THOMAS HARTVIG ANDERSEN

Thomas Hartvig Andersen was born to Marius and Karen Andersen in the village of Hygum near Ribe in the southwestern part of Denmark on July 4, 1924.  He was the only boy in the family with six sisters.  Right from his early childhood, he was fond of animals and after having finished school, he worked on different farms in Denmark.  For a period he also worked as a driver for a haulage contractor.  After the Second World War, when Tom did military service, he took part in the sending home of German refugees in Denmark.

 In 1950 Tom left for Canada.  He arrived in Canada by boat and then by train to Edmonton, Alberta.  There he had a job lined up which was a requirement for him to move to Canada.  It was a job on a dairy farm.  One year later he travelled to Saskatchewan looking for work.  He arrived in Sturgis by train and soon found a job working on the Emil Myhr farm south of Preeceville.  Tom worked there for many years during the summer months.  Two of the winters he worked on a diamond drill at Flin Flon, Manitoba, and then worked in the oil fields in Saskatchewan and Alberta.  While working in Estevan, Tom met the Johansen family who were from Denmark, and was a part of their family ever since.

In 1960 Tom’s dream of owning his own farm became a reality.  He bought a farm in the North Prairie district north of Preeceville, where he enjoyed living many years.  He was a hardworking man and took pride in seeing the fruits of his labor come to fruition there on the farm.  All of Tom’s sisters had the great pleasure of visiting Tom on his farm and likewise Tom visited his family in Denmark several times.  Also the Johansens spent many of their summer holidays visiting Tom on his farm.

Tom was an active member of the community.  He served on the Preeceville Rural Telephone board, was treasurer for many years of the North Prairie Community Well, an active member of the National Farmers Union and also served on the Hinchcliffe Wheat Pool Committee. 

In 1976 a farm accident nearly ended his farming.  He fell off a haystack and broke his neck.  Fortunately his neighbors, the Thorson brothers, and others were able to take over the farming responsibilities until he was able to recover, and was able to continue to farm for many years.  In later years he rented some of his land out and finally at eighty-seven years of age he sold his much loved Black Angus cattle.  In 2013 he sold his farm and moved into the Manor in Preeceville where he resided up until his death on December 16, 2017.

Tom was predeceased by his sisters, Vine, Else, Emma, Asta and Karla.  He is survived by his sister, Karen, and many nieces and nephews.  Tom will be remembered and missed by many friends and neighbors.  At Tom’s request, there will be no funeral.  Cremation has taken place and interment of his ashes will be held at a later date.  Memorials in memory of Thomas may be made to the Preeceville Hospital Auxillary as gifts of remembrance. Arrangements are entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

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