“Saw the corpse before 1.30 then we all went to the funeral.“ Friday, September 8, 1944
2 Sat. Did usual Sat. Morn. Work. Mr. Young phoned for some chickens, so we picked them. The girls went to the show with Bowditches. I did different little things, then went to town & to the show with Stutts. “Show Business”. It was a scream and good music. George Murphy. Eveline was in town, also Vern. Saw them then I brought the girls back.
3 Sun. Dad. Isabelle & I went fishing with Doris & Mr Stutt. I caught four & Dad got three. Isabelle was unlucky. Stutts got ten. Home at 1 pm. Went to church – S.S. Mr. Stuart was back to preach today. We made ice-cream after church. Linda H. & Elmer Ledingham came up for supper. Had fried chicken we sang until 10.30. About 2 hours. It was perfectly grand. Elmer left at 12. Linda stayed here.
4 Mon. Got up after nine. I went out to Lutz’s with Doris in the truck at ten. Picked up Vernon in town. Had a lovely dinner. Looked at snaps & talked. Came back to town about 4. Had an ice-cream sundae, then came home. Linda & we girls went over to the school before supper. Listened to Lux play tonight. Mr Bowditch came up for awhile. I packed.
5 Tues. Mom & I brought Linda & Mr. Bowditch to town & saw them on the bus. Mom brought me up to Stuarts where I left my grips, then went down to Business School & started there. Unpacked at noon. Met two nice girls, Louise & Vicky, who stay here. Did some homework tonight. Got word that Mrs. Freeman died this morn. Went to bed early, so sleepy.
6 Wed. The shorthand is pretty tough. I can’t get anywhere with it. Did some homework after school. Cleaned up after supper. Walked down to drug store with Vicky, then went to the Mentell (sic) with Charlie & Peltier. Played. Good night. Went until two. Bed at 2.30.
7 Thurs. Shorthand came much better this morn. Mr. S. was away for dinner. I called Mom at noon. Did some shopping after school. It was hot, so I washed all over & changed my clothes, then wrote in my diary. Studied shorthand, then went to bed before nine. Vicky had been in talking to me, but went to bed too.
8 Friday. Didn’t get up until eight. Got my clothes changed right after dinner & met the folks down town. Saw the corpse before 1.30 then we all went to the funeral. Dad was pallbearer. Mom, Jean B. Isabelle & I rode to the graveyard with Elsie Felner. I cried through most of the funeral. Couldn’t help it. Mrs. Freeman did so much for us. I didn’t go back to school, but got my clothes & came home. Had combiners for lunch & supper.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …