CATHERINE HOFER LEFT Fairholme Colony in 1981, together with her sister, Janice. They both went back to school and became registered nurses. Their parents, Paul Jr. and Katie Hofer, left Fairholme five years later and moved to Winnipeg.
In 1986, Sana Basel and Paul Vetter left Fairholme too. They were lovingly cared for in Winnipeg by their daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Bruce Nordin. Sana Basel died in 2004 at age ninety-four.
In 1977, Ronald and Mary Dornn bought land near Sidney, Manitoba, built a new home, and continued to farm. The following year, they sold a parcel of that land to Katrina Basel’s family, who had left Deerboine Colony. Anna Basel also left Deerboine and lived with the Dornn family for several years before joining her children, who had settled in Winnipeg. The four sisters remained deeply devoted to each other. Katrina Basel died in 1987, and Anna Basel in 1999. In 2004, Ronald and Mary sold their farm and retired to Brandon, Manitoba, where they live today. Mary continues to cherish her three surviving brothers, Eddie Maendel of New Rosedale Colony, and Peter and Hons Maendel of Fairholme Colony.
In 1989, Mary-Ann Dornn married Gordon Kirkby. Their son, Levi, was born in 1996.
Many years after Jake Maendel’s death, Mary Dornn would learn that the last words he uttered before he died were “Verzeich’s mir.”
“Whom do you want to forgive you?” his daughter had asked, lowering her head over his frail body, but her father was too weak to reply. “Is it Ronald and Mary?” she ventured softly.
He nodded his head and slipped into eternity.