Person Page - 1

     Gordon Lennox Burness was born on 29 April 1916 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada.^1,2 He was the son of John Masson Burness and Henrietta Deas.^1,3,4 He was baptized on 30 September 1917 in Methodist Church, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada.² He married Pearl L. Runnels on 22 December 1950 in Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, USA.^5,6 He died on 1 August 1997 in Riverside Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at age 81.⁷ He was buried on 16 August 1997 in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.⁷
     Gordon L. Burness (son, age 1 month) was enumerated in the census on 7 June 1916 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of John Masson Burness.³ Gordon L. Burness (son, age 5) was enumerated in the census on 1 June 1921 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of J. M. Burness.⁴ Gordon Lennox Burness (son, age 10) was enumerated in the census on 2 June 1926 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of John Masson Burness.⁸
     He made a will on 5 January 1996 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, leaving bequests to.⁹

     Pearl Lucille Runnels was born on 3 May 1918 in 215 Randolph Street, Richmond, Indiana, USA.^3,1,2 She married Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. on 21 September 1940 in Central Methodist Church, Richmond, Indiana, USA.^4,5 She and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. were divorced on 1 April 1946 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA.⁶ She married Gordon L. Burness, son of John Masson Burness and Henrietta Deas, on 22 December 1950 in Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, USA.^7,8 She died on 3 September 1995 in Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at age 77.⁹ She was buried on 8 September 1995 in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.⁹
     Pearl L. Runnels (daughter, age 1 year 8 months) was enumerated in the census on 2 January 1920 in 309 North 14th Street, Richmond, Indiana, USA, in the household of George W. Runnels.¹⁰ Pearl L. Runnels (daughter, age 11) was enumerated in the census on 1 April 1930 in 309 North 14th Street, Richmond, Indiana, USA, in the household of George W. Runnels.¹¹
     Pearl Runnels was enumerated in the census on 19 April 1940 in 2127 P Street NW, Washington, D.C., USA, as a State Department stenographer, age 21.¹²
     Pearl Lucille Runnels received a bequest in the will of George E. Howell in 1937. Pearl Runnels was listed as a passenger aboard MS Gripsholm which arrived on 1 November 1948 in New York City from Gothenburg, Sweden.¹³ She immigrated on 9 July 1951 to Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada.⁶ Pearl Lucille Runnels received a bequest in the will of Opalina Hamill on 22 January 1958. She made a will on 7 September 1994 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, leaving bequests to.¹⁴
     Obituary: Burness, Pearl Runnels: In the Ottawa General Hospital on Sunday, September 3, 1995, Pearl Burness, at the age of 77 years. Beloved wife of Gordon, Dear mother of John and David (Louise). Loving grandmother of Andrea, Wesley and Phillip. Friends may call at McEvoy-Shileds Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (one block east of Bank St.), on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A private family service will be held followed by cremation and interment at Beechwood Cemetery. For those wishing, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice will be appreciated.¹⁵
     Obituary: Pearl Runnels Burness, 77, 1307-1285 Cahill Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, formerly of Richmond, died Sunday, Sept 3, in Ottawa General Hospital, after a one-month illness. She was born May 3, 1918, and had lived in Richmond until graduating from Morton High School in 1936. Survivors include her husband, Gordon Burness; two sons, John and David Burness, both of Canada; three grandchildren; two nephews. She was predeceased in death by a sister, Jeanette Starr. Service and burial was in Canada. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a favorite charity.⁴

     John George Burness is the son of Gordon Lennox Burness and Pearl Lucille Runnels.²

     David Gordon Burness is the son of Gordon Lennox Burness and Pearl Lucille Runnels.¹

     Andrea Alison Burness is the daughter of David Gordon Burness and Louise Barber.¹

     Wesley Gordon Burness is the son of David Gordon Burness and Louise Barber.¹

     Phillip Alexander Burness is the son of David Gordon Burness and Louise Barber.¹

     John Masson Burness was born on 25 June 1871 in Chapelbrae, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland.¹ He was the son of John Burness and Christian Gordon.^1,2,3,4 He married Henrietta Deas on 29 March 1899 in Fochabers, Moray, Scotland.^2,3 He died on 14 March 1948 in Wadena Union Hospital, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, at age 76.³ He was buried on 18 March 1948 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada.^3,5
     John Masson Burness (son, age 9) was enumerated in the census on 4 April 1881 in Lilac Bank Cottage, Bath Street, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, in the household of John Burness.⁴
     James Burness was enumerated in the census on 5 April 1891 in Cavalry Depot, Canterbury, Kent, England, as a private in 16th Lancers, age 19.⁶
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 1 June 1911 in 2nd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, as a harness maker, age 40, with Henrietta Burness, Margaret Burness and Christian Burness in his household.⁷
     John Masson Burness was enumerated in the census on 7 June 1916 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, as a harness maker merchant, age 44 with Henrietta Burness, Margaret D. Burness, Christian G. Burness, Henrietta Burness, John A. Burness and Gordon L. Burness in his household.⁸
     J. M. Burness was enumerated in the census on 1 June 1921 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, as a harness maker, age 50 with Henrietta Burness, Margaret Burness, Chrissie Burness, Etta Burness, John A. Burness and Gordon L. Burness in his household.⁹
     John Masson Burness was enumerated in the census on 2 June 1926 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, age 54 with Henrietta Burness, Chrissie Gordon Burness, Henrietta Burness, John Alexander Burness and Gordon Lennox Burness in his household.¹⁰
     John M. Burness (saddler, age 36) was listed as a passenger aboard SS Pretorian which departed on 16 May 1908 from Glasgow bound for Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was in 2nd class.¹¹ He immigrated in 1908 to Canada. He was a cabin passenger on the SS Pretorian of the Allan Line which sailed from Glasgow on May 16 and landed at Quebec City on May 26 to go through immigration before proceeding to Montreal. He had $150 in cash on arrival.¹²
     Obituary: John Masson Burness Laid to Rest Thursday - The funeral was held Thursday of one of Wadena's well-known pioneers, John Masson Burness, resident of the town since 1910. Mr. Burness died March 14 in the Wadena Union Hospital after an illness of several months. During his active years, Mr. Burness was associated with most of the town's worthwhile activities and held many public offices in his 38 years of residence here. He was a former member of the town council, chairman of the school board, served on the United Church board, and held office in the curling club. He was recognized as an authority in dramatics and directed many local plays. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. Mr. Burness was a veteran of the Boer War and a member of the Canadian Legion, B.E.S.L. He served with the Imperial army with the 16th Queen's Lancers during which time he spent five years in India and three in South Africa. The Legion took charge of the funeral at the graveside with Rev. T. D. R. Allen, chaplain of the local branch, in charge. The Legion and cadets attended in a body. Mr. J. A. Davidson, United Church minister, conducted the service at the church. John Masson Burness was born in Banchory, Scotland, on June 24, 1871. He was married in Elgin, Scotland, to Henrietta Deas, on March 29, 1899. In 1908 the family came to Canada living in Montreal for two years before coming west to the Wadena district in 1910 [Note: Although he arrived in Montreal in 1908, he lived in Manitoba before moving to Wadena, and his family emigrated from Scotland directly to Wadena in 1910.] He retired in 1936 from a retail leather goods business that he had operated for 26 years. Surviving are his widow and a family of five, two sons and three daughters: Mrs. J. W. Berg (Margaret) of Meskanaw; Mrs. G. S. Cranston (Chrissie) of Watrous; Mrs. W. W. Hassett (Etta) of Nipawin; John of Meskanaw, and Gordon of Ottawa. Four grandchildren, Beryl and Jack Cranston, Margaret and Sylvia Hassett also survive. Pallbearers at the funeral on Thursday were M. F. Everitt, M. H. Lockhart, Arton Faust, A. Fair, F. Bedford, and W. McLean.¹³

     Henrietta Deas was born on 27 December 1873 in South Row, Fochabers, Moray, Scotland.^1,2 She married John Masson Burness, son of John Burness and Christian Gordon, on 29 March 1899 in Fochabers, Moray, Scotland.^3,2 She died on 17 April 1954 in Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, at age 80.² She was buried on 21 April 1954 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada.^2,4
     Henrietta Deas (granddaughter, age 7) was enumerated in the census on 4 April 1881 in South Row, Fochabers, Moray, Scotland, in the household of William Davidson.⁵ Henrietta Deas (granddaughter, age 17) was enumerated in the census on 5 April 1891 in South Row, Fochabers, Moray, Scotland, in the household of Janet Davidson.⁶ Henrietta Burness (granddaughter age 27) was enumerated in the census on 31 March 1901 in South Row, Fochabers, Moray, Scotland, in the household of Janet Davidson. She was an army reservist's wife.⁷ Henrietta Burness (wife, age 37) was enumerated in the census on 1 June 1911 in 2nd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of John Burness.⁸ Henrietta Burness (wife, age 42) was enumerated in the census on 7 June 1916 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of John Masson Burness.⁹ Henrietta Burness (wife, age 46) was enumerated in the census on 1 June 1921 in 3rd Street East, Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of J. M. Burness.¹⁰ Henrietta Burness (wife, age 51) was enumerated in the census on 2 June 1926 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the household of John Masson Burness.¹¹
     She immigrated in 1910 to Canada with two daughters, Margaret and Christian. They were cabin passengers on SS Southwark of Allan Line which sailed from Glasgow on June 25 and landed at Quebec City on July 4 to clear immigration. Their destination was recorded as Wadena, Saskatchewan to join her husband, a saddler. She had $25 in cash on arrival.¹² Mrs. H. Burness (housewife) was listed as a passenger aboard SS Southwark which departed on 25 June 1910 from Glasgow bound for Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was accompanied by Margaret Burness and Christina Burness.¹³
     Obituary: Funeral Service Conducted at Wadena United Church for Mrs. H. Burness - Mrs. Henrietta Burness, 80, widow of the late Mr. John M. Burness, resident of Wadena, died on Saturday, April 17 after a long illness. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. M. Johnsrude in the Wadena United Church on Wednesday, April 21st and burial was made in Wadena cemetery. Mrs. Burness was born in Murrayshire, Scotland, in 1873, and came to Canada with her husband in 1910 to live in Wadena, Sask. Mr. Burness predeceased her in 1948. She is survived by two sons, John A. of Calgary and Gordon L. of Ottawa, and three daughters, Mrs. J. W. Berg of Meskanaw, Mrs. G. S. Cranston of Maple Creek, amd Mrs. W. W. Hassett of Drumheller, Alta; five grandchilden and two great grandchildren. Mrs. Burness played a very active part in the building up of the town and community. She was a charter member of the Michael O'Leary, V.C. Chater I.O.D.E., was a member of the Book Club from its organization until the time she left Wadena; and was a valued worker in the United Church. Few worthwhile community projects lacked the helping hand of either Mr. and Mrs. Burness during their years in Wadena. Pallbearers were T. Bervin, M. H. Lockhart, F. Best, G. Brice, F. Weber, J. Tabachnick. Members of the I.O.D.E. who carried flowers were Mrs. L. A. Washington, Mrs. C. M. Hall, Mrs. J. Claxton, Mrs. A. Adams, Mrs. F. Bedford and Mrs. G. Backlund. Love's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.¹⁴