May 3, 1927 Jarrow, Alberta – July 23, 2015 Courtenay, BC
Aneta was very proud that her pioneer parents Otelia and Vigo Lindberg were homesteaders from Denmark. As a child of the depression and the 2nd of 4 daughters, Aneta knew that homemade fun was best and simple things were to be appreciated. She had many stories about growing up on the prairies around the Viking/Jarrow area of Alberta. Week long blizzards, riding her saddle pony, walking with her sisters across the fields to their one room schoolhouse, Christmas concerts and dances with cousins and neighbours in the farm house kitchen were favourite memories. She was always devoted to both her parents and 2 younger sisters and loved singing with them as they did the supper dishes.
Aneta was working as a teacher when she met Pershing Sutter, 2nd of 4 sons, from Loughheed, Alberta. He was farming with his parents and brothers after his stint in the Air Force. The couple soon eloped to Camrose in the spring of 1947 and returned to build a small cottage, up in the low hills, down a narrow dirt trail. Hand painted butterflies on the kitchen walls, the occasional badger in the cellar, and a balky milk cow in the lean-to barn had them all set to start a family. In 5 years they had 3 daughters, Dianne (Russ), Bonnie (Juan) and Susan (Keith).
In 1953 the family followed Aneta’s parents to the Portland, Oregon area. Pershing bought a garage/gas station and worked on anything with a motor. Aneta always thought Oregon was the most beautiful, progressive place on earth. The family returned to Alberta to help work the Sutter farm in 1962. Aneta enjoyed attending the Lutheran church, going to community dances and being a farm wife. She grew a large garden, canned anything not nailed down, delivered huge lunches down to the fields, drove trucks and tractors and took care of an assortment of livestock.
Aneta and Persh retired from their farm in 1978, and happily moved to Peachland, B.C. They built a beautiful house overlooking the lake up in the pinehills.
In 1982 they moved to Bowser to be closer to the kids. They bought an acreage and Aneta was happy to have long summer visits with their grandchildren Todd, Kwel, Mandy, Zach and Arabella. They became Phoenix Snowbirds. Aneta bought a large kiln and continued with her art projects.
Persh’s declining health necessitated a move to the Comox Valley. Aneta volunteered in the hospital auxiliary, began community guitar lessons at the Filberg Centre and enjoyed numerous trips to her sister Stella’s family in Portland, and her sister Ellen’s family in Alberta.
Aneta’s husband passed away on November 10, 2003 and by the spring she had contracted to have the entire house interior painted in pinks and melon shades and covered every window in lace curtains. She organized family reunions, chili cook-offs and continued baking her wonderful cookies earning her the family nick name “Grandma Cookie.”
About this time, mom thought it would be fun to start a kitchen band. “The Country Girls and Guys” was a great success. Aneta was never happier, hosting rehearsals, making song books, handling “gigs” at local care facilities. A special thank you from our family goes to Ron Burr of Comox, who acted as Aneta’s handyman/gardener. Ron’s kindness, interest and humour aided mom in staying in her house longer as it slowly became more and more apparent that she was beginning to suffer from Alzheimers.
Aneta was very reluctant to leave her house and move to Casa Loma. However once she was settled in, she enjoyed the good company and meals and her cozy apartment. She played non-stop games of crib with her best friend Andre and got lots of kind direction form Cindy and enjoyed activities with Judy.
Aneta’s final home was as special care unit at Glacier View. The very kind experienced aides made her short stay there as pleasant as possible. The family would particularly like to thank Aneta’s primary nurse Shannon for her loving care and Erika Maynard, Aneta’s nurse practitioner.
There will be a gathering of friends and family in the fall.