MY MEMORIES
of
DOWNER, MN, etc.
1920-1993
by
Myrtle (Ullrich) Palmer
Myrtle was a granddaughter of Lydia Ann Austin,
who marrid Hans Ullrich
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUNDAY SCHOOL 1920
THEN AND NOW
WASH DAY 1920's
DISTRICT 27
MYRTLE ANNA (ULLRICH) PALMER
MY FAMILY
LOST, STRAYED, OR STOLEN
MILWAUKEE TO DOWNER AGAIN
SAMUEL PALMER - ELLA O'ROURKE
MISSOULA HERE WE COME
MONTANA
75TH BIRTHDAY
OUR BLACKSMITH
CHRISTMAS 1987
CHRISTMAS 1988
SIBERIAN FREEZE
SHORT CARDS
MY FIRST CAR
SHEILA COCHRANE AND STEVE SARGENT'S WEDDING
JOHN ARTHUR ULLRICH
SPEEDY DELIVERY
INAUGURATION
LACEY'S GRAND MARCH
CINDY'S GAME
GRANDKIDS AND SCHOOL
BOB'S HEART ATTACK
BEN AND MATT
CHRISTMAS 1991
MY TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
PATTI PALMER
THE MECHANIC
THE KOST'S
DECEMBER 1992
I REMEMBER
(Family Tree outline after all stories)
SUNDAY SCHOOL 1920
I am sure that I do not remember everything about our little Sunday School, but I do have many
memories of the classes in our one room church. It was registered as the Downer Presbyterian
Church, but we were supposed to be Lutheran, by my Dad's choice. In those days you did not
travel eight miles to the Sabin Lutheran Church where we were baptized, therefore we went to
the one not over two blocks from our home. (An earlier Sunday School was started in the Section
House by Ruth Henry (wife of Perk Henry), and Mary Henry (wife of Jim Henry).
As I remember it, my mother and Jessie Henry taught for years there. I remember a class that we
really enjoyed in my late teens that was taught by Emma Henry, who was a distant cousin of my
Dad (Hans Jergen Ullrich). I think there was someone named Stewart who had the Sunday
School first.
We did have music as we had an organ in the church, and we surely enjoyed the singing. Some of
the songs I especially liked were "The Church in the Wildwood", "Jesus Loves Me", and "Jesus
Is Tenderly Calling". I remember one day we sang "If You Love Your Mother Then Meet Her in
the Skies". As this was sung one day, I found the little girl sitting next to me was crying. She had
lost her Mother from T.B. that spring. I do not remember that we ever sang that song again. On
one occasion Mrs. Champ brought a blind lady from Fargo out to sing for us. She sang "In the
Garden". It was done so beautifully, it has been one of my favorite songs since that day.
Each Sunday every child got a Bible card with a Bible verse and a pretty picture of whatever
story the verse was telling. As we did not get many pictures in those times, it was always a very
special time when those were passed out.
Alex Lamb our elderly neighbor faithfully went over to the church every Sunday morning in the
winter time, started the fire in the old black stove, and had the cold frozen church warm by the
time we got there. I have always felt that he deserved a reward in heaven for that alone if nothing
else. There often was some shoveling to do to clear the steps, as we had lots of snow in those
days.
Our church was very plain, but we did have a beautiful window. We had a bell tower, but I can
not remember that there was a bell in it. We did not have pews, but we did have very nice
wooden chairs.
We shared a minister those years with either Glyndon or Baker. In those days women sat on one
side of the church and men on the other. Women sat on the east side of the church and men sat on
the west. I do not remember in what year that custom changed.
On one occasion a Revivalist came to our church. His name as Rev. Ash. He really preached the
devil, fire, and brimstone and kept at it for several days. I do not think he changed the community
much, but he was the talk of the town. My brother and his friend, Chet Lien, claimed Rev. Ash
jumped up and down until his pants fell off, then he jumped behind the pulpit to pull them up
again.
Rev. Bliktead at one time came down from Glyndon to preach every two weeks. He was a staid
Lutheran minister. He came by train about two thirty, stayed with different families for dinner,
preached the evening service and then caught the next train back to Glyndon. I attended his
confirmation classes and therefore was confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
Our little church and Sunday School is still going out at Downer, We donated several of my
Dad's lots to the church after my mother passed away. I think they have now been sold. There are
not many members left in the church so many have gone into Barnesville or Baker. However,
many of the community activities are still centered at the church.
THEN AND NOW
When first I learned to iron clothing we used what were called flat irons. We had three of them,
one a bit smaller than the other two. They were heated on a coal range. Often the fuel for that
range was wood. There was one wooden handle, with a steel clamp on the bottom that fastened to
the iron. When the iron was hot we used it until it was to cool, then exchanged it for another.
Needless to say ironing, was a hot job, as the range had to be kept well heated.
Our next iron was a gas iron. At that time we thought that was just great that we could have one.
It was larger than the flat irons. Ours was a pretty blue in color with a shiny round container
about the size of a baseball that held the gas. This was not exactly a satisfying iron either, as at
times it was hard to light, and at other times there were some gas fumes.
I am not sure when electric irons first made their appearance in Downer, but they were great.
However our house was not wired for electricity, few of them were at that time. I suppose the
first time I really enjoyed the electric iron was when I moved to Milwaukee in 1941. The electric
iron at that time had one heat, but most everything we did was cotton at that time, so that was not
to much of a problem. Nearly everything was ironed except diapers, bath towels and underwear.
In summer when we hung everything outside, the summer breezes made the clothing nice enough
to fold and put away without ironing.
Somewhere in this time span, mangles came to be popular. They were excellent for towels,
sheets and all flat pieces. Many people became quite proficient at doing shirts also. I did get a
mangle and used it for many years, finally selling it for very little, as there was not much demand
for mangles any more.
The present day iron, with its steam controls, variety of temperatures, and lighter weight is ideal,
but now I seldom iron.
WASH DAY 1920's
Wash day in the twenties was so different than now. About the first thing to get going was the
boiler in which the water was heated. Usually you had a galvanized boiler, if you were in the
chips you had a copper boiler. There were very few of those in the neighborhood. If you were
really up and at it, you put the boiler on the night before, then went out and filled it by several
trips to the pump. Fortunately our pump was very close to the house, I guess about ten feet. We
had plenty of good water. In the morning a quantity of Iye was put in the water, and after a few
minutes the hard scum would come to the top, and it was skimmed off. Then the water was
considered soft and did not take nearly as much soap. Nearly everyone washed with machines
that were operated by hand, or strictly with the wash board that was set up in a tub. After much
hard rubbing the cloths were put in another tub of clear water for rinsing. After being wrung out
sometimes by hand, sometimes with a wringer that was operated by hand, we took them outside
to the cloths line. Some of the larger work shirts, overalls, etc. were hung on the fence. In the
summer time they usually blew out nice an soft and smelling beautiful. In the winter they usually
were brought in smelling nice and frosty, stiff as a board to be hung up on lines strung across the
front room, kitchen or wherever there was a place until dry.
I sometimes helped my mother make soap. It was made by the combining of Iye and old
crackling or grease from the pigs that we butchered. The first soap we made took much stirring
and boiling. Mother made very nice white soap. I think tallow from cows was said to have made
the nicest soap, but we very seldom used that.
DISTRICT 27
I went to what was considered a good school. At least it was by far better than the usual one
room country school. The reason for this was because we usually had the best choice of teachers
for the simple reason that we had far better boarding places for the teachers. They always had to
board with some rural family. We also paid just a few dollars more than some of the surrounding
districts.
As I said, our school was a one room building, with a coal shed attached. The pump was out in
front and not too far from the building. Water was carried in and put in a stone jar with a spigot
on it. That set up was considered to be quite a luxury, at least it was better than the old way of
dipping water out of a pail. I do not remember what the usual amount of students were for the
one teacher. I do know that the year Bill Smith enrolled in our school he was number 38, and
there was no desk for him. He sat at the teacher's desk. It was not the best for him, and I'm sure
not the best for the teacher.
Our stove was the pot belled kind with the heavy tin guard around it so we would not get burned.
The teacher was her own janitor. She also walked to school and started her own fire, hopefully to
have it warm when we arrived. We often kept our coats and overshoes on until it warmed up.
I especially remember the Christmas times when we learned the new songs that we still sing
today. I was always so thrilled when I came to school and saw that Mrs. Anderson had written the
words of a new carol on the blackboard. We did not have them in song books. Right after
Thanksgiving we got hard at it to learn our parts for the Downer Community Club Christmas
program. That was such a big event in our lives. At one time District ninety shared the program
with us. I remember a few years when we alternated every other year at putting on the program.
The one year that I was really to be a star (I had three singing, speaking and even a dancing part).
I became ill. We had practiced all day at the hall. Then we went home for supper. That is when I
became feverish, and laid down and went to sleep and had a convulsion. Of course, I was not
allowed to go to the program. The show went on as we all had practiced for so long we knew
everyone's part by heart. They had no trouble filling in for me.
All the Downer kids walked to school as it was only a mile and a quarter across George
Halverson's field, very little further around the road. We usually crossed the field except in the
spring when it was a field of water. I sometimes hated going that route in the fall as farmers
dumped their tiny potatoes that did not sell along the road ditches, and boys thought it was great
fun to throw them, and they hurt if you were hit. In the winter we skated on the ice in the school
yard and in the ditches. Only a few had skates, but the rest had fun without them. In the spring we
all played softball, Anti I Over, Run Sheep Run, Hide and Seek and numerous other games. Right
now I cannot recall what all of them were.
In our school, as in all the schools at that time, we had all eight grades for one teacher in one
room, and we learned from each other. Our class of five was very competitive in seventh and
eighth grades. Now and then we had a spell down, not nearly often enough to suit me. I also was
especially good at arithmetic, mostly because my mother was so good at it and liked to do it. I
remember on a few occasions she figured out problems that stumped the teachers.
Mother, Ellen and I used to take the job of scrubbing the school. It was done regularly (once a
month). We had no car at the time. We needed the three dollars that the job paid. We hitched up
old Tom and Frank (or was it Mable and Grace we had at that time?). We took a five gallon
cream can of hot soapy water and a mop, although we did most of the floor on our hands and
knees with a brush in hand. We were always so glad to be on our way home again as it was quite
a day. In the winter we had to start the fire and wait until the floor warmed up so that our scrub
water would not freeze on the floor. We also washed all the desks. The horses were unhitched
and put in the school barn to eat hay while we worked.
I remember one school board meeting when there was a big discussion about the stove in the
school. I remember Mrs. Halvorson saying "I can smell the gas yet". When we arrived home, I
remember my mother saying that Mrs. Halvorson was probably smelling the gas from my Dad's
suit. We often had only gas to clean men's wool suits, and mother had just cleaned my Dad's.
MYRTLE ANNA (ULLRICH) PALMER
I was born in a small village (Downer) in Minnesota, Clay County, Elkton Township. I was born
in my parent's home, the third child of Lydia and Hans Ullrich. The first child was still born, and
a year later my brother John was born in November. I was born February 18, 1915, a year and
three months after my brother.
I was baptized June 10, 1917 at the Sabin Lutheran church. My certificate says I was born in
1914. That has to be a mistake. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Skibby were my Godparents, They were our
neighbors.
I attended a Presbyterian church all my life until I married and moved away. It was a one room
church with minister who came from Glyndon or Baker or wherever we could get one. Some
times they came by train, preached the sermon and then took the train back. We had a Sunday
School with many children. Everyone went there except the Kost children who were Catholic.
They were at that time I think the only Catholic family in Downer. They went to Barnesville to
the church there. We usually got a card with a picture of some Bible scene. We had mothers from
the village for our teachers. I remember an evangelist coming once who preached hell and
repentance. His name was Reverend Ash. He stayed several nights. I do not know that he had
much of effect on the community, but I must have been impressed to remember him to this day.
Ben was baptized Catholic, but the family had not been Catholic in good standing, so we were
married in the Congregational Church at Glyndon, Minnesota. Our church was being served by
the Congregational pastor at that time. Ben and I were married on June 30, 1940. There was a
reception at my home with relatives, and Ben's mother did come. His Aunt Inez was there, and
Bob and his fiance from Toman, Wisconsin, was there also. She and her mother had hitchhiked
in from Wisconsin. Then they also hitchhiked to Andes, Montana to visit Bob's folks.
My father was 40 when he married. He was the manager of the Saint Anthony and Dakota
Elevator for some years before he married. The pay was a hundred dollars a month at that time.
When the depression came along, it was cut to fifty, and then it got worse and the elevator was
closed. Father went to farming. He had a hundred acres, which was not to bad at that time. This
was a bit before 1929. We were never cold. We had good stoves, and we had warm clothes. My
mother made the best wool mittens from an army coat that had been left at our house. We had
plain but adequate food. Most of it was raised right on the farm. If our grocery bill at the end of
the month was anywhere near thirty dollars, that was too much. We sold eggs, milk, and
sometimes chickens. I remember eggs at eight cents a dozen and milk at eight cents a quart, and
some of our customers had trouble paying that.
As long as I can remember we had a car. It was called an Umpire. I have never seen one like it at
any car show. It was started with a crank, had wood wheels, fold back top, carbide lights, isicing
glass windows in the side curtains. It was a black two seater. There must have been air in the tires
as I remember when making a trip to visit Dad's sister in Sherburn, Minnesota, he had a flat tire.
After that we had no balloons in the car.
MY FAMILY
I was born the third child of Lydia and Hans Ullrich. The birth was in their home in Downer,
Minnesota. A doctor came from Barnesville by buggy, no doubt, as there were no autos in that
area at that time. I had one brother, John, a sister Ellen, and a stillborn brother who arrived a year
before John.
My father was a full blooded German. I think he was born in Minnesota. My mother was born
either in Nebraska or MN, the daughter of Sophia Johnson and William Charles Austin. Sophia
was a full blooded Swede who came here with her brothers from Sweden when she was nineteen
years old. She never told us much about her trip or her early life, but Vernon Holland has the
trunk in which all her belongings arrived when she came. There was a Fred Johnson who came to
visit once. I am not sure if he was her brother or her nephew. There also was a lovely lady who
came with him, who was a relative of Grandma Austin. I think they came from Nebraska.
Grandpa had 5 children when he married Grandma.
Three years after my birth another daughter was born. She was named Ellen Sophia for her
Grandmother. I think John and I were named by my father. He had a brother named John. I think
the Anna from my name came for his sister Anna.
My father's mother died when he was quite young. He never talked much about it. He did say his
sister Anna raised them and worked hard at it. He thought a lot of her. The brothers were Marcus,
John and Henry. They lived in Minnesota. His Dad also passed away long before he married, so
my mother never met them, nor of course did I.
My father had a dog and a canary when he married. The canary did live long enough so that I can
remember that the cage needed cleaning regularly. My Dad played the old time fiddle in his
younger days. Some times they played in homes but he often talked of when they danced at the
depot, and putting the lights our when it was time for the train to come by. He also told of having
a jug on the piano. lt was not filled with water. I loved the old time fiddlers.
We were all baptized at the Sabin Lutheran Church, but we always went to the Presbyterian
Church in Downer. Eight miles of travel to the Sabin church was just not feasible in those days.
In this early church, men and boys sat on one side of the church and women, girls and babies sat
on the other. There was a pot bellied stove in the back of the room. Alex Lamb went over on
Sunday morning for as long as I can remember to start the fire to warm the church. As far as I
know he was not paid. That's real dedication, as it would take so long to warm that place after
there was no fire all week. Everyone went to our church and Sunday School except the John Kost
children, their Dad and their Uncle Adolph and Toni. They did go to Barnesville to the Catholic
church. Ministers were shared with other churches, some came by train. We had an organ and
usually there was someone to play though they were never expert. We enjoyed singing. One of
my favorites was "In the Garden". I remember Mrs. Champs bring a blind lady out from
Moorhead and she sang it for us. Somehow I have never forgotten this lady. Our church has kept
going against all odds until a couple of years ago. The building has been moved to Rollag,
Minnesota where it is now a part of the Rollag Thresheris Celebration.
I think we, as kids, had a pretty good time in Downer. We roamed the town, climbed the trees,
played happily in the clay. When the county road was put in we made home castles, fences and
etc. No toy could have given us more pleasure.
School was about a mile and a quarter west and a bit south of Downer. A few families came by
buggy or horse back, I used to envy them, until I got old enough to realize that hitching up a
buggy was more work than dashing out with a dinner bucket and heading across the field. Our
dinner buckets were usually Syrup pails. That was no problem, we did not ever see any fancy
kind nor did we know of thermos bottles. There was a well in front of the school from which a
bucket of drinking water was brought in. In later years we had (wonder of wonders) a drinking
fountain.
We usually had good teachers, since our district paid a few dollars more, and had better boarding
places. I loved the Christmas Season as we had teachers who (Miss Anderson was the one I
remembered).wrote the new Christmas songs on the blackboard. We had no song books with
"Little Town Of Bethlehem", "Silent Night", and so forth. I was so happy when there would be a
new song on the board.
Downer had a ball team. We were at a game one Sunday afternoon when a plane landed in my
Dad's hay field. The game ended in seconds and everyone walked over to the plane. We walked
over to the plane with Mrs. Hill. She had her youngest in a lovely reed baby buggy. His name
was George, but was called Bim. The field was so full of what were called Buffalo wallows that
some wondered how the pilot would get on his way, but as far as I remember he had no trouble.
Who he was or where he was going, I have no idea. I suppose the game resumed when he was
gone.
There was a Grandma and Grandpa Kost. He use to sit on the porch. Some kids named Kelting
liked to run a stick over the fence of his yard, just to irritate him. He would become very angry
and say "Dump the Fools"' or "I'll cut their ears off". I suppose my brother was there too. I would
be scared even though I was not in on it. For some years the Kost kids were not allowed to play
with the rest of us. I remember how lonely Eleanor seemed. I was allowed to go there, though I
seldom did. I remember staying with Grandma Kost one time when my mother took the train to
Barnesville to see the dentist. I was with Eleanor, but still a bit leery of that upstairs as they had
mounted squirrels, owls and also had pictures made of hair that were popular in those days.
Downstairs they had narrow shelves along the dinning room walls with beautiful painted plates.
I remember going to a house warming party for Uncle Adolph and Aunt Inez. It was sort of a
party to take care of the usual shivaree. I guess I remember this party as we were given Hershey
bars, and also I played Norwegian Whist for the first time in public. I think I was thirteen at that
time.
There was a plum thicket by the road on the way home from school. The land belonged to the
Halvorsons. Sometimes we stopped to help ourselves uninvited. One night we intended to do just
that. I happened to see a movement in the trees, so we went on our way, so innocently to the
road. Mrs. Halvorson called and said "Come on in and have some Plums". We will never know if
she knew what our intentions had been, but we had a bit of troubled conscience as we ate plums.
There were lots of them.
In my grade school days every one had to take state board exams to see if they graduated from
the eight grade. It happened that at a party my Mother was having, a neighbor was going on about
how the teacher had gone to the toilets out back of the school so that the kids testing could cheat
and pass the exams. After listening to this for some time (the women were quilting) my mother
lost her cool and said "Shut your mouth". The lady left before lunch saying "I cannot eat with my
mouth shut". My brother was in the class the lady was talking about. He had no trouble passing
the exam without cheating.
My recollections of the old McColigan Store go way back to before I was six. I'd love to see it
again. That is where the post office was, and next to that on a counter was ten to twelve bolts of
yard goods. All cotton, all dark colors, usually with flower patterns, maybe polka dots. There was
thread of course. I remember pickle barrels, cracker barrels and vinegar barrels. I remember very
well old Mac and Ann who ran the store. There also was an ice house, and I think, a kerosene
pump outside the store. You bought your groceries and the charge was written on a small pad
type book. You paid the bill once a month. In later years their children helped run the store. They
also farmed a bit. They lived in a large two story stucco house on the hill.
I remember helping pick potatoes there. I don't know at what age. Old Mac (the digger) never
missed a World Series game, so in the morning you decided how many rows you wanted to pick
up that day as he did not dig in the afternoon. You had to pick all the rows you asked for because
no potatoes were ever allowed to lay out in the field at night, in case of frost.
One day Lawrence John Kelting, my brother John, and I were playing in the old church barn. For
some reason or other, we were throwing old sections from a mower sickle at barn swallow nests.
One came down as I looked up, and it cut me under the nose. We headed for home. By the time
we got to Mrs. Skibby's (She was my Godmother) my dress was well covered with blood, and it
looked pretty serious. She went with me home, and I was taken to the doctor. He didn't stitch it.
He put a black tape across the upper lip, and for a week or more I looked as though I had a
mustache. There is a scar but it is not noticed as it is right down the cleft in my lips.
We girls never learned to swim but the boys were allow to go to a pool in the gravel pit. For a
girl to go there would have been unheard of. We got to the lakes maybe once a year if we were
lucky, even though we lived in the land of ten thousand lakes. After a warm rain we were
allowed to play in the water and mud in the Buffalo waters holes. It was great fun. Our skiing and
sliding was done off the straw stack, the potato cellar, or from slides we built of snow and ice
ourselves. John had a pair of skis. They were eight foot long, and had a strap across where the
shoe slid in. We were sliding off the potato cellar, and under a fence we had propped up, when
Ellen (on a sled double decker) raised her head just as she went under the fence. By some miracle
she came out of this with a scratch down the side of her face. It could have been so much worse.
She has a slight scar from it.
Another time we were riding in the carrier that was used to take manure from the barn. That also
was a no no. Ellen put her hand up on the cable and the pulley ran over it. Painful but no
extended damage.
An Uncle and Aunt and their family came each summer by train from Crookston. Uncle Emil
Austin worked for the railroad so they got passes. I remember that his wife (Aunt Hattie Austin)
wanted to use a curling iron, and she for some reason took a scissors and cut the wire. She got
quite a shock and it put a hole in the scissors. Aunt Hattie and the kids generally came ahead of
Uncle Emil. On this particular time they had been in our house just a short while when Ellen took
Emil and Hattie Austin's daughter, Genevieve, out to teeter totter. Genevieve fell off and broke
her arm. Traveling to Moorhead to the doctor Gen hardly cried at all. Ellen did, she thought she
would be blamed for the accident. She wasn't. When Uncle Emil came and heard the news he
was really upset. He threw himself on the bed and his cap under it. My Dad who was slow to
anger became very angry. He went in and said, "Get yourself off that bed, your cap on your head
and get in that car". We were all ready to go to Moorhead for a check up on the arm.
Ellen had diphtheria when she was probably some where between one and two. The doctor came
out from Barnesville to give everyone in the neighborhood an inoculation. We all went over to
one house. Where the diphtheria germ could have come from I do not know, as Downer was
quite an isolated community at that time. No one else got it. Good friends of my folks came with
a gunny sack on horse back with a lovely doll for Ellen, one for me and a present for John. I can
not remember what the present was. They dropped the sack of presents off by the clothes line.
Another time the doctor came to vaccinate all for smallpox. We all went to Keltings. John would
not go, so the doctor and my Dad went over to get him. They could not get him our from under
the bed. My Mother could. When we were innoculated for one of these diseases. They had run
out of serum. So John was taken to town to get his shot. He came home with a street car. I
remember Ellen being allowed to sit on the floor a short time to play with it.
I was riding with my Dad in the Umpire (our car), John and my Dad in front. The top was down
and when we hit a bump on the road from Alex Lamb's home, I flew over the top and onto the
road. My Dad was very frightened, but I wasn't hurt.
My Dad ran the elevator and when a car came into ship out grain, the company allowed fifty
cents for someone to line that car with a heavy building paper. I remember John getting the job
and I helped. The paper was secured with strips of lathing. I was always a bit concerned lest the
train should come and haul us away.
I remember going with my folks to visit a German family North of Downer. It was a hot day, and
they had a fire going. They had lost so many babies (I don't know for what reason) they felt that
this was something that would help keep this one for them. As far as I know this one lived.
One June day I remember my Dad doing all the things that needed to be done on the Umpire
while we played around. Carbide light, tires and etc. were checked. When all was done, we made
a trip to the hay field to see if the hay was ready for cutting. We were thrilled to find blue bells,
and especially tiger lilies. We picked several to take home to our mom (actually we called her
ma). They were pretty wilted before she got them. My Dad had eighty acres of what was called
upland hay, and when the big old German farmer from Sabin came to buy our hay he was always
pleased. In Dad's younger days he had worked for some of them, getting up at four to curry and
harness a team of sixteen horses, then in to a full farmers breakfast at six. He said he never felt
better in his life. The descendants of some of these farmers are still farming out there. I wish I
knew which one.
Mr. Skibby was my Godfather, but he was not popular with everyone. Joe Henry and a couple
pals painted his milk cow red on Halloween. Someone put my Dad's buggy on top of the barn.
Not a great thing to do as it was time for the babies arrival and the buggy would be needed to go
to Barnesville for the doctor.
I don't recall getting candy for Easter, but one time I do remember finding a nest of beautiful eggs
under the water tank that stood by the house. How they got colored when we were out of the
house I don't know. Most likely we were in school when they were colored.
On a couple of occasions, the gypsies came to town. They camped down between the railroad
tracks and our pasture. We were always a bit leery of them, but Mother did sell them milk. They
never stayed over a day or two. It was an exciting time for us kids, though we were not allowed
to go near them. One time later when they came Mother was away. Ellen and I and a couple of
neighbor kids were scared, so we hid under the bed. We figured our dog would scare them away.
Later we told grandpa that they didn't come to our house because of the dog. Grandpa said "they
were all around your house". He liked to talk to them and that made Grandma mad. They had
such a reputation for stealing everything in sight.
I remember a rabies scare. Everyone was to muzzle their dogs. As I know the only one who did
was my Dad. I don't know how long the scare lasted.
Once a year the Ladies Aid had an Ice Cream Social. There was cake and ice cream, some times
in three flavors. I don't know how the ice cream was brought to Downer, but it was packed in
heavy containers. I think they were canvas, and they were packed in ice. There usually was a ball
game first. It was a grand occasion.
My Grandmother once asked us over for dinner. She had baked a fruit cake, and stored it away.
When the cake was cut, it was a disaster. She had stored it in a box in which woolen underwear
had been protected with mothballs. Poor Grandma.
LOST, STRAYED, OR STOLEN
Shirley was about two when I took her down on Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee to some
shopping. In a large store I sat her down in a chair on one side of the rack of ladies dresses. I
looked at dresses on the other side and when I went back to where Shirley should have been, she
was not there. I was frightened, this was a large store and also located on one of the busiest
streets in Milwaukee. I looked in the store, then hurried out to scan the street. I returned to the
store to ask for help. There was the floor walker, walking around with Shirley in his arms. He
had picked her up without seeing me. I was no more than six feet away, but I was on the other
side of the rack. Shirley said "You lost Me".
My next lost child was Bob. This was at the Ernst farm where we lived when Ben was in Korea.
One morning Bob, I suppose about two, just disappeared. Rudolph, My Mother, Ellen, Shirley,
Carol and I hunted the farm yard over. We couldn't believe he went to the barn as he was afraid
of the barn and would get out of the wagon and walk back to the house if we were giving him a
ride in the wagon while headed that way. Anyway we searched the water tank, the barn, the
ditches, and were pretty concerned. Where was he? Under the back porch where some of the
lattice work had been broken, leaving just enough room for him to crawl under. He was happily
digging in the dirt, all unaware of the turmoil at the Ernst home.
Mary Ellen was the next missing child. At this time we lived at the Oscar Peterson farm out on
the highway between Culbertson and Sidney. She had walked across the highway, and was
headed into the hills. I was fortunate in that as she crossed between two small hills, I saw the
little white head above the grass. How she got so far or why she decided to walk away, I'll never
know. She had never done it before, and never did it again.
Tom was next when we lived in Williston. He had been playing in the yard when he was about
two. There had been a slight skiff of snow, so when we could not find him, we traced his
footsteps heading for the highway. We think he may have been heading for the Palmer Welding
shop. A family had picked him up along the main street (Million Dollar Way). Tom would not
talk, but he pointed in what direction they should take him and he directed them right to our
house. A miracle I guess! We also hunted for him in Sidney one time. This time he was asleep
under the dining room table.
Then there was Larry. I don't ever remember him getting lost or misplaced.
Patti came in for lunch one day at 602 Livingston Ave. I said lunch will be ready in half an hour,
you can go out to play. When Shirley came home for lunch, Patti was gone. We hunted
everywhere. Then Shirley called the police. Her response from them was "If it will make you feel
better, we are hunting for two or three missing children already. It is spring and it always
happens". About two we found her. She had gone down the block toward Washington School.
Some lady had let her in to play with her little girl. We found them playing at Washington
School. I would never let a child in to play with out knowing her family or where she came from.
I had a little girl come to play with Patti one day. She wanted to come in, but I said, "No, your
Mother would not know where you were". She said "That's all right, I know where I am".
MILWAUKEE TO DOWNER AGAIN
Bob Palmer, Elaine (Bob's wife - a guess) , Ben Palmer and I were playing cards in our apartment
with the radio on. That was how we heard that the Japs had bombed Pearl Harbor. I remember
Bob jumping to his feet and that was the end of the card game.
Bob and Ben were both given deferments because they were in necessary industry. They were
helping to build tanks. Bob also had ulcers severe enough so that he would not have been drafted
anyway.
We lived about as usual. I took in some bond drives on Wisconsin Avenue. I saw some notables
at that time, but can't remember who most of them were. lf I had my daughter, Shirley Palmer,
with me, I stayed at the outside of the crowd. If I were alone, I ventured further in toward the
grandstand. My husband, Ben Palmer, also went with me to a few parades. At one we found a
tank with his weld on it. Each weld was marked by the welder. Ben received some awards for
contributing to the war effort. I still have them today.
Eventually my husband (Ben Palmer) was drafted, I cried, but we still had to make our
preparations to go back to Downer. Melva Holland-Poitras was going home with her children
(Priscilla and Philip), to stay with her Mother and Dad (Tillie & Ollie Holland). Melva's husband,
Allen Poitras, was in the service. We moved into Melva's house. It was built from two railroad
cars. There was no well. Melva had hauled her water from a faucet at Desings. Ben and I dug a
well. We didn't have to go very deep for water at that time. Mother (Lydia Ann Austin-Ullrich)
moved in with me and we were set to wait out the war. It didn't turn our that way, as before
Christmas Melva knew she had made a mistake moving home. She had to have her house. There
was no housing anywhere around. I even went to look at a vacated house west of Downer. I did
not even go inside as I knew I could not face the winter in the country is such a place. I went to
Moorhead to talk with the Red Cross to see if Ben could get out, the war being over at the time. I
went to Moorhead with Lawrence Lien, a Kost truck driver. Mom took care of Shirley and Bob
(Myrtle's children). Lawrence Lien was to pick me up at a hotel, but he never showed up. At nine
that night, I had to call Ellen and Norman Ernst to come and get me. It was -20C, but they came
and I was so grateful to them. Melva, in the meantime, was living with her sister Zella and
Charles Rea's waiting for me to get out. Ellen and Norman Ernst asked us to come and live
upstairs at their house. Mother moved in with us. Ellen was expecting Dennis (he was born in
January 1946). My son, Bob, used to cry every morning, and I always put him back to bed.
Norman would chuckle when he heard me carrying him back to the crib. We ate breakfast
upstairs, and the rest our meals down with Ellen and Norman. Norman's father, Rudolph Ernst,
was there in the summer too. I do not know how they stood it, but I do know that neither
Rudolph or Norman ever scolded Shirley or Bob or made them unwelcome.
Ben Palmer finally arrived home, but we still had no house so we bought Mon's granary and built
from there. Wood was in short supply for building. While we were building, we had dinner with
Aunt Inez (formerly Palmer) Kost and the Kosts. What good dinners they were. It took us many
weeks to change the granary into a home. My sister Ellen still took care of Mother and my two
children during the day. The house turned out quite nice. Two bedrooms, a large front room, and
a large kitchen with steel cupboards. Our bathroom never did seen any fixtures, but it did make a
good storeroom. We went to the outside toilet (privy, as it was sometimes called) and used the
Sears or Wards catalog. At that time I thought Downer was the only place to live, and that was
my mistake. The opportunities for work were not there.
Bob was born at Misericordia Hospital in Milwaukee. A Jewish Doctor by the name of Harper
was in attendance. He had told me he would bring a little boy with kinky black hair, and that is
what he did. We moved to an apartment on the South side the day Bob was born. My Mother and
Ben did the moving. We had rented it and on Sunday evening had taken Elaine's Uncle Harvey to
see it. About 8:30 I said, "I think we had better head for home". I had been in the hospital on a
false alarm on Friday night. We went to the hospital, but I wouldn't go in, fearing a false alarm
again. We sat on the hospital grounds in our car until midnight. Bob was born shortly after I enter
the hospital. When we got home from the hospital there was a plant of red roses. That was about
as pretty as I have ever seen. Of course those were the days when you still stayed in bed so that is
where I was for ten days. Ben had bought a stove for $2.00. It was so dirty it took Mom two days
to clean it up. It was a gas stove and it worked fine after the clean up. The apartment was nice,
but it was right on the street and I had to pull the curtains as soon as the street lights came on at
night. Shirley had her first playmate there, and she liked to bite. I finally told Shirley to bite back,
she did and that was the end of biting.
Ben worked the 3 to 11 shift. He worked first for the Reliance Boiler Works where his brother,
Bob, was working. Ben did not really know how to weld, but they bluffed it out at that time. Bob
sneaked over to help him when necessary. Welders were not too plentiful at that time, or maybe
they would not have gotten away with it.
We donated blood now and then. One time I went alone. I didn't take time to eat the sandwich
they offered me, but I went shopping instead. I was about to faint so I hurriedly bought potato
chips, ate them and then recovered enough to get on the street car and head for home.
We had moved to Milwaukee with all our possessions in the rumble seat of a Model B Ford.
Moving back to Downer, Ben had bought a trailer. Every inch was loaded and as he drove off the
curb and onto the street it rocked back and forth with each second, threatening to overturn. Once
it settled down we had no further trouble with it. We had bought a crib at Penny for $39.00 that I
still have today. Shirley was three months old when we went to Milwaukee. I think a bit past
three when we left. We had bought my first power washer in Downer, but had left it behind with
my mother when we moved to Milwaukee. Mother had never had a power washer before. It was
powered by a Briggs and Stratton Motor. Mother had no electricity in her house at that time.
We moved to an apartment over a garage on an alley after washing walls and etc. I decided I was
afraid to live there, so we moved to 2727 State Street, to a one room apartment. They were not
suppose to take children, but Ben talked the caretaker into it. I don't think most of the tenants
knew there was a baby in the house. I usually had her bottle ready when she was hungry. Shirley
did cry a bit whenever I put a coat on her. Whenever I took her out, I first took the buggy
downstairs, then the baby. We reversed the process when we came home. We lived on the second
floor. I washed clothes in the basement, and hung them in the attic to dry. I had one of those
harness things to put on Shirley when we walked so that I would not have to hang onto her hand
so tight. An old lady seeing us going down the street said,"Look at that terrible Mother! She has
her child harnessed like a dog". My daughter was comfortable and safe.
It was a good thing we moved by the time Bob was brought home from the hospital. He had colic
and generally cried pretty much from three in the morning until six. Having him in the other
apartment would have been nerve wracking.
Before this apartment move, we had moved downstairs. The land lady had told us to move. The
people in the apartment below could not stand the sound of Shirley's footsteps going back and
forth. So we looked for an apartment. Before we found one, we heard the people below us were
moving. Ben said "I'm going to ask for that apartment". I said "Ask, but she won't let you have
it". I was wrong. She did and we were on the ground floor with more room. I think we got the
apartment because Ben could and did fix her wash machine.
There were two things Shirley was afraid of at that apartment: One was the vacuum cleaner; I
used the landlady's. Shirley was so upset at the sight of it that I used it when she was sleeping.
The other was the lady who lived in the attic and sometimes came to see me. Shirley would cry
the minute she heard her voice. I know the lady had never harmed her in any way.
SAMUEL PALMER - ELLA O'ROURKE
Sam and Ella Palmer were early day homesteaders in Eastern Montana. They were south of the
Missouri River and Southwest of Culbertson Montana.
They had three children, Inez, who married Adolph Kost who was from Minnesota, Lee, who
married Mary Helen Peterson, also from Minnesota, and Ira, who married Helen Hanson, a
Montana Native.
Adolph and Inez Kost spent the later part of their lives at Downer, Minnesota, where the family
was in the cement and gravel business. They had no children.
Lee and Mary Palmer lived on the family ranch. They had eight children. Robert, Benjamin,
Bessie, Doris, Donald, Gene, and two little girls, Erma and Helen who passed away at an early
age.
Ira and Helen Palmer had three children. They were Wilma, Jay, and Steven.
Inez said when they went to Culbertson for the Fourth of July celebration, they went by wagon. It
was probably about 12 miles to the celebration, so they went planning to stay over a couple
nights. They tied the milk cow behind the wagon, and took her along because there would be no
one home to milk her.
Ira, Lee, and their families lived in log homes, and it has only been the last few years that old age
has got them. They use to have events like ball games, picnics, and dances. Inez often provided
the music for some of the house parties.
Ira and Lee were active in the early day roundups, when cattle from a large area were gathered,
swam across the Missouri, and trailed into Culbertson. They were then loaded into cattle cars for
shipment to Chicago.
MISSOULA, MONTANA - HERE WE COME
Having spent the night of August 21, 1961, at the home of Bess (formerly Palmer) and Art
Redland, we went into the Art Redland house at Sidney to do the final cleaning. Then we left
about one o'clock in the afternoon on a day that the temperature was over a hundred. Shirley did
all the driving. Our destination for the first night was Great Falls where we were suppose to meet
Ben. Actually he was not expecting us that night, but we were able to rent another room and we
settled for the evening. We left for Missoula on the 22nd, arriving there before our furniture did.
The house was at 646 Woodford Ave. It was an old two story home which we paid $110 per
month to rent. The ride from Great Falls seemed awfully long, though the country was beautiful.
Ben came in for the week end, and our son Bob arrived several days later, as he had been at Boy's
State in Dillon. Bob had been given the wrong address for our new home, but with the help of
some new friends they managed to get him home.
It rained heavily the evening we came to Missoula. We were not used to seeing people out with
umbrellas. Rain was not a problem where we had been. Lack of rain was and I have never owned
an umbrella.
My first morning in the new home I went out on the tiny porch in the back. There was a terrible
odor so I hunted for a wet mop or something that might have caused it. Nothing seemed to be the
culprit so I stepped outside and that is the first time I became aware of the odor from the pulp
mill
Kenneth Johnson brought our furniture up. He, my daughter Shirley, and Ken's helpers took in
the Fair, but didn't stay long because of the rain.
We got here a week before school started and that was good. Shirley went to the University, Bob
to Missoula County High School, and Tom and Mary went to Roosevelt. Larry started school a
year later at Washington. He was the only one of my children who went all eight years in the
same school.
In May of 1962 we bought the home on Livingston Ave. We paid $15,750 for it. It was in good
shape, close to the schools, and all it needed was paint. We did the painting as fast as we could. I
remember the mailman saying he thought I was the paintingest women he had ever see. The
downstairs was a mess. We cleaned it up and then Ben built two bedrooms and a bathroom
downstairs. Then we had plenty of room. I still like my house and hope to remain here. I can
imagine the neighbors were alarmed when they heard a family was coming in with six kids. It
was a good neighborhood for kids. Maywood Kirkwoods lived next door. They were a retired
couple from Seeley lake and good neighbors. They soon moved back to Seeley, as Maywood was
too bored living in Missoula.
MONTANA
The fall before Mary Ellen was born we lived in the old log house at the Palmer ranch. We took
the kids, Shirley and Bob to and from the Cherry Creek School.
Ben and I went in the evening to work on the basement house which we were to move into. It
was located about a mile east and in the flats beside the creek (dry except spring run off. Work
went slow and I became determined to move. On the day before Thanksgiving we moved in. The
wind was so hard it blew the mattress off the truck. We got settled enough to have Thanksgiving
dinner there. My mother was with us that winter also. Gene Palmer (Ben's brother) lived with us
and there was a hired man by the name of Frank too. The basement house was turned into a two
story house several years later, and is the headquarters of the Palmer- Ranch today.
My Mother did a lot of the cooking, dish washing, and etc. I perfataped the walls and painted
from Dec. until April. I didn't do a very good job on taping, as I had never seen it done and put
too much plaster on the tape and had to sand it off. I will never perfatape anything again.
The winter was long, and we still had snow and ice when Mary Ellen was born on May 8th. Ben
and Gene had come into the house and said our cars were stuck. One on each side of the ranch.
Although it was several days early for Mary's arrival, I said get them out, we might need them. At
three that afternoon I took a nap and then rolled up the last of the linoleum that I was using for
shelf covering (it was yellow). I told Ben it was time to go to town. Ben's Mom, Mary, said
surely you don't mean that, but we went arriving there about six. We sat in front of the restaurant
in downtown Sidney for a while. I wanted Ben to go in to eat, but he wouldn't. At 8:30 we went
to the hospital. The nurse said "Any hurry?" I said "No", but when she examined me she called
the doctor who had to come from Culbertson. Mary Ellen arrived in about a half hour with the
help of a Sidney doctor. I had sent Ben out to eat, and when he came back Bessie (his sister) was
with him. I figured I would sleep so I had Ben go back to help Gene (Ben's brother) with the
lambing. I didn't go to sleep until after three. Mary Ellen was named after her Grandma and her
Aunt Ellen.
Lee Palmer (Ben's father) spent most of the that winter in the Sidney Hospital. Bess and Art
Redland had spent the Thanksgiving in town with Lee and Mary, and Don and Doris Palmer.
Lee was out of the hospital by the time Mary Ellen was born. She had a bed in our large doll
buggy, and he would sit and watch her by the hour as there was not much else he could do. It was
lambing time, and we had a orphan lamb that I fed every time I gave Mary the bottle, but it didn't
live.
75TH BIRTHDAY - February 1990
My grandson's (Sean Ward) arrival was the start of my birthday celebration. My son Bob, Bob's
wife (Lyrin), and I met him at the airport. His plane was right on time. On the way back, Bob
took us to see the rail pile-up at Evaro Hill. 32 cars and 3 diesels left the tracks because of
excessive speed. Sean came in on Northwest Airlines.
On Friday, we met my son Larry Palmer who came in on Delta. He was also right on time. In fact
we met him just as we entered the building. I didn't tell them that Mary Ellen, Mike and Jeanie
Kauth were in Deer Lodge and would be here in Missoula shortly after we returned home. They
had left Minneapolis at 9 PM on Thursday night and drove all night. We had dinner at my house.
On Saturday, my daughter Shirley drove in from Orofino, Idaho. She stayed with her daughter
Sheila and Steve for the weekend. Mary Ellen and Mike Kauth provided lasagna and salad for
everyone. Tom and Joann's family weren't able to get over that night. Steve and Lance went to
the Grizzly game, and Sheila spent the evening with the rest to the family.
On Sunday, Joanne Palmer (Tom's wife) and children, Mary Ellen, Mike, and Jeanie Kauth,
Larry Palmer, and my daughter Shirley accompanied me to church. Tom had to work and Bob
Palmer's family needed to have extra time to spend and prepare for Bob's trip to Iron Mountain
Michigan. (He had a job waiting for him and had to leave right after my birthday party.)
All my children and grandchildren went to dinner at the Sizzler steak house. We had a private
room and many pictures were taken. We went back home to open my gifts, and then had ice
cream and cake. The cake was beautifully decorated by Lyrin. I received a large birthday card
made by and signed by all of the grandchildren, including my new granddaughter, Jeanie Kauth. I
also received a bouquet of flowers from Jim Cochrane (Shirley's ex?-husband).
My gifts varied from a coffee table from the Kauth's, vase and carnations from Lacey, a picture of
geese from Tom, Joann, and family, evergreen shrubs from Bob, Lyrin and family, a trip to
Spokane with Shirley in June, coffee mug from Sean, and a glass bird decoration from Jeanie.
Eight of the grandchildren stayed over night and they had a great time. Larry and Sean left on
Monday. Bob had left the evening before and arrived in Minneapolis about the same time Sean's
plane got there. Bob still had about ten hours of driving to get to Michigan.
Monday, Mike, Mary, and Jeanie Kauth were entertained at my son - Bob Palmer's. On Tuesday
they went to Tom Palmer's. My daughter Shirley took me out on Tuesday evening, just the two
of us. We went to China Gardens and then to the show Magnolia. I had seen it before and really
enjoyed seeing it again.
Wednesday morning, Mike, Mary, and Jeanie Kauth and my daughter Shirley went to Discovery
Basin to ski. They spent the night at Fairmont Hot Springs. Tom and Joanne Palmer and Cindy
Blessum joined them on Thursday. They reported good skiing and a wonderful time. They had
dinner at the Heidelhouse back in Missoula.
On Friday, I went with Mary and Mike Kauth to see the Snowbowl Ski area. I hadn't been there
for a long time and I enjoyed it.
On Saturday morning early, the Kauth's started the long journey home. They spent the night with
Mary's uncle Gene (Palmer?) in Fairview, Montana. John, Loretta and family visited them there.
Shirley left for home Sunday morning early, arrived home about noon in time to go skiing with
friends. Sheila and Steve Sargent and her mom (my daughter) Shirley took in a basketball game
on Saturday evening.
And so ended my 75th Birthday Celebration.
OUR BLACKSMITH
Under the spreading Chestnut Tree, the Village Smith he stands. The Smith a mighty man is he.
However our smith was not mighty, and the tree was a large and beautiful box elder. We did love
to go by the blacksmith shop to see what was going on there. I remember watching as plow
shares were hammered out and watching the shoeing of horses. There were very few horses ever
shoed in our village, as there was no need for it. I think we were always a bit in awe of George as
he lived alone above the blacksmith shop, and had little beady eyes. I do though remember on
one occasion that a group of us, thinking we were very daring, stood a good way off and in a
taunting way chanted: "Georgie, Georgie, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry".
He stood and watched us, but said nothing. I don't know that he even cared, but I know that if our
parents had known what we were up to we would not have been doing it again.
CHRISTMAS 1987
I had an early Christmas with my son's (Tom Palmer) family. We had a pork roast dinner, then
we opened the gifts. It was a nice evening though not as exciting as the usual Dec 24th with all
the family.
On Dec 13, 1987 I left for Minneapolis by bus. I was met in Fargo by Melva Holland-Poitras,
where I spent the time until I went to Ellen and Norman Ernst's. Ellen's daughter Carol and her
husband Stan Mallon were there so I also got to visit with them.
We had our cousins, Helen and Wallace Austin, come to dinner. Wallace brought home made ice
cream. I always enjoy that.
We went to Darin Ernst and Angie's wedding in Fergus Falls, MN. The wedding was in a
beautiful Lutheran Church, and it was a lovely wedding. We spent the night at Holiday Inn on
Dec 19th. After a breakfast with the family, Mary Ellen and I went to Minneapolis.
We had Christmas with Mary Ellen and Sean. Bob, Lyrin, Lance, Amy, Larry Palmer, Hazel
Trowbridge, and I were at Mary's for dinner and gift opening Christmas eve.
Larry came on Dec. 23 and had to leave on the 28th.
On December 25th, we had turkey dinner at Bob and Lyrin's home. We also had raspberry frappe.
On Jan 5th Ellen Ullrich-Ernst (Mrs. Norman Ernst) had her operation, and as she seemed to be
doing really well I left for home on January 6, 1988.
CHRISTMAS 1988
We had our usual Christmas dinner. Guests were Dorothy (or Doris) and Fred Gallwas, Ellsworth
Cragholm, Hazel Trowbridge, Tom, Bob and their families, Sheila and Steve. We had an 18
pound turkey and the trimmings. My grandkids (Lance Palmer, Cindy Blessum, and Lacey
Palmer) did the dishes.
I was done with my shopping very early this year. After being very persistent I finally got the
train set I wanted for my grandsons, Ben and Matthew Palmer.
At 7:20PM Bob asked me if I was going to church. I had not planned to as I do not drive at night.
He said he would take me, and I surely enjoyed the candle services. Doris and Fred Gallwas,
Hazel Trowbridge, Ellsworth Cragholm, and my son Tom Palmer's family left about that time
too. Tom's family came back for the opening of the gifts. We started as usual with the youngest,
that was Matt Palmer. Gift opening was fun as usual. Nose pieces and glasses my son Larry sent
to Lance, Amy, Ben, and Matt provided some extra laughs.
Larry flew to Minneapolis to spend Christmas with Mary Ellen and her son Sean. They opened
gifts Sunday morning, and went to the Cathedral on Christmas Eve. Mike and Jeannie Kauth
were their guests, and they were guests of Mike and Jeanie in return.
Sean spent the Christmas Eve with friends and Larry Palmer and his sister Mary went cross
country skiing.
Shirley came the weekend before Christmas. We had dinner Saturday evening with Steve and
Sheila Sargent (Sheila is Shirley's daughter).
Spent Christmas day with Tom's family. Bob and his family were at a family dinner at Hazel's.
Tom and Joanne Palmer brought a Pomeranian puppy at Helena, MT the week before Christmas.
He is work and fun. He has the cutest face. They call him Sach.
Tom outfitted his family with skis this fall. They had not been able to go out so they set the 17th
of Jan as the big day. Matthew stayed with Doris and Fred Allwas (his grandparents). They set
out for Discovery Basin, but did not go there as they heard they were shut down. They went to
Lost Trail and found they were not open on Tuesday. They came back to Missoula, MT and went
to Marshall about 1:00 PM. They reported good skiing, and a good time though Joanne give up
early and enjoyed herself in the lodge. Her knee was bothering her. Ben kept up with his Dad.
Jason, a friend of Lacey Palmer's, was also along. All were tired this morning. Cindy is also good
on the ski slopes.
SIBERIAN FREEZE
Feb 4, 1989
On Monday January 30th, we had a high/warm temperature of about 58 degrees. In the evening
we got word that a Siberian Freeze was on the way. It took a bit longer than they thought, but it
got here.
The wind was high Monday evening. I did not notice it at first, but it had blown out the pilot light
of my furnace. This had happened only once I moved here. I called Montana Power about nine in
the morning. They had many outages so they got here about five. By that time I was wearing my
winter jacket, but was not feeling too cold. I had been to Bible Study so had not been in the house
all that time.
Wednesday afternoon I found my kitchen sink not draining. Bob came and got it going, He said
he was not sure if it was frozen or plugged or both. Many homes have frozen lines.
Hazel was having a bad time with frozen pipes in her home and also in the cabin that she had just
rented to a young man. Bob has been there most of yesterday, and Tom is helping him there
today. They rerouted some pipes because the frozen ones had burst and were behind her cabinets.
They found another route for the pipes and she had water again.
On the state scene, we have had 52 train cars of corn off the track by Glacier Park. There should
be a lot of spilled corn for birds and animal to eat. This is the third rail accident in the Exxex area
in two months. Then on Thursday nine train cars became uncoupled going up the mountain, and
rolled back nine miles to Helena where they collided with a locomotive and exploded about 300
yards from Carroll College. Nearly every window was blown out at the college and for a large
area around it. An axle and wheels from one of the cars came through the ceiling of a lady's
home, falling within two feet of her. She was unhurt. In Missoula, MT a malfunctioning water
fire control sprinkler in the Mayor's Office went beserk and did a lot of damage there, and in the
police offices below.
I enjoy the crows who perch in Sickels trees. Today I put three pieces of French bread out hoping
to seen them come and eat it. They didn't come while I was watching, but when I woke up from a
nap, I could see they had a great time. There was no bread left, and in its place were hundreds of
crow foot prints.
I had Lance, Amy, Ben, and Matthew (my Palmer grandkids) overnight, and until noon Saturday.
My son Tom Palmer and his wife Joanne came over to see if I needed anything one evening. My
son Bob Palmer called to see how all was going and to top it off, my grandaughter Sheila came to
see if I needed groceries. I didn't. Sheila came home from work to find her door frozen shut. She
came down here for a while, then went back up and got in before Bob got up there to help her.
Helena, MT had 33 below today, the lowest since 1936. We had about 28 below, with a wind
chill much higher, however the wind is down now. The chill is to last for several days yet.
They say this is the worst snow ever for Montana, however I vaguely remember pictures and
stories of a storm in Eastern Montana (long before I ever saw it, or the Palmers), of dead cows
and etc. I do not recall if this was of cows that died from the blizzard or of starvation following
the blizzard. I hope this storm has not been as hard on the livestock as that one.
Wisdom, Montana listed the coldest temperature at minus 50 degrees.
SHORT CARDS
On March 23, 1964, early in the morning I went to the Old Community Hospital where Patti was
to have spleen surgery. She slept all day, and I was pleased that she could be healing as she slept.
The wind was what we called going "out like a lion". It rattled the windows of the old hospital.
My husband Ben came and I went home to rest. Something had gone wrong. Shirley, who had
gone up to relieve Ben, called to say that Ben was gone and they wouldn't let her in. When the
wind went down that evening our Patti was no longer with us. My book "Gone with the Wind".
MY FIRST CAR
On March 2nd 1989, I retired my dear Impala. Not without some qualms, of course. It has been
my faithful car since I bought it from Wes Sprunk in 1982. I paid $2,700 and the old jeep that
Dad and the boys enjoyed so much. This was the first and only car that I ever bought, and I feel I
made a good choice. Bob was with me on that day, across the lot and I pointed and said "That is
the car I want".
My new car is a gift from Shirley and Jim. She bought a Subaru. She did not want to let the '81
Delta Olds go for the $2,100 they wanted to give them on a trade in, so she gave it to me for my
72 birthday. It is a great car. Sheila and Steve brought my car over from Orofino.
SHEILA COCHRANE AND STEVE SARGENT'S WEDDING
On Nov 5th, 1987, Cindy Blessum (my sister Ellen's grandaughter) and I left for Reno Nevada by
Delta Airlines. We were met by Shirley and Jim Cochrane. We attended the wedding of their
daughter, Sheila Cochrane, and Steve Sargent two days later. Cindy Blessum was their flower
girl. The plane trip went well and we both enjoyed it. We had a chance to see some of the sights
at Reno. We enjoyed the Casino at Circus Circus. We enjoyed a delicious lunch there, courtesy of
Jim Cochrane. It was buffet type and was excellent. Later we went to visit Virginia City where
we went into a beautiful Catholic Church, and into suicide bar. Jim bought Cindy chocolate
covered cookies at a candy factory. The canyons were deep and beautiful. Such an amazing
country. This is a mining town. It was great to see some of the mansions though we did not get
inside any of them. Later in the afternoon we went to the condominium at Lake Tahoe. It was
near the Lake. There was a beautiful swimming pool that Cindy did not get into until after the
reception on Saturday. Saturday was the most beautiful wedding day. The reception was held
right on the shore. The doors were open and we could go out to view the lake. A lovely buffet
was served, champagne was plentiful, friends of Sheila and Steve had decorated with balloons
and bells in lavender and yellow. The ceremony was held at the Presbyterian Church. Claudia
Danker was kept busy getting everything just so on the dress, and then Shirley had to press it. It
pressed well but took a long time. Cindy and I were the only ones from this side of the family
that were able to attend. I treated the young crowd to dinner at one of the Casinos, and Shirley
and Jim took Steve's Dad and Stepmother out to dine and get acquainted. Cindy had to be careful
not to go in to the Casinos. They were very strict.
JOHN ARTHUR ULLRICH
John Arthur Ullrich, my brother, was buried in the Palm Memorial Park Cemetery in Henderson,
Nevada. His children are:
Jeanne Highfill - La Centre
Rebecca 'Becky' Swonger- La Centre
Gwendolyn Walranaen- Las Vegas
Vern Ullrich
Randy Ullrich- Henderson
John was laid to rest Feb 2nd. Services were held at Palm Chapel. Rev. William Kirkman of the
first Presbyterian Church officiating. I landed at Las Vegas about ten minutes before the airport
was shut down because of snow. It was the only time this airport had ever been shut down for
that reason. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lien and Jessie Henry were not allowed to land at Mt.
Carren airport, and were flown to Burbank, Calif. Ellen and Norman Ernst and Alfred and
Dorothy Lien were to arrive Feb 1st, but were held over at Williams near the Grand Canyon. I
flew Western, landed at Salt Lake, and was the only one who made a perfect and beautiful trip.
When we went to buy flowers, several of the shops had none because the airplanes were not
allowed to come in with their orders. We settled for some grads that were not nearly open, and I
did not complain for we knew that was all they had. John Ullrich's daughters (Jeanne and Becky)
and I bought the casket piece. John was born Nov 21, 1913.
SPEEDY DELIVERY
Today I bought a General Electric washer from Vann's Appliance. Number WWA 8310. I paid
$419 plus $14 for delivery. I bought, paid for this machine and it was delivered in a half hour. I
think that must be some kind of a record. I hated to part with the money, but I am ever so glad
that I had it to part with. My old machine was totally worn out. I do not know what year I bought
the old one, but it gave me good service for probably 17 years.
INAUGURATION
Jan 20, 1989 One hour to inauguration time for George Bush as president of the United States.
Ronald Reagan and Nancy will leave for California right after the swearing in ceremony. He
takes nine cargo places of parfanalia with him Ronald made jelly beans a popular candy. I have
always liked jelly beans. Mother liked the black ones. Reagan will be 81 years old in Feb of
1989. From George Washington to George Bush, a hundred years. The Bushes and Quales travel
in a new $600,000 limousine. $300,000 are being spent on this inauguration. $1,600 a plate for a
dinner on Wednesday evening. The new Limo has a USA license Plate. The security is endless.
Manhole covers are searched and painted, mail boxes and garbage cans have been removed. Will
Bush have Reagan's power of persuasion? Ronald wore a business suit, Nancy wore red. Mrs.
Bush was in blue. The weather was beautiful. Tom Brokaw and Bryant Gumble were Channel
13's announcers. John Chancellor was also very much in evidence. Billy Graham gave the
invocation, The Harlem Boys Choir sang "This is my Country". They left with a 21 gun salute.
Nancy Reagan was miffed at the reporters comparing her and Barbara Bush's styles.
LACEY'S GRAND MARCH
Mar 24, 1990. This Saturday evening Joanne and I went to see the Grand March at Copper
Commons at the University. Lacey was in the Grand March with her friend since Kindergarten. I
think his name was Tye Miller. He was a very handsome outgoing partner. It was nice to meet
him. They went to the Six Pack at Florence for dinner. Tye drove Lacey's Honda Accord, as he
had a motorcycle. Not exactly Prom transportation. We stood at the foot of the stairs as they
came down, and we took some pictures. Lacey was very beautiful in a peach colored dress. She
had her hair done by four girls at Mr. Richs. They enjoyed working at it. There were so many
pretty girl, so many pretty dresses, and just as many handsome lads. It was a thrill for this
Grandma to be there. Last but not least were about four of a group called the Wavers. I do not
know what the philosophy of the group is, but they believe in wearing black. The black rose is
their flower. The young lady was caring one that evening.
CINDY BLESSUM'S GAME
Aug 30,1990 This afternoon we watched Cindy Blessum's first basketball game as a student at
Sentinel. The score tied up several times, with Sentinel finally winning over Big Sky. Cindy got
to play quite a bit though she wasn't on the first string.
GRANDKIDS AND SCHOOL
Sept 1990. Mat started kindergarten at Russell School. His comment "I like it and I will go back
tomorrow". Ben also goes to Russell. He said he had a good time. Lance started his Sophomore
year at Sentinel. He is enthused about being in a three different bands, and enjoys school. Amy
goes to Russell where she did not get the teacher she wanted, but did get in the room where her
friends were. She will study music with Betty Museuw. Lance hopes to study with Steven
Adoph. Lacey is back at Hellgate, and is to work 30 hours a week at Buttrey Pharmacy.
BOB'S HEART ATTACK
Oct 29, 1990 - Today we took Bob back to Idaho Falls where he will go back to work after
having a heart attack at the Chemical Processing Plant west of Idaho Falls. He was leaving work
when he had the heart attack and was taken to Idaho Falls in the ambulance. He was in the
hospital for 12 days. Total bill for just the hospital was over $24,000. His insurance took care of
all but $495 of the hospital. He is waiting for all the other bills that will come in. Lyrin drove
over on the 28th of Sept and stayed until Bob could come home. Lance spent the 12 days with me
except for a Saturday night and Sunday with Grandma Hazel (Mrs. Elmer Trowbridge). Amy
spent the time with Tom and Joanne except for Saturday and Sunday with Hazel. We were nearer
to schools than Hazel was. Bob was in therapy at St. Patrick's Hospital for several days. He was
learning about food eating and good exercise. The good news was that he did not have-heart
damage.
We could not figure out when I had last visited in Idaho Falls, but it was nice to get over there
and see Cris, Matt, Brandy, and Leisa, children of Jim and Debby Watters. I also enjoyed seeing
Josie and Ryan, children of Don and Laurie Watters. I have seen them a couple of time as they
came through Missoula with their parents. Amy Palmer spent the night at Josie Watters and they
had a good time. Lance Palmer spent the night with his grandma, Hazel Trowbridge. He expected
us home early, and was worried when we did not show up. Doris Gallwas (my son Tom's
mother-in-law) served us some really good meals, spaghetti, chicken and etc. We all had Sunday
dinner together except for Jim, who was at work. Jim had gotten a small venison on Saturday.
We were out to Don and Laurie Watters where they were busy painting and cleaning rugs. Nancy
is in Nampa, Idaho about three hundred miles from Idaho Falls, so I did not see her. She is
getting a divorce and will use her maiden name.
BEN AND MATT
Ben's Letter. After I typed a letter Ben wanted to do the same. I allowed him to do so if he would
type with one finger. On the completion of his letter he brought it to me. I asked him to who did
you write? He answered, "You tell me, I can't read!".
Ben did not talk with Santa at the Mall. That evening he said, "Dad, I sure hate to disappoint you,
but I am not going to talk to that man.
Conversation between Grandma and Matt. Matthew showed me something he made from bristle
blocks. Grandma "Oh, that's nice Matthew". Matt " What is it Grandma. "I don't know".
Matthew, "I don't either".
Matthew's favorite greeting for the last year and a half. Ben, "Grandma, can l spend the night".
Ben "Grandma, I am almost six, Matthew is almost four, you soon won't have any little ones".
Grandma "l am thinking of going to see Jesus Christ Super Star". Ben "What is that about?".
Grandma' "It's about Jesus". Ben, "Oh, are you a Christian too. I didn't know that!"
CHRISTMAS 1991
On Dec 20th Bruce Bade and Shirley arrived for the holiday. I had been sick, so everything was
not in order. On Friday I went to the doctor at the Mall. I was on penicillin and cough medicine.
Shirley and Bruce did my grocery shopping. With a 22 pound turkey to get in the oven, Bruce
took over the cooking of the dressing, the turkey, gravy, etc. He also made a large bowl of
cabbage salad.
We had dinner Christmas Eve at about 5:15 PM. There were 17 of us. Leonard and Monica
Sargent (Steve's folks) from Minnesota did not get here in time for dinner. They ate about 7:30
PM, having arrived just as Bruce, Shirley and I were leaving for church. We had eight at the big
table and we had two card tables set up. Lacey came later as she had to work until six. Hazel did
not come at all as she had to stay home until the men came to thaw out her cabin. Bob and Lyrin
took dinner over and spent some time with Hazel at her house.
Our church service was very pretty and meaningful as usual. The church was full. We had a great
choir and we also enjoyed the Bell Ringers. Barbara Archer was the speaker. She will be leaving
us by January 13th.
When we arrived home, every one was gathered around the front room, and we soon started
opening the gifts. As usual it was fun even though there were not as many gifts. We had decided
not to draw names this year.
My gift from Larry arrived by UPS on Dec 28th. It had been mailed Dec. 15th. I suppose the
stormy conditions in Seattle were the cause of the delay. It was two sets of beautiful pink towels.
Mary Ellen had also sent beautiful towels.
Lacy went home to spend the night at her folks so she could be with the family when they opened
their gifts. I went to dinner with Bob's family at Hazel's. Another good dinner.
I have a picture of Shirley and Bruce cleaning the snow off their car for the trip home. They made
good time and arrived safely.
Lyrin spent a part of the Holiday nursing an abbess tooth.
On New Years I went to watch Amy and Bob skate, then Hazel and I spent the evening eating
chips and nachos at Bob and Lyrin's. It was great to see Bob skate with Amy, especially since he
had a heart attack only three months ago. We spent some time with the computer, reading family
records that Bob had recorded. In the morning I had waffles, steak, hashbrowns, and omelets at
Tom and Joann's.
Along with all our celebrations was the concern for our young men in the Persian Golf. I find it
hard to believe the extent of events, even though I do not know anyone personally who is over
there.
Shirley and Bruce announced plans to be married in June, probably the 22nd. She has a beautiful
ring.
I received a center piece from Jim Cochrane. It was beautiful. I called to thank him. I also have a
mum from Shirley and Bruce. It is still doing well. It looks like a large Daisy and the blooms are
very white.
MY TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the eleven nights before Christmas my door bell would ring each night but I could find no one
there, but there was always a figure from the Nativity scene. First was the donkey, then the cow,
then two lambs, etc. Last to arrive was the baby, then there was a card. I was sure it was my son
Bob's writing. I compared it to some of his writing on the family records, and he had to admitted
he and his family were the door bell ringers. The set is beautiful and it was something that I had
needed. It was fun. The weather was extremely bad, but they made it. He said he parked on
Bancroft and Livingston and the kids would ring the door bell, leave the gift and run for it. I tried
looking out different windows to see who it was, but never got a glimpse of them.
Joann (Mrs. Tom Palmer) made decorative pillows for my bed, Lyrin and Bob bought a cart
matching my deer. Shirley and Sheila gave me a gift certificate to Mr. Rich's. Shirley and Bruce
Bade put tires on my car. I have not mentioned everything. Lacey Palmer gave me a rug that I am
using to protect my new chair. Having the family come is enough. Having help to cook the dinner
was great since I was not feeling all that great.
PATTI PALMER
Probably my first memory of Patti was riding home from Doctor Harpers office after having our
suspicions confirmed that another baby was on the way. Shirley was with us, and when we told
her she laughed. I was happy as I always was when I was to have another baby.
Kay came to the house and stayed a week when I was in the hospital. I had eclampsia, and may
not have made it but for a roommate who said "If you don't call the nurses I will" She did and
they called the doctor immediately. Then I was told that to have another baby would be
dangerous.
Ben was working out of town at the time so he was not there.
I had no knowledge that Patti was not well, although I did wonder why she always fumed blue
when I bathed her. I would always think I had to have the room warmer for her bath. At her six
week check up. Dr. Harper said something was wrong, and we should take her to Billings. When
we got to Billings we entered the doctors waiting room. Someone was getting the scolding of
their life. I do not know if it was a nurse or his wife. He took one look at Patti and said. I'll bet
there is not one thing wrong with that child. He took a blood test and said come back at two, and
he was apologetic about his former response. We were advised to have the surgery when she was
about five. Patti needed to have her spleen removed.
Patti loved those really full petticoats they were using at that time. When we went shopping she
always went to that rack to look at and feel them. I am so glad she got one, and she did get to
wear it. I still have it. She seemed to get along well, though as I look back now I realize that she
looked tired, and did not play as much. I think if she had had the surgery earlier it might have
been different. She wanted the tiny baby doll that was popular then. She got it for Christmas, and
I still have that too.
The night I took her to the hospital as we passed the Dairy Queen she said "Do you think I could
have a push up?" Not knowing if they wanted her to eat anything before she came in, my first
response was "No".
Then I drove on about three blocks, and I said to myself, "Why can't she have a push up, and I
drove back and got one. I have always been so glad I did.
In the morning after getting the kids off to school, I took my book and went to spend the day with
Patti. The wind was blowing terribly and the windows in the old hospital shook. She slept most
of the day and I thought "All is well". Ben came from work to stay with her, then Shirley came
from work, and they would not let her in. She had developed trouble shortly after I left. She had a
slight restless spell before I left. Doctor Brewer ordered a tetany shot. Ben did not call me.
Shirley called from the hospital and said. "Mom they won't let me in." I knew immediately that
something was very wrong. Ben came in then. Dr. Brewer came, then Shirley and Bob. When the
wind went down that evening, our little Patti was gone. The book I had with me was "Gone with
the Wind".
Eventually we all went to bed, Bob had gone to the basement to handle his grief by himself. I
suggested to Ben that we take Patti back to Sidney for burial as we did not know if we would be
staying in Missoula. At least at Sidney, the family was known. His first thought was that the cost
would be prohibitive, but it wasn't. My sister Ellen and her husband Norman Ernst came and
Norman accompanied the body on the train to Sidney. We had a Service here the day before
Easter, and one in Sidney the day after. Services in Sidney were held at the Peoples
Congregational Church. I had written the afternoon of Patti's death to the two Grandmothers,
Mary and Lydia, saying how well everything was going. Those letters were never mailed and I
still have them.
Harry and Dorothy Holland visited us the weekend before the surgery, Dorothy took a picture of
her here on the steps. She sent me a copy. It was the last picture of Patti.
Patti loved Sunday school and I am glad she got to go.
ICE CREAM
My grandson, Matthew, age five, was with his family at an "all you can eat" restaurant. After
getting his second helping of ice cream, he came hurrying back saying, "Day, let's get out of here.
I can't shut the machine off, and this whole place will fill up with ice cream".
THE MECHANIC
As Ben watched his Dad Tom work on my car, he said, "Grandma, when Dad gets to old to fix
your car, I will do it".
THE KOST'S
I grew up across the road from the Kost Home. We lived in a small house that had four rooms
and a pantry. My Dad later build a 7 room home. I think it was built in about 1924.
My first memories of the family that lived in the Kost Home were of Grandma and Grandpa
Kost. Their sons names were Anton, Adolph, and John.
Anton never married. He started the Kost Gravel and Cement Block business before I was born.
It is still doing business today. Adolph married Inez Palmer. She didn't come to live in Downer
with him until much later. John married Hatti Henry, a pretty girl. She died during the flu
epidemic during the first world war. There were three children, Eleanor who is months older than
1, Ronald and Katy. Grandma Kost passed away first as I recall. I stayed with her one day when
my mother took the train to the dentist in Barnesville.
We seldom saw John Kost, as he was their salesman for the gravel and sand business. I
remember him telling us stories. I thought he was really something as he wore white shirts and
ties.
In the days of the grandparents the house was beautiful and different from others in Downer.
There were railings around the walls for the display of beautiful paint plates, a china closet full of
beautiful things, stuffed squirrels, owls, etc. were in the hall way. Adolph did the taxidermy
himself. There were also pictures of flowers made with hair, I did not like those.
Grandpa Kost used to sit a lot on the back porch. I remember a couple times the boys used to run
a stick over the fence. The noise irritated Grandpa, and he would yell "Dump the Fools, I will cut
your ears off!" You can bet the parents did not know about this. The house has now been bought
by a descendent of the only girl, and remodeled. It is not the house it once was, but they say it is
nice inside. The porches are gone.
DECEMBER 1992
I have a 22 pound turkey, I worried lest I couldn't get it thawed out in time. I did and it was a bit
over cooked, but the dinner turned out OK. Guests were Will and Lacy (Lacey Palmer?), Tom
and Joann Palmer, Cindy Blessum, Mat and Ben Palmer; Bob, Lyrin, Amy and Lance Palmer,
Hazel Trowbridge, Fred and Dorothy Gallwas. We were done in time to get to church. Also
guests were Bill and Winnie Sanderson, and I went to church with them. After church we opened
the presents, and visited.
Christmas Day I was a guest at dinner at Hazel Trowbridge's. (Hazel is Lyrin's Mom). Bob,
Lyrin and their daughter Amy were also guests. It would be her last Christmas at that address.
Mary, Mike and Jeannie Kauth came on the 27th to spend a few hours and then go on to Portland
and Seattle. They visited and skied and enjoyed seeing their sister and brothers homes. Then back
here for a couple of days visiting and skiing
After they left Bill Sorteberg, his boys, Ben, Lee, and Andrew came (Palmer relation). Sheila and
Tom were with them. Tom was three. Bill and Sheila were married here. Joann and I were
witnesses. Later Bill and his family took me to the Kings Table.
They spent three evenings at Tom and Joann's. The boys were so good. They found so many toys
here they loved to play with.
Tom and Joann went to Big Sky where Mary and Mike were skiing. They had a good time. Mary
and Mike came back here and spent two days. Mike and Cindy skied at Snow Bowl. Mike, Mary
and Ben went to Discovery Basin where Mary and Mike skied and Ben used his snow board.
Monday night Mary made chicken Schlopy, and a large vegetable salad. I made two batches of
cream puffs and some brownies. There was little left except brownies. Bob, Cindy, and Sheila
had to work. Will had to study. Andrew was the star of the evening. He is an dandy baby.
Andrew Hendricks was born Jan 14th at 4:30 a.m. I went to see him that night.
Andrew Hendricks visited in my home for the first time when he was eleven days old.
Lance spent a week with the band. They marched in the parade for the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix,
Arizona and spent some time in Disneyland, and at the movie studio.
Written Feb 6. 1993
I REMEMBER
I remember a trip Helen and Wallace Austin, and I made to Seattle. They arrived in Missoula,
MT on a Friday evening. We left the next morning for Seattle, in spite of the fact that we had a
heavy snowfall and Wallace's car was not working at all well. Wallace wanted to have the car
checked out, but couldn't find anyone to help him, so we left for Seattle anyway.
It was a beautiful morning. When we arrived at St. Regis we found that they had the heaviest
snowfall in 20 years for a given 24 hour period.
Wallace put on the chains below the pass. He had not used them on this car and they turned out
to be too big. Every turn of the wheel gave a crunch, and sounded as though it would tear a hole
in the fender. Crunch, crunch, crunch, until we stopped and a truck driver gave us some clothes
hangers to tighten them with. It didn't take care of the problem, so we stopped at a gas station,
bought tighteners, and went on our way. Two or three more stops, and we were finally over the
pass, and could take the chains off. What a relief to find there was no damage to the car. Only our
nerves.
While all this was going on we still had the car problems. We would go a while with no problem,
then the car would stall. Sometimes we made 20 miles. Sometimes 40, and once a stretch of 80
miles. Each time Wallace would get out, put on his lined coveralls, take the gas cap off and blow
into it until he cleared the line. It was a very cold day. He had gotten water in the gas.
We arrived in Seattle and Wallace called Earl to let him know we were in. Wallace said "Have
one stiff drink ready for me. I need it."
Even though it was a troublesome trip, Helen Austin and I talked all the way, and I was happy to
hear news of all my relatives and friends.
-- The End --
Descendants of Hans Ullrich who was married to Vivian Gley or Wiby Glohe
...... 2 Hans Jergen Ullrich b: October 27, 1870 in Germany d: June 20, 1933 in St. Ansgar Hosp. Moorhead, MN Clay County - buried Barnesville City Cemetary
.......... +Lydia Ann Austin b: November 28, 1890 in or 1891 in Big Springs, NE or Clay County, MN d: August 03, 1955 in Downer, MN buried 8/6/1955 Barnesville City Cem. in Barnesville, MN
................. 3 Baby - stillborn Ullrich b: November 07, 1912 in Downer, MN d: November 07, 1912
................. 3 John Arthur Ullrichb: November 19, 1913 in or 11/21/1913 Downer, MN d: 1979 in Henderson, NV - Palm Memorial Park Cemetery
..................... +Mildred Mae Henry b: July 13, 1917 in Glyndon, MN m: January 27, 1935 in Moorhead, Minnesota
......................... 4 [1] Gwendolyn Ann Ullrich b: February 09, 1937 in Downer, MN ................................. +Richard Michael (or Walraven) Walranaen
............................. *2nd Husband of [1] Gwendolyn Ann Ullrich:
................................. +Eugene Felix Picotte b: February 21, 1930 in SD m: June 07, 1957
........................................ 5 Gail Marie Picotte b: January 18, 1958 in Henderson, NV
........................................ 5 Gina Lynn Picotte b: February 20, 1960 in Henderson, N
........................................ 5 Richard Eugene Picotte b: May 16, 1962 in Henderson, NV
............................. 4 Rebecca June Ullrich b: June 01, 1941 in Moorhead, Minnesota
................................. +John Wilbur Swonger b: March 19, 1934 in Altoona, PA m: June 15, 1963 in Las Vegas, NV
........................................ 5 Mark Allen Swonger b: January 22, 1964 in Henderson, NV
............................. 4 Randall Lamont Ullrich b: August 19, 1943 in Moorhead, Minnesota
................................. +Lois Jean MNU (Mrs. Randall Lamont Ullrich) b: September 10, 1947 in California m: March 05, 1966 in Las Vegas, NV
........................................ 5 Tammy Jean Ullrich b: March 06, 1965 in Santa Anna, CA
........................................ 5 Tina Marie Ullrich b: August 27, 1966 in Santa Anna, CA
............................. 4 Jeanne Joy Ullrich b: December 12, 1947 in Moorhead, Minnesota
................................. +Frank Highfill b: February 14, 1945 m: June 25, 1965 in Henderson, NV
........................................ 5 Andrew Gregory Highfill b: December 02, 1968 in Van Couver, WA
........................................ 5 Holly Jane Highfill b: October 30, 1969 in Van Couver, WA
............................. 4 Vern Alexander Ullrich b: May 21, 1953 in Downer, MN
................... 3 Myrtle Anna Ullrichb: February 18, 1915 in Downer, MN Clay County
....................... +James B. (Benjamin James) 'Ben' Palmer b: August 17, 1917 in Andes, Montana Richland County m: June 30, 1940 in Glyndon, MN
d: November 20, 1971 in Missoula, MT - buried 11/26/1971 l:30 PM in Sidney, MT
............................. 4 [2] Shirley Lee Palmer b: June 21, 1941 in Moorhead, Minnesota
................................. +James Wallace 'Jim' Cochrane b: September 17, 1942 in Butte, MT m: April 18, 1964
........................................ 5 Sheila Marie Cochrane b: November 07, 1964 in Missoula, MT............................................ +Steve Sargent m: November 07, 1987 in Presbyterian Church - Lake Taho, NV
............................. *2nd Husband of [2] Shirley Lee Palmer:
................................. +Bruce SNU m: June 22, 1992
............................. 4 Patti Palmer b: Abt. 1943 d: in died at age 5 in Missoula, MT - buried in Sidney, MT
............................. 4 Robert James 'Bob' Palmer b: March 20, 1944 in Milwaukee, WI
................................. +Lyrin Rae Trowbridge b: October 28, 1943 in Cody, Wyoming Park County m: November 06, 1966 in Missoula, MT
........................................ 5 Lance Joseph Palmer
........................................ 5 Amy Ann Palmer
............................. 4 Mary Ellen Palmer b: May 08, 1950 in Sidney, MT Richland County................................. +Paul Lee Ward b: November 24, 1949 in Door Lodge, MT m: June 06, 1968 in Lansing, MI
........................................ 5 Sean Christopher Ward b: August 11, 1968 in Mpls Swedish Hospital
............................. 4 Thomas Allen 'Tom' Palmer b: February 21, 1954 in Sidney, MT Richland County
............................. 4 Larry Ray Palmer b: June 23, 1956 in Sidney, MT Richland County
............................. 4 Male Palmer b: in Sidney, MT Richland County March 28, 1964
................... 3 Ellen Sophia Ullrichb: June 30, 1918 in Downer, MN
....................... +Norman John Ernst b: June 07, 1912 in home farm, Alliance Township, Minnesota m: June 30, 1936 in Sabin, MN - Lutheran Church
............................. 4 [3] Carol Verona Ernst b: May 09, 1938 in St. Ansgar Hosp. Moorhead, MN Clay County Downer, Elkton Township
................................. +Stanley Mallon
............................. *2nd Husband of [3] Carol Verona Ernst:
................................. +Harlan Blessum b: September 02, 1937 m: May 09, 1959 in Trinity Luthern Church Sabin, MN
........................................ 5 David Allen Blessum b: March 01, 1960 in St. Ansgar Hosp. Moorhead, MN Clay County
........................................ 5 Cynthia Joan Blessum b: August 13, 1964 in Moorhead, Minnesota
............................. 4 Jerome Norman Ernst b: January 20, 1942 in or 1/21/1942 St. Ansgar Hosp. Moorhead, MN Clay County
................................. +Marlys Rae Evert b: March 30, 1942 in Fargo, ND m: March 05, 1960 in Moorhead, Minnesota
........................................ 5 Jeffrey Scott Ernst b: April 12, 1962 in Moorhead, Minnesota - Clay County, MN
........................................ 5 Carmen Fae Ernst b: September 16, 1960 in Moorhead, Minnesota - Clay County, MN
............................. 4 Dennis Ralph Ernst b: January 24, 1946
................................. +Mary Ann Pender b: February 16, 1947 in St. Ansgar Hosp. Moorhead, MN Clay County m: July 28, 1965
........................................ 5 Darin Troy Ernst b: July 15, 1966 in St. Francis, Breckenridge, Wilkin County, MN
........................................ 5 Lauree LaDean Ernst b: August 04, 1968 in or 4/8/1968
........ 2 Anna Ullrich b: in lived in Sherburn, MN
........ 2 John Ullrich
........ 2 Marcus Ullrich
........ 2 Henry Ullrich