Harold & Dee Dee
Westdal
Dee Dee’s paternal grandparents were Jóhannes (Gislason) Gillis (b. 1852 at Márstaðir in Húnavatnsýsla-d. 1930 at Gimli MB), and Valgerður Stefánsdóttir (b. Feb. 26, 1852 in Skardströnd in Dalasýsla-d. 1927 at Gardar ND). Her parents were Stefán Björnsson from Stad in Reykjanes, and Kristjana Sigmundsdóttir. They lived at Kambur in Barðastrandarsýsla. Jóhannes parents were Gisli Gislason and Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir who lived at Márstaðir. Jóhannes and Valgerður immigrated to America in 1886 with their three oldest children, Joseph, Jakob, and Margrét, coming first to Manitoba and then moving to the United States.
Dee Dee’s maternal grandparents were Benedict Jóhanneson (b. Sept. 10, 1847 at Torfunes, Koldukinn, Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla-d. Oct. 25, 1916 at Gardar ND), and Ásta Sæmundsdóttir Eiríksson (b. Dec. 16, 1857 in Iceland-d. Oct. 25, 1897 at Gardar, ND). Benedict immigrated to the United States in 1873 at the age of 26 and lived in Milwaukee, WI for 6 years. Benedict was the first Icelandic settler at Gardar where he took a homestead and farmed until his death in 1916. Benedict was the son of Johannes Jónsson (b. 1813 in Iceland), and Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir who lived at Torfunes. Ingibjörg died at Gardar in 1897. Ásta’s parents were Sæmundur Eiríksson (b. June 14, 1883 at Þóroddsstaður, Kinn, Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla-d Mar. 21, 1921 at Mountain ND), and Sigriður Jóhannesdóttir (b. Aug. 4, 1834, lived at Laxmyri, Iceland-d. Dec., 1882 at Gardar). They immigrated to America with their 8 children in 1882 (the youngest, a girl of 4 years, died en route), with Gardar and Mountain ND as their destination. Sigriður died the same year.
Dee Dee’s parents, Joseph (Joe) Gillis and Jónina Sjólaug (Snjoa) Johanneson were married at Gardar, ND on Jan. 4, 1917. They first farmed in North Dakota and then, in 1920, moved to Wynyard, SK where they farmed until 1941when Joe passed away. Snjoa then moved to Winnipeg. Joe and Snoja had five children: Emma, Joseph (Bud), Clarabelle (Bella), Benedict, and Mae (Dee Dee). Joe was born at Márstaðir, Húnavatnsýsla on Aug. 16, 1876 and died Jan. 6, 1941 at Wynyard. Snjolaug was born Apr. 15, 1889 at Gardar, ND and died Apr. 9, 1984 in Winnipeg.
Harold was born at Wynyard SK on Nov. 5, 1921. Dee Dee was born at Wynyard on May 31, 1925. We celebrated our 53rd Wedding Anniversary in May of 2000. We have had a good life and feel that we have been truly blessed.
For more, please see: “Westdal Jon and Anna,” Reflections by the Quills, pp. 226-227; Walter J. Lindal, The Saskatchewan Icelanders; Thorstina Jackson Saga Íslendinga í Norður Dakota; Skulí Skúlason, Laxmyrarætinn