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Edith Rose's Century

Canada's first female cereal chemist, and longtime Cranbrook volunteer, looks back on 103 years

Edith Rose’s century has been a long one indeed, and rich — in family and community, which in the more than 70 years she has lived in Cranbrook, has also been made richer by her community involvement and the life she has shared with it.

At 103, Edith can look back on the big picture of a life, of a century, and of the changes in the world and around her — from Saskatchewan to Cranbrook.

Edith Rose, née Edith Rose Millsap (her middle name is the same as her married name) was born on December 30, 1921, in Sovereign, Saskatchewan, some eighty kilometres southwest of Saskatoon. Her early childhood was spent on the family farm, in the company of her parents, four older sisters, and her father’s herd of horses.

It was in many ways an idyllic childhood, in the early days of the province, in the rich culture of small, tight-knit rural communities on the Prairies. Until, of course, the arrival of the Great Depression, with the drought, dustbowl conditions, and widespread hardship. Growing up in these times would leave a lasting impression.

“I could write a book on how to be thrifty,” Rose said. “The wind blew constantly for days on end. And the grasshoppers were plentiful.”

“But the years on the farm were fantastic. They really were. I developed a real affection for animals.”

Though the Millsap homestead  was primarily a grain farm, there were enough cattle to supply milk. And there were horses, of course.

“My father had about 20 or 30 horses to pull the machinery. I used to enjoy hanging around him all the time.

“Those 14 years on the prairie were wonderful. I rode bareback saddle a lot.”

Edith and her four older sisters all went to school in Sovereign. In the fierce Saskatchewan winter they would get there by ‘van,’ as they called it — a little cabin on sleigh-runners. Edith’s mother would heat up bricks in the oven, place them in the van, cover them with straw, and Edith and her sisters would get in. The horses would haul the van to the school, picking up other kids along the way. A proto-school bus, you might say.

But at age 14, Edith moved to Saskatoon, to live with her older sister, who working as a nurse at City Hospital (since demolished) and her sister’s husband, a teacher.

He went to Saskatoon to Normal School (the teacher schools of the time), Edith said of her sister’s husband. “He worked his way up, and finally wound up with a Master’s Degree, and as Principal as one of Saskatoon’s highest collegiate.”

They invited Edith to come stay with them, for room and board, and finish school there. (Edith’s expenses for that year — for everything — totalled $113).

She finished high school in Saskatoon in 1939, and went on to the University of Saskatchewan, getting her B.Sc in Chemistry.

“Growing up in the Prairies, the only things women went on for back then were either nursing or teaching. I went in thinking I would be a teacher. And I took a class in chemistry, and found that I really enjoyed the lab work.

“There was one other woman there, as well. We were the only two in the chemistry program."

It was at that time the war broke out, in September, 1939.

“It was quite a time. A lot of those young fellows joined the ROTC … went overseas, and never came back. I knew a lot of them. They were brilliant men, very clever.”

In the early 1940s, immediately upon graduation, with the backing of the Chemistry department, Edith got a position with the Quaker Oats company, as an assistant chemist. She was put to work in the war effort, helping develop high protein wheat, which would be used to feed the soldiers.

She worked for Quaker Oats for five years, before becoming chief chemist for the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

“In those years, an awful lot of people went down east to work,” she said. “I was fortunate to be able to stay out west, with a good position. Saskatoon is a great little city.

“It was a very interesting time,” Edith continued. “All the big mills out west produced a special grade of flour, high in protein, to be sent overseas to feed the troops.”

Ships full of grain and flour would set out in convoys from Canada, to be turned into bread in England.

“The milling industry was very important at that time as well.”

Edith spent the war years in charge of quality control of this important product, working in labs (she ran her own lab in Saskatoon), and travelling around Saskatchewan in the service of agriculture for the war effort, talking to farmers — “lots of farmers, and women’s institutes, talking about baking.”

Sometimes, Edith did her own driving, sometimes she was chauffeured around by the Wheat Pool agent in whichever area she was visiting. But she was always a good driver.

Edith grew up driving, as befits a prairie upbringing. She owned a car from an early age, and even taught her husband to drive. To this day, out of all the many  automobiles she’s driven and owned, her favourite is the Model T, which she learned to drive in, and which she could repair if it happened to break down.

Edith got married in 1952, in Saskatoon, to Herbert Harrington Rose.

“My husband, a chartered accountant, got offered a good position with Cranbrook Sash and Door Company. A friend was the manager, and the company needed a municipal accountant.”

Edith had never heard of the place before. Coming through the Crowsnest Pass, and Michel-Natal, she noticed everything covered with soot. “When he said, ‘this is Cranbrook,’ I nearly had a heart attack!

“And then we came to this beautiful mountain valley. I was a little worried about claustrophobia. I don’t think I would have liked it if the mountains had been closer.”

Originally not planning to stay permanently, they decided to make their home permanently.

“After all those years, we didn’t want to leave. We had lots of friends. All the fellows skied — they were all strong devotees of the Kimberley Ski Hill.”

Edith and Herb had four children, all sons. The oldest — Dr. Johnson Rose, Jr, was born in Saskatoon, the other three — Paul, Kevin, and Derek — were born in Cranbrook. Raising four boys kept Edith occupied for sure. 

Her oldest son, Dr. Johnson Rose, grew up, went into medicine, and became chief of staff at Invermere hospital, and headed up the ER, bringing it up to date at that time. He was tragically was killed in a train accident in 2010.

His death, and her husband’s in 1995, are the two saddest events in her life.

Her descendants are numerous, including her newest, great-grandson Noah, recently born. There are 102 years between them.

“I think I’ve been very fortunate,” Edith said. “I have a remarkable family.”

Edith’s career in volunteerism in Cranbrook, over the years, has been epic. It includes serving on the School Board, the PTA, the College Board (assistant chair for two years), the Hospital Board for nine years, the Library Board for four years, the Cranbrook University Women’s Club (that organization’s first treasurer). She was ‘Choir Mother’ at the Cranbrook United Church, and part of the church’s Senior Choir.

She was part of the Cranbrook Progress Society, which organized and acquired funding to build Cranbrook’s first indoor/outdoor pool, which was officially opened by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1971.

But of particular note is her affiliation with the Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary, which she joined in 1984, and over the years worked at the Thrift Store, the gift store and the information desk at the hospital.

Edith was especially good friends with Margaret Westrup, who was the same age. Both were instrumental members of the CHCA, that has helped toward the purchase of equipment for the EKRH and the Dr. F. W. Green Memorial Home, over the decades.

Magaret Westrup died last year at the age of 102. “I was hoping she’d make it long with me,” Edith said.

Just over a year ago, Edith, then 102, came down to the Hospital to work another shift at the CHCA information desk, a notable moment for the media and for CHCA.

“So many good memories,” Rose said, on the occasion. “I liked the times when we all got together for social events, like Christmas parties.”

The degree of volunteerism is very high in Edith’s generation. That outward-mindedness, the sense of community, the being part of community. And as Edith knows, the thing about giving back is that you get so much back yourself.

“I met worked for so many organizations, and met so many wonderful people, and I have gained a lot more by having done so. I’ve had some very fine people as friends along the way. Unfortunately a lot of them have gone.

“I admire the young fellows that grew up, stayed here, and are now going into public work. There are opportunities here.

"In my later years, my family, Paul, Kevin, Derek, my daughters-in-law and my grandchildren have all cared for me with great love as have many others, for which I'm very thankful."



Barry Coulter

About the Author: Barry Coulter

Barry Coulter had been Editor of the Cranbrook Townsman since 1998.
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