July 16, 1927 - February 13, 2019
With her five children at her side, Hilda Anna Granberg passed away peacefully on February 13th, 2019, in her 91st year. Anna was born July 16, 1927, the youngest daughter of Sheridan Lake ranching pioneers, Sarah and Carl Nath. Always on-the-go and independent, Anna went to school in Sheridan Lake area with her brothers and sister. By 12, she stayed with her Aunty at the Lone Butte Hotel in order to attend school. At 14, she moved to Victoria, BC to learn the seamstress trade while living with relatives. On October 10, 1945, she married Norman Granberg, the apple of her eye in her teens and the enduring love of her life. Together they celebrated a milestone 70th wedding anniversary in 2015.
Anna and Norm ranched their entire lives in the Lone Butte area raising children, cattle, horses, dogs, pigs, chickens, and other farm critters. While the seasonal rhythm of cattle ranching defined her schedule, Anna pursued her own endeavours with vigor and determination. Like her father, Anna was an avid gardener and fed her family with the Cariboo staples of potatoes, turnips, carrots and spinach. Later, she also grew an abundance of less hardy vegetables in her greenhouse. Flowers, shrubbery and apple trees thrived in her well-kept yard tended to with her lawn tractor and weed-wacker.
She supplemented family income by selling chicken eggs and cow's milk. She sewed clothing for herself and family, built her own sheds and worked at odd jobs to make ends meet. Her kitchen churned out butter, cottage cheese, sauerkraut, root beer, and innumerable loaves of bread.
Wild-berry picking with friends and family was a regular pastime. Everything that could be home-made or harvested and then preserved for later use, was. Her husband has said that Anna put the squirrels to shame. "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" was her motto. The log home that she and Norman built on their ranch in 1972 was Anna's pride and joy, where she chose to live for the remainder of her life.
In the late 1950s, Anna was hired as the Lone Butte school janitor and worked there until her retirement at age 65. Over the years, she travelled around BC and even went to Germany to visit her father's origins. Anna also enjoyed visits from grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family, social dances, bingo and other local community events. During her life-time, hundreds of items of clothing, socks, sweaters, quilts and the like were hand-crafted on Anna's sewing machine or knitting needles as presents for birthdays and Christmas.
Mom will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her children and their spouses: Shirley & Harvey Canning, Norma & Simon Holland, Lee & Patsy Granberg, Lawrence Granberg, and Carla & Frank Granberg-Watson. Grama Anna leaves behind fantastic memories for 12 grandchildren: Clint, Danny, Tammi, Scott, Dawna, Clayton, Lorne, Taylor, Jessica, Ashlee, Erika and Alex. She was a living legend to 19 great-grand-children and 5 great-great-grandchildren and counting. Her relatives and many friends, old and new, remember Anna with fondness and respect.
Anna was predeceased by her husband Norman Granberg, and her sister Muriel (Molly) Morris and brothers Tom and Harry Powell and grandson, Jason Granberg.
A gathering to celebrate Anna's life will be arranged at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cause very dear to Anna: Lone Butte Historical Association, Box 143, Lone Butte, BC V0K 1X0 Condolences may be sent to: granberg@wowit.ca