Marjorie Louise (Hopkins) Ludvigsson

Alix

1913-2002

Description

Life and Work

"Good morning - have you some news for me?"

For 20 years, Marj Ludvigsson sat with her typewriter and telephone on Monday mornings to write the news from around the district.

As correspondent for The Lacombe Globe, The Stettler Independent and The Bashaw News, Marj took her notepad and pen to meetings and gatherings. But she kept her ear fixed to conversations in crowds and on the street, hoping for a lead.

As the secretary for many community organizations, Marjorie says she "didn't do anything - I just kept track of what other people did." She contributed significantly to the local history books on Alix and district, titled Pioneers and Progress and Gleanings After Pioneers and Progress.

Born in Nova Scotia, a descendant of United Empire Loyalists, Marjorie got a job in the Court House at Cumberland as a clerk stenographer in 1931. In 1942, she transferred to the Vancouver Court House and worked there for 2 years before marrying John Ludvigsson in 1944. The couple decided to look for farmland in Alberta due to her father-in-laws' request and headed out West. Farming proved to be a difficult and unprofitable lifestyle but Marjorie refused to leave. Marjorie and her husband John farmed near Alix until 1976. After John's death, Marj moved to Alix and continued her work as a news correspondent until 1987.

Memoirs

Letter of Appreciation by Nancy Giem

I've always admired your writing ... whether it is an article on someone or a write-up about events, your sense of detail is great. You are a good neighbour and friend.

In gathering her news for the papers Marjorie was never pushy, and always treated people with respect. Over the years she acted as secretary for nearly all the of the organizations in Alix and was an ardent church member. Her ready smile endeared her to all.

-Nancy Giem