Mabel Christine Hendrisckson was born in the States on April 14, 1896 and came with her family to Canada in 1901.
She went to Thordenskjold School and was active in the youth work of Scandia Church. Mabel met her future
husband, John while taking a winter course at Camrose Lutheran College and they were married in 1922 in a
double wedding ceremony. Mary, her sister was also married to Hellick Rustand. Since Scandia Church was
undergoing renovations - the wedding as held at the home of G.O. Hendrickson.
John Walker was born December 15, 1897. John Walker came to Canada with his Scottish parents and they had
a farm near Baldenstein School. Two years
later, John worked for Nils Lyseng where he learned to do chores,
drive horses and learned a few sentences in
Norwegian.
He later worked for Carl Lyseng and Knut K Lyseng
starting at $75.00 dollars a year and in his last
year, $100.00.
After Mabel and John were married, they ran a store at Ferintosh for K.W. Taneer. After about a year, the
General Store in
Armena burned down and Mabel's folks came to see if they would be interested in building
a new store there.
With financial help from Knut K. Lyseng, and building help from relatives, the new store became a reality. In
September 1923, they were open for business. They were granted a Post Office and received mail from the CN
trains passing through daily. Soon grain elevators were also built and the hamlet of Armena began to take shape.
In May, 1928, John and Mabel were blessed with a daughter, Mae. In the years prior to 1947 - Mabel's health
began to fail - suffering from arthritis and bouts of pneumonia. In 1947, they sold the store and moved to
Vancouver.
On August 16, 1967, Mabel passed away. John passed away on June 28, 1996 at the age of 98.
Footprints Along the Stoney p. 437-8
Former Armena Woman Passes In Vancouver
Armena--Mrs. John D. Walker of Vancouver, B.C., formerly of Armena, passed away on August 16th, at the
age of 71 years.
Mable Christine Walker was born in Clinton, Minnesota, USA on April 14th, 1896. In 1901 she moved along
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert O. Hendrickson, to Armena, where she grew up and was confirmed in
the Lutheran Church.
In 1922 she married John Douglas Walker of Armena, where they operated a general
store for many years,
moving to Vancouver in 1946. In 1955 she suffered a heart attack from which she never completely recovered.
She also suffered from Hypothyroidism.
From the time of her confirmation,
Mabel was an ardent church worker. Although a shut-in most of the time,
after her heart seizure, she continued her
interest in the Ladies Aid work of First Lutheran church in Vancouver,
who presented her with life membership.
She leaves to mourn her passing, her loving husband and daughter, Mae, four sisters, Mrs. Mary Rustand, Wainwright,
Mrs. Anne Anderson, Tofield, Mrs. Martha Hardy, Vancouver, B.C., Mrs. Ella Sylyski, Edmonton; three brothers,
Edward Hendrickson, Bentley; George Hendrickson, Camrose; and Helmer Hendrickson, New Westminster, B.C.
