Herbert Allen lived in the Spring Coulee District
from 1908 to his retirement in 1960 in Lethbridge.
He was the son of Henry Andrew Walter and Rose
Margaret (Enos) Walter. Born in 1894.

He attended High School and Washington State
College, farming through May to mid September
months with his father and brothers. From WSU he
enlisted in the 5th Reg. Army Division of the US
Marines. After a bout of Diphtheria at Mare Island
he proceeded overseas and was in action in Belleau
Woods and Chateau Thierry. In June 1918 Soisons,
in July St Mihiel and was wounded in the battle in
Champagne in October. He spent three months in
the US Army Hospital in Orleana and then five
months with the army of occupation at Coblenz
returning home on his birthday, August 23 1919.
He farmed and ranched with his father until his
marriage to Sybil Hesketh of Taber in 1920.

Herb attended the United Church in Raley and Spring
Coulee and the Anglican Church in Cardston until he
transferred to Spring Coulee only. He was very active
in Masonic and Shrine circles. Was a past District
Grand Master of the Maple Leaf Chapter of the O.E.S.
Lethbridge in 1944. Herb and Sybil moved to their
farm Larkdale in 1921.

Sabina (Sybil) Hesketh had taught school six months
in Raley, then in Taber where she was also Music and
Art Teacher in the public school. She came from England
in 1912. Born in Nottingham of Irish Scotch descent.
She came to Canada equipped with two scholarships
and vocal training. After marriage this was continued
and she taught piano, voice and theory for some
sixteen years twice a week, driving to the homes of
pupils through all seasons on dirt roads. All pupils in
Spring Coulee. Bradshaw, Raley, Cardston and at the
St. Paul's Indian School took the Royal Schools of
Music exams with the examiners coming at that time
from London to Canada and to all parts of the
Commonwealth. Many, including her own children
received Honors or Distinction and invariably used the
units in High School. There were several received First
Place in Lethbridge and Provincial Festivals. The
Indians in 1936 co-tied with those in the British West
Indies to obtain 50% Honors and Distinction.

Sybil was soloist often in O.E.S. work in different
parts of Alberta and soloist and choir leader in the
Anglican Church, Cardston for many years. Her
last choir was one of sixty trained voices from
Lethbridge for the Rotary Peace Park Ceremony
in Waterton in the 30s. Other talents were gardening,
painting and weaving. In the later years she obtained
the London District Weavers scholarship and attended
the Banff School of Fine Arts, ribbons and first prizes
for the Canadian national, Vancouver, Calgary and
Winnipeg and was chosen to represent Alberta and
Canada Weaving with samples of her work. She
holds the Banff School and Canada Weaver's
Association Certificates.

She also was a Past President of the Spring Coulee
P.T.A., Red Cross, and Past Worthy Matron of the
Maple Leaf Chapter, Lethbridge and Past President
of the Mathesis Club.

Three children where born to Herb and Sybil, one son
and two daughters.

Outstanding highlights of Herb's 58 years in Spring Coulee.
He turned a plowed field into a beautifully landscaped home.
In the first little house surrounded by lilacs, Herb managed
to build a room for each of the first two children, then a
new modern home in a beautiful setting. The lovely view
of the mountains, lake and often the geese skimming
the sunset sky, the flowers, trees, lawns truly reflect
the Golden Years.

The hail, blizzards and various other difficulties shared
by our many friends were all part of the weft woven
into the warp of Spring Coulee, but colored by many
highlights after all.

Return Pioneer Histories