Florence Wilhelmina Widdicombe

Mom was born on May 31, 1923, to Norwegian parents Peter and Helmine (Bergeson) Peterson, in Rosanna Skogland’s Nursing Home above her husband’s Harness Shop in Erickson, MB. She was a first generation Canadian, proud of her Norwegian ancestry.

In 1932, the family, including siblings Annie and Norman, moved to Chillon Siding where her father, known as P.K., was the grain buyer for the Manitoba Pool Elevators. The kids’ education continued at the Balmerino one-room rural school where Mom graduated with Grade IX. Next up was high school at the Foxwarren Collegiate Institute. On Monday mornings Mom flagged down the eastbound passenger train which whizzed the four miles into Foxwarren in about five minutes, at the astronomical price of 15 cents.

Mom was a teacher for six years and, in 1947, she married Dad (Jack Widdicombe), who had returned safely from his duties with the Royal Canadian Air Forces’ Bomber Command in the European Theatre in World War II. She became his farming partner, and they raised us three kids – Penny, Melva, and Daryl.

Mom loved the theatre; Acting, Music, and Dance were in her blood. At age 12 she was at the first NW Marquette Festival in 1935 and over the years she won prizes in the Adult Mezzo-Soprano classes. Her sister, Annie, had an amazing contralto voice and together they were on call for many weddings and funerals. Mom was also the soloist for the Foxwarren United Church. While teaching in the Silverton District in 1944, she had the good fortune to meet Margaret Corley who was the pianist for the local orchestra. She became Mom’s pianist and together they performed far and wide for 31 years. The repertoire included, at Margaret’s insistence, Mom’s hilarious Yogi Yorgesson interpretations, complete with full fractured English!

Mom was an adjudicator for the Associated Manitoba Arts Festival (a paying job). Other than that, she said she suffered from a syndrome known as Volunteerism – all aspects of church work at the local and Presbytery levels, YPU, Choir, 4-H, Figure Skating, Folk Dance Instructor at Foxwarren School, Director of the T.W. Rice School of Dance (which later became the Wade Dance Centre) and Folk/Ethnic Clinician in several school divisions. While at their winter home, Mom directed a large senior choir and tap danced at the Winter Texans Talent Shows in McAllen Texas.

Mom was always studying. She attained her Grade IX piano at the age of 40 and Norwegian 101 from the U of North Dakota at the age of 52. She wrote History/Genealogies of our grandparents, N.W. Marquette Festival, the Foxwarren United Church, and worked on many local history book committees. 

Mom’s greatest achievement in the music world was the Foxwarren Ensemble which started as a group of five singers and a pianist in the early 1960’s. In 1988, a larger group by now, they earned a silver in a madrigal class at Musicfest Canada, competing with some 8000 high school and university students.

In 2008 Mom received a Woman of Distinction Award for her contribution to the Arts and Community Betterment. Through all her endeavors, Dad was her greatest support.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, her husband Jack, her sister Annie, and her brother Norman. She is survived by her children Penny (Ian Menzies), Melva (Ivan Sabesky) and Daryl (Janet Hanlin), grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.

We are grateful that Mom enjoyed such a long and rewarding life. Thank you to the doctors and staff of the Russell PCH for their excellent care and to the community at large for your support and help in caring for both Mom and Dad in these last few years.