Rose and Clarence McGonigle

Clarence McGonigle, the seventh child and fifth son of William and Kate McGonigle, was born in the homestead shack with Mrs. Bush as a midwife on December 30, 1916. With the exception of two years in high school at Bedford Collegiate in Saskatoon, childhood and adolescence were spent on the home farm. 

Rose Marie Becotte was born on September 17, 1920, in the Unity Hospital in Saskatchewan. She was the second child of four born to Adelard and Florida Becotte. Rose was seven and one-half years old when the family moved close enough to the Seagram School so she could attend for twelve years. 

Clarence McGonigle and Rose Becotte were married on February 10, 1943, at Unity, Saskatchewan on a -40 degree winter day. After several years on a rented farm and the arrival of three daughters, the family moved to Turner Valley, Alberta in 1947. In 1950 further opportunities in the Gas and Oil industry attracted the family to Cochrane, Alberta. Clarence worked on the construction of a processing plant for the Shell Oil Company. 

After construction, employment as an operator followed, Which lasted for twenty-five years. Clarence retired in 1976. Rose still resides in the West Valley Community in Cochrane on McGonigle Place West. 

During the ensuing years the family grew to eleven, five girls and six boys in the following order: Flora, Patsy and Sheila born before moving to Alberta; Clarice born while living in Turner Valley; and Glen, Dan, Lyle, Meryl, Shawn, and twins Murray and Mary born while living in Cochrane, Alberta. After all eleven children were on their own, Rose went to work at the Big Hill Lodge where she made enough money for her first long holiday to Eastern Canada. Since then Rose has travelled to many countries and most continents of the world. 

All five girls were active in community youth groups, which included Girl Guides, C.G.I.T., band and the Church choir, as well as being active in local sports such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton and hockey. 

The six boys were all involved in Boy Scouts, the School Band and local sports teams; hockey, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton and football. 

Flora graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Education. She married Darrell Newsome in 1967 and they live on a farm in Cremona, Alberta. They have three girls and one boy. All four children are married and Darrell and Flora have six grandchildren. 

Pat graduated from the Holy Cross Hospital as a Registered Nurse. She married Bill Bateman and they live on a ranch in the Jumping Pound District, south of Cochrane, Alberta. They have two sons and one daughter. They also have two grandsons. 

Sheila graduated from the Holy Cross Hospital as a Registered Nurse. She married Gary Walroth and they lived most of their married life in Kelowna, British Columbia. They have two daughters, one son, and two grandsons. 

Clarice attended the University of Calgary in accounting and works as an accountant in Grand Prairie, Alberta. She married Harvey Biehn and they have two daughters, one son and two grandchildren. 

Glen attended Olds College and is now a Correctional Officer at the Remand Center, Calgary Alberta. Glen married Vivian Jehn and they have one son and one daughter. 

Dan graduated from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology as an electronics technician and has worked for Alberta Government Telephone and Telus and is currently in management with Telus. He married Rosemarie Gilchrest and between them, they have two sons and two daughters. Dan and Rosemarie have three grandchildren. 

Lyle attended the University of Saskatoon and graduated as a veterinarian. He then attended the University of Alberta and graduated as a medical doctor. He is now a pediatrician in Edmonton. He married Donna Scott and between them, they have three sons and two daughters. At this time they have eight grandchildren. 

Meryl went to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in the electronics field. He is in management in the manufacturing industry. He has one son and one daughter. 

Shawn attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and became a machinist. He is now manager of France Compressor Products servicing the oil industry. He is married to Wendy Thon and they have one daughter and one granddaughter. 

Murray also attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in the powerline trade. He is now in management for Enmax Power Corporation to Lynn Mac Donald and they live on an acreage near Strathmore with their many horses, dogs and cats. 

Mary graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Education degree and is teaching in Springbank. She married Pat Magee and they have two sons and one daughter. They live on an acreage in the Sibbald Flats area west of Jumping Pound. 

Rose and Clarence have taken on many responsibilities in service clubs, the church and sports groups, including actively campaigning for new facilities that have been built for sports and activities new to the area. 

Clarence not only belonged to many organizations but took on a leading role in most: Group Committee Chairman of Boy Scouts, Recreation Board President for five years, twice Noble Grand of Odd Fellows, co-chairman of Cochrane Ranche Society, Vice-chairman of Heritage Association, Big Hill Lodge Activity Society, started and led a local 4-H Horse Club, first Vice-President of the Agricultural Society, and Superintendent of Sunday School for many years, to name a few. Clarence was also recognized and honoured for some of these positions: Cochrane’s Citizen of the Year in 1982, an outstanding service honour from the Canadian Cancer Society, the Lions Club Melvin Jones Award and he was one of four Canadians who received a special St. John’s Ambulance citation from Governor General George Vanier for his work as a first aid instructor. Rose also volunteered and received recognition, especially for her work with the Lioness Club in Cochrane, a Life Membership. This was all accomplished while raising and educating eleven children! 

Rose recalls Cochrane when they first moved here in 1950. “There was no water, no gas, no pavement, no inside plumbing and we had boardwalks on the main street.” They had to haul water or melt snow for all their water needs. At that time Cochrane had between four hundred and five hundred people.