MAIDSTONE — The 2023 Utri Family Reunion took place at Maidstone Legion Hall Aug. 19. It was a wonderful event with delicious food including a cake to commemorate the occasion, interesting memorabilia and, best of all, terrific visiting.
Almost 100 relatives from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Idaho gathered to celebrate with descendants of Karl and Sophie Utri who immigrated to Canada in 1926. Of particular interest were the family tree going back to the mid-1800s and many family photos, including some newly acquired ones of Udri ancestors in Germany. The Udri name was changed to Utri by Ferdinand (Karl’s father) around 1880.
Karl and Sophie were married in Kittersberg, Germany and after the First World War decided to move to Canada with their sons, Alfred, Carl and Ernest. Two more children, Elsie and Walter were born in Canada. Due to a tragic accident at home, Ernest died at the age of 5. Karl and Sophie settled in the Standard Hill district in 1927, moved to Eldon district in 1934, to Paynton district in 1947 and retired to Maidstone in 1957. Karl died in 1972 and Sophie in 1981. They are buried in Maidstone Cemetery.
All of Karl and Sophie’s children have passed on so it was their descendants who attended the reunion: Alfred and Leona Utri’s three children – Monica (Jim) Bishop, Gordon (Lynn) and Vance (Theresa); Carl and Emma Utri’s three children – Laura (Wilf d.) Kowbel, Margaret (Tom d.) Petrie and Norma (Bill d.) Weston; Elsie and Archie Merryweather’s three living children – Tom (Candy), Brian (Judy), Rod (Cecilia) and son-in-law Jim Krepps (Denice d.), (Gerry and Garth are also deceased); five of Walter and Anne Utri’s children – Wes (Theresa), Doug (Kathy), Marvin (Leah), Cheryl (Russ) Ebenal and Lyal, Ryan (Connie) absent; 20 great grandchildren (13 partners), 27 great-great grandchildren (four partners) and two great-great-great grandchildren. Numerous others of the “greats” generations weren’t able to come.
Family members talked about having a reunion for many years and it finally happened thanks to Carrie (Utri) Hall and Kelly (Utri) Yanch who instigated and organized this memorable occasion. What an inspiring opportunity it was to meet many relatives we’d never known, to greet those we hadn’t seen for some time and to share photos of those who were missing.
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