SARAH LILLIAN ALLISTON

Sarah Lillian was born Sigridur Lilja Baker on January 11, 1884 possibly in Pembina, North Dakota or Winnipeg. Sarah was educated in Winnipeg and spent her early years there.

Her mother, Anna Baker, moved after 1900 to Langruth, Manitoba (a large Icelandic community) and operated a very successful and respectable boarding house there for many years. Sarah’s daughter Marjory apparently lived with her grandmother Anna at Langruth for about a year and was the only sibling to learn the Icelandic language.

Anna died on October 17, 1927 of bowel cancer. She was looked after by Sarah at their home in Portage la Prairie for almost a year prior to her death and this care giving was very hard on Sarah. As a result she developed high blood pressure that later gave way to “dizzy spells”.

Sarah married Bertram Dudley Alliston on August 3, 1904 and pictures of her taken around 1907 show that she was a very trim and beautiful woman. Her husband Bertram called her “Sally”. Daughter Norma remembers that “mama” was always busy with cooking and canning. She baked wonderful pies and cinnamon buns and did crocheting, sewing and knitting for her family.

Sarah was very active in a number of community organizations in Portage and commanded the highest respect of all who came to know and appreciate her kindly and generous disposition. She was president of the Army and Navy Ladies’ Auxiliary and was very active in the Women’s Institute and St Mary’s Anglican Church, where she was a member.

Sarah raised 7 children and suffered the loss of twins at birth as well as a son Bertram Stanley before he was two. The sudden death of their first son William Shirley, in a mining accident in 1935, was also a severe blow to Sarah.

Sarah died on December 22, 1940 in her 56th year at Portage la Prairie. With her son George Thomas on his way to England at the time as part of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Christmas of 1940 was a sad time for the family.