Mina Graham

Mina (Guloien) Graham, daughter of Nels and Hazel Perry) Guloien, was born on April 11, 1924 in Wadena. Mina has 7 siblings: Kathryn, Paul, Ellen, Mary (Pinky), Edward, Howard, James, and Hazelanne.

Nels Guloien, son of Pedar and Kari Guloien, was born in Lille Hammer, Norway on February 12, 1890. He came to Canada as a young lad with his parents. Hazel (Perry), daughter of Christian and Maria, was born in Chicago , Illinois . Her family moved to Buchanan , Saskatchewan and Hazel followed, taking a teaching position at Tiger Lily School.

Mina left home at the age of sixteen, after completing high school. She then attended Henderson ’s Business College specializing in legal work. She worked in Regina and Humbolt, as well as, many other places depending on where Hartley was stationed.

During the war, Mina met Hartley Graham, who was in the air force, while he was on leave in Regina . The couple was married not long after. Hartley Graham was born in Oxbow, Saskatchewan on May 2, 1919. After the war, the couple planned to live in British Columbia . They stopped off in Wadena while on vacation and decided to go into the grocery business with Mina’s dad and, thus, decided to live here as well. They bought the Wadena Grocery from Joe Choy and Gene Tyson.

Mina spent many years working in the Wadena Grocery. When her dad retired in 1965, she and Hartley built a new store, the Wadena Grocery Shop-rite, on the same site and continued business for 43 years until they sold out to son-in-law Howard Comfort and daughter Ellen.

Mina raised four children. Keenan married Sandra Steele and has four children: Elliott, Sarah, Natalie, and Clark. Ellen married Howard Comfort and has three sons: Graham, Paul, and Scott. Kathryn married Timothy Thoen. Hazelanne married Jim Sowa and has a son: Keenan. Mina has three great grandchildren.

Mina is a member of the United Church and served as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, as well as, sang in the choir. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary for a time, being president of that organization for three years. Although there was not an official Kinnette Club in those years she helped the Kinsmen in their many projects as did all wives who were married to Kinsmen.

Mina’s life is her children which she took an active part in raising as well as, the beauty of music. Mina grew up in a very musical family and sang simple songs at the age of 18 months. She learned to play piano at an early age and also took tap lessons. She fondly remembers going with her father when he was performing at dances. After performing at intermission and eating a tasty bag lunch, she would bed down behind the piano on a coat until home time.

Her greatest pride was the Legion Choir with which she sang and even led for a time. They would perform at every town function they could and were even asked to perform as far away as in Yorkton once! Mina continues to live in the house she shared with the love of her life and is often seen visiting and sharing her memories with the people of the town she loves so much.