Material Type

Mixed Media

Date Range

1927-2000

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Jacob (Jake) Liebelt was born in Annamoose, North Dakota on 1 August 1910, the third of 11 children of William and Theresa Liebelt. In spring 1911 the family moved to Morse, Saskachewan, but after five years of drought the family moved back to the United States. Mr. Liebelt worked in the sugar beet fields of Idaho from 1916 until 1921, when the family again returned to Canada, this time to the Milk River and Warner district. Mr. Liebelt worked for various farmers while attending school. Mr. Liebelt’s formal education was cut short at Grade 6 because he was needed to work to help support his family. He worked for Dean Smith for seven years, and then for Nick Doenz and Frank Hummel. About 1933 Mr. Liebelt began attending social functions in the Powell district northeast of Warner where he met Pearl Woitte. Pearl Emma Woitte was born in 1919 on the family farm east of Warner, the eldest of three children of George and Etta Mae Woitte (nee Culler). Pearl, her sister Dorothy and brother Glenn William all attended Powell School. In 1938 Pearl graduated from Olds College after studying Home Economics in a “two-in-one” program. She completed a two year course of study in one year. Jacob Liebelt and Pearl Woitte were married on 12 November 1938 in the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woitte. The couple moved into the vacant William E. Culler house, NW ¼ 9-5-15, that became their home in the Powell district. The Liebelts’ four children – Maxine, Elaine, Lawrence and Maurice (Maurie) – spent their early lives on the farm. Over the years Jacob and Pearl Liebelt increased their farming operations from an initial ½ section to four sections of land. In 1945 the Liebelts bought the former Harold Hutchinson home in Warner, but did not move in until Elaine started school in 1948. The family then became ‘suitcase farmers’, living in Warner during the winter and returning to their farm from spring until fall. In 1963 Jacob and Pearl moved into Warner year-round, and lived there until they moved to Lethbridge in 1997. The Liebelts were active members of the community in the Powell district and Warner. Pearl Liebelt was a life-long member of the Women’s Institute. She also served as secretary-treasurer of the Warner Memorial Evangelical Church’s Sunday School for 50 years. Mrs. Liebelt was also very interested in preserving the history of the district. Jacob Liebelt helped build the Warner Memorial Library and Warner Civic Centre, was a member of the Lions Club and life member of the Warner Elks Club. Jacob Liebelt died on 6 February 1999 and is buried in the Warner Cemetery. Pearl Liebelt died on 15 April 2000 and is buried in the Warner Cemetery. Sources: Elaine Liebelt Warner and District Historical Society. Wagons to Wings: Warner Alberta. 1985

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Liebelt, Elaine 4 - 813 6 Street South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2E7

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of photographs, school yearbooks and biographical material pertaining to Jacob and Pearl Liebelt and their family.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20011070000

Collection

Archive

Less detail