MEMORIES OF THE JOHN & AGNES
EVJEN FAMILY
DEDICATI0N
THIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO THE
MEMORY OF MY PARENTS WHO SACRIFICED SO
MUCH THAT I, TOGETHER WITH MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS, MIGHT HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY
HOME LIFE.I was inspired to compile this little memory book out of
the realization of how blessed I was to have been born into
a family such as I have. Mom and Dad showed love and concern
for our welfare. We were brought up to know our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
My brothers and sisters have always been special to me.
I especially want to thank them for taking the time to put
some of their memories in writing and I'd like to suggest
that another "edition" be put together some time in the future
which adds other memories as they occur.
Thanks also to Eldor for helping with the typing and assembling.Vivian (Evjen) Larson
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Our house was a three-story, white, frame building. Grandma
and Grandpa lived downstairs. There was a sun porch on the south
which led into the living room, There was a hard coal heater, couch,
two wooden rockers, a big one that Grandpa used and a smaller
one that Grandma used.
Grandma made pillows and covers for the backs of the rockers
so they were more comfortable, A writing desk also stood in one
corner, A curtain separated the bedroom from the living room.
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Adjoining the living room was the kitchen furnished with a cook
stove, a square table and chairs, a cupboard, which was possibly
made by Grandpa, There was also a small pantry by the cook
stove, The fruit cellar was off from the kitchen. We kids liked
to go in there and cool off on a hot day. There was a stairway
leading to the second floor from the cellar. It led to the dining
room.
We lived in the second story, It had a large sun porch on
the east with a door leading to the kitchen, another door leading
to the dining room, and one to a coat closet. In the kitchen was
a cook stove, table, chairs, sink, and a cupboard with an enamel
top that pulled out, Mom used to have it full. of bread when
she'd bake, A kerosene lamp with a reflector in the back was
fastened to the wall by the sink, There was a large pantry by
the kitchen sink, A coffee grinder was fastened to the wall.
From the kitchen you could go to the dining room which had a
large round oak table and chairs, a beautiful curved glass china
closet, and a wall shelf that held a beautiful clock.
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The colonnades separated the dining room from the living room.
We used to set pictures on the shelf and put books in the bookcase
on one side and special things in a small compartment below
the writing desk on the other side, We had a piano and bench,
sofa, chairs, and library table in the front room as we called
it. A full length mirror mother used as a dress maker hung
between two windows.
The attic was entered through a door from the kitchen. It
was used to store clothing, etc. We had a couple of beds set up
and Adelle slept up there a lot. We had a mattress made of corn
husks; when fresh they really smelled good. The attic was where
Adelle did most of her reading. She'd read during the night and
when Mom came to check if the kerosene lamp was out, Adelle
would hear her coming, turn the lamp down, and then after Mom
closed the door, Adelle would continue her reading. The attic was
very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, but in the
spring we loved opening the south window and listen to the frogs
in the swamps and other sounds off in the distance.
There are so many happy memories, and some not so happy.
We had a good home life. Thanks to Daddy and Mom, Our
memories are entwined with Aunt Irene and Uncle Bill too;
the extra things they did for us, as well as thoughts of Grandpa
and Grandma. Grandpa and Grandma lived downstairs and we
lived upstairs, Grandpa would get up first in the morning; make
coffee for Grandma And tea for himself. Grandma would get the
coffee brought to her in bed. Grandpa would go back to the
kitchen and read his Bible, Later Grandma would get up and make
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breakfast, She knitted us many pairs of socks, mittens and
scarves. We usually got them for Christmas. Vivian remembers
a favorite pink, black and white muffler, also a pair of red,
white and blue wool knee socks that she wore over her long
stockings, We loved having supper with them when they had
milk "grotte" with butter, cinnamon and sugar on top. "mmm
'' Good"! They made lefse on the cook stove. Grandpa would
sit on a high stool and turn them with a long stick while
Grandma rolled them out, They made many quilts, Grandpa
would sit by the window with a board over his lap, cut and
measure pieces, and Grandma would sew them together. Each of
the girls received a hand stitched quilt from them,
Grandpa tried teaching Ruth Norwegian, but gave it up.
Once-in-a-while, we would get to sleep downstairs on the couch
by the big hard coal heater, Ruth remembers the ticking of
the clock during the night, Lloyd remembers when they got their
radio we had to go downstairs and listen to Norwegian sermons
even though we couldn't understand them.
If, for any reason we couldn't go to school, we'd get a
special treat of being able to listen to "Tim & Tina" on
Grandma's radio. It was such a funny program about a Swedish
maid and an Irish handyman. Other programs we liked were:
Ma Perkins, Lum & Abner, The Lone Ranger, Amos & Andy, and
the boys liked Jack Armstrong — the All-American Boy.
During the l930's Mom and Dad wondered how ends would be
met. Prices on everything they had to sell were 80 low.
Adelle remembers when the government bought cows and they were
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chased down town where a big pit was dug, and all the cattle
were shot and buried there. Each cow brought $15.00. One of
her favorite cows was killed.
Often wonder what we would have worn if Mom hadn't been able
to sew. She sewed most of our clothes after the rest of us had
gone to bed. Inez Knudtson would send us a big box of clothes
when she worked for Judge Elliott in Sioux Falls. There wasn't
a school or church program that Mom didn't see to it that we
all got new outfits most of the time. Gill Larsons lived
neighbors to us, Inez always would tell about her new outfit
for Easter, and asked Ruth if she was getting a new one. Ruth
said "No", and then Inez said, "That's right, you're poor".
Vivian remembers a red wool plaid tunic with a mandarin
collar she wore a long time and loved it, Mom made coats for
us too. Adelle remembers a brown one with a black fur collar
Mom made for her, She was called "Mama Bear" by the Kucker
boys who nicknamed everyone.
Lots of water was carried in and out of the house through
the years we were growing up. It wasn't an easy chore. Clothes
washing was done with all the water being heated in a big boiler.
In the summer Mom sorted the clothes out on the lawn on the
north side of the house, We had a machine we had to push the
handle back and forth. We kids took turns each counting up to
a certain number. Later, Daddy hooked it up to the gas engine
for power. The gas engine was also used to pump water. Winter
washing was also a big job with hand power or the scrub board.
Mom hung clothes on the line outside even in the winter, When
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she'd bring them in, they were frozen stiff. Her hands were
almost frozen too. Later Adelle bought Mom a used Maytag.
She paid $60 for it and it wasn't a good buy. The salesman
knew he was dealing with a "greenhorn".
We churned butter first in a large barrel churn. Once
Helen was churning and the cover came off. That was quite
a mess. Later we used a crock churn to stomp it up and down
until the cream turned to butter. We usually churned in the
cellar where it was cool and we'd sing:
Come butter come
Come butter come
Johnny's at the garden gate
Waiting for a butter cake
Come butter come
The last churn we used was the glass jar with beaters. The
butter had to be worked with a ladle to get all the buttermilk
out; then it was salted and stored in a crock jar in
the cellar.
Another job was to clean the glass lamp chimneys. We
used newspaper all crumbled up, They really would shine.
The lamps had to be filled with kerosene and the wicks
trimmed.
Water had to he carried in for cooking and washing. Coal
and wood was brought in for the cook stove and hard coal heater.
The teakettle was always humming on the cookstove. In the
evening the lamp was set on the dining room table and we'd
gather around to read or play games. Mom would read stories
from the Friend" or 'Little Broun Koko" from the Household
magazine.
6
Later Dad bought a gas lamp which he hung from the ceiling.
We really thought that gave a lot of light.
Home life was happy. We enjoyed a lot of music in our home.
Daddy loved playing the violin. He'd play almost every night
after supper. We all took turns chording on the piano for him.
Some of his favorite tunes were: "Turkey In The Straw", "Red
Wing", "Irish Washerwoman", "Over the Waves", "Devil's Dream",
and "Home Sweet Home".
Daddy used to sing some funny songs for us too, to make us
laugh; one was "Guben Nooak", another was "A Preacher Went-A-
Hunting", and still another he'd sing about (can't remember it
all) went something like this:
His face is like a snowplow
His mouth is like a trap
When he opened up to yawn
He gave a great big ya'ha'ha'ha'ha!
We did a lot of singing around the piano with Adelle playing.
Ruth used to sing duets with Adelle. Vivian and Ray sang together.
They remember singing "School Days" and "Star of the East" for
many occasions. Once Ray sang "Ten Pretty Girls" & Viv wore a
wig of red curls for a community club program. Adelle bought
Johnny a cowboy suit and he sang "I'm an old cowhand from the
Rio Grande". We looked forward to those community club programs
once a month.
Many songs were sung out in the barn with the milk hitting
the milk pails keeping time to the music.
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"School was a happy time," Adelle said, She always wanted
to get upstairs in the Troy School, but when she was to be in the
fifth grade and upstairs, all the eight grades were put together
into one room downstairs with Irene as teacher.
The section men would drain the water tank in the winter so
the school children would have a skating rink, There were a lot
of wet feet in the spring when it thawed. The boys would make
rafts and hope they would be out in the middle when the school
bell rang. It always took a while to get back to shore, The
school picnics were at Troy Lake. We'd have sack races and other
relays. Some would go swimming.
In the winter Daddy would come after us with the sleigh,
pulled by Nell and Beauty, Adelle remembers one time w'en Daddy
was coming after us, he cut across what is now Lindberg's and
we were on the road. It was so foggy we could hear him but
couldn't make him hear us, He went way to town and didn't find
us. It was a cold trip for him and us, as we walked all the way
home. Daddy made many trips after us in the sleigh. We'd cover
up with a horsehide robe. We were cozy, but poor Daddy's face got
so cold!
Most of us went to school and Sunday School with one of the
Fishers. Adelle and Helen with Bill, Ruth with Emil, Nordis and
Ray with Edna, and Vivian with Alvin. They were all good students.
Because we had to walk to school most of the time, we had to
dress real warm. We'd wear long underwear, long stockings, and
wool knee-high socks over them. When we got home after school
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Mom was always there to warm our hands by putting them in her
hair, when they were really cold. She'd often times have
bread rising, so she'd fry "tusker-kak" for us. mmm!!! Good!
Dad would sometimes give us a nickel to buy cookies at
the Stanwood Store for lunch. Viv always bought a big chocolate
covered marshmallow one or a sandwich cookie with butterscotch
frosting between. It was a real treat.
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In the first grade Vivian remembers she got a large sliver
in her leg while teeter—tottering. She surely didn't want to
let anyone take it out. Irene who was her teacher said she'd
get blood poison if the sliver was left in there. That sounded
pretty serious, so she let her take it out, During the noon
hour they were permitted sometimes to go to the store for candy
or school things. Vivian remembers going to Chris Meyers store
and asked for a package of gum. She said her Dad would pay for
it later. On the way back to school she put all five sticks in
her mouth. When she returned to school, Irene asked where she
got the gum; Vivian said she found it on the road — of course
that wasn't the truth and she admitted it later, because she
knew Irene didn't believe her anyway. The next day Vivian
brought five cents along and paid for the gum, and decided not
to do that anymore. During recess we had our choice, of playing
on the swings, the teeter—totter, or giant strides. Vivian
didn't like the swings as she sometimes got sick, but liked the
giant strides, They were long chains (8 in all) with bars to
hold on to extending from a large pole. The other kids would
take her chain and cross over theirs, then they would go around
real fast, They'd pull their chain down and hers would lift
up and she'd fly almost even with the large pole's top. Once
she lost her grip and fell. It really knocked the wind out of
her. Miss Mitchell was the teacher at that time. She bandaged
many knees because of getting them skinned while dragging them
in the gravel under the giant strides.
When we had school programs, a platform was built for the
stage in front of the room, and curtains hung up to be drawn.
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The parents wou1d come to watch and listen to the songs, skits,
and recitations Coffee and cake was served afterwards, We
really worked hard for this and it was lots of fun.
When Miss Mitchell was our teacher, one of us always had to lead
the music as she felt she couldn't. Every month we'd have a YCL
(Young Citizens League) meeting. Everyone as given the chance to
be an officer. Duties were assigned such as dusting the erasers,
washing the black boards, cleaning the wash basin, sweeping the
floor, and steep out the outdoor toilets.
We'd bob for apples at our Halloween parties and also try to get
a powdered sugar doughnut hanging from a string above our heads
without using our hands.
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Vivian remembers she used to play car with Lloyd and Loyal using
any iron object for cars. They'd make roads using some water.
Often times Mom would scold them 'for using the precious rain
water from the barrel otherwise they had to get it from the well
which was quite a distance.
There were lots of gophers in So. Dakota. We used to drown out
those close to the sloughs by carrying water and filling their
holes. When the gopher came up, the boys would take care of
them with a bat.
Nordis and Vivian played paper dolls cut from the Sears Roebuck
and Montgomery Wards catalogs. Every time they went to Aaronsons
they'd go to the out door toilet and find more from the Spiegel's
catalog.
In the summer time we all looked forward to the "free" shows
outdoors in South Shore every Wednesday night. Dad was good about
taking us except if there were dark clouds in the sky and it
looked as though it might storm; we wouldn't go. We took along
blankets to sit on while watching the show. Dad gave us money for
an ice cream cone or pop corn. Johnny remembers a fellow they
used to call "Crazy Dill", who would follow along and everytime
some popcorn was dropped he would be right there and pick it up.
Johnny was scared of him. Friends from all around South Shore
came in for the show and we had lots of fun running around before
the show began. Ken Maynerd was a handsome cowboy in many of the
shows. Nordis remembers the "Mystery of the Clutching Hand" which
was continued from one week until the next. Just the music made
chills go up and down your spine. One night the lights went out
on the car so we drove home by moonlight.
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It was fun playing in the sand pit. Ruth thought of it an opera
house and liked to sing there.
We'd go swimming in the big slough when it was hot. Daddy
sometimes would take us to Troy Lake.
We herded cattle when the pastures were eaten down so Dad would
let the cattle graze near the fields. Vivian remembers studying
her Sunday School lesson sitting by the haystacks.
We played house in the woods using orange. crates for cupboards.
The seeds from various trees were make believe fruit like
bananas, etc.
Sometimes we'd tie ropes from one tree to the other and do stunts
like hanging by our legs and try walking across from one tree to
the other. Some would be a clown, others wild animals or dogs
that did tricks.
Maybe our favorite place to play was upstairs in the barn,
especially when it was partially filled with hay. We'd climb the
ladder, then grab the rope and swing ail the way across and drop
in the hay. The folks were worried that we'd hurt ourselves when
we'd fall, or fall down one of the holes onto the floor.
After Ray got a bike Vivian remembers riding to Irene and Bill's
on Saturday to read comics, especially "Smilin' Jack", "Little
Orphan Annie" and "Dick Tracy".
Hopscotch was played on the cement porch downstairs by Grandma
and Grandpa's. We also played Knife and Cricket. On Sunday
afternoon we played kittenball many times and Bill played with us.
Ruth wasn't always so excited about playing ball. One Sunday she
wasn't at all in the mood so he took the ball and ran with it, but Bill
caught her, took her pants down and gave her a spanking.
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It as always fun to find the first flowers in the spring; the
crocus or mayflowers, also the buttercup. Mom received many a
bouquet.
In the fall when harvesting was late we'd hurry home from school so
as to see the threshing machine work while men were pitching in the
bundles of grain. Mom always had lunch for us to take out to the
men. She made cream cake often.
Seems we always had lots of snow in the winter time so we had fun
playing in it. There were plenty of hills for sleigh riding. We
didn't have sleds except those that Dad made. We used to slide on
the shovel sometimes.
It was a special treat to go with Dad and Mom to Watertown. Vivian
liked going to Kresges dime store. She remembers the big fans that
helped cool the store in the summer. There was a stand right by the
front door where they sold ice cream cones, drinks, etc. She
usually got an ice cream sandwich, but had a hard time getting it
eaten before it melted, Nordis and Vivian used to look at the rings
and perfume. Vivian used to buy Park & Tifford #3 perfume. Some
other attractions in the store were the birds in their cages in the
back of the store. On our way home we'd have crackers and bologna
and Three Musketeer bars that Daddy bought.
Nordis remembers when you'd buy chocolate drops, if we got one
with a pink center, we got another one free.
Every summer there was a celebration in Watertown called Play Day,
with a parade and lots of special things for kids, One year we had
car trouble east of Watertown on our way home; someone ran into us
and damaged the radiator so it leaked.
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We had to be pulled into a garage at Kranzburg so it could be fixed.
We didn't get home until nearly midnight. Mom wasn't feeling good.
Everyone was pretty happy to got home.
Another trip that was planned for and waited for was when we could
go to Anna & Lymans Forsythe near Brandt. They had a lot of apples
so we usually brought some home with us. We went to Porter,
Minnesota, also ' but that was
We looked forward to having company. The relatives from Minnesota
would come every summer. Inez and Albert Knutson came once in a
while from Sioux Falls, It as fun when we used to have ball games with
different neighbors, Turners, Tanks, and Stoltenbergs. Mom would
make cream puffs for lunch when they came.
When Olaf Peterson came we had "Romme-grut. Ted Erickson liked to
have bread and sour cream.
We didn't go away from home very often, church and school mainly.
Both were important. We went to church and Sunday School upstairs
in the school. Rev. Oakdale came from Watertown to preach. He
baptized Ruth at Olaf Petersons home together with his son Arlie Olaf
used to tease her that she had dirty colored hair, because they had used
the same water for both of them, Rev. Oakdaie confirmed Adelle,
Helen, and Ruth. They really thought a lot of him. Once Mom asked
him to come for dinner. He put his arm around Ruth arid called her
his little "Kumla". It wasn't until she had grown up and was married
that she found out that "kumla" meant the same as "klub" or potato
dumpling. What a let down!
Later, the old Bank building was fixed up for our church.
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The interns from Grace Lutheran Church would come to preach. We
had Sunday School before services. Adelle was Supt. of Sunday School;
also played the piano for both Sunday School and church. We still
remember many of the songs we learned then. Some of the pastors we
had were Oscar C. Hanson, Conrad Thompson, Reuben Gornitzka,
Carol Hinderlie, K. 0. Lokken, Gilford Helgeson, Lowell Holte, B. R.
Biron, and Herb Luddigs. We all remember the various Christmas
programs we've been in; playing the part of Mary, Joseph, an angel or
shepherd.
The ladies aid had pie and ice cream socials on Saturday nights in the
summer. We looked forward to going to them, not only for the pie and
ice cream, but also to meet other kids to play with.
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Irene and Bill were two special people. They had a store in Troy. It
was always fun to stay with them.
Adelle remembers the first circus she went to with them. They stopped
in Goodwin and picked up Lydia Haight and a niece of hers. Adelle sat
between Irene and Bill. She must not have sat very still as Bill
asked if she had slivers. She was called "slivers" for some time by
Bill. She thought it wonderful to go to a circus Ruth still has two
perfume bottles she got from Bill. One was a little fat bottle he
bought in Boone, Iowa. She thought the bottle reminded him of her.
Adelle and Helen got skinny ones. We had a lot of ball games on
Sunday afternoons. Bill would play with us. Raynard spent time with
Bill. Bill called him "Goob". Ray sure thought he was important when
Bill bought him a straw hat. Vivian spent a lot of time in Troy with
Bill and Irene. She liked to play the phonograph. Two songs she played
were "Valencia" and "The Letter Etched in Black" except that one
used to make her homesick. She'd stand on a chair by the phonograph
and cry.
They had a radio and we liked to listen to favorite programs like "Let's
Pretend" on Saturday mornings and "Lux Radio Theatre" on Monday
nights. Bill always listened to Koltenborn, a news commentator,
at supper time. Viv still can remember his voice being very forceful.
He'd cut his words short. Cedric Adams was another news caster we'd
listen to. We were never allowed to listen to "Gangbusters". We went
to bed around that time. First thing in the morning we'd hear Clellan
Card, "Birdie with the yellow bill, hopped upon my window sill, cocked
his shining eye and said (always something silly)"
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The Clellan Card program was on at 7 o'clock in the morning.
Bill used to cut our hair. Once he cut Viv's ear and made up
some remark about her ears being too big.
Adelle later cut hair and waved the girls' hair before church and
Sunday School.
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Special incidents that Johnny remembers '
I don't remember how old I was. Nordis was working for Aaron
Johnsons. I went to see her once. I thought it was the nicest place
I'd ever seen with all the electric lights and nice
One spring the ditches were full of water and it had frozen on top.
Lloyd, Loyal, and I, and I don't remember how many there were walking to
school, but Hubert Tuloweske was with us, He was a real big kid. He was
stepping on the ice to try and break it with one foot. I went up behind
him and gave him a shove. He went way down in the ditch to his waist in
the water. He got real mad; grabbed me, and put me in the water too.
We both were pretty wet and cold. I was kind of a mean kid. I remember
the first time I ate frog legs. There was a new kid in school. His dad
was the new railroad foreman. Ray McDorman was his name. He would come
out to the farm with me. One time we caught a bunch of frogs. Mom said
she would fix them if we would clean them. Ray knew how. Mom had just
baked bread. We had frog legs and new bread. That really tasted good!
We had a work horse named Queen. I rode it to town one day. I met Jim
Strickertz, He had just got a new bike. We went to the store in Troy.
There were quite a few people in town. John Brandriet wanted Jim and I
to have a race. I would ride my horse and Jim his bike. The winner would
get 50 cents and a malted milk. The race was to be around the store and
to the town hall and back.
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I thought Jim would beat me easy, but I beat him. He wouldn't talk to me
for a long time after that. He was at least eight years older than I was.
Once I was fishing down at Troy Lake. I had eight big bullheads, A big
shiny new car stopped. The man was all dressed up in a suit. He offered
me 50 cents for the eight bullheads. I sold them to him. That was the
most money I'd ever had. That same night I was playing with the 50 cents
and it fell behind the mop boards in the house. Dad had to pull out a
whole section to get it out. He wasn't too happy about that.
The first dog I had I paid one of John Nelson's boys, "Buck", 5 cents for
it. They had two dogs left, one black and one white one. I got the white
one. He was a real smart dog. One day Dad and I went fixing fences. We
took the car and two wheel trailer. We didn't finish that night. We left
the trailer up along the fence line, We went home and did chores and had
supper. Spike wasn't around anywhere. We didn't know what had happened
to him. The next day we went to finish fencing. There laid Spike along
the trailer. I had left my jacket laying on the ground there. He laid by
it all night. He was sure happy to see us. Once I was hunting pheasants
along the fence line north of our place. There was a pond full of weeds
and a couple of trees. There was a mink way up in the top of once tree.
I shot it and it fell in the weeds and water. I didn't think I would ever
find it, but Spike found it and brought it to me, It was shot up pretty
bad, I got Ray to skin it and Mom sewed it up as good as she could. We
sent it to Sears & Roebuck, I got $l.50 for it.
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I remember the first duck I shot. It was in the spring of the year. The
ducks had just come north. The hay ground northwest of our place had a
big pond in it from run-off from the melting snow, and a bunch of
canvas-back ducks were swimming around in the pond. I sneaked out Dad's
single shot rifle and I had two rifle shells. I got one duck. It went to
the bottom of the pond and got into the weeds and died. I had bib
overalls on and I waded out and got it. I had to reach way to the bottom
to get it. I really got wet. It was out of season and shot with a rifle.
Cars were driving by, but luckily no game warden.
I remember my first BB gun. Dad bought it for me. I really had a good
time with it. I had it for quite a while until I got too brave with it.
Ray was bending over the pump'jack and I was behind the sheep shack. I
couldn't resi
I remember once I had a jack knife. Ray was carrying a pail of oats to the
sheep. I was walking along with him. I was going to throw the knife into
the oats, but I hit his hand instead. It hit a blood vessel in his hand.
The blood just spurted out of it. I really got scared that time! Ray
really had to put up a lot with me.
Once Ray was picking up bales over to Aaronsons. Richard was driving the
tractor and Ray was stacking the bales, Richard jerked the wagon and the
bale hook went into Ray's arm. Richard got so excited he kept right on
going.
22
Ray had to jump off to get him to stop.
I don't know how old I was, but I remember there was this big rock by the
corner of the chicken house and granary. Once I crawled in between the big
rock and the buildings and went to sleep, They had a lot of people looking
for me. I don't remember who said it, but someone said, "What if a snake
would have crawled in your mouth when you were sleeping?"
Our family would go visit relatives in Porter, Mn. We would all get ready
to go; then I'd go and hide so they would have to go without me. I don't
know why I didn't want to go down there. I think that every time we'd see
Dad's brother, Anton, he wanted me to stay down there. Maybe I was afraid
Dad would leave me down there. I remember Barb Evjen wrote to me to come
down once. She was a little younger than I was.
When Lloyd, Loyal and I went to school and were walking home, if a car
should come Loyal would take off across the field; Lloyd and I would get a
ride. Loyal was pretty bashful.
I remember the times we would go shopping in Watertown. As soon as the car
stopped I would be gone. I would head for the hardware store where they
had BB guns and knives. This guy came over to me and asked what I wanted.
I said I was just looking. He told me to "get the hell out of there." Later
on he became the mayor of Watertown — Mayor Gilbert. I didn't think that was
a nice way to talk to a little kid.
Dad traded his 1935 Chev for a '41 Chev. He really made a big jump, It had
a shift on the steering wheel.
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When we went to town I sat by Dad, put my knee up and kicked it out of gear.
Dad didn't notice. He stepped on the gas harder and the car would keep
slowing down. I remember him saying, "Now what's wrong with the car"? I'd
tell him it was out of gear. I did it a few times until he caught me at it.
I thought it was real funny, but Dad didn't. Mom and Dad put up a lot with
me. They were the best. I loved them very much, but some times I wasn't very
nice.
Some time later when I was driving, Mom and I were going to town.. We got
stuck in a snow bank. It was real cold. I had Loyal's car. He was in the
service, I left the motor running so Mom could keep warm. I walked home to
get the Ford tractor. When I got back, Mom was standing in the snow bank
getting cold. She thought the car would take off with her in it. I said,
"Mom, we were stuck. How could it go?" She said she didn't think of that. I
teased her about that for a long time.
We used to hunt a lot of Jack Rabbits at night in the wintertime. Some
nights we would get from ten to thirty and got from 50 cents to 75 cents for
each one. One time Loyal and I were going roller skating out to Lake
Kampeska. We were going to pick up Bud Dirck east of Troy. We got up to the
top of the hill. There were several rabbits. I don't know how fast Loyal
was driving, but I got excited. I thought I was on the running board, but I
stepped right out of the car in the gravel. I got up and shot at the
rabbits, but I missed them. I think Loyal was going about 30 miles per hour
when I went out the door. Well, anyway, Dad had Just bought me a suede
jacket. I really ruined that by falling in the gravel.
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One year we were trapping muskrats. We were out north of the home place in
the slough bordering our place and Aaronsons and Pekelders. The first day
of trapping usually is real good. After we set the traps we would go around
and check them again the same day. I think Lloyd got the first muskrat of
the day. He held it up, I was the closest to him. I went running across the
ice. He hollered at me that there was thin ice there, but I couldn't stop. I
went through the ice, grabbed hold of a muskrat feed house, and pulled that
right along with me, I don't remember how deep it was, but I didn't touch
bottom. I got a hold of the thick ice and pulled myself out, and headed
right for home right away. I got half way home and my clothes were frozen
stiff. I crawled into bed as soon as I got my wet clothes off. The worst
part of it was that Dad had a new hatchet he'd let me use and that is still
in the bottom of that lake.
One time Lloyd and I were going to a chili supper in Troy. It was cold and
the snow was blowing. I know I didn't dress very warm. When we were going
home, Lloyd couldn't start the car, Leonard Malimanek offered to take us
home in his Dad's car — a Model "A" Coupe. We hit some big snow drifts and
the car got wet. They were going to take the distributor cap off and try to
dry it out. I was getting cold so I thought I would walk home. I forgot Ray
had taken that fence line out along our place and Lindberg's. I was going
to find the fence and follow it home.
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By the time I remembered that the fence was gone, I tried to go back, but I
couldn't find my way. I wandered around Lindberg's land for quite awhile. I
came to a fence line and some trees. I crawled under the fence, caught my
jacket in the fence and couldn't get loose, so I just laid there for awhile.
I got to thinking I could freeze laying there, so I pulled real herd and tore
a big hole in my good coat. I finally found Lindberg's barn. I went in and
got in with the milk cows. It was really warm in there. I should have stayed,
but I thought I could find my way home now if I'd go out of the barn and head
north I would find my way home; but how dumb I was. I got away from the
buildings and I was lost again. This time I went the other way. I pretty near
fell into the big sand pit of Lindberg's. I walked around for awhile until I
found my way back to the barn again. This time I decided to stay there. It
wasn't long before I heard the barn door open. It was Raynard. They had come
looking for me. Lloyd and Leonard couldn't get the car started so they
walked home. They didn't get lost like I did. Leonard's Dad came looking for
him on the Ford tractor. They got lanterns and flashlights and went looking
for me. Once in a while they found a foot print of mine the snow hadn't
covered. They had found foot prints right at the edge of the sand pit. I
don't know what would have happened if I fell in there. I think God must have
steered me away at the 1ast minute. Leonard and his Dad took the tractor back
to Troy. Ray had brought a heavy coat for me to wear. I wanted to a stay in
the barn all night, but we took off for home. Ray had a lantern along.
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The blizzard had let up a little, when we got closer to home, we could see a
light flickering in the north once in awhile. Dad had put a light in the
window up in the attic. I was really tired and cold when we got home.
I could write a book of all my experiences. I've been in two blizzards, three
car accidents, rolled a motorcycle twice, tipped over in a canoe in the middle
of a lake, also snowmobiles. We were in an airplane when the oil pressure went
out. We landed "O.K."
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Lloyd remembers ——
We used to get dressed by the old coal heater, Mom would be the first one up
in the morning to shake the old thing down, Once in a while there used to be
little holes poked in the icing glass on the hard coal heater doors. Who did
it?
Mom & Dad sat on the north side of the table with Johnnie between them. Lloyd
next to Mom, Loyal next to Daddy, Ray next to Loyal; do you know the rest?
The time w'y was dipping sheep and Daddy got sheep dip splashed in his
face and he went running to the water tank for fresh water and I thought he
was blind.
Loyal and I got into the little pink pills from the trunk upstairs, we went
down to the chicken house and licked the coating on some of them. We had good
stomach aches from that. It probably was exlax.
In the winter time we'd pull the stone boat from the backwoods into the barn and
back the horses up to it; load it with manure go to the field and pitch it off
with a fork and then on the way back to the barn we'd ride the stone boat.
We'd go to the barn in the winter and dig through a big snow drift to get dawn
to, the barn door. One year the snow was as high as the eves on the northwest
side of the house.
The time when we were swimming in the slough and we'd pick weeds out of the
bottom and put onto a raft.
Once when Ray, Glenn Mort, and I were swimming in the big slough and way out in
the water, I yelled the girls are coming. Glenn was almost to the edge when he
looked up and there were no girls. I got a good ducking for that.
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When we got our first dry cell battery radio, Jake Carlson came to hook it up
for us. We listened to WNAX, Yankton news, and then "The Lone Ranger"!
Loyal and I used to climb up on the roof of the house to study our confirmation
lessons.
I think you'll all remember better than I the time I went for a bicycle ride in
the winter; the bike tipped on ruts and I was knocked out. Remember coming to
laying in bed.
At Christmas one of the biggest presents that I ever had was when I got an
airplane. Loyal got a tank that shot sparks as you rolled it along the floor.
We would always have Christmas and Bill, Irene, Grandpa, and Grandma would be
there. I remember one time Bert Baker brought a pail of candy on Christmas day.
It was a real treat.
The first two Holstein cows we ever had were named Hugo and Teck. Hugo was named
after Hugo Holstein the shoe repair man in Strandburg.
The trips we would make to the Soloms and then walk up on Punished Woman's Mound.
Never forget the good syrup sandwiches, and in the springtime we'd come home
from school and herd cows along the road so they could eat the green grass that
was coming.
One special 4th of July, Loyal and I each had a cap pistol. We were sleeping
upstairs at that time and it didn't take us long to get out of bed that morning
to get the cows home for milking.
When Helen would bake cookies and hide them so we wouldn't eat them all up.
I remember listening to Daddy playing the violin.
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When we turned the old grindstone while Daddy sharpened sickles. Also we'd have
to cut wooden sheer pins for the cultivator. It took a lot of those.
Will always remember when I'd come home Saturday nights after working out all
week and Mom would have fresh bread. I think she baked every Saturday.
The names of the horses we had were Rosie, Violet, Queen, and Dan. We raised
Dan, but who was his mother? Dan had sleeping sickness and old Dr. Louis Larson
had to come to treat him.
Who could forget the ol' slop pail?
Remember in summer evenings we would hear the coyotes and in the mornings we
would hear the prairie chickens.
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Nordis remembers having a lot of fun playing house in the trees. The two ropes
where we hung by our knees and flipped over —— Now I can't even touch my toes.
Mom used to put her hands flat on the floor, remember? That has never been very
easy for me.
There was a certain tree where I used to go for a little solitude. It was a good
spot to hide too.
Remember the fun we had up in the hay mow? Climb the ladder, grab the rope or
sling and swing all the way across and then drop in the hay -- what fun!
Playing in the snow, especially on those big hills. It must have been pretty cold
to have that much snow on the ground, but we used to spend hours out there with
the sled.
Then we did have fun in the old dirty pond on the hot summer days. Later, going
swimming in Troy Lake when I was working at Johnsons. Aaron let me drive his car.
I thought that was pretty neat.
Creamery Day in South Shore was really something to look forward to ' and all the
free shows. Never forget that mystery "The Clutching Hand". Remember ' I was so
scared; just the music made chills go up and down my back.
I enjoyed the ice cream social at the church and community club on Wed, night at
the Troy Hall.
The times we spent with Irene and Bill. They were so good to us. We used to play
ball a lot; also other games at night under the stars when the chores were done.
Remember when we cut the Sears or Monkey Ward Catalog up for our paper doll
family. We spent hours playing with them.
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We had lots more fun than the little girls have now with their $2O dolls.
Christmas was special, Our programs at the church and getting a box of candy and
an apple was a special treat. Then being all together for Christmas dinner '
Grandma, Grandpa, Irene, and Bill. Adelle used to play the piano and we
I used to think it was really great to get to go to Watertown with Daddy & Mom.
Have crackers and bologna, 3 musketeer candy bars, or chocolate drops. Remember
if you got one with a pink center, you got another? That was nice.
What a treat to come home from school and smell the good homemade bread. Bet we
ate a couple of loaves and the "tusker— kak" —— Oh, How I would like to have one
right now, Wish I knew how to make them? Hint — Hint
I know there were a lot of other things we did '' drowning out gophers or playing
anti'I'over the chicken house. We had lots of fun and sure with I could thank my
folks for all they did for me.
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Ruth remembers loving school. Irene was my teacher in grades one through five. I
remember picnics at Troy Lake. That used to be an annual event. We'd have our
school picnics there. We'd have sack races and other relays. Some would go
swimming.
We'd also celebrate Decoration Day. We'd carry little flags. It seemed like we
went out to Troy Lake for that too. I dropped my flag in the lake '' I felt bad
about that.
Sundays were for church. We'd go to Sunday School first. I think I remember more
hymns from those days at home than any other time. I was confirmed when I was 12
years old. Helen and I were in the same class. Rev. Oakdale was stiil our pastor.
I liked him very much.
During the depression years we always looked forward to the boxes of clothes we1d
get from Inez. They weren't clothes that fit us, but dear Mom would make beautiful
things from them.
I remember Mom's chicken and dumplings baked in the oven. All the delicious buns
she used to make. Her cream chicken on mashed potatoes, Flat bread '' piles of it
that Grandma made, Potato Korv from Ellens. Helen's cookies that s
I always envied Adelle when she got to help with haying. I got stuck washing
dishes and little Vivian when she would sit in Daddy's lap and comb his hair,
I was always so homesick. Helen would stay over to Aaronsons and it didn't bother
her a bit. Once Ellen promised me a doll if I'd stay with her.
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Well that night when she went out to milk, the hired man squirted milk at me. That
was enough for me. I headed across the field and went home. Sometime later the
folks entertained a young people's meeting at our place. I think this was before
Irene was married, so it was some of her friends. This Earl Sandstad, Ellen's
hired man was along in the group. I wouldn't come out. I laid under the bed ail
evening. I don't know if I care to see him to this day.
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Helen remembers Dad playing his violin when he was done with the chores. Everyone
chorded for him; even she did one evening when it was just Mom, Dad, and her at
home. Many times wished that Dad had taught her how to play the violin.
Do you remember Ruth dressing up and tap dancing? Think it was only Ruth that
danced with Dad to the music of the radio.
Helen got her first Bible from Hansons, a zipper one, The same Christmas she
received another Bible from Grandpa Osterkil. Two at once as Grandpa had her
name and it was her birthday.
Will never forget getting my watch for Christmas from the family as I was staying
home with the folks; nor will I forget when I was sick and Grandma told me to say
my prayers and I couldn't remember them so she prayed. I was down stairs in
Grandma's bedroom.
Remember Mom telling us about the time when Nordis was in the stock tank. Mamma got
Nordis out and ran out to the field to Daddy. When she got out there, Nordis was
breathing ' Thank God.
I was told about the time I was playing up in the bed with some tin cans and a
little chair and I'd cut myself. Mom said the bed had blood all over.
Remember Eilen coming over for Nordis and Ray's birthday with cake and ice cream.
Can you remember Vivian saying "I don't like anyone but myself?" '- Can you
remember Vivan, when I helped you wash your hair? We had to pull about half of it
out. It was at Sioux Falls.
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Remember Ruth at college down in Sioux Falls saying, "Helen don't point and don't
shake hands. I'll do it when I please." Vivian must remember when we went to
Aberdeen to see Ruth at college with Art Gray and Bud Wentjes. They went out west
and it got late before they came back. I thought maybe they'd got drunk, and it was
time for lights out at the dorm; but finally they came and we were on our way home.
I did some crazy things. Dad and I were out in the porch and it was lightening. I
said, "That one went and sat down behind the toilet,"
Once there was a wind storm and I picked up the pot and ran down to the cellar Well,
I wasn't going to use it up stairs.
Can you remember the snow cave they made at school when Roger Ford and Kucker boys
and Fishers were in there and they couldn't hear the bell ring? Irene was our
teacher ' and a good one she was.
Remember Loyal used to suck his lip and his food? Can you remember Loyal saying,
"More foo over there". Loyal slipped on the ice of the old slough once anrd he
said, "Slough smart."
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Adelle adds — —
I think some of our most scary times were when Helen and Vivian were so sick. I
know when Helen was I didn't even want to go in the house. I would do anything out
in the barn just didn't want to be in the house. I guess there were always colds
and childhood diseases but we didn't go to the doctor much; very seldom. I know how
we were really concerned about Ruth when she had her ruptured appendix, and Lloyd
with Rheumatic fever. I'm sure there were other times when if Mom were here she
would remember how she nursed us back to health.
Church and school were the extent of outside of the home activities. Both were
important. Troy community consisted of Lutheran, Congregational and Catholic
people. The Lutheran Church was important to all of us with all the work that
Grandpa, Grandma, Irene and Bill and our parents took part in. I know it was hard
to leave it as we all did for other places of worship.
Irene and Bill had the store in Troy. It was always fun to stay with them. Grandpa
and Grandma lived in town then, too. Aaronsons were part of our growing up days.
Especially Ellen, we had a chance to stay with her many times, especially Helen and
I. My first time to go to Strandburg Tabor Lutheran was with Ellen to a Christmas
Program. I thought it was a huge church and the big Christmas tree was really some
thing. Can't remember what the program was like, but the church and tree sure made
an impression.
Our trips over to Ellen's were usually just across the pastures.
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I remember going there for Thanksgiving once after being invited by Ellen. The rest
of the family went to Grandmas for her usual good dinner. At Aaronsons we had
pickled herring and boiled potatoes; not the usual Thanksgiving dinner, that
Grandma always had.
Irene and Grandmas came up home for Christmas, and New Years was spent at irene and
Bills.
When I think of Christmas, I wonder how Mom got it all done. Lots of baking.
Christmas Eve makes me think of Daddy and his violin, his one enjoyment. Supper was
usually creamed salmon on toast. I think we all remember how Mom was still wrapping
Christmas presents Christmas Day after dinner. Gifts couldn't be passed around
until then so the kids were all getting restless waiting for the big moment to come.
My first job was working for some people that lived west of the home place. People
by the name of Tank; moved here from Hettinger, No. Dakota. Mom had her teeth pulled
that summer and also her hair cut. I'll never forget when she and Dad came down to
Tanks and she had her false teeth and her hair cut. She didn't look like Mom at all.
She didn't like those teeth very well either.
Ruth, do you remember your tap dancing dress you had? That came from Sioux Falls
too, didn't it? You were the hit of some of the programs we put on. Johnny, do you
remember the cowboy suit I bought you? I got that with some of my hard earned mnney
there. Also got a camera so I could take some pictures. I remember how proud you
were, Ray, when you got your bike. That was really something.
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Going back a few years again — — Nordis really thought she'd be a swimmer, but thanks
to Ray, Mom rescued her from the water tank. You really gave Mom a scare; and then
you did like to climb too, especially up on the top of the old organ. Another time
she disappeared, when found she was under that little bed on the porch, in the corner
as far as she could go, chewing on an old black beetle. Mom had to dig it out of her
mouth. Remember when Grandma fed you graham mush and when Mom asked what you had to
eat you said, "Grut and it weren't good edder",
Vivian spent a lot of time in Troy with Irene and Bill. There was a fellow named
Bert Baker there who was known for his beer drinking. Vivian liked Bert and would
visit him, but on one occasion she told him "She'd like to see his house but she
couldn't drink any beer". Bert got quite a kick out of that.
I was working at Stanwoods at the time the tornado took the barn at home, but remember
when Raynard stopped the next morning. I asked if he blew away the night before and he
said the barn did. I think there were about seven or eight barns that went down that
evening.
The End
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