Boesch 2GDL Fund
This fund will help to support both the community of Gray, SK, and the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Hockey Program.
The Boesch Legacy Story
The Boesch legacy began with Gottlieb Claus Sr in the mid 1870’s when as a young man he immigrated to the United States with his brother Joachim (Joe) Heinrick. They would have landed at Castle Garden Immigration Station in New York, New York and working different jobs, arrived in the Lake City-Red Wing area of Minnesota to work as farm hands. They ended up working for the Bremer’s where Gottlieb met and married the farmer’s daughter – Catherine.
Gottlieb and Catherine moved to Verona, North Dakota to take up farming and it was from there that they chose to head to Saskatchewan. The homestead NW14-14-18W2 was filed in 1902 but land was not broken until 1904. The next year they travelled with three daughters (Anna, Martha and Emma) and four sons (John, Henry, Gottlieb Jr. and Walter) by rail to Milestone and from there by horse and trailer to their new lives as pioneers in Gray, Saskatchewan. Each of these children received a half-section of land when they married.
Gottlieb Jr. married Garnet Fisk and they had three children Dean (1928), Dallas (1932) and Joyce (1936). Once again, each child received land.
The legacy continued when Dean (and Shirley nee Sundin) passed down land to Kris (1958) and Lori (1960).
Some of this land has now been gifted to the Saskatchewan Community Foundation to ensure it will forever remain farmland. The legacy requests that the leaser be a ‘smaller/younger’ farmer if possible.
The funds raised are partially designated to the community of Gray – a tribute to small town Sask survival. Gray is a tiny hamlet that has always managed to ‘get things done’ and historically proven what can be accomplished with volunteer labour!
University of Saskatchewan Women's Hockey Program Story
Funding is also being provided to the University of Saskatchewan’s Women’s Hockey program.
When Lori was a student at the U of S in the late 1970’s she was recruited to play hockey. In those days the group was designated a ‘club’ not a financially supported team. So, the young women had to fundraise to cover some expenses (gas, hotels) and pay out of pocket for others (meals, equipment). It was through these tasks that Lori discovered her joy of organizing events. While a student she became very involved in raising funds for many of the varsity teams – football, basketball and hockey – as well as co-ordinating the Men’s Intramural leagues.
All of this enthusiasm paid off when Dave King (the men’s hockey coach) accepted a position at Hockey Canada (coaching a full-time National men’s team). He offered Lori a 6-month opportunity (all the budget they had at the time). Lori accepted and left her first ‘real’ job in Saskatoon and moved to Calgary. After seven years with Hockey Canada as Hockey Operations Manager she accepted a position with the NHL in New York, New York. Seven seasons were devoted to the NHL and the organizing of All-Star Weekends, Entry Drafts, Neutral Site games, Opening Games in Japan and Europe.
She returned to Saskatchewan in 1999 and contracted for many years; with the NHL – Outdoor Games, Hockeyvilles, more All-Star Weekends and with NBC – Olympics in Beijing, Rio, Pyeongchang, Tokyo. Saskatchewan projects included several years at Canadian Western Agribition, 2007 Law Society Centennial and Institute of Corporate Directors.
Lori credits her success to the team spirit and resiliency of the developing U of S Women’s Hockey Program. She recognizes that equality in sport and funding isn’t there yet – even after 50 years have passed – please join her in supporting this program or other women’s sport endeavors.