The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 459 FRIETMAN, Wilhelmina Johanna “Miep” Wilhelmina was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. She met her husband Eric Walter on a blind date in Rotterdam where Eric’s communications unit was sent to do repairs. Despite the language barrier, they managed to get acquainted and fell in love. Miep was only 18 years old and her father would not allow her to marry; especially to a soldier with no job guarantee when he returned to Canada. The couple made the best of a two-year long-distance relationship until Miep was finally able to cross the ocean aboard the Waterman on June 17, 1947. After docking in Montreal on June 25, 1947, Miep boarded the train for Saskatoon where Eric eagerly awaited her arrival. They were married five days later on July 5, 1947 in a small Anglican Church in Saskatoon. Miep and Eric were married for 62 years and they raised six children. Eric passed away in 2009. Miep resides in Wynyard, SK. THOMSON (MILLER), Grace Pamela Grace was born on December 1, 1913. She was raised in St Mary’s Orphanage, Cheam, London, UK. She worked at Cane Hill Hospital, Coulsdon where she met her future husband, Joseph King Thomson, at a staff dance. They were married in St Andrews Church in Coulsdon, Surrey on October 19, 1941. Their daughter Sheila was born in 1942. Grace and Sheila came to Canada on June 10, 1946 on the Queen Mary and settled in St Walburg, SK after taking the train from Halifax. When Grace first arrived in St Walburg, she canned everything she could, thinking about the long, hard winters she had heard about (only to be surprised that the local OK Economy Store carried fresh produce even at 40 below). The family moved to Saskatoon in 1949 and she became involved in Girl Guides, teaching Sunday school and singing in the church choir. After Joe’s passing, she moved to Grande Prairie, AB to be near Sheila. She acted in many plays, musicals, pantomimes as well as being a member of the War Brides Association, Life Member of Girl Guides, Grande Prairie Legion Branch 54, Ladies Auxiliary, hospital worker, Sunday school teacher, and church choir. Grace passed away on September 18, 2006. War Brides
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