Tag Archives: Donald Everett Funk

August Finances (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had July 21 & 23 yesterday – Some more unusual weather we are having. It started to rain last night and it’s still raining today and much cooler – Before the rain it was hot. We have the doors & windows closed today so you know it’s cooler. I am glad for Mother it is cooler – She suffers so when it’s hot. Dr. Cole said yesterday to continue with the same medicine. She doesn’t seem to do anything much either way. Only on hot days she feels worse. With John gone this week it’s rather quiet around here and with the rain today the neighborhood all around is quiet. Mrs. James & Jimmy are back & so are Arlene & Bobby but so far Bobby hasn’t been around this week. He had a start of hay fever but as soon as Arlene got him to Green Bay it stopped. While Arlene was gone the Lubberty girls took care of Donnie – Sunday Theresa had him out and stopped here. He is the picture of Bill – He is still larger than David but D. has more hair. When they get together they take each others’ toys – not exactly exchange – if one takes a notion for the toy the other has he just reaches, grabs & pulls – the one that can pull the hardest wins. Of course since D. is in his cast he isn’t a match for Donnie. I believe Donnie will like to fight when he gets old enough. I think Bobby has taught him a few tricks.

[page 2] Sister J. said it wouldn’t hurt David’s leg for him to stand so I allowed him to pull up today and enjoy standing and did he love it. He sat some but that breaks the cast across his bottom so I try to keep him from doing that. I was surprised to see how well he handles himself with that cast on but it doesn’t bother him any. Margaret Kruman brought him a soldier doll from Culver – she said she didn’t know whether he could have a soldier’s doll or not. It’s about half as big as he is but he like to pound it.

I checked on our finances this a.m. Our present bal. is $455 – but I haven’t had a reply yet from the Ins. Co. so I am sure about 180⁰⁰ will come out of that bal. I went ahead & got the piano & hade a bal. of 188⁰⁰ to pay on it by Dec 1 but think I’ll clear it off before then – I pd. 100⁰⁰ on it and got 15⁰⁰ for the old piano but had to pay 6⁰⁰ on the hauling. I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds last month and will try now to keep buying one one a month. That makes a total of 21 – 18⁷⁵ bonds & 6 – 37⁵⁰ we have – and John has 2 – 18⁷⁵ – David 2 – 18⁷⁵ & Mark one 18⁷⁵ – The difference there is that Mark didn’t save his money & John did. I have car Ins. to pay this month and your Laf. Life pol. Comes due in Sept. and as soon as the Lbr. Co. gets coal in we should get a supply – I am no on the waiting list. Of course I won’t pay for coal until we get it – I haven’t been to town yet and our monthly groc. Bills will have to come out of the bal. above. If I see there will be a surplus I’ll buy bonds. I ate some sliced tomatoe at noon and feel a little itchy so I won’t eat any more if I can help it – and I think I can.

Love – Mother

YEG1943-07-26 - David with broken leg

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/16/august-finances-gladys/

Company Arrives (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Thurs P.M. – no mail this a.m. but have had up to July 20 this week so can expect a few days without mail. Again rec’d ck. and deposited – Bought 7 – $25 bonds and wrote the Ins. Co. for the amt. of loan due on my policy. Will pay that as soon as I get an answer. I think it’s just as well for you to leave the allotment as it is at present & send when you get an extra amt. on hand. I agree you should keep enough to travel on – I certainly would hate to think you had a chance to come home & no money to travel with.

Mark has D. out in the buggy getting some sun. Theresa Ann Lubberty had Donnie in his buggy and she and Mark are talking while the babies exchange toys.

[page 2] Dorothy came out to see D. yesterday – She asked me in a tone full of question if I had written you about D. I said of course, with all details. In case you have missed previous letters she popped off to me about the accident – casting the reflection I had been careless with him. I squelched her right in the start so she doesn’t say any more but from the way she acts would like to. I believe she can be the most unfair about things of than anyone I know. Well enough of that – You will wish I wouldn’t write if I don’t change the subject, but I hardly think she has a right to criticize anyone on child care.

I am looking for your Mother & Dad, Ruth & Romaine to come some time this afternoon. John is making a cake. He has made ice cream & squeezed oranges & lemons for the drink. Mark picked beans & dug potatoes. He brought the potatoes in dirty and I sent him out to the faucet at the east side of the house to wash them – he had the

[page 3] beans in the same pan and I just looked out & saw a pile of green beans on the grass –

Well the co. has arrived. Mom, Dad, Ruth, Romaine & Wilma. Wilma is going to take R. & R. to Wilmington tomorrow in our car. John wants to go home with Grandma so I think I’ll let him go – since Mark is planning a 4-H outing in Aug. My co. are all keeping me with green beans to can so must get the cans ready.

Will write more tomorrow.
Love Mother

Yegerlehner, John with unknown girls - c1934-1935

John with his cousins, Romaine and Wilma, mid 1930s

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/07/company-arrives-gladys/

Roasting Weiners (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another lazy Sunday afternoon – John & Mark are playing croquet with the Zell girls. David is taking a nap. He got so he didn’t want to eat so I decided to change his eating times. I gave him a bottle of milk at about 8 this morning (the first) then at noon gave him mashed potatoes, apple sauce, custard and a little milk. About 4 I will give him some milk and at 7 cereal and put him to bed. He is slow about drinking out of a cup but I think he will come along by the time he should get along without a bottle. Donnie Funk gets along without a bottle

[page 2] now, but he has to hurry, with a new baby coming there in Dec. He has developed so fast. I think he will soon walk, but he must have known he had to hurry to make way, for maybe a little sister. However Arlene says she won’t be disappointed if there is another boy.

Mother is still in bed. She ate a piece of chicken, a cup of custard and a piece of cake for dinner. I put some mashed potatoes & gravy on her plate but she didn’t eat much of them. It is hot this afternoon so she may not get along so good. The heat makes her feel worse.

The rain we had over the week-end helped a lot. Link sprayed part of their back yard to kill out the crab grass and it looks like all the grass where he sprayed will die out. I think I won’t worry about our grass. We will just

[apge 3] keep it mowed and let it grow. I am going to take some more pictures in the back yard so you can get an idea how much the shrubbery is growing and see some of the flowers. Some of the spirea has grown up until they are almost 5 ft. The rains this summer have made everything like that grow so good.

There is an army program on this afternoon – there has been a lot about the invasion of Sicily. I wonder if you by any chance heard the Fibber program when they talked about Sicily – They were so excited & Molly asked what the excitement was about – Fibber said that was the first place he could pronounce – Then he pronounced it wrong, putting the accent on “silly.” – said anybody could pronounce “c-silly.”

I have been taking some pictures of David but don’t know whether they will be good. Our camera seems to have one sight broken.

[page 4] and I can’t see thru the other one. I want you to see how he stands up in his buggy – just wonder what you would say about that – probably spank him.

— I went to get Mark at Funks, he had run an errand for Arlene then stayed. They were roasting wieners and wanted me to stay and have one. They had Donald’s pen in the summer house so we put both babies in and I stayed long enough to eat a “dog’ then came back to feed David & put him to bed. When both babies are in the pen Donnie doesn’t see much larger than David. Being almost a month older he gets around the pen a little better, but David does alright. Donnie would pinch David and pull his hair. David didn’t seem to mind but Bill slapped Donnie’s hand – Donnie jabbers back when they scold him or slap his hands.

I am sleepy so will try to get to bed – getting up time comes around so soon.

Love – Mother

YEG1943-06 David #1

David standing in his buggy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/17/roasting-weiners-gladys/

Out of Forms (Gladys)

1943-07-17 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
7-17-43

Dear Daddy – This is the first v-mail I have used for a long time. Was out of forms & the boys would forget to get a supply. We had a hard rain today about noon. Came down in streams. Everything was so dry we needed rain. Now should have beans in abundance. Got yours of June 30, also J. & M. got theirs of that date. I see Link pulling a branch down the storm brake loose. If we could cut up all the limbs that have fallen would have enough to burn next winter. This summer seems to be flying by. Just 6 weeks still school starts. I am going to dig potatoes for use next week. Carrots are big enough. Also green beans & cabbage. Tomatoes will be soon but they don’t interest me much. Mother ate a pretty good lunch today – She is still in bed. I think she will get up when she feels strong enough – Arlene told me yesterday she going to have a baby in Dec. Mary F. is due in Oct. Don’t know of anyone else who is booked for fall or early winter. Arlene said to tell you to hurry back so we could catch up with them – I don’t believe I would care to keep up that fast. Donnie will be just 16 mo. old in Dec. John is practicing. Mark is out playing in the yard. David is playing in his pen. He is graduating to 3 meals a day.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/15/out-of-forms-gladys/

Canning Peas (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 23, 1943

Dear Daddy –

David is nine months old today and balances the scale at 20 lbs. I traced his weight course on a chart given in a baby manual and he done a little better than average baby should do. He isn’t gaining so fast now – but he is so active he works his fat off. Of course 20 lbs at 9 months is plenty. He has a good appetite – takes a can of milk & egg yolk a day besides cereal, vegetables & fruit. It has been so hot today he has only his diaper & shoes

[page 2] on. I wouldn’t put shoes on him but he stands up so much & walks around his pen or bed and his shoes help him keep his feet steady.

Mark has gone to take a piano lesson & John is practicing. John used up the accumulated egg whites from David’s formula and made an Angel Food cake this A.M. He is going to be an expert if he keeps up.

Arlene came up yesterday about 5:30 P.M. to borrow the pressure cooker – had a bu. of peas to can. I asked her if she knew how to use it and she didn’t – I told her I couldn’t tell her how to use it, I would have to show her – so I was to

[page 3] go at 7 P.M. and we were to start – well as it usually happens when one wants to get started – bill was late for supper and we didn’t get started so soon. I had to stay until one cooker was finished – also stayed to get the second one on – It was 9:45 P.. when she started to time the second batch – and had two more cookings to do. I came home at 10 – and was so tired – Had been canning peas with Mrs. Zell in the afternoon – so after a shower I got to bed – had to feed David at 6 this A.M. then went back to bed and slept till the mail came and there was a letter from you dated June 9 – had

[page 4] one yesterday of June 10. I feel fine now that I got caught up on my rest. It is hot & sultry today. Of course not as bad as where you are but it is pretty much for this climate. Mother hasn’t felt well since this intense heat started. It has rained almost every day for so long – I can’t remember how long – then between rains the sun is so hot. One day the humidifier was as high as it will go – 80⁰. So much for the weather. Back to the peas – It was 3 A.M. this morning when Arlene finished the peas and in addition to everything – Donnie was sick in the night and she had to give him a enema – I told her I remembered once when she stayed up till 3 A.M. to decorate for a Christmas party.

I am enclosing a greeting from the Ind. State Med. Assn –
Love Mother

YEG1942-06-18 David

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/29/canning-peas-gladys/

Another Lazy Sunday (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another lazy Sunday afternoon. It is inclined to cloud up at intervals and very close & hot. Had David in the buggy but he got tired – the buggy hampers his style too much so put him in his pen. So far the mosquitos haven’t bitten him but they are awfully thick out in the yard around the shrubbery. We have not been bothered much with flies in the house, but every time any one sees a fly we go after it like it is a dragon “or something – “ but as far as the baby is concerned a fly can be as dangerous. The last of the week it was so hot he broke out around his neck and shoulders with heat, but it is better now, and it’s getting hot again.

Mark is coming along nicely from his tonsillectomy. He seems to be hungry all the time – hope that

[page 2] is a good sign. He is so anxious to gain and get big muscles. I should get some myself from the work I do in the garden & flower beds but so far haven’t noticed any.

There is an item in the paper about getting new telephone rates (higher). Our phone has been going dead ever so often. The service man was here one day but it has been out a time or two since then – so we wondered what we would be getting higher rates for, but I suppose it costs the co. more to operate now.

–a pause—went over to Zell’s & fed their chickens – They are away for the day – The chickens are ready for market, but I don’t want many at the present price – however they aren’t as expensive as steak. The ceiling on chickens to dealers – and that is what they would charge me – being a neighbor is .35¢ – I sent to town for sirloin steak yesterday – it was .45¢ a lb. I didn’t want to drive to Sheldon so thought I would try “store meat” once again – It was good enough but not as tender I thought as what we have had.

[page 3] The last quarter of beef I got was cut into roasts & boiling meat mostly so we are out of steaks at present. I ordered another quarter put in the locker – but Brands can only by a limited amount now and I have to wait my turn. Parttens will have a beef ready for fall, but we will need some before theirs are ready. We will have plenty of coupons – with five books. We have plenty for canned goods too. I want to can beans, carrots & tomatoes this summer. The first carrots I sowed are up and I am going to put in more.

Bobby Funk is here – Bill and Arlene left in their car – We heard Bobby crying very loudly – Mark and I were pushing the carriage trying to get David to sleep and Bobby came out – Betty Muscleman [Musselman] came out after him – we told her we would take care of him – since she had to stay with Donnie. Mark is working on a model airplane and Bobby is admiring him very much. Bobby said, “My Daddy is teaching my mommy how to drive, ha! ha!”

That little ha ha he sometimes

[page 4] adds to his sentences sounds like he means more than I know he can.

Joe Bill Mullen has been commissioned a second Lt. at Field Artillery Officers Candidate School at Ft. Sills, Oka. That is where Emmett Miller is stationed. He rec’d a promotion to Capt. Some time ago. Eddie Steinbach is now a second Lt. in the Medical Administration Corps, Camp Barkley, Texas. Pat Mullen is a corporal now – he has a N.Y. address.

There is a new Auto Ins. law – anyone operating a car has to carry $11,000 liability – July 1 – our policy expires in Aug but will have to see about it to make sure we are carrying the correct amt.

Mark just got caught in the closet – the door knob doesn’t turn from the inside – Bobby let him out. John was listening to a musical program but it was so noisy with static I insisted he turn it off – so he went upstairs.

Love Mother

[page 5] Since finishing the letters I started this afternoon had callers, Mrs. Roberts & her children and one of Earl’s. She hadn’t had any recent word from Joe but he isn’t in Noumea now. She doesn’t know where he is. I told her my mail had been slow this week too. She said Joe had written you a note and thought you should have it quite some time ago.

The threatening rain finally came and what a rain. It came down in sheets for a few minutes. It has stopped now but the radio is still noisy and there is thunder. The noise on the radio was more than I cared to listen to so the boys are in their bedroom listening. David of course is asleep – He goes to bed following his 6 P.M. feeding.

–Monday—It turned very cool during the night, following the hard rain. It has been cloudy all day but begins to look like it is clearing away. We have the Bendix going now with David’s clothes.

[page 6] No mail again today – This makes a week without mail – Probably will get a bunch when it does come. David pulled himself up to his feet in his pen this morning. He is in his pen how with one foot sticking out on the floor. Margaret Kruman asked me to give Bud a hypo Wed. She wants to go away for the day and couldn’t find anyone. Since I have given myself shots, I suppose she thought I could give one to Bud. – Well, I’ll try.

Mark is in the baking mood and is mixing a cake now. I think he is coming along nicely from his tonsillectomy. It’s time to get David’s dinner ready so must open a can or two of vegetables.

Love Mother

YEG1943-06 Dunlop Street house

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/27/another-lazy-sunday-gladys/

Ration Book 3 (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 28-1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters so far today, but 3 came yesterday – the latest being dated May 17 – The second check hasn’t come yet but will probably come in a day or so. Your letters all come, tho some get delayed. I am sitting on the front step writing so I can keep David in the sun. Mark has gone to 4-H Baking class. He took ingredients for a “one egg wonder cake.” John has to practice on the oboe. He has to play it in the band for the Memorial day ceremonies and he hasn’t played it yet in the band. He just got it a short while before school was out and has been learning to blow it. It doesn’t sound as well alone as the sax. I told him it sounds like a snake charmer. I suppose Mr. Webster thought the best way to break him into the band with it was to tell him he had to play at certain time.

I talked to Dr. Cole Wed. about Mark – in fact took Mark along and he thinks his tonsils should come out. This is a repeat in case the previous letters are lost or delayed.

[page 2] I thought the sooner the better and next week would be as good a time as any. Probably will be over it and entirely recuperated by the time you get this.

David has turned over in his buggy – that is why someone has to watch him all the time. He won’t stay put. His second tooth is about to come thru. I gave him orange juice again this morning and about an hour later he thru it up. I keep trying but he throws it up nearly every time. I still give him vit C and he gets canned fruit. He can’t take tomatoe juice either. His bowels are always more or less loose, so can’t give him prunes or juice. I tried giving him potatoe to tighten things up but he doesn’t eat them so well. He gains about a lb a month now – he is so active he works off his fat. He isn’t thin by any means – weighs 19 lbs now at 8 months – but is 29 inches long. He is very tan now and we keep him in the sun as much as I think he needs to be. Sometimes I manage to get him to take a nap in the sun. I get him out of doors more than Arlene gets Donnie out and yesterday her sister was here and said she couldn’t get over how tan David is – Donnie looks a little pale beside him.

Had to stop and put D. back in his

[page 3] Buggy – he was crawling out. Mrs. Zell loaned me a harness to secure him to the buggy and I think I’ll have to use it. John had a “fit” at such an idea but I asked him if he wanted David to fall out on his head – then he decided it would be better to use the harness. It sounded a little horsy to him.

Mark just reported home with his cake – came home proudly reporting he made it entirely without help from the instructor (Mrs. Rupp). It was a success and he is so thrilled. It is nearly time for the next sugar coupons and it’s a good thing with all the baking the boys want to do. They are cake eaters. I have managed to save from our sugar enough to make some preserves & jelly. The boys really missed their spreads this year and I want to get some made this summer. There won’t be much fruit to can I am afraid. The winter was so long and hard there probably won’t be any peaches at all around here. Clara M. has a strawberry patch and we are to get our berries there if she has any.

We have to apply for the third ration book. It has to be in by June 30 but I am going to mail ours today. I don’t

[page 4] know what book 3 will be for but tickets from no. 1 are about gone.

I had John put some clothes to wash and I think they are probably ready to hang up now. The sun is so hot today they will soon dry. I want to get our storm windows taken down. It has turned so warm we need the screens in the bedroom windows. The storm windows have been so swollen from all the rains we haven’t been able to pry them open but this heat will soon do the trick. I think we are going to have summer all at once.

I hear the boys coming up from the basement – sounds like I will have to get busy and hang up clothes or see about something for lunch. We are out of potatoes. The last I bought cost .75¢ ½ peck, but I think I’ll have to break down and buy more. We can’t do without meat and potatoes both – not that we are trying to do without meat but have been trying to use less.

My head feels like it is baked so think I’ll have to go in the house. David has decided to climb out of his buggy again – will have to take him in and put him to bed.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/07/ration-book-3-gladys/

Mr. Oliver’s Horses (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 15 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but Thurs. (13th) had 3, the last being of Apr 30 – which brings it up to date pretty well. It is raining again today – If you have all or most of my letters you will think I give the weather a beating but this has been a spring to talk about, like the past winter. It cleared off yesterday and was so warm – got to take David out for a good sunning. Also worked in the flower bed. Had I known we would have wet weather again today would have put out more than I did – but thought the rain was over for a few days. Our garden is so wet Mark hasn’t had a chance to work in it for more than a week. John is doing the lawn mowing this summer and already it is keeping him busy keeping the grass cut. Our back yard & Statons are full of

[page 2] that crab grass and that has to be kept very short. Link’s back yard doesn’t look any better than ours. We both sowed grass seed but it didn’t do much. The lilacs over on Kent are blooming. Things are all late this year. Our tulips are still blooming and this is very late for them. I took some pictures of David on the front step with the tulips as back ground – I hope they are good so you can get an idea how well they are blooming. Clara Molter took up loads of iris for me to put out and lilly of the valley but can’t find time when the ground is dry enough to work in to put them out. Mr. Oliver keeps the horses over at Kent now that Floyd Hoover is working in the loan office – I told you before Tommy Thompson is working with his father farming this summer. They have rented their house & stored their furniture – back to Oliver – he doesn’t keep his horses in very well and they sometimes get out and wander around in

[page 3] our yards & gardens. We have all been complaining so I think he will try to keep them in better now. Link said they ruined part of his garden. The holes they made in our front yard will have to be filled in.

John & Mark both decided to write you and tho I would rather they would write at different times I couldn’t check their impulses today. Every time the baby does some little thing Mark says to write & tell Daddy. He is trying to pull himself up now. He gets very loud singing da-da at times – in fact he drowns us out if we are trying to talk and he is in the same room that we are in. I have knitted him a little sweater & sunsuit outfit. Mrs. Servies crocheted a cap and I took his picture yesterday in his cap. As soon as I get the sunsuit finished will get the whole outfit on him for a picture. It is hard to keep him still long enough for a good pose. He is always reaching for something. He reminds me of John when John was that size – I think however

[page 4] John could handle himself a little better, because I remember when John was 8 months old he could walk around a chair, but David is doing well enough. He and Donnie Funk do the same things at about the same age – I don’t know how I would mange to take care of him if he were as large as Donnie – Donnie is too heavy to handle much.

The Delta Lamba Sigma News letter came today. If I thought you were interested I would send it to you. I was thinking about your clothes – I wonder if it would be a good idea to have them sent home – just in case you do get to come back after a year out – how would you get them if they are stored at N.C.? That reminds me Mrs. Roberts had word from Joe and he is temporarily at Noumea, en route he thinks maybe to join you – That year out business, there is talk around to that effect but Mrs. R. and I aren’t counting too much on it, but we have heard rumors to that effect. However, I think you are right to be patient about it because after all it won’t help any not to be patient. I am enclosing Mark’s letter with mine – John used v-mail.

Love – Mother –

YEG1943-05-15 - David on stoop with tulips

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/06/12/mr-olivers-horses-gladys/

The Dionne Quintuplets (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 9 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sunday afternoon – It is cloudy and a little cool so we are all in the house. John is listening to musical programs. We all listened to the Quintuplets – they were in Superior, Wis., at a ship launching ceremony – they spoke and sang in French & English. There were five Merchant ships launched and the quints christened them.

I wrote you yesterday and if you get my letter will think I am a little mixed up – well I read your letter in a hurry and wrote to you before I re-read it – It was about the box you got & the chicken bones – It sounded like the bones had been taken out of the tin can, until I read it again and it was the candy in wrappers you meant the ants got into – so much for the chicken bones. I had four letters from you to read – hence the hurry –

[page 2] David seemed to have quite a cold yesterday and didn’t sleep so good last night – I’ll have to put that down against him – the first night he was disturbed me in the wee hours of the morning, but I think his gums are bothering him – He feels fine today and very little evidence of a cold. I think he had what John had earlier in the week. John seems to be alright now except for headaches, so I am going to take him to Dr. Ade this week and have his eyes checked. Mark had a slight cold too but didn’t lose any of his pep. There are a lot of colds around, but these didn’t last long so can’t complain. It has been raining or cloudy since Thurs. so David hasn’t had a sunning since last Wed. He was getting so tan – and it was very becoming. I think he will tan like Mark does & you. I don’t know whether Donnie Funk gets in the sun as much but he is very fair and maybe doesn’t tan as readily as David.

The dandelions are in full bloom now. Our lawn looks very yellow as well as all the lawn around here.

[page 3]Tonight is the Baccalaurate service at the high school. If I had someone to go with and someone to stay with the boys I would go – so I think I’ll save the trouble and stay home.

I see in the paper that Ira Dixon is home from the hospital. He has been sick for about two months. Gretchen lives here now since her husband is in the Army. Her baby is about 3 mo. old now. He was a little fellow – smaller than D. when he was born, but is coming along nicely.

Bethel Wilson is in Florida – you know she is in the W.A.A.C. – Ethel went to see her and had to stay longer than she had planned – couldn’t get reservations on the train to come home when she planned. Travel has been curtailed a lot – Mrs. P. said they had to stand part of the way back from Fla. They came back and both got sick from the change in weather. Mrs. Dixon & Nettie said they had noticed the chilly weather a lot this time. They went down last fall & spent the winter. People shouldn’t come back so soon – when we have this kind of a spring. Every time it gets warm for a day or two we think cold weather is over, then we have a cold snap – so much for weather.

[page 4] Of course you remember Roscoe Kenoyer – they have a baby girl – they live near Otterbein now. Tommy Thompson’s have stored their furniture and rented their house – He is going to work on his Dad’s farm this summer. At present Mary is living with her mother. Fuells have moved out of town & Chas. Dienhart bought the Fuell house. Ellsworth bought Dienhart’s house for a rental. I haven’t heard anything about Eddie Ray in the past few days so he evidently is getting better.

I stopped to see Jimmy Ed Fri eve and it is almost too soon to tell whether the S.M.A. is going to help his skin condition. Dr. M. is using light treatments on him too. Besides the white flakes, there is a little seepage. – like my hands get when I eat something I shoudn’t.

David has had a nap and is making a noise so better go see what he needs – without looking I know – The same story – dry pants.

I have Mark reading a book – he brought 3 home from the library and I told him he had to read them.

Love, Mother

P.S. Your last letter was of Apr 21 – so that is pretty good time – I got it May 8 –

P.S. no. 2.

Had two “sets” of callers this afternoon – You remember the Luce man, who had the smashed arm – he stopped in – thought you might be home on week-end leave – but I told him you were on foreign duty – well he wanted to show you his arm – he has fairly good use of it now and is going to marry one of the nurses he met while in the hospital so long. The arm is not straight – and is bumpy in places but from the shape it was in when you got to him – I would say it’s a pretty good arm. He still gives you credit for saving it –

The other callers were Forrest & Gertrude, Chas (the sailor at Pern) and his wife, which I think must be recently acquired, Helen & her two children. Helen said Dan is still in Noumea but she thinks he wno’t be long. Mrs. R. called me this evening. She had a letter from Joe & he said he thought he might possibly see you before long.

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/31/the-dionne-quintuplets-gladys/

High Winds (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
May 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but two yesterday of Apr 9 & 10 and I hardly expected any today. We are having a high wind today – not cold but sounds like it. John Barce & a Walkup boy are to take storm windows down today but if this wind continues they won’t be able to. – I went to club yesterday afternoon with Arlene – Louise kept the baby – I took him there as I went to club and when I came back to get him he was just waking up. Louise said he & Donnie had slept all afternoon. I got home just a little while after school was out and John was having a chill and running a temp, so I put him right to bed. I called Dr. M. and he said to give him a cathartic and let him know this morning – well I didn’t give him anything but orange juice because I didn’t think it was necessary. His temp. got up to 102 ½ last night but was normal this morning. I don’t know what was the matter.

[page 2] He says he feels pretty good but he may be having measles – one of those delayed cases. He is in bed with the blinds drawn in case it is the measles, listening to the radio. He said after he attended the band contest he didn’t care if he did get measles. I went to town to get some oranges and took the baby with me. Saw Massengill salesman, Berry – He was always showing his twins pictures so I got to show him our baby. He told me they had another baby boy but it died – it was a 7 ½ mo. – lived a day. – While I was talking to him Dorothy came along and took D. She told me Betty Lou was sick so maybe she and John are just having a touch of flue. At any rate John isn’t sick today but has to stay in bed just in case of measles. There were both kinds going around so he may be having the 3 day king. I heard more yesterday about Eddie Ray. He was injured rather severely. Doctors told Wilson’s he had a 50-50 chance. Ellsworth said he thought he would make it now – He was injured last Sat. and this is Wed. I think that may stop some of the children around town from climbing trees for a while. Mark says he isn’t going to climb up on anything.

[page 3] I wanted to work out in the yard but this wind is so strong I am afraid it would be difficult to do much. I worked after supper last night till it got too dark to see. It is time for the lawn to be mowed again but John can’t do it today and the mowing is his job this summer. Our garden needs hoeing and that is Mark’s job so he will have to do that after school today. I wish I could get a Technicolor picture of the shrubbery & tulips – The tulips are in bloom – all colors – and the evergreens are looking good. We are to get a replacement for the west tree – I don’t know when but soon. – – Had callers, Lucile & Jimmy Ed. She had taken him to Dr. M. His skin is in a terrible shape. She has to keep long stockings on him to keep him from scratching his legs and mitts on his hands. His skin peels off in large white flakes. Dr. M. put him on lactic acid a long time ago but it hasn’t helped so now they are to give him S.M.A and start him on vegetables. He is such a nice big boy and has gotten along so well but for this skin condition. It has Lucile so worried Dr. gave her a nerve tonic to quiet her down some. I do hope they get him straightened out. They have tried to take such good care of him. She thinks it

[page 4] strange that D. has such a nice soft skin and me with my allergies. I do hope he doesn’t develop any such trouble but that is hardly to be expected as old as he is. Lucile had talked to Ellsworth today and he said six Drs. had seen Eddie Ray & said he would get along. However they haven’t been able yet to do anything about his left arm – The Drs. say it will be a slow process – his recovery – and they can’t move him yet for x-ray etc.

I went up a little while ago to take John temp and it was just 2/5 of a degree. He feel pretty good so maybe he will be up tomorrow, or broken out if he has measles.

Mark is home from school and is watching D. – He is in his buggy taking a nap. – Mark is pushing him on the walk in front of the house. Mark heard him say “Da-da” – He can hear more works that David says. So far it has just been so much jabber but both J. & M. hear words – if you get what I mean. – Mark just reported in that he got D. to go to sleep. – I must go out and see if he has him in the right position so the wind won’t blow directly on him.

Love – Mother

In case you missed my previous letters about Eddy R. – he fell out of a tree & fractured his skull & broke his arm.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/23/high-winds-gladys/