Regimental Number: W130664
Rank: Private
Hans and Annie Ruch and their two children, Eva and Charlotte, immigrated to Canada from Zurich, Switzerland in 1922. They landed at Halifax and then travelled by train to Winnipeg where Hans had secured employment on a ranch near Brandon. Annie cooked for the hired men. After one year, Hans moved his family to a grain farm near Battleford, Saskatchewan where Lenora was born. The next move was to a dairy farm in Toefield, Alberta. Olive was born while there on November 11, 1926. In 1927, after hearing about the possibility of land ownership by means of homestead applications, Hans moved his family to an area of Bezanson known as Fitzsimmons (SW 9-73-3-W6). Hans built a large barn that was also used as a temporary home. Here another daughter, Alberta, was born.
In 1930, a son Hans Jr. was born. In 1932 Margaret was born followed by Evelyn in 1935. Olive and her siblings received their education at the one-room Fitzsimmons School. The Ruchs sold their land and bought a ½ section of land in the East Kleskun area in 1946. They continued to farm until 1973 when they sold and moved into the hamlet of Bezanson.
Olive enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps on November 22, 1944 in Calgary where she received basic training. She was transferred to Kingston where she completed a five-week cooking course and was qualified as a Cook Group “B”. She then was attached to the CWAC kitchen. Olive volunteered for the Pacific Theatre of War however was not accepted due to age or fitness. Private Olive Ruch served in Canada and received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. She was discharged on demobilization at Calgary on May 22, 46.
Once she was discharged, Olive worked as Nurse’s Aide in Fort St. John, BC. She married Lester Strid on November 16, 1954 and the young couple made their home on a farm in the Bad Heart area where they raised three children; Karen, Darlene and Barry. After Lester’s passed away in 1988, Olive remained on the farm until 2010 at which time she moved to Dieppe Manor. Eventually Olive moved to Heritage Lodge in Grande Prairie.
In her retirement, Olive enjoyed cooking, gardening, camping, playing cards, and spending time with family. She was well known for her hard work and hospitality. Olive was a lifetime member of the Bezanson CWL.
Olive passed away June 8, 2017 and was buried at the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Olive Strid obituary
Service File