Soop Family

Alex Soop was born in Tver, Russia on 17 May 1901. When he was only three, he moved to Tallinn, Estonia. Later he worked as a tailor, police officer and a telegraph operator. In 1925 Alex came to Canada and settled in the Big Valley area where he worked on several farms. In June 1927 he married Elvine Klaus, daughter of William and Elizabeth Klaus. The newlyweds started a farm eight miles west of Big Valley. They had three daughters: Gladys, Florence and Margery, all of whom attended nearby Vimy Hill School.

Farming was grueling and laborious work. Horses were used to clear the land while grains, cattle and chickens provided core income. Alex frequently worked long hours, stoking in the evening and well into the night. As farming technology began to improve in the late 1930's, Alex became the first owner of the first rubber-tired tractor in the community. Alex and Elvine's eldest daughter, Gladys, married Otto Nicklom 27 April 1949. In 1967 Otto and Gladys purchased a farm while Alex and Elvine moved to Stettler to retire. Alex and Elvine had been farming for forty years. Florence, the middle child, married Chris Jensen. Margery the youngest daughter, married Ernie Hankins and they resided in Stettler until their divorce. Margery moved to Edmonton and lived there until she passed away in 2001. Alex Soop passed away in May 1985 while Elvine passed away in June 1995. Their daughter Florence passed away one year later. Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren still reside in Alberta. They carry with them memories and stories about Alex and Elvine Soop.