It seems today that my mind is going back 43 years to the days before Tom and I were married. More about the engagement etc. can be seen on the January 2010 post of this blog.

But today I'm thinking of the preparations for the wedding.

Our families financial circumstances were "precarious" to say the least. There was really NO money to help with the wedding.

I decided to buy some fabric and make a dress during that "finals" time at BYU. Grandma Maysel must have known our situation and I remember that 25.00 came in the mail.

I walked to downtown Provo and bought some white velvet to make my dress - a floor length, A-line dress with round neck and long sleeves.

It was easy to make and I loved it - so beautiful!

I also wrote invitations on white simple stationary to our friends inviting them to the Open House at the "Hyatt" House on University Avenue where I lived with 11 other girls. They would all be my "bridesmaids" wearing their formal dresses and would make sure that we had a wedding cake.

After finals were over at the end of January I went home to Shoshone and waited for Tom to arrive. I'm sure that I was quite a disruption to the family lifestyle - my sisters both busy working; Momma nursing and Daddy teaching.

Momma did take me shopping to Hansens Dept. store in Shoshone and bought me a beautiful yellow coat with gloves to match. We also had a trip to Twin Falls to buy some other "bride" kind of stuff. I treasure that trip!!

Uncle Larry and Aunt Veldonna came on Feb. 1st to escort us to the Idaho Falls Temple - the only people who would be going with us.

Veldonna sewed wedding dresses as an occupation and she took one look at my dress and went right to work putting pearls on the neckline and made a veil with a velvet bow and white chiffon attached. It looked much better.

I don't know that my Mom, Veldonna or I went to sleep that night.

We left at 4:30 in the morning of Feb. 2, 1968 for the Idaho Falls Temple - Tom and I in our little

Rambler and Larry and Veldonna in their car. Danny and Julie stayed with my family that day.

I remember as we kissed Momma goodbye on the steps on our lava house in Shoshone that she looked at Tom and said "I hope you love her enough". I don't know if that were a warning to Tom or if that were a wish for me!

I was sad that we couldn't have our parents with us at the Temple that morning as none of them were prepared to go. But, I am thankful that since that time I have been in the Temple with each of them (except Dad Gill) and that we have both been sealed to our parents!

This picture of Leora Ruth Rollins was taken probably around 1909 when she was 9 or 10. Her hair was red. I can't help but notice the beautiful lace work on her dress - and how nicely starched it was. "Ruth" was born and raised on her parents ranch in Rye Valley, Oregon. She was my grandmother, my mentor and a dear friend.

During my growing up years I got to spend many weeks on the ranch she and Grandpa Rex had in Union and in La Grande, Or. freshman year in college (Eastern Oregon College) I lived with them. Grandma would often show me pictures and talk lovingly of her growing up years in Rye Valley - especially of the riding of horses.

Margaret Horne Richards, Arthur Horne, Emily Horne Lowell

Karen Griggs installed as Secretary District FHA Medford, Oregon

At Crater High School in Central Point, Oregon I LOVED home-ec and FHA (Future Homemakers of America). I had the most wonderful teacher and advisor - Francis Willett.

My dream was to become a home-ec teacher, just like Mrs. Willett and my Grandma Maysel. I wanted to attend Oregon State College. I went there for a State FHA meeting and got to stay in a Sorority House. (Interesting that even then I knew that it was important to stay near to my Savior - as a Methodist I got up early on Sunday during that visit to go to the Methodist Church on Campus).

Then - I discovered - that in order to become a home ec teachder one has to take Organic Chemistry - that was the end of teaching Home Ec!

Another interest I had at Crater was journalism. I was assistant editor of the school paper my Junior Year and was designated as the editor for 1963-1964. But my dad got a job teaching Vo-Ag at Shoshone High School and that is where I spent my senior year. I did hold on to the dream of journalism for several years. I can remember dreaming of becoming a journalist and working in NYC and driving a little red sports car!

Another interest that I had was scouting. I spent summers at Camp Low Echo at Lake of the Woods near Klamath Falls. While in Shoshone I joined the LDS Church. I went to Eastern Oregon College my Freshman year - then to BYU where I started my major of Youth Leadership. It was a good fit and a good choice for me, giving me lots of opportunities to serve youth not only professionally for a few years, but as a volunteer for many! K

Erma Ruth Richards Feb. 15, 1906 - Feb. 4 1972

Erma Ruth Richards born 14 February 1906 passed away 4 February 1972 in Kailua, Hawaii.
A file of funeral arrangements was found among Grandma's things.
I remember attending the funeral with Tom. He was at the U of O at the time.
I do wish I had known Aunt Erma - in all that I have heard about her she was a wonderful woman.

Erma Ruth Richards

Newspaper article from "The Sunday Advertiser" in Hawaii 1959

Christmas card from Aunt Erma to Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dick 1959

Pictures of Sanderson Children and Grandchildren

Dorothy Gertrude Sanderson Templer with baby Margaret (7 weeks old)

Lawrence Frederick Sanderson (b 12 Dec 1897), Dorothy Gertrude Sanderson (b 9 Nov 1901), Maysel Ellen Sanderson (b. 16 Feb. 1894)


Maysel, Dorothy and Lawrence

Some of Grandpa Dicks Songs

Richards home on Lancaster Drive in Salem, OR

This is the home on the ranch that Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dick owned on Lancaster Drive in Salem, OR. The back of the picture says 1951. That would have been right after they finished at the Oxbow Ranch in Prarie City.

I don't think that they lived here until about 1957 or 1958 and then it was just for a short time as Grandpa went to work for the Pacific International livestock Exposition.

I do remember visiting them when they lived here. I remember all of the "green" colored pears grandma had in the basement.

I also remember the drive up one evening from Gold Hill, OR. We drove past Albany and the paper plant just smelled terrible. Funny thing to remember.

Grandma and Grandpa used this as a rental property for a number of years. I know that during my 4th grade year our family rented it. There was a lovely big barn, a chicken house, a dairy and the acerage (80 I believe) went from Lancaster drive down to what is I-5. At the time that entire situation was under construction. My sisters and I used to ride our bicycles around the clover leaf onto the highway going from Lancaster Drive up to the Detroit Lake Area while they were building it.

Grandpa did sell the farm - the reson - too rocky!! It became a very profitable Sand and Gravel firm and today the house still stands and serves as the Sand and Gravel office.

Richards life at the Oxbow Ranch in Prarie City, Oregon 1945 - 1950

The Oxbow Ranch was owned by the Ford J. Twait Company in Los Angeles, California. Grandpa Dick was hired as the manager in 1945. He retired as the Manager of the Oregon State College Extension Station to take on this position.

I was born while they lived here. I do remember coming through this gate at dark one night.

I also remember being upstairs and Great Grandma Cora Sanderson being there. She lived with Grandma and Grandpa in her later years.

Grandma Maysel told me once that when it was time to can peaches a "truck load" would arrive. There was a crew that tackled to project. I'm sure that Grandma was a good manager of that program.

Grandpa Dick in front of the house - Grandma Maysel is sitting in the wagon (I think). That wagon went with them to Scappoose also. What fun we had in it!

Grandmas Iris garden at the Oxbow. She started collecting iris in the 30's. Always labeled.

The Beaver Slide.

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Dick Richards Retires from Pacific International Livestock Exposition

1963 Visit to Portland by Griggs "girls" before PI

Our family had moved from Gold Hill, Oregon to Shoshone, Idaho during the spring and summer of 1963. Daddy was hired to teach Vocational Agriculture and Chemistry at Shoshone High School and started in the spring of 1963. Momma was the last to move as she was finishing up nursing school in Medford. She became an LPN. She was hired at the Gooding, Idaho Hospital when she arrived in Shoshone.

Momma my sisters and I drove to Portland where she took her Nursing Board of Examination. It was just before the PI. This is a copy of the letter I found she had sent to Grandma after our visit.

I do remember this trip - always loved going to Grandma and Grandpas. I was a senior at this time.

Karen

The Griggs Girls at the PI 1961 or 1962

1961 or 1962 at the PI (back) Karen, Maysel Sanderson (Grandma), Dick Richards(Grandpa)

(front) Gayle, Jean Ann Richards Griggs (Momma), Ruth and family friend Herb Chandler

Momma drove us to Portland from our home in Gold Hill, Or. to "help" Grandma and Grandpa at the PI.

We stayed in their duplex on 82nd and Alberta. We girls slept in cots Grandma had fixed up in the basement. Grandma bought us each a food ticket and when we got to the PI each day we were "turned loose" to help out. One thing we did was lead groups of school children through the exhibits. I'm not sure that we knew exactly what we were doing - but, it was a fun week.

It was fun in the evening to sit in Grandpas Manager box and watch the rodeo.

I do remember having to "stay out of the way" every morning while Grandpa got ready to go to the PI. It was a 1 bathroom duplex. Grandma would run him a tub of hot water with lots of Ivory Snow suds!!

School children on tour.

School Busses arrive for tours. FFA boys out front to lead the tours.

1963 Pacific International Livestock Exposition

Dick Richards with Champion Dairy Judging Team from Mollala, Oregon 1963.

Left to Right: Dick Richards, Vic Voreis, win Muffet and Roger Dougherty

1963 Dick Richards (most right) with Oregon State FFA President and other gentlemen

1964 Dick Richards manager of the Pacific International Lifestock Exposition, admires Gold Medal Award presented to him for his outstanding service to Oregon agriculture. Joyce Chapin, Farm Bureau Sweetheart, holds the award as President Harold Beach, who presented the award, looks on. This was presented in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Dick Richards greeting entry from Spokane Interstate Fair 1963 PI Portland, Oregon

Dick and Sandy Richards spring snowstorm 1963

May 11, 1963 - a Favorite Story to be told! Grandpa Dick and Grandma Maysel were headed to Madras to attend some kind of livestock sale. It started snowing. Cars were "off the road". Men were "chaining up" if they were lucky enough to have chains.

Grandpa had his ever ingenious wife - Grandma Maysel by his side! She had him stop the car - she climbed in the trunk - and waved at all of the other drivers as they headed right up the road.

Grandma loves to tell how she could see the "idea" of this method taking root in the eyes of the other husbands on the road as they passed by.

Visit from the "Maine Cousins"

Doris (cousin of Dale Everett Richards) and Harry Philbrick in Mexico,Maine 1978
August, 1978 Salemtowne,Oregon
Grandma Maysel, Bill and Jim Richards (Eugene);

Mary Leeman and Audrey Philbrick (Maine);

Grandpa Dick his first cousin Doris(Mexico, Maine).

This picture was quite an event. The "Maine" cousins decided to take the bus "out west". They went to Montana to visit my parents, I'm thinking they went to Idaho to see the Trenkles and then came to Salem.

They were AMAZED at how far apart everything was - being from back east where everything is apparently much closer together.

I had the opportunity to take Doris, Mary and Audrey to Lincoln City. They loved the ocean and we picked lots of blackberries.

My mother stayed in contact with the "Maine cousins" for many years. I did until about 7 years ago - I need to try and make contact again.

Doris lived on the family farm for many, many years. The address was"Back Kingdom Road", Mexico, Maine.

Karen

Margaret Isabelle Richards 1939

The above pictures are of my Great Grandmother, Margaret Isabelle Richards. The picture with the birthday cake was taken in 1939. During this time she would have been living in either Salem or Portland, Oregon. My knowledge of when she moved to Portland is not good.

I do know that my mother talks fondly of the time when she was a girl and the family came from Union to Portland for the P.I.. It was such a busy time, and yet her grandmother took time to teach my Mom to make Deviled Eggs!!

Just a thought - my mom always referred to her grandmothers as Grandmother. Either Grandmother Richards or Grandmother Sanderson. And, she always referred to her Mother as "Mother".

Interesting that I grew up calling my grandmothers "Grandma Maysel and Grandma Ruth" and my mother a variety of things - mom, momma, mommy but never ever Mother.

My mom and her sister always and always called their Father "Dad". But her Grandfathers were "Grandfather Richards" and "Grandfather Sanderson".

Karen

1870 Census Richards Family Mexico, Maine

This is an entry from the 1870 Census - Mexico, Oxford, Maine on 17 June 1870 of the Richards Family. They are listed on lines 17 - 24. Charles Bird is my great grandfather.

I don't know why, but just reading this reminds me of "Farmer Boy". And, why were some of the boys allowed to be home, yet some had to go to school? In June?

Happy Day! Karen

More pictures of Sanderson and Richards homes

JF Ranch Doris, California Jim Ivory and Bess mgr. Annidal's Aunt and Uncle. "Sandy " Sanderson spent her summer there when she was 14.

"Cutting wheat on my Dad's Ranch Penn N.Dakota 1897
Dad and I were in the cart taking water to the men- Horse we drove Gray" Dick
Charles Bird Richards and Dale Everett Richards

1904 Charles Bird Richards took his family to Mexico Maine via the train from Penn, North Dakota. A "big deal" trip for the family. Some persons names I can recognize on the bottom of the picture. Karen

Back Row starting at tree: Charles Bird Richards, ?, Aunt Pearl, Durwood Richards or Holman Johnson, Margaret Isabella Horne Richards, ?,?,?,?. Hazel Pearl Richards

Dick is on the horse

Front Row: Vena Richards, Grandmother Elizabeth Leah Barnard Richards, Uncle Steve Barnard,?

Children sitting: ?, Eva Jeanette Richards, Jarvis William Richards, ?
Dick on horse, ?, Aunt Pearl Richards ?, Durwood Richards or Holman Johnson, ?,?, Margaret Isabella Horne Richards, Charles Bird Richards, Hazel Pearl Richards, ?

front row: Aunt Vena Richards Gallop, Grandmother Elizabeth Leah Barnard Richards, Uncle Steve Barnard, ?, Jarvis William Richards, Eva Jeanette Richards