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Pioneers honoured at 73rd annual banquet

The MSA Pioneers Association honoured three long-time residents at its 73rd annual banquet on May 6 at The Rancho
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Jack and Pat Hougen

The MSA Pioneers Association honoured three long-time residents at its 73rd annual banquet on May 6 at The Rancho.

Mollie Kissock (nee Peardon), and Jack and Pat Hougen were recognized for their contributions to the community.

Kissock was born in 1928 on Matsqui Prairie to Gordon and Lillian Peardon, and grew up on the farm that was part of the homestead of her grandfather, Richard Peardon.

She attended school at Peardonville, Mt. Lehman Superior (now known as Dunach) and Philip Sheffield.

After school, she worked in her dad’s store until she married John Kissock in 1948 and they bought a small farm on Peardonville Road, later moving to a farm on Huntingdon.

Kissock was a member of the Peardonville Women’s Institute for 33 years. John died in 2002, but she still lives on the farm.

She has participated in the writing of two local history books – Peardonville Remembered and The Place Between (about the communities between Langley and Abbotsford).

Jack Hougen was born in Matsqui and has lived in the Abbotsford area all his life. Pat was born in Nanaimo and lived in Vancouver until coming to Abbotsford to teach at Upper Sumas School. The two were married in 1952.

They farmed on Sumas Prairie for almost 40 years. Jack served on Sumas and Abbotsford municipal councils from 1968 to 1976 and then retired to open a family store, Hougen Boutique.

The store was sold in 1980 and Jack returned to council for another four years. Pat did volunteer work for the hospital auxiliary, including two years as president.

The couple now live near Mill Lake.