Leo and Roma Pedersen met in Chilliwack, B.C., in 1959 while playing tennis, and were married on Canada Day, 1961. In 1971 when their 3 children were 8, 6 and 4, they embarked on a family road trip in a converted cube van (laundry delivery truck) they had camperized themselves. This 9 month journey included Alaska, across Canada to Quebec,  several U.S. States, and 3 months in Mexico. To this day, the family has many pleasant recollections of “The Trip”.

Returning to Chilliwack only to sell their home and pack up the household, Leo and Roma then purchased 13 acres in Willowbrook, near Oliver. At that time there were only a few other residents, as the subdivision was newly created. Starting in May of 1972, the Pedersens built a log house from the ground up, living for a few months in tents, and cooking outdoors with a wood stove while the home was completed. Even the kids helped by peeling logs and mixing cement for the stone foundation. Both Roma and Leo were instrumental in forming the Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department, as forest fires in particular were a danger in this rural area – at that time, accessible from Oliver only by gravel road. Many camping vacations and a few trips to visit relatives in Denmark were taken. Both never lost the urge to travel, and in the 1980’s they began making regular winter journeys to Mexico once the kids were grown. Roma has been a volunteer with the Oliver and District Archives for many years, including creating the weekly “Turn Back the Clock” features in the Oliver Chronicle. Leo, an artist, paints, draws and wood carves. He is a member of the Sagebrushers and the Oliver Arts Council.

Though Leo and Roma haven’t played tennis since that fateful meeting, they ride their bikes into town and walk regularly. Their 3 children and 5 grandchildren hear often from others how much they are admired for their adventurous spirit. Their family and friends wish them many years ahead of “Happy Wandering”.

Story and historical pictures supplied by Audrey Silbernagel