. Thelma Clara Myers was born March 19, 1920 in Lake County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John David and Frances (Mann) Myers; her parents separated after her sister’s birth. In 1936, Thelma joined the First Friends Church in Alliance. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1938 and enrolled at the Cleveland Bible College. Following her marriage to Rolland, they both returned to their studies at Cleveland Bible College; Thelma completed her degree in 1944 and Rolland in 1945. Later in 1945, Rolland became pastor for the Churches of the Nazarene in Innisfail and Aberdeen, Alberta. A year later, Rolland resigned and the missionary couple helped establish a mission at Moberly Lake, British Columbia. In May 1948 they moved to Peace River, Alberta and began working towards establishing a mission in Northern Alberta. The Northland Indian Mission was incorporated under the Societies Act on April 20, 1951 to provide religious instruction for Indigenous and Métis peoples residing in Northern Alberta; Rolland was president of the Society. The interdenominational school was not realized until the Lubicon Mission School at Little Buffalo Lake was opened in September 1953, with classes held in a mud-chinked log cabin. Rolland and Thelma worked at the school until 1957, at which time they returned to Ohio for health reasons. The school they had established later became part of the Northland School Division and was renamed Little Buffalo Lake School. In 1958, Rolland became the pastor at the Westville Congregation Christian Church in Ohio, and was later a pastor in Cairo from 1962 until 1964, Somerset from 1964 until 1967, Hollansburg from 1967 until 1970, and in Mineral City from 1970 until 1976. Rolland retired in 1976 and he and Thelma settled in Sebring, Ohio. They visited Peace River in 1959, 1968, 1978 and 1988. Their children were Rolland Thomas, Daniel Francis, and Samuel Allen. Thelma died December 8, 2001.

Rolland Carl Smith was born November 17, 1917 in Beloit, Ohio. He was the son of James and Isabella (Cobbs) Smith, who were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Beginning in 1937, after having graduated from Beloit High School in 1936, Rolland attended the Cleveland Bible College, where he met Thelma Myers, whom he later married. The following year, he was ill and did not return to College, but later continued his theological training at the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute. Returning to Ohio in 1940, he worked as a machinist and preached at the East Lewistown Community Church. Rolland married Thelma on June 7, 1942 at First Friends Church in Alliance, Ohio. Thelma Clara Myers was born March 19, 1920 in Lake County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John David and Frances (Mann) Myers; her parents separated after her sister’s birth. In 1936, Thelma joined the First Friends Church in Alliance. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1938 and enrolled at the Cleveland Bible College. Following her marriage to Rolland, they both returned to their studies at Cleveland Bible College; Thelma completed her degree in 1944 and Rolland in 1945. Later in 1945, Rolland became pastor for the Churches of the Nazarene in Innisfail and Aberdeen, Alberta. A year later, Rolland resigned and the missionary couple helped establish a mission at Moberly Lake, British Columbia. In May 1948 they moved to Peace River, Alberta and began working towards establishing a mission in Northern Alberta. The Northland Indian Mission was incorporated under the Societies Act on April 20, 1951 to provide religious instruction for Indigenous and Métis peoples residing in Northern Alberta; Rolland was president of the Society. The interdenominational school was not realized until the Lubicon Mission School at Little Buffalo Lake was opened in September 1953, with classes held in a mud-chinked log cabin. Rolland and Thelma worked at the school until 1957, at which time they returned to Ohio for health reasons. The school they had established later became part of the Northland School Division and was renamed Little Buffalo Lake School. In 1958, Rolland became the pastor at the Westville Congregation Christian Church in Ohio, and was later a pastor in Cairo from 1962 until 1964, Somerset from 1964 until 1967, Hollansburg from 1967 until 1970, and in Mineral City from 1970 until 1976. Rolland retired in 1976 and he and Thelma settled in Sebring, Ohio. They visited Peace River in 1959, 1968, 1978 and 1988. Their children were Rolland Thomas, Daniel Francis, and Samuel Allen. Thelma died December 8, 2001.