1967 Engagement Scrapbook of Tom and Karen

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.

Our "cross country" relationship was tough on us - the phone bill was high - and so during my Christmas visit to Wisconsin we decided that we would get married in Februay, live in Wisconsin and I would finish by correspondence. (At the time I couldn't understand why my parents were SO upset!! But - 43 years ago and madly in love it made perfect sense to me!)
1967 New Years Eve. New Years Eve was on the Sabbath - so the dance and party at the Church started at midnight. Toms sister (who is my age)_ and I had fun getting ready!!

West Allis Christmas Eve family dinner 1978

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).

Alexander Hamilton Willard

Eleanor Macdonald Willard (b 4 July 1790 Shelbyville, Shelby,Kentucky d 3 June 1869 Franklin, Sacramento, Ca) and Alexander Hamilton Willard (b 24 Aug 1778 Langden, Sullivan, New Hampshire d 6 Mar 1865 Franklin, Sacramento, Ca). Alexander Hamilton Willard is known for his part as a blacksmith on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There is much written about him that one can research online. I, personally, like the part in "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose where he is quoted as saying that he was selected for the journey because of his "fine physical physique". (I'm sure that is a hereditary trait for all of those descendant young men in his family).

The descendancy is: Alexander Willard: daughter - Nancy Willard Feathers: daughter Clara Ellen Feathers Sanders: son Frederick Thomas Sanderson: daughter Maysel Ellen Sanderson Richards: daughter Jean Ann Richards Griggs: daughter - Me!!

Alexander Hamilton Willard was punished for falling asleep on duty! I must come by my "falling asleep" anywhere I am genetically don't you think!!

1930 Birthday Party in Bozeman, Montana. Jean Ann in back row on left with head down - Eleanor in 4th from left front row. I would LOVE to have been at this party!!Erma Ruth Richards (b 15 Feb. 1906 Kalispell, Montana d 2 Feb 1972 Hawaii); Dale Everett Richards (14 November 1892 Devils Lake, North Dakota d 5 June 1993 Salem, Marion, Oregon); Jean Ann Richards Griggs (b 31 Jan. 1923 Lakeview, Lake, Oregon d 31 Jul. 1994 Salem, Marion, Oregon) in Salem, Oregon at the home of Margaret Isabelle Richards. Jean Ann was serving as a WAC in Washington, D.C.. Erma worked for General Electric as a Home Economist in Hawaii and her older sister Eva lived with and cared for their invalid mother. She also worked for the Oregon State Offices as a secretary in some department.

Jean Ann Richards with her horse. She was the Union County Princess of the Pendleton Roundup in 1941.

Grandpa Dick was SO proud of his Princess!

I don't know the exact date - would guess it is around 1936 or 1937. Jean Ann and Eleanor both entered their steers raised under their loving care (and supervision of their expert cattle raising dad) at the Oregon State Experiment Station in Union, Oregon. Jean Ann's was a Hereford and Eleanors an Angus. The won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion respectively!
The P.I. (Pacific International Livestock Exposition) was held in Portland at what is now the Exposition Center in North Portland across from Jantzen Beach. Grandpa Dick became the manager in the 60's.
Grandma Maysel told me that on one of their trips from Union to Portland for the Expo. that they had saved Hollyhock seeds and she and the girls threw them out of the window of the car along the side of the road.
And the road they took was not the one we take now - but that old highway up to Crown Point (well worth the trip if one has time).
Another thought on the P.I.. Momma (Jean Ann) told of the time the family had traveled to the P.I. and were staying with her Grandmother Margaret Horne (I believe she was living in Portland at the time - but, possibly Salem) that during all of the business Grandmother had time to take her little granddaughter aside and teach her how to make deviled eggs. Momma always made the best deviled eggs - fun to think of the generations the have come from.
My middle son is our families "Deviled Egg" guy - as are his children and my second oldest grandson.



Mom was a Girl Scout all of her growing up and then encouraged us as we were involved during our growing up! Fun Adventures!! As we would walk along (she was always encouraging that) she taught us the Girl Scout Walk - which seems to be similar to how the current walking magazines encourage one to walk with greater benefit. We would walk 5 steps and run 5 steps and then repeat. I don't know if that was truly the Girl Scout Walk or the mother of 3 dawdling girls trying to get them to "move along". To my embarrassment she was sure I should wear the "lovely" girl scout oxfords when I was in 8th grade - horrid brown tie up leather shoes. All of my friends wore cute flats. One had an extra pair that she brought to school for me to change in to when I got there! I wonder if my Mom ever knew (probably - Mom's usually do).
1941 note to her Dad!

This picture hung in our Grandma Ruths (Leora Ruth Rollins Griggs b. 29 August 1899 Rye Valley, Baker, Oregon d 7 Jan 1972) bedroom in La Grande, Oregon. She told me the story - Mom was riding with Daddy(her son) and the hat fell off. Daddy rode behind her and picked it up!! I love that story!!

Grandpa Dick bought this car for his girls - Jean and Eleanor. They painted it up and had fun with it. Apparently it was often filled with friends!!

Back to Girl Scouts. I'm thinking that Eleanor is on the left, Jean Ann is the middle of the three girls on the right. They would ride their horses up to Catherine Creek outside of Union and pitch camp. Then, in the evening, their parents would drive up and bring homemade ice cream. I honestly don't think they had any leaders with them.

1938 Birthday Cake. Grandma Maysel always made Chocolate and covered it with 7 minute icing. Then - outside they would go for a picture. I just love Grandpa Dicks "goofing" around in this picture. I'm guessing that Momma has on a brand new dress made by her Mother in this picture. Grandma Maysel was always called "Mother" and Grandpa Dick was always "Dad".


1930 valentine to her Dad from Jean Ann

Pictures of Robert Steffen Gill's Youth

Grandpa Bob (Robert Steffen Gill b 2 September 1917 Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis. d 29 Aug 1981West Allis, Milwaukee, Wis) with Helen and Elizabeth Castonguay. All information about the pictures given to me by Grandma Harriet (Bob's wife). Pictures were all in a small photo album.
Robert Steffen Gill with Helen and Elizabeth Castonguay

Bob Gill's Uncle Walter Kemp on Ship to Cuba where he worked managing a Sugar Plantation. As Bob's father had passed away and his mother was in a hospital Bob was raised by his sisters Bea and Hazel and their husbands and his Uncle Will and his wife. A lot of his time was spent with Bea and Walter. During a part of his life he also lived in an orphanage.

Bob(dark shirt in between two little ones) with mother Mary Jane Easton Gill (b. 7 Sept 1874 Collin, Gorthorwald D, Scotland d. 18 July 1943 Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) right behind him in the white dress. The person to the left (looking at the picture) of Bobby is his older sister Hazel Louise Gill Jenske (b 21 April 1898 Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) with, I'm thinking, her little boy also named Bob (Robert Francis Jenske b. 11 July 1922 - died of polio in Hawaii during WW II). The person to the right with the curly haired little one is his older sister Beatrice Matilda Gill Kemp (b 3 April 1893 Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I don't know who the child is, nor anyone else in the picture.

Bob in Florida or Cuba!!

White Iris

White Iris
(written May, 2005 by me as we moved
from Cheney, WA. to Astoria, Or. )

This morning I dug the white iris, cut it, labeled it "white iris" and wrapped the label around it with twine.

I want to take it with me on our move to Astoria. It is the iris my grandma bought from an iris garden in the Willamette Valley over 70 years ago The iris itself is not the most striking that I have. It is tall and plain. The memories it holds I want to carry with me.

The memory of lessons from grandma about picking and arranging the iris; of being with grandma as she gave away her “starts” of iris and of the day she brought one of those “starts” as a gift for my first garden.

The memory of driving my son to visit my Grandma. They spent the morning digging, cutting the iris, labeling them and wrapping the labels on with twine. And they talked.

Today, after finishing with the white iris I dug another. I cut it, labeled it “orange frilly iris” and wrapped the label on with twine. I purchased it at an iris garden in the Willamette Valley just two years ago. My son was with me. It was the day before he graduated from law school in Eugene.

Someday, I am thinking, I will sit with my grandchild, and we will dig the iris, cut them, label them "white iris" and "orange frilly iris" and wrap the labels with twine. And we will talk.

I am glad that I have this morning." Karen

(note: it is with sadness that the iris didn't survive the move and the long wait for me to plant them. I have dug some from my sister in laws collection - we shared so many of my grandmothers - but they don't seem to want to bloom.)

Grandma Maysels Iris

(1954 Picture of myself, my two sisters and our Grandma Maysel Ellen Sanderson Richards b. 16 Feb 1893 Canyonville, Douglas, Oregon d. 6 Apr 1983 Dallas, Polk, Oregon at the Joe Fisher Ranch in Scappoose, Oregon. This picture, I am thinking, would have been taken during the time we were in Scappoose as we were moving from Halfway, Oregon to the Oregon State Experiment Station in Burns Oregon. The dresses were surely purchased for us by Grandma. Our Mom would have shampooed our hair and pinned pin curls in with bobby pins the night before).

Grandma Maysel started her iris collection during the early 1930's. The first she bought was a plain white iris. Most of her iris came from the Schriener's Iris Gardens in Brooks, Oregon. She took great care of them and always had each plant marked as to the correct name.

Although during her life she didn't own her own home until 1969 (except for the ranch in Salem for a few years in the late 50's) she always had an iris garden. When my sisters and I visited the Oregon State Experiment Station in Union, Oregon in the fall of 2008 we were impressed to see iris planted. It would be my guess that this is where she started her collection and that these iris we saw were a part of her collection.

I know that she told me that she had the men who worked at the Experiment Station help her with her iris.

My husband and I lived in Salem when our children were growing up. Grandma and Grandpa did also. On several occasions after putting flowers on the family graves at the City View Cemetery on Memorial Day we would stop for pancakes and then go out to Schreiner's to see the iris.

Although my collection is no longer with me - I love seeing some of them at my sister in laws in Beaverton!

Happy day - Karen

Grandmas Secret

On the back of this document it reads:
"8 years old - 3rd grade Corvallis, Oregon Lincoln School
April 5- 1955 One of my treasures - Karen and her poem"

I am thankful that my grandmother saved this poem for me - it is now framed and hangs in my home.

Here are the words with spelling and punctuation unchanged:

Grandmas Secret

My Grandma Maysel's iris
Were the best I've ever seen,
With blooms so large and gracefull
And with leaves so broad and green

I asked her once the reason
Why her plants excelled the rest,
She rocked a little faster
As she smilingly confessed:

I have the roots divided
When the blooming season ends
And all my plants are strengthened
By the ones I give my friends."

I've often watched the proving
Of the words she spoke that day,
For what I have seems better
When I give a part away.

Karen Griggs"

It seems to me that this is quite an advanced poem for an 8 year old - I would guess that someones Mom helped her a little.

But - I do know from what my Mom has told me - I did learn that things seem better when you share them with others. I have throughout my life enjoyed sharing what I have with others. Momma told me that when I was a girl she would wonder, as she sent me off to summer camp, if I would come home with anything that I took with me,. I guess I often shared with my friends.

I'm thinking, however, that I learned this trait more from my Mom than my grandmother.

Happy Day - Karen