Bruce and Maisie Minchin met in Lillooet when he was working for the Pacific Great Eastern Railroad (PGE) and she was working for the Bank of Commerce. His brother had come over from their home in Saskatchewan the year before and told him about the opportunity. One day, Bruce walked into the Bank of Commerce and slapped his paycheck down in front of Maisie.
“’Put this in my account,’ he says and so, knowing his brother, I wrote that name at the top.” Says Maisie, “’You’ve got the wrong name there!’ He tells me. That was how we met!”
“Been broke ever since,” adds Bruce with a smirk.
“We got to know each other, liked each other and got married in 1953.” Maisie smiles. “I’ve been handling the cash ever since. My mother insisted I get secretarial training at TJ Trapp Technical in New Westminster.”
Bruce’s job with PGE moved them around the province, finally ending up in Prince George, in a house in the Starlane subdivision.
While Bruce was working for the railroad, running the crane crew, and fixing box cars, Maisie supervised their children, Rob and Heather. When Heather started school at Peden Hill Elementary, Maisie went to work as the school secretary. She worked with three principals and stayed two years longer than her daughter. Heather apparently claims it is because Mom is a slow learner. When she quit, it was because they bought property out on Blackwater Road so they could have horses for the kids.
Their son Rob’s friends enjoyed spending time at the Minchin ranch. Bruce tells me that one day there was a whole crew of boys there, having hot dogs and plotting mischief. They decided they wanted to ride Heather’s pony. The boys did not know how to “drive” a horse and the pony decided it wanted to feast on a particular patch of tasty grass in the Charella subdivision. There was no stopping that pony, so off they followed. Bruce recalls looking out the window, wondering where they went. The missing pony gave him a clue about where he could retrieve them.
Having grown up in Saskatchewan during the Depression when there wasn’t much money, Bruce is versed in the art of making deals. Their neighbours on the Blackwater, the Dillmans, had the equipment they needed to grow hay, to help pay for the upkeep of the horses and the ranch. Maisie drove the swather, Norma Dillman ran the baler, the kids raked, and if anything broke down, Bruce fixed it.
Being involved in the community was another way of helping and being helped. Bruce was a Freemason; Maisie was a member of the Eastern Star Organization. They loved curling, starting in 1962, in the original Prince George Curling Club. Maisie helped with the junior curling. When they joined the Elder Citizens Recreation Association (ECRA), they started up the floor curling program in the basement.
After the Minchins joined ECRA, Jim Dillman had an old bull that he was looking to get rid of. He asked Bruce if he thought the ECRA would be interested in the meat. ‘Sure!’ Said Bruce. So, Jim dropped the bull off at the slaughterhouse. When the slaughterhouse found out the meat was destined for seniors, they offered to do the slaughtering for free. But there was still a cost for cutting and wrapping. Jim had been chatting with Dr Hodges who said he would cover that cost. Delivery was via Bruce’s truck. Apparently, the cook at ECRA was a bit shocked. They’d been expecting some meat, not several hundred pounds. It was a scramble to find freezer space!
“Best deal ever!” exclaims Bruce, “And all for free!”
After 68 years of marriage, they still enjoy each other’s company. The property on Blackwater is a fond memory now, but the Dillmans are still friends. They lost their son Rob when he was 55, still a sad memory. Heather and her husband and their two children live in Prince George.
In time, Bruce and Maisie hope to enjoy their floor curling at ECRA again, but meanwhile, the card games with their daughter’s family are a great diversion. Like everyone who has lived a long and full life, there are many more stories to be told about them. I tried to pick the best ones.
