Elmer Driedger was born in Osler Saskatchewan in 1913 to a Mennonite family where he learned to speak both German and English. He began classes at the University of Saskatchewan in 1929, earning a BA (1932) and LL.B. (1934). He received a scholarship to Marburg University and later attended Kiel University in 1935, although political developments in Germany forced him to return to Canada before the war. After returning to Saskatchewan, he briefly lectured in company law at the University of Saskatchewan, before going on to pursue his twenty-five year career in the federal Department of Justice, during which he became a leading expert in statutory interpretation, and was eventually made Deputy Minister. He later worked as a professor of law at the University of Ottawa. During his time at the University of Saskatchewan, he participated in various activities, including soccer, hockey, and the debate club.

Drinkwater Pastoral Charge was formed as a new United Church charge in 1925, as part of Moose Jaw Presbytery. Initially, the charge included preaching point at Drinkwater but by 1951 Belle Plaine was added and ca. 1962 Stoney Beach. The charge was later re-named Drinkwater - Stoney Beach Pastoral Charge. Around 1968, Drinkwater, Pense, Stoney Beach, Grand Coulee, Sherwood, and Richardson joined together to form the new Pense - Grand Coulee Pastoral Charge.

After the joint-charge was dissolved, Drinkwater joined with Pense to become Pense-Drinkwater Pastoral Charge, with preaching points at St. Andrew's (Pense) and Drinkwater. In 1994, Grand Coulee and Pense-Drinkwater Pastoral Charges amalgamated, as Plainsview Pastoral Charge. The points at Pense and Drinkwater both formally closed on June 30, 1998.