Homer Reuben Hart LaFayette

Life in Saskatchewan


Contributions:
Agriculture
Education
Politics

Ancestry: Born 28 July 1909 near Regina, he passed away April 23, 2007 and is buried at Fiske.

Biography
Homer Reuben Hart LaFayette is named after his maternal great grandfather. He is the son of Lewis and Lillie LaFayette. When just two years of age his father moved the family to a homestead near Fiske, Saskatchewan where he lived and worked until 2005. The LaFayette’s started farming with ¾ section in 1909. As the family grew so too did the farm eventually including over 8 sections and ½ section of pasture. They never sold land out of the family.

Homer has fond memories of school days at Oskaloosa and games played with his brothers and sisters. It is generally agreed among them that Homer liked to be in charge. Like the others, Homer learned to work hard. The land was very stony and this required extra work to clear it. He also enjoyed working with horses and continued to do so until 1935 even after his father Lewis purchased steam and gas machinery. The family survived the depression years despite the low price of grain which hurt them more than the drought.

Homer also remembers his mother’s cooking, the “good old cornbread,” Christmas cakes and puddings. Their home was always open to friends and neighbours, particularly bachelors at Christmas time.

Homer always believed in helping people. “People are people to me.” He joined the Farmer’s Union in the 1940s. He also served as Rural Municipality manager for awhile. In addition, Homer served on the Oskaloosa School Board for several years.

He married Evelyn Smith on 22 November 1950 and together they raised a large family.