The following was written Dec. 7, 1999 by Glen Mehus of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
His e-mail address is gmehus@home.com
Amanda Dravland daughter of Storker and Beret Maria Dravland. Amanda was born in 1891 in Snaasa Norway and came to the U.S. with her parents in 1892. (Editors note: Amanda,s older siblings, Johan(John s.) and Anna were confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Turtle Mountain Lutheran Church, Carbury, North Dakota. Johan in 1895 and Anna in 1898) Shortly after they settled in Estevan, Sask., Canada. There she met Eivind Peter Mehus born 1884 in Nesna Norway. He came from Norway to Texas in 1903. He moved with his father and a brother and sister to Estevan in 1905. Eivind and Amanda moved to Alberta where they Married in 1910. They had 3 children, a girl in about 1909, name unknown she died in 1912 in Wetaskwin Alberta, a son in about 1911 named Eare Swan Mehus who died in Edmonton Alberta Aug 11 1920. Their youngest child was Arthur Edgar Mehus born 1912 in Edmonton Alberta and died 1978 in Kelowna B.C.
Amanda and Eivind Moved from Estevan to Wetaskwin Alberta about 1909, they stayed there untill their daughter's death in 1912, from there they moved to Edmonton where Eivind was Head Barber at the Capitol Barber shop. Arthur was born shortly after their arrival to Edmonton. They stayed in Edmonton untill the death of their son Eare in 1920. [Eare died from the outbreak of flu.] In 1920 Amanda and Eivind along with son Arthur moved to Ryley Alberta where they purchased the Ryley poolhall. They then established a barber shop to go along with the poolhall. While they lived in Edmonton they also helped to build the first ski jump in Alberta.
They remainded in business there untill 1963 at which time they retired. Amanda was a very good singer and lead the choir for many years, she also sang at most weddings and funerals as well as special functions all in and around Ryley. She was also an active member of the Rebekah Lodge for many years. She enjoyed the out doors and would hunt and fish and ski with Eivind and Arthur, she loved her garden and all animals and as a child visiting them I rarely saw her any where but out doors. In 1967 Amanda Died in Edmonton and two years later Eivind died also in Edmonton, they were buried in Ryley.
Arthur Mehus their only surviving child, enjoyed all sports and excelled in baseball and for a couple of years played in a small semi-pro league around Alberta. He left Ryley after high school and started a career in the bank. He left the bank to serve for Canada in the second world war but returned to the bank after the war. He spent 36 years with the Alberta Goverment Treasury Branches throughout Alberta [from Barrhead in the north to Lethbridge in the south and half the places in between]working his way from teller to head office in Edmonton. In 1951 he married Doris Lane and they had four children, Linda Mehus born 1952 in Edmonton Alberta, Glen-Allan Mehus born 1954 High River Alberta, Bryan Mehus born 1957 High River Alberta, Barry Mehus born 1959 Didsbury Alberta. In 1975 Arthur retired and moved to Kelowna British Columbia Canada, here he enjoyed his short retirement and fullfilled his his two dreams one was to have a little red sportscar and the other was to cruise with his boat trough the Gulf and San Jaun Islands.Arthur died in 1978 in Kelowna.
Arthur's children all excelled in swimming and skiing so sooner or later all ended up in British Columbia near both water and ski resorts, with Linda going to and still living in White Rock which is on the coast, she lives there with her husband Don Barber and she is vice principle of a private school, they have no children. Glen-Allan married Shirley Houston in 1975 and now lives in Kelowna B.C. along with Shirley and their two Daughters Mandy Marie Mehus born 1980 in Edmonton and Nicole Dannielle Mehus born 1983 in Kelowna. Glen is an electrical contractor in Kelowna. Bryan married Laurie Faulder in 1978 and now lives in Kelowna along with Laurie and they two children Douglas born 1983 and Sara born 1986 both in Kelowna. Bryan is an electrician with a mill in Kleowna. Barry married Shelley Seiben in 1981 and they both live in Kelowna they have no children.Barry is a truck driver in Kelowna.
We all (the Glen Mehus family) really enjoy all the summer sports and fun that comes with living on a lake like we have in Kelowna and Barry and myself {Glen} snow ski every weekend in the winter at Big White Ski resort just east of Kelowna.
So to put it in order: