Persona

Story, Gertrude

1929-2014

Born in Saskatchewan in 1929 Gertrude E. Story (nee Wudrick) is one of Saskatchewan's best known storytellers and writers. Her early years growing up in a German Lutheran farming environment have formed the background to much of her writing. Starting in the early 1950s, she developed her craft as a freelance writer and broadcaster. Her works include adult and children's fiction, poetry, radio plays, commentary and non-fiction. For many years she entertained CBC Radio audiences with her literary reports from her home in Vanscoy southwest of Saskatoon. An active member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, her poetry and stories have appeared in a variety of publications across the country. In 1980 her first volume of poetry, The Book of Thirteen, was published. A year later a collection of stories, The Way to Always Dance, was also published. Other major publications include After Sixty: Going Home; Black Swan; Counting Two; How to Saw Wood With An Angel; It Never Pays To Laugh Too Much; and The Last House on Main Street. In addition to her writing and radio work, Story has devoted much of her time to teaching the craft to others through workshops and writer-in-residence programs throughout the province. In 1981 she graduated with a B.A. with distinction from the U of S, winning the President's Medal as the most distinguished graduate in the College of Arts and Science. She passed away on January 18, 2014.