(label in the hand of my mother - Jean Ann Richards Griggs) Some dates: Margaret Isabella Horne Richards (b 7 May 1867 Cedar Falls, Iowa d13 Mar 1947 Portland, Or); Charles Bird Richards (b 11 Jan 1857 Mexico, Maine d16 May 1923 Salem,Oregon); Dale Everett Richards (Grandpa Dick to me) (b24 Devils Lake, North Dakota Nov 1892 d 5 June 1993 Salem, Oregon) Jarvis William Richards (b. 9 Sep 1899 Devils Lake, North Dakota d 27 Jul 1931 while swimming in the Columbia River) Hazel Pearl Richards Chenoweth (b7 Oct 1888 Devils Lake, North Dakota d29 Jul 1977 Washington); Eva Jeanette Richards(might have been a twin) (b 21 Nov. 1896 Devils Lake, North Dakota d 6 Feb 1993 Battleground, Wa) Erma Ruth Richards (not pictured) was born 15 Feb. 1906 in Kalispell, Montana and died 2 Feb. 1972 in Hawaii)
Harriet Ann Krythe Gill (b 21 Feb 1921 d 2005) Thomas Steffen Gill (b 1 Aug 1944) Robert Steffen Gill (b 2 Sept 1917 d 29 Aug 1981)
As this birthday of Mom Gill comes to a close I just wanted to wish a "Happy Birthday" to a dear friend - the Mom of my husband and Grandmother of my children
A favorite story of mine - we lived in Milwaukee the first 3 years of our marriage. I was introduced to "dark woodwork" when I moved to the Midwest. The houses I had lived in growing up had the woodwork painted.
Mom's beautiful home was full of "dark" stained and varnished woodwork.
I had mentioned to Tom (probably more than just mentioned) how I felt about "dark" woodwork - I didn't really like it (probably still wouldn't choose it).
So - one evening just a month or so after we were married Tom shared my feelings with his Mom.
Tom was a lot taller than Mom - but she stood there - almost looking him in the face - and told him in a VERY serious voice that he was to NEVER criticize me in front of her again.
I loved her before - but that was truly a bonding moment for me!!!
Mom always loved me for who I was. Her kitchen was the place that I could go and just talk and talk and she would listen and listen.
She collected Turtles. And she raised "African Violets". They were always beautiful. And because she always had beautiful African Violets when we would send her flowers - I would send African Violets.
But - her 7th grandchild let me in on a "little" secret when she was here visiting in November! I'm thinking it was her mother - Laura Krythe - who gave Mom Gill African Violets and felt that Mom should raise them. If not her mother it would have been Aunt Bea!
Mom didn't always take super good care of them - so, if she knew her mother was coming, she would just go out and buy new ones to replace the ones that were looking a little peaked!
Love that story!!
So - it's late - so many memories in my head - but I need to go to bed (that's a rhyme).
I'm hoping this would be the place that you could add yours. Memories like taking a little boy fishing, serving up strawberry shortcake for a granddaughters wedding, helping another granddaughter dress in the Temple for her wedding day, watching babies walk around and around the oak table in the dining room, so curious about medical procedures that she stayed awake during her amputations, having her grandson take her in her wheelchair around her apartment building to help take care of others there. Always finding the VERY best in each person.
The last time I got to visit her it was with my husband and "my three sons". Our middle son figured out a way to get her in our rented van and we were off. We went to East Troy to see where they had lived so many years ago. She shared stories - we laughed - we went to a fish fry on that visit!
Thank you Mom - Thanks for being you and for loving me. Karen
Today at church someone spoke of the "blue blanket" that had been such an integral part of their family's life. It made me start thinking of the "Brown Couch" that played a similar roll in our family.
The couch didn't start out as brown. It was white - pure white - kind of a burlap fabric. The salesman assured us that it was quite sturdy and wouldn't show dirt.
We had never really owned a couch! Not a real one - nice and new! When we married we had a "studio bed" that Aunt Bea gave us - it served us well for 3 years! Then - when we moved from Wisconsin to Oregon we sold all we had except what we could fit in our 14 foot sailboat and rented a furnished apartment for 2 1/2 years. The studio bed was no longer with us. The apartment came complete with a "hide a bed" that served quite well for family members who were our guests!
In 1973 Tom "graduated" and he got a "real" job teaching theater and writing at Chemeketa Community College - we rented a Town House in Keizer and moved in all we owned (by now it mostly fit in a small u-haul trailer). Most of what we owned were our 15.00 garage sale crib and our prize piece of furniture - a wooden high chair we bought from Penny's for our baby girl! We had an air mattress to sleep on ourselves until we found a mattress at the Goodwill. Our living room furniture consisted of a treadle sewing machine and Grandma Krythe's library table.
We were wanting a couch and found an "antique" cast off in the driveway of the Town House Apartments for FREE!! So we took it. Rather shabby green velvet it was. That served us well for about 2 more years.
During that time we had purchased our first home - 14,500.00!! We were POOR with the house-payments but we WANTED a cool couch to go in our living room with real wood floors so we had a garage sale. We took our profit at the end of the day and met the man with the white couch.
When the couch arrived it looked perfect sitting on our hardwood floors! It was beautiful! It was big - my tall husband could stretch all the way out on it! We could sit and read (we had no t.v.). We could entertain guests and feel proud that we had something to sit on. We could pet our cat Elmer who often perched on the back and sunned himself by the window.
If we pulled it out our children could put on puppet shows behind it ! When we wanted a treat at the 7-11 down the street from the next house we moved it to - we could pull off the cushions and find money dad had lost when he was sitting on it.
If someone was sick - we covered it with a sheet and pillows - and tucked that person in!!
If I was up late waiting for "daddy" to come home from working on a play - I could cat nap on the couch!
But - we found the salesman didn't REALLY know about active families because we had a REALLY hard time keeping that "white couch" white!!
The "couch" was such a part of our lives we couldn't imagine living without it...we now had 3 children...they could all sit on it at once, along with sundry cats and dogs, books and friends!!
And so - we "bit the bullet" and had it re-upholstered in a lovely brown heavy duty velvet kind of fabric. I'm thinking that was in about 1979!
Our couch welcomed two more little boys into our home - it "read" a lot more stories and comforted a lot of "colds" and "flues"!
It saw us bring home a used t.v. and rent a VCR and watch movies from home. That was a miracle!
It held us while we had family home evenings (or sometimes family home fights).
When we "looked" for money we always would find popcorn! The couch knew that Dad was the best of the popcorn makers and where else should we enjoy it but on the couch.
When we were missing Legos - we could look under the cushions or under the couch!
It held foster children who shared time with us - getting to know us and finding their way.
It moved with us to a bigger house - a house with a pool. Lots of friends came to play - to swim and then come in to "warm up" on the couch. It seemed impervious to the "wet bottoms" of the "not so dry suits"!
It was my place to be as friends came to share with me the sadness of a miscarriage!
The couch held us we sat in shock and sadness with my sister and her children as we mourned the loss of our dear Uncle.
The couch held us as we gathered for the passing of a my grandmother and grandfather - of my mom and my dad!
The couch hosted Grandparents and Great Grandparents - every Aunt and Uncle - every cousin!
The little people in the house got bigger and bigger ! The couch learned about homework - who needed a desk when you had the brown couch?
It learned about "teenagers" and "teenagers" friends. It learned about boys who got so hungry they would sit on the couch and eat and eat and eat! It learned that teenagers stay up really late and the couch would be there to be with them as they watched a movie. Or to be with my husband or I as we waited for the teenager to come home! It would be there to hear about what they did!
It learned about children learning about working and would be there early in the morning for the "rolling" of newspapers before newspaper routes - or for a quick nap after newspaper routes before school!
It took our family through hard times....and happy times.
Someone brought a dog home - Freedom was his name! Freedom was a puppy and we would hold him on our laps on the couch and watch t.v.. Freedom grew and he grew out of our laps but never off of the couch. Freedom was offended when someone would come and need to sit on "his" couch.
The couch was there to host guests at our daughters weddings! The couch was there to lay our first grandson on!
But, one day I looked at that couch - it was over 20 years old - and so loved! And so comfortable! But - so sad looking. I knew it was time to get a new couch. I asked my husband to take it to the Goodwill! That was maybe one of the hardest things he had to do.
It wasn't long and he and the brown couch came home. They wouldn't take it he said with unbelief and sadness. Such a wonderful part of our lives and yet it wasn't good enough for the Goodwill!
It was then that we (I) determined it had to go to the dump. It did. We have purchased 2 couches in the 12 years since then - but they just aren't the same - they haven't served our family quite like our dear old friend "the brown couch".
It would be my hope - as you read this meandering thought about the brown couch - that you add to it memories that you have.
It was Valentines Day 1959 and Oregon was having her 100th birthday!! In honor of the day I dressed up as a pioneer. I don't remember if my sisters did.
I do remember that we lived so "out in the woods" and we often played "old fashioned" we called it ! That was a graduation from playing "Dale Evans and Annie Oakley".
This is a picture of me going out the door to catch the bus to school. I was 12 years old. I was in the 7th grade at the Gold Hill Elementary School. We lived up Sardine Creek not far from the "House of Mystery" http://www.oregonvortex.com/. Happy 152nd Birthday Oregon
It is Valentines day 2010 and I wanted to share the valentine made by my Grandma Ruth for her "mama" in what I am guessing would have been about 1908 - when she would have been learning cursive. As you scroll down you will see the poem. Mary Jane (Jennie) Bennett Rollins was born 2 October 1860 in Indianapolis, Johnson, Indiana. She is my Great Grandmother - the mother of my dear Grandma Ruth whom I love dearly! She was the Grandmother of my Dad! She was a "mail order" bride - an orphan of the Civil War - but, those are for later stories. Her "mail order" husband brought her on the train to Weiser, Idaho where they got acquainted, wed and then he "whisked" her in a wagon to Rye Valley, Oregon where they ranched successfully until around 1920. She died 8 August 1923 in Union, Union, Oregon. Jennie had 2 boys and 2 girls. Leora Ruth Rollins Griggs was born 29 August 1899 in Rye Valley, Oregon. She was the youngest of 4 children. I grew up visiting her every summer and learned a lot about cooking.I got to live with her my Freshman Year of college on the ranch she and Grandpa Rex had in La Grande, Oregon. I spent many hours sitting next to her in the living room, looking at her box of pictures and hearing about growing up in Rye Valley - how she loved it!
Today I am thinking of this dear valentine she made her Mama and wanted to share it!
This heart of violets sweet and meek Recalls to me that I should seek A maiden's heart thats just as fine And call it my dear valentine.
This poem - written by me in the spring of 1966 - started a 43 year relationship between Tom and me!! My friend across the hall told me of her brother who was coming out to BYU to visit driving his brand new 1968 Red Baracuda. And so - being the "goofy" sophomore I was I wrote him the poem:
Ode To Brother by Karen
I know a girl - her name is Barbs She has a brother who drives a car Barb knows me and can verify Karen is stunning - stupendous and so beautiful you want to cry! So why not come and see Barbs And then you can give the girl next door A ride - she loves cars!
So - a year later - Tom showed up at my door at Wymount Terrace (the quad reserved for single girls) - took me out for a root beer ice cream cone and Tuesday we celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary!
Karen and Tom and the Baracuda - spring 1967 - Wymount Terrace- BYU - Provo, Utah 1967 - Wymount Terrace Invitational -- Tom and Karen (my middle sisters dress) After a month Tom brought be roses and perfume to celebrate a "month" (must have been serious)! Brought them while I was studying for finals! June, 1977 in Shoshone, Idaho. Tom had taken me home from BYU to meet my family. And then, he flew to Salt Lake for his room mate Butch's wedding and came up to see me! I spent the summer as a counselor at Camp Ta Man A Wis Girl Scout Camp! Tom was working as a Chemical Technician at Allis Chalmers in Wisconsin. Tom sent me notes and letters. I sent him notes and letters. We played "battleship" via the mail! I flew to back to meet his family in August! Here we are the night we announced our engagement! Tom proposed - we decided to marry in June after I graduated. Tom would go back to school at BYU and finish his degree and I would work as a Professional Girl Scout. (the plans changed but I did graduate, Tom got his degree and I was a professional girl scout - we just did it another way). Again... Tom's family gathered to hear of our engagement. Back row - Robert Steffen Gill, Harriet Ann Krythe Gill, my good friend from BYU, Grandma Laura Krythe, Me and Tom middle row: Aunt Elsie, Uncle Frank, Aunt Hazel, Aunt Bea front row: the brothers 2 and little sister 1 Such a big, wonderful loving family I was going to be a part of!! (they talked kind of funny though - that midwest accent!)
Photo Booth pictures
Tom's 1956 Plymouth! After getting engaged he traded in the Barracuda and got this in return. The house on 82nd Street....I got to stay with my future sister in laws (3 windows upstairs) A card from Tom after we were engaged and I was back at BYU - inside it says "but just this once!
card from me to Tom!
In the Salt Lake City Sunday Tribune they published a front page of the society section feature of our house on University Avenue. One of the pictures was of Sandy and me - the two engaged girls.We lived right across from BYU Academy. There were 12 of us in the house - we ate dinner together every night - each paid 20.00 a week for groceries. We rotated cooking and cleaning responsibilities and some boys paid to eat with us.
While living there that fall I spent my time working as a janitor at the brand new Richards PE building from 4 - 7 every morning. Loved Saturday because some of us would go out for "fish and chips" after work. I also knit a sweater for Tom (humongous)! And I tried to get more beautiful....once I decided to rinse my hair with beer. While doing so one of Tom's friends came to the door - I had the beer bottle in my hand (he let Tom know).
My sister and I were both scheduled to get married the summer of 1968 so our announcements went in the paper in Shoshone at the same time.
Christmas Eve 1978 West Allis Wisconsin. Labeled by Harriet Ann Krythe Gill. Picture of Harriet Ann Krythe Gill, Hazel Louise Gill Jenske, Jack Beattie (Robert Steffen Gill's cousin) and his wife Jane. They were retired school teachers. 1978 Christmas Eve at Bob and Harriets Gill. Picture taken by Dad Gills Poloroid. Frank Jenske, 80; Elsie Wilson, 94; Beatrice Gill Kemp, 85. Spring 1979 Frank and Hazel Jenske at home of Harriet and Bob Gill's Elsie Wilson and Bea Kemp at dinner at home of Bob and Harriet Gill.
These dinners were WONDERFUL!! Usually (when I was there) Mom Gill (Harriet) served roast pork and often a cheese torte.
Aunt Elsie was Aunt Bea's sister in law and they lived in an apartment by the lake in Milwaukee. Someone from the family would pick them up for the dinner.
I don't know how I cam to call my Mother in Law "Mom" - but I somehow always did. She was such an important part of my life - a friend as well as my "mom"!! I am thankful for all that she taught me.
And teach me she did - upon Tom's request. She made the famous "Gill" dressing which included sausage. A must for sure for Tom's bride to learn!! She also taught me to make sure he could taste the butter on the edge of his sandwiches (still do today).
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..." Malachi 4:6
I grew up with a Mother who honored this God, this country and family. She instilled in me a desire to do the same as she shared stories of the heroes involved in each.
I was blessed with two grandmothers who shared many stories of family!
I loved sitting at the table in my Mother In Law's home and hearing stories of my husbands family!
It is my goal - with this blog - to share these with you!
As memory is an interesting thing - please feel free to add your memories - they will probably be different than mine!
If there is a picture or story I want to share re: someone who is still with us I will connect with them for permission before I share!
Happy day - Karen
(label in the hand of my mother - Jean Ann Richards Griggs)
