A woman who was born near Kamsack 109 years ago is celebrating her birthday today at her home at the Northridge Nursing Home in Ortonville, Minnesota, and quite probably Canada’s national anthem is being sung for her.
Rena Bagne was born on a homestead claim near Kamsack on March 2, 1908, a daughter to Hjalmer Olaf and Inga Haldorson, said Norman A. Shelsta, a long-time friend who had contacted the Times in a letter received last week. Rena lives with her sister Edna, who was born at the homestead in 1910 and will be celebrating her 107th birthday in June.
Times were difficult and in 1911 the young family, after having lived in the area for about eight years, returned to farm in Minnesota, between the communities of Cyrus and Starbuck, Shelsta said.
“Rena is in remarkable health with a keen mind and she speaks often of her family remembrances of Canada.
Rena had been a nurse in her working days and even after retirement was a caretaker for a retired doctor and his wife at their home, Shelsta said. “Rena's husband Walter Bagne was the manager of a canning factory here in Ortonville for many years.
Edna and her husband owned a jewelry store. Following her husband’s death, Edna was later married to a county engineer.
Rena did not have children, but Edna has one daughter, who lives in California, he said. Both sisters are very alert and take part in many activities every day. They are very active card players and never miss a trick.
The sisters speak often of Canada and have made several motor trips to their homeland in Canada over the years, he said. “At our next song fest at the nursing home we will be sure to sing the national anthem of Canada and it will also be sung at their funerals when they join their comrades in their heavenly home.”
Shelsta, who has volunteered to assist the sisters with things over the past 20 years, said that they “will be amazed that their homeland in Canada remembers them so well.”
