MEJ PLUCKER'S DIARY - HIS LAST YEAR

1968

MEJ Plucker’s Diary – His last year

Died: October 19, 1968

 

Jan 1      Watched Cotton Bowl & Rose Bowl parade & games.

                At Dots for spechen & dicken.

[It was another cold winter. The pipes kept freezing and the furnace fuel line also needed thawing.]

Jan 8      Annual Cong. Meeting.

                Elders:  Martin Camp, Ed Heibult – Deacon:  Dick W. Plucker – Trustees:  Hank Albers, Vernon Bossman. Pastor’s salary: $6,000.00, Car Expense: $500, Bonus: $200.

Jan 15   Ordered Newsweek for 43 weeks. Also renewed Saturday Evening Post for 2-1/2 years.

[Dad was an avid reader and loved  his magazines.]

Jan 16   Bought chair from Sears - $39.14.

                Claus Buseman died.

                Went to Anthony Otten for supper.

Feb 15   Went to Buehlers to sort Library books.

                Gene’s arrive for a 2-day visit. [In 1968 we lived at Colfax Center Church in Iowa – a scant five-hour drive from Lennox.]

Feb 16   Gene & Jeanie, Dots & Eddie, Cindy & Faye went to BB game at Scotland (SD).

                Nola, Sandy, Gene & Jeanie here overnight.

Feb 17   First lamb born. Gene’s left for home.

Mar 15  Drove to Luverne, Minn. To investigate Blue Mound restaurant. [I’m sure it was a “scientific” investigation to determine what effect a turkey dinner would have on their digestion process.]

Mar 29  Mrs. Buehler’s birthday.

                Mom went to breakfast at Tea Lutheran church

                Went to Brandon with dots & Eddie to hear combined vocal concert.

Mar 30  Bought riding mower at K Mart. Mom to Faye to Marion for treatment. [The treatment must have been chiropractic.]

Apr 4     Martin Luther King shot & killed at 6 PM in Memphis.

Apr 30   Shot a skunk at 2:30 AM. [Many times I was woken up – frightened – to hear the “boom” of the shot gun.]

May 13 Took a trip to the Little Brown Church.

Jun 10   Dale leaves for Chicago.

                Bob’s family arrived from Seattle.

Dots & Eddie here for ice cream.

Jun 24   Eave trough replaced. Truck shed wall repaired. T.V. tower at Rowena down.

                Gene’s arrived at Straatmeyers in Lennox.

Jun 25   Went fishing to Lake Vermillion. Caught two bullheads.

Jun 26   Bob & family moved to Everett from Seattle.

June 27 Sunday school picnic.

                Straatmeyers & Gene’s went to Lake Poinsett for overnight.

Jun 28   Gene’s & S’s back from Lake Poinsett.

                We went to see Lily for a little while.

                Eugene Thaden married. Address: Kansas City.

Jun 30   Gene’s here for morning service, left for Denver, Colo. At 2 PM. [Gene was taking a summer course at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. We stayed in Student housing.]

Jul 4       Uncle Geo Buus here for Tea.

Jul 7       We visited John & Lena in PM.

Jul 8       Got bull back from Lawrence Weeldreyer.

Jul 9       Dale back from Europe Tour. Brought a musical candy plate from Switzerland.

Jul 10     Dale got a job at Sioux Steel, night work. Hank wormed all the sheep and gave rabies shot to the dog.

Jul 11     Bull got out again. At Laurence’s.

Jul 12     Took bull back to Canton. Built door in Eddie’s barn.

Jul 15     Gene’s back from Denver.

Jul 16     Home made ice cream at Eddie’s.

Jul 17     Mom & Jean cleaned 7 roosters for Mrs. S. Had supper at Truck Haven, S.F. with Gene & Jean & Dots & Eddie.

Jul 18     Gene & Jean & Mike visit to Don Hentjes.

Jul 19     Eddie baled the second cutting of alfalfa. Gene, Jean, Mike & Sandy went to Ray Smits. [Instead of Ray, this must have been Bob Smit’s.]

Jul 20     Saw slides that Dale took in Europe & that Gene took in Denver.

Jul 21     Gene preached in Lennox – morning and evening. Picnic at park in Lennox PM. We went to Lennox Ebenezer in the evening.

Jul 22     Cows returned to small pasture. Gene’s left for home. Buehler’s left on vacation.

                Bull delivered from Canton Livestock.

Jul 23     Made root beer here and at Eddie’s. [This was the BEST tasting root beer ever! But it took weeks for it to be ready to drink.]

Jul 24     Sprayed for grasshoppers in garden.

Aug 4    Joe & Lydia arrived at 4 PM.

Aug 7    Joe & Lydia left for Mpls.

Aug 14  God ready to go to Washington. Mom had a permanent at Parker.

                Faye here overnight.

[Here begins 12 days of their last vacation trip to visit Bob and Barbara in Everett, Washington.]

Aug 15  76984 mileage at home.

                Bought sun glasses at Kadoka ($1.23).

                Stopped at Bad Lands for short time. Out at 11:00.

                Drove to Spearfish, down Spearfish canyon to Mt. Rushmore,, then to Custer. Stopped for groceries. On to Newcastle. Motel cost: $12. Good supper: Hamburger, potatoes, lettuce, peach sauce. [Cooking in the kitchenette of the cabin was what was done!]

                Mileage at Newcastle: 77557. Miles driven today: 573.

Aug 16  Left Newcastle at 6:30. Went to Yellowstone by way of Sheridan & Greybull & Cody.

                Saw Old Faithful erupt at 6:15. Staying at West Yellowstone. Sherwood cabins: $10.00. Drove 498 miles today. Drove through 6 tunnels between Cody & Yellowstone.

Aug 17  Left West Yellowstone at 6:10. Breakfast at Belgrade. Bought 15.7 gallons gas at Belgrade.

                Drove mostly thru mountain country till we got near Spokane. Spent that night in Wilbur, Washington. Two room cabin with 4 beds: $6.00. Mileage at Wilbur; 78637.

Aug 18  Arrived at Everett at 11 AM. Not too much trouble finding the place.

                Went out for a site seeing ride after dinner.

                Mileage on arrival in Everett: 78873.

Aug 19  Went to Mt. Vernon in AM & visited Mae Harvey in PM. Saw the large plane building. [This must have been the Boeing plant that is visible from the highway.]

Aug 20  Spent the morning at home. Left for Seattle at 9:30. Stopped at Barbara’s office. From there, to Seattle for hamburgers. Saw the University campus and Bob’s former home.  Then to Seattle Center. Kids had rides. Bob & Mom went up in space needle.

Aug 21  Left for the seashore at 8 AM by way of Seattle, Tacoma and Aberdeen. Went up the coast as far as Pacific Beach. Spent about an hour on the beach. Were home at Bob’s by near 6 PM. Drove 456 miles.

Aug 22  Took a ferry boat ride to Whidbey Island in the forenoon.

                Changed oil in the Chev PM.

                Stayed home in the evening.

Aug 23  Shopped in White Front discount store in Seattle AM. Bought coffee server.

                Went to see Mae Harvey in the PM. Home in the evening.

Aug 24  Left Everett at 10 to 7. Mileage when leaving: 79376.

                Ate lunch at Spokane burger stand. Stopped at Missoula, got a cabin. 1 block north of the cabin where we stayed in 1966.

Aug 25  Left Missoula at 8 AM. Mileage: 79922.

                Went to Presbyterian church at Butte. Drove part way to Lewis & Clark Caverns.

                Had car heating trouble. Took thermostat out. Left AAA route to go toward Sheridan. Stayed overnight at Wyola.

Aug 26  Left Wyola (Indian town) at 7:30. Breakfast at Sheridan. Sandwich at New Castle, Malts at Martin.       Decided to go home on route 18. Saw buffaloes at Buffalo Gap.

                Were down to ¼ tank of gas at Parkston. Tied to buy some but stations all closed at 9 M. Went on anyway, found we didn’t need more gas!

                Mileage at home: 81121. Total miles: 4,137.

[Although I know that he always kept track of mileage on his cars, in this diary, he didn’t.]

Sep 7     Grandma Bossman’s sale. [This must be Gene’s grandma.]

Sep 11   Dots & Eddie off on trip to Florida. Faye & Nola – here.

                Dug 2 bushels of potatoes.

                Got Chev back from Tea. One valve: $32.99.

                Dots called from Florida. Phone No. there: Area Code 813-L.I.2 -2161 [Possibly in Florida at this time, they still used names for the first three numbers, i.e., HArrison 7-8723 (427-8723).]

Sep 13 Jerry & Irma left for Ames at 9 AM. [Jerry was one of Mom’s brothers.] 

            Dots & Eddie back from Florida.

            Lennox beat Elk Point in football.

Sep 17 Bought a Sunbeam razor in S.V. for $23.80.

Sep 18 Bought a Hoover washer and Hoover Vacuum Cleaner.

            Washer: $128.42

            Vacuum: $58.94.

            Four gallon Hyde Anti Freeze @ 1.19: $4.76.

            Bought new suit at E. W. Clothing: $81.89.

            Mom bought Struller dress at Fantles: $16.00.

            Mom hurt her back carrying washer. Went to Art DeVries for treatment.

            Took electric knife to Penny’s for repair.

            Took lid of coffee pot to Farm & Home Supply.

Sep 19 Met with Committee on Pastor’s Salary. [Rev. Buehler must have needed a raise.]

            Mom sprained her ankle.

Sep 20 Ordered mattress pad from Wards.

            Nola here, the rest gone to football game.

            Lennox lost 27 – 0!

Sep 22 Mission feast today.

Sep 24 Cattle returned from across the road.

            Ann came from Mpls. We had supper at Dots.

Sep 25 Mom & Ann went to visit Tillie Buseman & Lena Highstreet.

            Went to Julius Schnoose at night.

Sep 26 Drove to Alpena with Ann. Had dinner the The Plains in Huron. Took Ann to Tillie Poppens directly from Alpena. Dots & Eddie left for the games toward evening.

Sep 27 Did chores at Eddie’s.

Sep 28 Chores at Eddie’s. Turned buck.[Turning the Buck meant letting him run with the sheep.] Can expect lambs Feb 25.

Sep 29 Dots & Eddie back from tournament. We got Ann from Sioux Falls.

Sep 30 Went to Wm Poppens for dinner. Ann went to see Tilly in the evening.

 

Oct 1   Took Ann to see Aunt Minnie in Lennox in the morning. She stayed till 4 PM. We then took her to the airport to go back to St. Paul.

Oct 2   District Presbyterial meets at church today. Dick M. Plucker’s sale.

Oct 3   First frost of season.

            Electric fence set up in north field, cows turned on plowed ground. Eddie helped.

Oct 4   Mom cleaned the bedroom. We dug 1-1/2 5-gal pails of late potatoes.

Oct 5   Put anti-freeze in pickup.

Oct 6   Went to Geo Naatjes PM.

Oct 7   Today we cleaned out the garden & put on storm windows & butchered 3 roosters. Eddie finished combining beans.

Oct 8   Buehler here – AM & PM. [I can’t help wondering why...]

Oct 9   Dots came here to try Hoover washer. Funeral for Mrs. Harm E. Straatmeyer.

Manure on garden.

Oct 10 We visited the Straatmeyers in the evening.

Oct 11 Mom’s U.P.W. group went to Good Samaritan Home in the afternoon.

Oct 12 Went with Dots & Eddie’s to S.F. College Varsity show.

Oct 13 Rev. Jerry DeLoof of Chancellor preached this morn. We drove thru Newton Hills State park PM. We attended Turner Co. 1^st in the evening.

Oct 14 Took 5 roosters to Mrs. Musch to butcher and took them to Buehlers. Mom’s group (UPW) met here to plan program for family night.

Oct 15 Mom washed drapes in front room.

Oct 16 Harm’s & Ben’s here for dinner. [Harm & Ben Thaden were brothers of Mom.] Electric knife returned from Penneys. Cows broke down gate.

Oct 17 Saw Dr. Sanderson for a checkup & flu shot.

            Started to rain on Octo 15. Still raining on 17^th. Rained somewhere in neighborhood of 3 or 3-1/2 inches.

I went to meeting of I.C.A.

 

COMMENTS FROM JEAN, DOTS AND BOB

 

Jean & Dots:

I never heard what Dr. Sanderson said to him on that Thursday before he died. I saw no change in his handwriting in the last couple of days.

What we know (after 45 years) is that on Saturday, the 19^th, Mom and Dad went to Sioux Falls to go Christmas shopping. One of the things they bought was a jumping clown for Mike. (When Mom gave it to me, she said Dad was determined that Mike should have that clown. We kept it safe in the top shelf of the closet for many years and Mike even took it with him when he left home.)

In the afternoon that day, they were walking along a sidewalk on a side street. They had been at Fantles on Main St. and were heading for Phillips Avenue. All at once, he stopped, put his hands up on the wall of the building next to them and said, “This is it.” At that, he slowly slumped to the sidewalk.

Mother finally got help; he was taken to the hospital and declared dead that evening.  As it happened, Dots & Eddie had decided to go to Sioux Falls that day, too, so Dale and Ken were home alone and Dale was in the house when the phone rang. He jumped in his car, went to Sioux Falls and miraculously found his folks on the street. Upon hearing the news, they all went to the hospital to take care of Mom.

It was a hard day.

 

Bob:

Mom and Dad had come to Washington to see us the summer of ‘68, and I remember thinking that he was feeling particularly good. He was horrified at all the slugs and spent some time in the back yard of our big Everett house snagging slugs and tossing them over the cliff into the gulch below. He also made a minor repair to a back yard picnic table we had. But he was chagrined to find that he had inadvertently sawed off a small piece of the end of a seat.

There was some kind of a scandal going on in Seattle city government at the time and we were reading about it in the paper. Dad said he “sure wished he lived long enough to see how all that came out.”

When Dots phoned to tell us that Dad had died in Sioux Falls, I had promised my friend Wally that I would take his choir Sunday morning. The choir was at a church in north Seattle that I had had before Barbara and I moved to Everett. The fact that Dad had died didn’t really hit me, and so I went ahead and took the choir, never letting on that I was on the verge of going to S. Dakota. When it did hit me was when we went to the funeral home to see him with Eddie & Dots. Eddie said something about his never cutting our hair anymore, and then he and I just fell apart on each other’s shoulder. 

Dad’s death was not really unexpected – just the suddenness of it was hard to take. He had experienced two other heart attacks previous to this last one. The first attack happened at home – I believe he was just coming in from doing the chores – at first they thought it was a gall bladder attack which is why he was taken to the hospital where the determination of a heart attack was made. I think when the second attack happened, he knew what it was, so he was taken to the hospital quickly.

 

MEJ was a good Dad – probably a bit easy on his “baby of the family,” but all in all, taught me a lot and gave me a good foundation for my life.

 

Jean E. Straatmeyer

April, 2013

Dena's RSVP Profile

LENNOX (SD) INDEPENDENT / January 29, 1987

(RSVP: Retired Senior Volunteer Program)

         
There is an old proverb that says, “she doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet!” And, that pretty well describes our lady of the Lennox RSVP group this week!

Our honoree on this occasion is Dena Plucker. She lives at 120 West Third Avenue in Lennox. One can see her traipse uptown or to the Lennox senior citizen corner (center) with a sure and steady stride. Living only a short distance from either, she has her daily walks!
 

Dena has been a volunteer for many years, but since 1985 a part of the senior program. She does much quilting at the center, and frequently serves during the noon meals. She has also been on the Lennox Life Enrichment for the Elderly (L.E.E.) Committee as a member and as a secretary completing her tenure this past year.

Dena for many years has used her musical talent to play in churches or in accompanying groups. She accompanied the Germantown Presbyterian church ladies’ trio for many years, and is the pianist for senior citizen groups and programs now. Not only did she learn piano and organ, but she also had nurse training for two years at the Huron hospital.

She began organ lessons early in life. When she was eight years old, her father purchased a piano. The purchase was made with “piano lessons thrown in,” so to speak, and the trips to Willow Lake were made by bobsled in winter time. She recalls that her hands were too numb to play, however her teacher had her warm them in a pan of hot water before beginning to play.

A young man she had met at Dubuque Academy earlier captured her heart, so instead of continuing with her nurse training, she married M.E.J. Plucker in Lennox, in 1924.

Her husband helped his father in the grain elevator on the west edge of Lennox, located on the Great Northern railroad line. For the first year and a half they lived in Lennox, then it was to Princeton, Illinois a short time, back to Dubuque for a year, and then back to South Dakota on a farm northeast of Chancellor. Moving was done by train. After five years, one more move – to the Plucker home place. Here they experienced all the difficult times of the depression – the “dirty 30’s” – along with good times. Here they reared three children.

During those years, Dena did the volunteer church work so many others also did; taught Sunday school, Junior Christian Endeavor, Vacation Bible school, Ladies’ Aid offices, and served as a piano accompanist.

Dena is a member of the Lennox American Legion Auxiliary. In that group, too, she has been a busy volunteer. At Christmas time she also helps at the Veterans Administration hospital in Sioux Falls, including shopping and wrapping Christmas gifts for patients. She also helps with bingo games there and at the Lennox Good Samaritan Center. She is a Chaplain among the officers of the Auxiliary. Whenever Dena has time for herself, she enjoys crocheting and making quilts for her grandchildren – there being ten – and also eight great-grandchildren. She also has had roles in the annual Lennox senior citizen plays.

This lady has done much traveling – from Lennox “to Timbuktu”! She has crossed the USA – New York to California, been to Alaska two times, and to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Washington State. [In 1979 she also made a trip to Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria with her daughter, Jean.] She is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church and the women’s organizations, helping whenever and wherever needed.

Dena’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. E. Louis Thaden. She was born on a farm two and a half miles south of Chancellor. There was a full household – with 11 children. Dena was the fifth in line, and when she was only a year old the family moved to a farm near Willow Lake. She attended a country school, and walked one and a half miles daily or when necessary, traveled by bobsled during winter. After eighth grade graduation, she and a Bunger girl from Davis attended Dubuque Academy at Dubuque, Iowa for one year. Several other members of her family also went to school there, at the Academy College and Seminary. She has five brothers who went on to become church pastors.

Dena’s children are: Dorothy DeVries, Lennox; Robert Plucker, Mount Vernon, Washington; and Jean Straatmeyer, Tempe, Arizona.

  By Margaretta Bossman

(Below is the actual picture from the Lennox Independent about the RSVP crew. I can't help but notice that Dena is the prettiest one shown!)

 

DENA’S DIARY – 1969

What was life like for a newly widowed South Dakota farm woman in 1969?

 

It had to be an extremely hard time for Mom. The time between October 19, 1968 and the end of the year, she depended heavily on my sister and her husband for support. My brother and I did what we could, but mostly depended on letters from the middle of Iowa and from Washington State.

 Having been invited to Washington for the holiday season, she must have received this lovely diary for a Christmas gift. So, she doggedly wrote something down about her life every day for most of the first three months – weather, farm, church activities. She never noted any of her sadness. However, as time went on and she got to go places and do things with others, she didn’t have time to write every day.

In this diary (January – September), she only mentioned Dad once but I know that she was often in tears and could hardly tolerate speaking of him. Too bad she had to spend so much time alone, but then perhaps it was meant to be.

I know that first winter (a cold one full of snow storms and blizzards) she spent days and weeks going over all her pictures. I don’t think she actually did anything with them except look at them and wish it weren’t so... But then, in May, she bought the house in town and things began to look up.

I didn’t find a diary from 1968.

 I have included everything I found in this diary of hers. However, I won’t be upset if readers don’t wish to peruse every line. I am only including the actual wording from the diary for historical purposes. I highlighted those sections I thought were most fascinating to me.

Jan 1:                     Got home from Bob’s at the Sioux Falls airport about 11:30 p.m. Dots & Eddie were there to meet me. It was cold, around zero and lots of snow. The report was that S.F. had 28 in. of snow – the most in the USA.

Jan 2:                     I stayed with Dots & Eddie over night and the children in school decided to have their Christmas program in the PM. It was cold and some of the roads were drifted shut but everybody got there. I went home after the program.

Jan 3:                     My driveway still closed. It is still drifting a bit all the time.

Bob’s birthday – I called him in the evening. It was then 16 degrees below.

Jan 4:                     30 below this morning. Eddie came in the PM and opened the driveway. Dots came & took me along to Chancellor so I could get some needed groceries. Nola stayed overnight.

Jan 5:                     Above zero this morn. Eddie got me for church and I went home with them for dinner to celebrate Nola’s birthday.

(Deposited check for $452.38 for the beans.)

In the PM it got to 38 above and rained. Now everything is covered with ice, but luckily not the telephone and electric wires. Eddie put chains on over his snow tires to do chores over here. In the Evening, Eddie, Dots & I went to Lennox to hear the cantata put on by Turner Co. 1^st. Had coffee & pie in the bowling alley afterwards.

Jan 6:                     12 above.

Got my nylon stocking quilt out and worked on that today.

Jan 7:                     Just zero this morning and cloudy. Eddie came and got me for homemade ice cream.

Jan 8:                     Strong north west winds. 26 above, but gradually dropping. Lee Buehler is here today and not feeling well. 2:30 PM, schools closing around the area. Strong winds and blowing snow & very icy conditions.

Jan 9:                     Six below this morning. Still drifting & blowing some. The wind let up at noon. Went with Dots to Women’s  Assn. Eleven ladies there.

Jan 10:                  High was 8 above. Sioux Falls had 20 below. This one was 14 below. I washed clothes today.

Jan 11:                  Deposited $113 from Eddie for ½ a beef. Two below this morning – it snowed a little during the night. Went to Parker with Dots & Eddie. Got a furnace filter. They got TV fixed.

Jan 12:                  16 above but the wind blew enough to fill up driveway again. Eddie got me for church; walked to the road. Stayed there and came home after church in the evening.

Jan 13:                  Zero at 5am this morning but warming up. 26 above at noon. Annual meeting. Walked to the road and Dots & Eddie picked me up. Had a long meeting; over at 11:30pm.

New elders:       Alvin Plucker, Lester Dannen & Harold Freese.

Deacons:             George Heibult, Larry Poppens & Duane Steever.

Trustees:             Alfred Heibult & Harold Jacobs

Jan 14:                  27 above, snow forecast by tonight. Eddie opened drive way again. Heavy mist all PM. Sunday School meeting tonight. Lester Dannen called, would I consider being Superintendent.

 I wouldn’t.

Jan 15:                  34 above and raining. Had 27 today. Dots & Eddie here to help with income tax. Eddie got hay.

Jan 16:                  27 above. Took the car out for the first time since I’m back.

Jan 17:                  Snow again last night. Buehler got the new “Laymans” commentaries and desk and guest book from Sioux Falls. Dots came in PM and we went to church to see what it looked like. Nola stayed overnight. [The commentaries, desk and guest book were from Dad’s memorial money.]

Jan 18:                  20 above and going up.  Eddie & Ken fixed humidifier. Lorna Poppens Boterman called, could they buy an acreage. Temp going down.

Jan 19:                  Six below. Temp going up. 34 at bedtime. Dots & family here for dinner. Snow blowing again, driveway closed. Eddie took my car ‘cause Ken took theirs in the PM.

Jan 20:                  30 above, sleeting a little. Report is for cold tonight. Nixon inaugurated.

Jan 21:                   Washed my hair. Eddie opened driveway, went to Lennox with Dots & helped Wilmke P. celebrate her birthday.

Jan 22:                  30 above this morn & sleeting. Worked on my quilt today. 5:30pm now, and 6 above zero and storming.

Jan 23:                  Stormed all night and all day. Eddie couldn’t get here to do chores. I gave them hay. All schools closed, all roads closed.

Jan 24:                  Same thing again. Wind chill factor of 63 below. Six below was the high!

Eddie & Ken got as far as the bridge and then walked over.

Jan 24:                  15 below, still blowing a little but snow plow is out. Roads opened.

Jan 25:                  All roads closed again. No church, long Sunday.

Jan 26:                  No school any place. Louis Friese died last night about 11pm. Mrs. Friese alone, telephone not working and she with a cracked rib. Waited until morning, then walked to the neighbor.

Jan 28:                  6 below zero and five inches of new snow. No school again. Dots, Eddie, Faye & Nola here. Left car at church & walked here. It was 10 degrees above.

Jan 29:                  Eight above and snowing. No school here but Lennox & Chancellor have. Kenny is staying with Steevers. Roy Wilcox had a heart attack Sunday & passed away on Monday, January 27.

Jan 30:                  Four above and snowing. 63 inches so far since it started. Louis Friese’s funeral to be today; should have been yesterday. But postponed until tomorrow. Snow plow opened the road to my driveway. Dots, Eddie, Faye & Nola here. Finished working on the income tax.

Jan 31:                  Louis Friese funeral today. Bad day. Wind turned to NW blowing hard. Temp dropped from 20 degrees to five degrees in 15 minutes. Ken Buehler brought the mail.

Feb 1:                    15 below, but warmed up to over 20 degrees. Jim, Ken & Connie walked over. Jim & Ken did chores. Connie stayed all day. It was a pleasant change. Snowplow opened road from church to driveway at 9:30pm.

Feb 2:                    Four above, no wind.

Eddie picked me up at the end of the driveway & we went to church. Went with them for dinner and rest of the day. Went to Leo & Lucille in the evening.

Feb 3:                    15 below, but nice weather. Eddie & Pete opened up around the corn pile. Fuel truck came with long hose and filled fuel tank. It was low.

Feb 4:                    Beautiful winter weather. Eddie shelled a pile of his corn for feed. Afterwards Pete & Eddie opened up the driveway.

Feb 5:                    Went to Lennox and took income tax material to Simon and paid fuel oil bill. Had tea at Dots & Eddie & then went to Chancellor.

Feb 6:                    Very foggy. Called off Women’s meeting. Walked to church in the PM & helped Darlene Buehler get part of the Commentaries ready for the Library. Went with Dots & Eddie to see Vera Jean & baby in the evening.

Feb 7:                    Went with Dots & Eddie to basketball game in Lennox.

Feb 8:                    Shelled my share of corn. Served dinner for them. Ken B. brought me dried deer meat.

Feb 9:                    Minus four, but sun is shining bright.  Eddie came and got me for church. Went to the O. Cage for dinner. After dinner to Jerry & Marie. Stayed home in the evening.

Feb 10:                 Washed & ironed. Eddie brought corn check: $1895.28.

Feb 11:                                 Eddie got me and we went to Parker. Got car license and paid taxes. Went to Chancellor to deposit money and to Lennox to see about income tax. No income tax to pay. Nola is sick; she stayed home from school.

Feb 12:                 Took wax off the kitchen floor. George & Esther were here in the Eve.

Feb 13:                 Nice day, went to Women’s meeting in PM  & to Chancellor with Dots. Snow is forecast.

Feb 14:                 It is snowing & storming. Driveway closed again. Temp. is 22 above.

Feb 15:                 A long, dreary day.

Feb 16:                 Snowplow opened to driveway. Eddie picked me up at the road to go to church. Went with them to S.F. after dinner, took Dale’s car to him and went to church in the Evening.

Feb 17:                 Eddie opened driveway. Hard water cistern empty.

Feb 18:                 Elcock brought water & Dots & I went to S.F. in the PM. H. Straatmeyers here in the evening.

Feb. 19:                Road opened to East. Dots got me when she got the kids from school. Left at 5PM for S.F. to go to touranament. Lennox won by one point over Harrisburg.

Feb. 20:                Snow storming again. Everything closed up again.

Feb 21:                 30 above, but still snowing & blowing. Eddie couldn’t come. I fed the animals.

Buehler & Ken came to water the animals. Wet snow. Dots & Eddie went to the tournament with Hoogestraats.

Feb 22:                 34 above & foggy. Eddie opened the driveway. Went to the tournament in the evening.

Feb 23:                 Went to church. Eddie here for dinner. Ed & Lydia here in PM. Stayed home in the Evening.

Feb 24:                 Washed & had Lee Buehler here all day.

Feb 25:                 Sheep sheared.

Feb 26:                 Went to S.F. with Dots & Eddie. Got new Spring coat for $40. Started snowing again. Another 8 inches. 91.8 inches of snow for the season so far. Eddie put on chains in the evening and we went to the basketball game.

Feb 27:                 Jerry P. took wool to S.F. Went to the game again. Lennox won again.

Feb 28:                 Got $45.21 for wool. Fred Neeman’s mother buried in Germantown cemetery. Our group served lunch to about 30 people.

Mar 1:                   Nice weather, hair cut in Parker this PM.

Mar 2:                   Went to church. Nice weather. Spent the afternoon with Dots & Eddie. Leo & Lucille were there in the afternoon.

Mar 3:                   The sun shone for a little while. 

Mar 4                    Tournament time...........

Mar 6:                   Went to Women’s meeting. Went home at 3:00, watched Lennox play & Lennox lost by five points.

Mar 7:                   Gene & Jeanie came at noon to go to the tournament. Gene got a ticket for me for the evening game. The children stayed at Gene’s folks.

Mar 8:                   I kept the children all day. We had supper with Gene’s folks and then I went back with them. Got here at 11:00. (Colfax Center)

Mar 9:                   Two above. Went to SS & church all day.

Mar 10:                  Sun shining, but cold.

Mar 15:                 Irma wrote that Jerry is not well.

Mar 16:                 Gene is in Leoti, Kansas. Durwood Busse from Iran spoke here this morning. 50 degrees above at noon. Nice. Jeanie sewed two dresses for me. I washed walls for her.

Mar 24:                 Left from Parkersburg on bus to Sioux City. Dots & Eddie came to get me. Got home at midnight. Good to be home.

Mar 25:                 A lot of snow yet. 32 degrees above and thawing.

Mar 26:                 Eight above. Eddie, Dots & I went to Parker. Signed up 30%. Dots & Eddie, Fay & Nola here in the evening. Got the bedroom ready for papering. Tilly sent $50 for memorial for Johnny. I took it to Buehler.

Mar 27:                 38 above. Washed. Esther called. Sharon’s baby girl, Jennifer Nicole, was born the 20^th.

Mar 28:                 Ten above. Cold & windy. First calf this morning in the snow bank.

Mar 29:                 Three above. Jack Batho was here & fixed the plumbing - $22. Darlene Buehler’s birthday.

Apr 4:                    Papered the bedroom.

Apr 6:                     Easter  - Thawing, flood conditions. Sheep ate too much corn. Three died.

Apr 13:                  Went to Willow Lake. Dots, Eddie, Nola & I had dinner at Eileens. Hannah not well; fainted in store. Floods getting better.

Apr 14:                  Eddie’s birthday. Went to music festival in Lennox and then to truck stop for lunch. Ken & Karen, too.

Apr 17:                  Painted all day at Dots & Eddie’s. Finished next day, then went to County Chorus in Parker & track meet in Lennox. Brother Jerry, very sick.

Apr 21:                  Charles & Alma stopped for about ½ hour.

Apr 22:                  Planted potatoes in the garden & carrots.

Apr 23:                  Put in onions & peas.

Apr 24:                  Dots & Eddie seeded oats here.

Apr 26:                  Brother Jerry passed away Saturday morning. Funeral on Monday. Ben’s, Harm’s & I went. Bob & Judy were there, too.

May 6 – 13:         Had a permanent. Looked at Timmerman’s house. Planted beans & tomatoes.

May 14:                Mrs. LO. Weeldreyer died.

May 25:                 Looked at a house.

May 27:                Looked at house again with Dots & Eddie. He wanted $13,200, but finally came down to $12,900 & I bought it.

May 23:                Gene & Jeanie here for Ken’s graduation. Dots had about 75 people over. Bob & Judy came too. They all left Saturday morning.

May 27:                School picnic. Jennie Plucker broke her leg. Buck pushed her. Fell in the night & broke a rib. Took her to hospital.

*May 29:             Delivered urn on Dad’s grave. Finished mowing yard.

June 1:                  Looked at Tony Salem house.

June 3:                  Bought house for $12,900.

June 9:                  Worked all week removing varnish from woodwork. Esther helped.

June 16:               Finishing wood work.

June 17:                Went to Parker home. Children sang.

June 23:                Faye to camp. Jeanie & children came. Stayed at Straatmeyers.

June 24:               Jean helped get things ready for sale.

June 25:               Dots, Eddie & I worked at house in AM while Nola was in school.

June 26:               Jean here helping. SS picnic in Evening.

June 27:               Sale. Got $8,600 for acreage and $1,098.50 for rest of sale. Art, Edgar & Eileen here.

July 3:                    Storm – hail pretty had. Worse at Eddie’s, 1-1/2 inch of rain. Eddie, Dale, Ken, Dick & Merlin put new ceilings in the evening.

July 4:                    Hot & humid.

*July 26:              Moved to Lennox. Hard to know where to put everything. Faye stayed with me the first evening and Nola the next evening. I was glad they did. Wish Dad could be here with me.

August

Arranged for prayer meetings for Crusade. Had the first meeting.

Dug potatoes, carrots & onions.

Pretty well settled.

Had check from Bob for $160 for fare to go to Everett.

Aug 15:                 Gene, Jeanie & family came. All staying here.

Aug 16:                  Had everybody here for picnic supper on my lawn. Karen & Elaine here too.

Aug  17:                Went to State Line with the Gene’s.

Aug 19:                 Went to Canton with Gene. Paid the last half of the taxes on my house and had deed recorded.  Will leave for Bobs Thursday evening. Fly to Fargo & then take the train to Everett. Will arrive there at 6:30 Saturday AM.

Aug 20:                 Enjoyed train ride but tired. Bob said I better go home via plane.

Sept 8:                   Had a real good time at Bob’s. Stayed at Mae’s two nights. Met Barb’s Dad & wife. Flew home; had to change in Bismarck. Dots, Eddie, Nola, Faye & Joe & Les there to meet me in S.F.  Jo & Les left again next morning.

Sept 18:                Pilot light turned on in furnace. Richard Fokken worked on basement drain.

Sept 21:                Mission Fest.

Sept 23:                Went to Yankton, group C & D.

Sept 24:                38 degrees.