Walter Thomas, oldest of 12 children, was born to Selina and James Riddell, January 12, 1884, in a sod house on the homestead at Pierson.

On June 12, 1913 he married Catherine Margaret McRae.  They farmed in the Pierson area.  They had six children Herbert McRae in 1915, Kathleen Alice Bernice in 1917, Mildred Ethel in 1919, Myrtle Evelyn in 1921, Mabel Irene in 1924 and Ernest Ady in 1933.

There were busy times and happy times especially in the times of threshing machines.  Walter liked telling the story about the threshing gang at the dinner table.  Apparently the food wasnt too plentiful for the bunch of hungry men. One fellow got up from the table and said, A bean and a half, and a pea and a half, and Im near fit to but.

Walter built a sod henhouse on the farm.  He was probably attempting to repeat history (from the sod house in which he was born).

Hockey and curling were a big part of entertainment in the winter months bonspiels, hockey tournaments and carnivals.  For one carnival Walter dressed as a clown you can guess he had a good time.

Walter and Catherine were very active in the community.  In the summer it was baseball, softball and basketball.  The family became so involved in softball that they even convinced Walter to change potato planting weekend from the 24^th of May to the following weekend as Glen Ewen Sports Day was May 24^th and it was opening day of our softball season.  Kay, Myrtle, Mabel and Mildred were on the team and Walter was the chaperone.  The team won the South Western Manitoba championship one year.  On one trip to Gainsborough (7 miles from Pierson) Walter's car was the only transportation available.  It was overflowing with girls some inside, the rest standing on the running boards or riding on the hood and fenders.  Where were the RCMP then?

Walter died in 1958 and his wife, Catherine in 1962.  The fifth generation are now living on the home place.