Harold & Dee Dee
Westdal
By Harold & Dee Dee Westdal
Although we were both born and brought up at Wynyard Saskatchewan, we first met in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We, Paul Harold Adalsteinn Niel Westdal and Valgerdur Asta Mae (Dee Dee) Gillis, were married on May 17, 1947 by Rev. Phillip Petursson in the First Federated Church in Winnipeg. Harold had worked in Brandon for a year before our marriage, so our first home was in Brandon where we lived until 1957. We have been residents for Fort Garry for over 40 years.
Harold graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Manitoba in 1946. After graduation he was employed at the Dominion Entomological Laboratory in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1957, Harold was transferred to Winnipeg where he worked at the newly built Canada Agriculture Research Station. Harold received an MSc. in 1950 and a Ph.D in 1969 from the University of Manitoba. His Ph.D thesis was based on research of insect transmitted diseases of plants. He worked as a research scientist (entomologist) for 36 years, retiring in 1982. After retirement, Harold set up a consulting business (Westdal Agri Consultants) and farmed in partnership with his brother Bjorgvin (Jack) at Poplar Point MB. Harold continued to farm until 1990.
Dee Dee attended Business College in Winnipeg and worked in Brandon for a time and later for the Fort Garry School Division. Laureen Josephine Helga was born Sept. 21, 1953 in Brandon. Carol Sigrid was born Jan. 23, 1955 in Brandon. Neil Paul Harold was born Sept. 19, 1958 in Winnipeg. We have lived at 40 Garnet Bay since 1959 and our children attended Fort Garry Schools.
When Harold received his Ph.D he was given the opportunity to apply for a transfer to work in another location and continue his research. He applied for, and was successful in obtaining, a transfer to Lincoln, New Zealand with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Our family lived in Lincoln for a year (1969-1970). This was a marvelous opportunity, and while Harold was involved with his research, the children attended school and Dee Dee looked after the home. We traveled extensively in New Zealand and thoroughly enjoyed the country and our living there for a year. Our travel in New Zealand was by way of Hawaii, and on our return we traveled to Australia, Africa, Cyprus, Greece, Italy through Europe to Sweden and Denmark, and then to England, Iceland, New York and home. Our children by this time were 16, 15, and 11 years old, so it was an excellent time to visit such interesting locations throughout the world. This was certainly the highlight in our lives.
In 1974, Laureen married Kenneth (Ken) Goodridge. Ken was born Apr. 4, 1953 in Fort Whyte, MB. Laureen enrolled at the University of Manitoba and then Red River Community College. She is employed as a paralegal with Truserv Canada, Real Estate Division, and is a School Trustee in the Fort Garry School Division. Ken has a B.Sc. and MBA from the University of Manitoba and holds the CMA designation. He is employed by Revenue Canada. They have two children, James Neil born in 1982, and Katherine Emily, born in 1988. They live in the Fort Richmond district of Winnipeg.