THE BEATTIE FAMILY
by R.E. Beattie
R.E. (Bud) and Neva Beattie arrived in Elk Point in 1941, taking up residence in the Ed Caskey house where they still live. I recall that all houses were heated by wood at that time with huge wood piles in the back yard, and that a corduroy road just south of the village made the swamp there passable.
R.E. Beattie remained as teaching principal of the Elk Point School for twenty-six years, retiring in 1967, during which period the school increased from five to twenty-five classrooms plus shop and home economic instruction as a result of centralization of schooling in Elk Point. For one year eight buildings were occupied by classes.
R.E. Beattie, for nine consecutive summers, was instructor at the Department of Education Summer School at Red Deer and was for several years president of the St. Paul Teachers' Association. He was elected to the Village of Elk Point council for a 3-year term in 1941, and was an original member of the Public Library Board, retiring after twenty-five years of service. An enthusiastic curler, he was an active member and president of the local curling club.
As president of the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years he assisted in the promotion of community improvements including the construction of the Elk Point bridge.
Neva Beattie was employed by C.J. Markstad and later the Co-Op store as clerk until 1949 when a son, Kenneth, was born. Neva was an ardent curler and active in many community affairs.
The new library in the F.G. Miller High School was named the R.E. Beattie Library in recognition of his many years of local service as school principal
(Mrs.) Neva Beattie 1974
Mr. R.E. (Bud) Beattie and son Kenny, 1965.
