Rudy Hanni

Rudy was born to Ernest and Ida Hanni in 1932 at Viewfield, Saskatchewan.  From Viewfield his parents moved to Trossachs, Saskatchewan.

He started school at Trossachs Public School when he was five years old.  Before he finished Grade one his parents moved to another farm.  He then went to North Brokenshell School (SD. 1553) until he finished Grade eight.  After quitting school he worked for several farmers around the district. 

In 1948 his parents sold all their farm stock and equipment at an auction sale and moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan where he got a job at the Four Star Care as night cook and waiter, working from 12:00-8:00 am.  After working there a short time he got another job working in the Weyburn Power house unloading coal from freight cars to fire the steam boilers.  After this job he worked part time as a janitor in the Weyburn General Hospital.

In 1951 his parents moved back to the farm and he moved with them.  He got a job working on a farm for Jim Orr just a few miles from home.  After leaving this job he went to Mission BC to stay with his uncle Albert Kruger where he learned a little about logging and splitting shakes.  In March of 1952 he returned home to Trossachs where he rented a farm from his grandpa Kruger in the fall of 1952.  He again went to Mission BC with his sisters Irma and Ruth.  He stayed the winter and then returned to Trossachs where he farmed until 1954.  After quitting farming he went to look for work in the oil field.  He was hired at Pierson, Manitoba on Dec. 1, 1954 by General Petroleum Ltd.  He spent the next four years working in south eastern Saskatchewan and south western Manitoba. 

In 1957 while working out of Carievale, Saskatchewan he met his wife, Lois May Raynor.  He was boarding at Lois’ parent’s place at the time they met.  They were married at Carievale United Church on June 14, 1958.  To this marriage two beautiful children were born.  Wendy Gail in 1959 at Weyburn, Saskatchewan and in 1962 at Arcola, Saskatchewan, son Steven Richard was born.  After getting married he left the oil field for a short time.  He moved to Yellow Grass where he worked for Lee Van De Bon.  Early in 1959 he returned to the oilfield where he stayed until August of 1962.  He then moved to Alameda, Saskatchewan to work in a garage and then on to Oxbow, Saskatchewan to another garage.

In the summer of 1963 the family moved to Weyburn where he worked in a Shell garage for about three years.  He then got a chance to lease this garage with a partner.  They stayed at this place until 1970.  Then he sold the business and moved to Mission BC where he worked in the same location first in the Shell station for his brother Bernie, then for John Mitchell and later he started the Auto Barn there.  Later he had to shut down the Auto Barn because the property sold and so Rudy & Lois along with Irma & Harold travelled as far as Nashville, TN with their trailers.  He then worked for Pioneer Garage.

He was President of the Curling Club for a couple of years, 1978 to 1979.  He was President of the K 40 club.  He also had the honor of being voted Kinsmen of the Year in 1973 to 1974 and Sportsman of the Year in the curling club in 1978.  He curled right up to this past winter season, curling many years in the past with his brother Bernie, brother in law Bill and son Steve. 

He spent many winter nights going to Junior A and B hockey games with Lois.  Summers were spent going to baseball and fastball games whenever possible and driving around, sightseeing, etc.  In 1991 Rudy and Lois travelled with Irma & Harold to Nashville, TN with their trailers.  They had yearly trips back to Saskatchewan to visit the relatives still there.  They went on fishing trips and other camping trips.  In 1997 Lois suddenly passed away.  He retired from Pioneer Garage in 1998.

In Oct. 2001 he married Trudy Desjardins. During their years together they travelled to the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska and over the Arctic Circle together.

He also took the time during the last years to pursue a number of new hobbies including gardening, polishing stones, baking pies and creating fun sculptures for his garden.

He also enjoyed spending time with his family, including his 9 siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews.