Roger and Alvena (Meyer) Donnelly

by Dorothy Leachman (nee Donnelly)

Roger Donnelly was born in Holton, Kansas, on March 9, 1898 son of Roger and Margaret Donnelly. His family moved to Alberta in 1906. They lived in the Edmonton area for approximately one year before moving to the Clyde District. Roger met Alvena Meyer in 1922 and they married on December 17, 1924.

Alvena Meyer was born on September 26, 1904. She was the first white baby born in the Clyde District. When she was eleven years old the Meyer Family moved to the United States. During their time in the United States, they lived in both Minnesota and South Dakota before returning to the Clyde District in 1919.

Roger and Alvena rented the Moreau Farm located between Clyde and Vimy for two years before buying their own farm SW‑28‑59‑24‑W4 from Jeffrey Garon on October 26, 1926. When purchased, the quarter had only 20 acres cleared. Roger worked very hard to break the remainder of the quarter over the next months and years. In the years that followed they purchased the Humm quarter for pasture and an additional quarter for hay land. They lived happily and raised their family on this farm for the rest of their lives. Alvena passed away August 14, 1956. Roger semi‑retired from farming in 1963 but kept busy with a variety of pastimes, including fishing, a life long passion. Roger passed away October 1, 1975.

They had five children, Nora, Norman, Dorothy and the twins June and Jean.

Donnelly family. Back: Roger and Alvena; Middle: Dorothy, Nora and Norman; Front: Jean and June.

Nora married Lome Mills on April 2, 1947. They had one son, Darvin, born July 5, 1951. Lorne passed away on November 6, 1951. Nora married Gilbert Birks on January 16, 1954. They had a daughter Cheryl born April 8, 1955. Gilbert passed away on March 26, 1968.

Norman married Gertie Cheerier on November 10, 1952. Norman farmed with Roger and lived on the home place. They had six children, Dan, Richard, Patrick, Shirley, Carol and James. Norman passed away suddenly on August 21, 1963 at home.

Dorothy married Arnold (Nick) Leachman on November 19, 1953. Arnold worked for the Edmonton Transit System. Dorothy worked at Eaton's Department Store. They had two children, Roger born July 2, 1955 and Marilyn born July 1, 1958. Roger is an accountant employed by Interprovincial Pipe Line. Roger married Kathy deHek and they reside in St. Albert. Marilyn was employed by the City of Edmonton. She married Leslie Steel and they have three children, Jennifer, Christopher and Michelle. They live in Edmonton. Dorothy and Nick live in Edmonton.

Leachman family: Roger, Dorothy, Nick and Marilyn.

June married Paul St. Arnaud of Vimy on October 17, 1950. They had four children, Jeanne, Robert, Jacque and Alice. They farmed at Vimy and are now semi retired.

Jean married Maurice Wilson on July 25, 1955. They had three children, Joan, Larry and Thomas. When Norman passed away in 1963 they moved to Clyde from Edmonton and took over the family farm. They are retired and live on the home place.