KREW KUTS: A Crossroads Museum Story - Part 5

By Bernie Krewski

DAVID PECK

David Peck and his wife Edith, the inspiration of this story, unlike his parents, generated few if any local news stories while raising three children on a farm near Lacombe, after moving from Oyen in 1938.

David Ackroyd Peck

David was born October 1, 1904, in West Lancashire District, Lancashire, England. He died on April 4, 1987, at Red Deer and was buried at the Fairview Century at Lacombe. Edith was born on May 1, 1907, London Borough of Islington, Greater London, England. She died in 1993. However, I have been unable to find any further information regarding her passing. They had a daughter and two sons. Their eldest son Jasper Gerard Peck, born at Oyen in 1931, died of leukemia at age 18, July 29, 1949.  

These undated photos are one of their few publicly known legacies, other than the wedding accessories donated to the Oyen Museum.

HUBERT PECK

Hubert Gerard Peck, the eldest of the four Peck boys, passed away on August 2, 1993, age 93. He was a  resident of Southland Nursing Home in Lethbridge.  

Born March 9, 1900, in Kent England, “Hugh,” as he was usually called, came to Canada with his family at age of 18 years, worked with his father, and then bought a ranch near Cochrane in 1928. He rented his property during the WWII when he served with Canada’s armed forces as a radio technician.

Throughout his life, Mr. Peck was extensively involved in Boys Scouts, receiving their “Medal of Merit” and had a scout lodge named in his honour. He also served as a lay minister for the United Church. He loved the outdoors - skiing, mountain climbing and bicycling. He moved to Calgary in 1946 and later to Lethbridge where he was a very active volunteer until his mid-eighties, involved in Meals-On-Wheels, visitations, and reading to seniors. His memorial service was held at First United Church at Lethbridge.

His obituary indicates he was predeceased by his wife, Blanche Celinda Peck, and was “the father of David and Dorothy in Ottawa, Fred and Judy Ford of Lethbridge, Laurence and Linda Ford of Fort Macleod and Wilfred and Vicky Ford of Edmonton,” leaving ten grandchildren as well as a brother, Dr. Oswald Peck of Ottawa.

Information available from other sources clarifies and supplements what was published in his obituary.

As previously mentioned in Part 3, Hubert Peck married Miss Merle F. Strong, the youngest daughter of Mrs. M.E. Strong of Olds on August 15, 1931. Following a small wedding at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peck settled at his ranch near Cochrane.

Mrs. Merle Peck was born in Nebraska on February 25, 1892, one of seven children of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Strong. They migrated in 1894 to the Berrydale district, west of Olds, when it was still part of the North-West Territories.   

She taught school  at Ocean Falls on the B.C. coast, Rockyford, and Cochrane, before settling in Calgary in 1946. There, she was active in Hillcrest United Church, an honorary member of the Bow Valley Lawn Bowling Club, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Merle Peck died in Calgary on July 10, 1965, survived by her husband Hubert, a son David in Toronto, and two sisters.

Her brother Floyd Myron Strong, who predeceased her in 1959, was a teacher/farmer who  lived at Sibbald from 1914 to 1937, where he and his wife raised three girls (Sibbald Community History (pp. 340-341).

The reference in Hubert Peck’s obituary to being the “father” of three other children having the surname “Ford” suggests he was their stepfather. His obituary also makes no reference to the death of his brother Edward in 1971.

EDWARD & OSWALD PECK

After migrating from England, Hubert and David Peck spent the rest of their lives in Alberta as successful farmers and ranchers.

Edith Amelia Balaam Peck

Brothers Edward and Oswald, by contrast, moved away and became publicly known elsewhere. Their choice of career indicates they were deeply influenced by their farm experience near Oyen during their early lives before leaving this district.  

Their historical trails will be described in the next issue of The Echo.