On October 25, 2017, Hilda Hutter turned 105 years old.
Her life began in 1912 in Germany where she witnessed both world wars and was even under emperor rule. She was a nurse who was heavily involved in the wars.
She chose to immigrate to Canada after the wars as much destruction had occurred including her hometown.
Hutter’s father was a sought after carpenter but the family of 14 had little income to support itself.
Of the 12 siblings, only two remain; Hilda and her youngest brother Bruno. She is the second oldest in the bunch. Their ages varied as some passed away early on while others held their longevity.
Her father had also passed away shortly following the end of the second war, causing her to uproot and seek the wild west of Canada.
When she arrived in Halifax, she was surprised by the authorities decision that her nursing was inadmissible. She had been told different before her emigration to the country. Her training was later recognized.
She eventually made it to Drumheller during the booming years of the coal mines. Here, her working life was dedicated to nursing at the Drumheller Health Centre.
Hutter now spends her days at the continuing care unit.
Juergen Schaefer is a Biologist from Munich, Germany, the rest of Hutter’s relatives reside in the north of Germany. As her nephew and godson, he visits every year especially since after her 100 birthday.
