Tag Archives: Lena “Lea” (Keith) Gieselman

Human Rights in World Perspective

Letter transcription:

O’Hare Field

Aug. 1 – 1967

Dear David & Bonnie –

Up at 6 o’clock this a.m. to get a plane from Purdue to O’Hare. I had heard Lake Central is not very reliable as to time schedule, but I can’t complain today. We were on our way not more than 10 minutes late. After arriving here I had to walk at least a mile, or so it seemed to get to T.W.A. I met two other women in the T.W.A. lounge headed for the same meeting “National Seminar – Human Rights in World Perspective” to be held at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.

I really hated to be away just now, but when we started the remodeling, it was to have been finished and we were to have carpeting down and everything moved into new part by Aug. 1 – but we are going to be doing good if we get ready (the way I wanted it to be) by the 22^nd. However, I am sure we will all enjoy being together whether the house is right or not. We should be ready for overnight guests by the time you come. When the new part is finished, we will have 3 bedrooms for company. I won’t tell you any more, let you see when you come. I talked to Lea and Bob. Mark and Shirley probably won’t make it until the end of the week. Mark’s vacation ends Aug. 21, but they will be with us probably the end of the week. We haven’t been able to have the children up this summer because of the remodeling mess. When we get the place the way we want it, Kirk, Becky, and David should have plenty of play space.

Sunday we were in Kentland to attend the 40^th wedding anniversary celebration of the Washburns. After the reception I went out to the hospital to see Mrs. Myers. I didn’t know she was in the hospital until I went to her apt. and found the place empty. I made some inquiries and was told she had been in the hospital since the middle of the week. I was not surprised. The last time I saw her her legs were so swollen they looked terrible. She got an asthmatic attack and had to have oxygen. Dr. K. sent her to the hospital – the only thing to do under the circumstances. Sunday her legs were down to normal and her breathing normal and she thought she would go home by Wed. I hope you remember to send her a birthday remembrance. She said she was sure she would hear from you on her birthday. I have a card ready to mail from K.C. to her. Also told Dad to send flowers.

Pat Owens took two years at Indiana State, then took a beauty course. She is now working in a shop in West Lafayette and lives just two blocks from us. She came over last evening and set and styled my hair. She is engaged

[page 2] and thinks she will be married in about a year. Her fiancé is attending Indiana State, but is thinking of transferring to Purdue. Doris has closed her shop and is spending the summer at their cottage on the lake in Monticello. Harold also spends much time there. He has moved his office to the house. Pat was so happy that her mother had quit work. Harold still looks after Mrs. Myers. I told her about the nursing home about a mile from where we live, but can’t get her interested. Dad even made a concession – he said he would take care of her if she would to W. L. She just can’t bring herself to the idea of a nursing home, but I am afraid the time is coming when she won’t be able to stay alone.

As of now, we have no one to take over the office – so Dad says he is going to close Sept. 1 and sell the building.

I thought you should have the enclosed tax receipt.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/08/human-rights-in-world-perspective/

Building a New Garage

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
118 Juniper Court
July 4, 1967

Dear David and Bonnie:

Have been intending to write to you since before I went to Evanston (June 12 to 16) and here it is about time for me to go to Greencastle to School of Mission. I came home from Evanston one day and we started to move the next. Many people had said it was harder to move across the street than across town, but since I had so much help didn’t get as tired from the move to 118 Juniper. John and Lea and Mark helped all day on Saturday. Mark went back to Indianapolis Saturday evening. John and Lea stayed until Thursday morning. They had intended to stay until Friday, but Lea’s uncle Henry passed away Wednesday, so on Thursday morning John took Lea to Brook to be with her family. By that time they had done so much for me that the rest was things I had to do myself. On Saturday Dad went to Kentland to have office hours and in the afternoon I went to bed and got myself rested. On Friday after we moved on Wednesday the contractor came and got the place dug out for the garage. One day last week the block layers came and got the walls for the garage erected (concrete blocks). They worked not quite two days and left and we are just sitting waiting for the men to come and begin the framework. According to our contractor, when the carpenters come they will stay until it is finished, but that I doubt. I just hope they get finished so we can be straightened up before you come home. We have quite a few things stored on the patio and I hate to have our nice patio so cluttered, but it is all we can do for the present. As soon as the garage floor is poured and usable, we will get the things stored in the garage.

Last week Joyce FitzRandolph (Irene’s sister) came to Purdue to attend the Presbyterian Women’s Association meeting. We brought her out here for dinner one evening and Ruth and Floyd came. Believe it or not, we had dinner on the patio. We aren’t equipped to have cook-outs, so I prepared things that could be carried out and we had a perfect day for eating out of doors. As close as we are to our woods – some of the branches hang over the patio, we were not bothered with flies, mosquitoes or any kind of bugs. I have found in sitting there, the few times I have had time, nothing bothers me. We do intend to get some spray and give the immediate surrounding area a good spraying. Sunday afternoon we went exploring and found our property goes down very steep. We found a turtle, but left him in his little nitch. Joyce brought some slides which she took when she visited the relatives in November. We were in Switzerland in July and everything looked so green, she was quite glad to see our slides. She said the fog closed in after she reached the farm and she couldn’t get any pictures out of doors. We had quite a nice visit with her and Ruth and Floyd both enjoyed being with her. She wanted to know when we were going to visit her in Williamstown, N.J. She said it wouldn’t be too far for you and Bonnie to pay hera visit some time. She had been to visit Irene since her visit to you.

There was a refrigerator here when we moved into this house. It was so old, it had only a place to make two trays of ice cubes, end of freezing unit. We gave it back to the former owner (he furnishes apartments as an investment). When his wife heard me say we were going to give it to a charitable organization she immediately said they would like to have it. They live next door and are very friendly. We were glad for him to haul it away. We bought a new Co-op from Floyd. It is made by the Amana Co. with the Co-op label. One side is for refrigeration and one side freezer. We have nearly half a beef in the locker in Brook which we intend to bring home Saturday. Dad is booked to have office hours Saturday and I am going along to take care of a few things and attend a shower for Karen Johnson who is going to marry Fred Morgan (and go into the Catholic Church). I will also plan to see Mrs. Myers – and read all the letters which have accumulated since we were there the last time.

Tomorrow is the 4^th, but we are not planning to do anything other than the usual things around the house. Since I will be gone all next week – School of Mission from 9^th to 14^th and Purdue to attend Ecumenical Assembly of Church Women United the 15^th and 16^th, I feel I have to make every day count this week. If the workmen aren’t watched I am afraid they won’t follow instructions. I just happened to be hanging out some drip dry shirts on the patio one day last week and saw a solid concrete block wall where they should have been a door. I had to tell them and it had to be done over in the door space. Bonnie’s parents said we could keep one of their teakwood chests, but after this building got started, we didn’t think we could get away to get it. We just feel better about it if we are here to keep an eye on things.

[page 2] We have had two letters from two friends in Hong Kong. You remember the Bylers we visited at Greencastle? They will not be in Hong Kong when the McGraws will be, but Bonnie Byler wrote to tell me who would be in charge of guests during their absence. Also the Chinese boy, William Yue who attended Purdue the past year (we entertained him after coming to Lafayette) wrote to us thanking us for our hospitality and also said he would meet the McGraws if he knew their arrival date and flight no. I sent the information on to Centerville.

Love Mother

The enclosed insurance information may be worth reading.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/07/building-a-new-garage/

A Steamboat

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

June 9 – 1967

Dear David & Bonnie – Yours received today. Buy and send us a steamboat. I am enclosing a check. Pay for the boat & postage and keep the balance for your wedding a. Again “Happy Anniversary,” somewhat belated. Next Sat. we should be in the moving process. The contractor was here today and thinks he will be ready to begin the remodeling in a week. John and Lea are coming next Sat. and stay with us for a week and help us with the moving. I hope it won’t be such a task as last time. We went to 118 Juniper Court this afternoon and carried brick from the walk which had to go for the new addition – to the patio. It is such a nice place (the patio) to spend an afternoon. I will be glad when I will be able to sit there and just look at the trees.

Monday I am to go to Evanston for a meeting which will last until Fri. noon – then home to begin the big move.

The young M.D. who is interested in our office came Thursday. Dad met him and showed him the office. Several businessmen also met with him and hope to get him interested. He can’t come – if he does – until mid August.

Love Mother

P.S. Joyce Yegerlehner is a Presbyterian.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/06/a-steamboat/

38th Wedding Anniversary

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

May 24, 1967

Dear David and Bonnie:

Last weekend we went to Centerville and had a very enjoyable visit with Louise and Mac. We also visited with Grandpa and Grandma. We both think it is remarkable the way Bonnie’s grandparents continue to be so well and active. We enjoyed a steamboat dinner and now Dad is trying to figure how he can make a steamboat. Knowing your Dad, you know he will get something produced in time. Today I attended a luncheon at the Union Building and a Layman’s meeting in Loeb’s Theatre. After the Layman’s meeting I came home, but saw Rev. McClure and a few other people in the lobby before leaving. This week Dad has been attending meetings and I have two more to attend (he has been going to dinner meetings) so we won’t get much done in the way of packing. We plan to go to Kentland Friday evening. He wants Dr. Logan to do some work on his teeth, and he plans to have office hours on Saturday. We plan to go to Danville and meet John, Lea and Bob at about 6:30 for a smorgasbord dinner, then on to John’s to spend the night. We plan to come back home Sunday evening.

Tomorrow is our 38^th wedding anniversary and this afternoon when Dad came home I started to get something out of the refrigerator and saw a green sack with a decorator bow on it (I don’t know where he got the bow – but the sack was definitely not for gift wrapping) and of course, I knew it was for me. It was a pair of opera glasses. When we go to programs at the Music Hall and I take the binoculars along he thinks they are too clumsy to handle on such occasions – hence the gift. I had gotten a gift for him, so got it out and gave it to him. It was a book about building fences and gates. There is a spot at 118 Juniper Court where I thought he could put a fence – hence the book. We were there this afternoon and after inspecting what Mr. Walker has in that particular spot, rather think my book will not be needed. We do hope you get home this summer to see the new house and lot. The woods back of the house is getting so thick now and the patio back of the house looks like a good place to spend a lazy afternoon, and no lawn to mow back of the house. Dad is going to sell the riding mower, because we only have a lawn in front and there isn’t much side yard. When we get the new addition on, there will be less. We should be hearing from the contractor with all those pretty figures. I said if the living room was larger, we wouldn’t do anything to the house, but Dad says we need another bathroom. The only bathroom in the house is rather tiny and I agree with him, we need another if we ever have company.

Last night John called us about meeting them in Danville and he was wondering if you had definitely decided to come home. He says he would rather you would come to Indiana first, because Lea and Bob are planning to go to California and you will get to see them before they leave if you come here first. Also he was wondering if you knew anything about getting accommodations. Besides being hard to get, the going rate is rather high. Floyd and Ruth want to go and they were talking about the rate being more than $20 a day for a room. Give a thought about the suggestion to come to Indiana first.

As I mentioned before I am attending the Annual Conference – not in its entirety, but just selected meetings. Since we are going to Kentland Friday evening I won’t be able to attend Sat. and Sun. I noticed on the program that there will be an ordination service at the closing service Sunday, but I presume (know) there are those every year. They keep talking about the preacher shortage – it makes me think of the talk about the Dr. shortage. I saw Mary Portteus yesterday, a delegate from the Raub church. I said something about staying healthy – and she said she had to, there was no place to go. I also told her what Dad tells anyone who laments his leaving Kentland – to enroll in Purdue and he will take care of them. I am to attend a luncheon for Christian Social Concerns today. Dorothy Nicholson (they live just back of us) is having a coffee

[page 2] for me this morning for me to meet some of the people who live on her street. If I can get away in time, I will attend a session – Bible Study by the Bishop, at 11:15.

The weather here has finally turned to spring. Yesterday was the warmest day (according to the news) since one day last Sept.

Do you want me to save any of the books I am about to give away? I have not had time to sort them yet, but I rather think the ones I want to get rid of, you wouldn’t want. Let me know.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/05/38th-wedding-anniversary/

Released From the Lease

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

May 3, 1967

Dear David and Bonnie:

Since we had 10,000 (more or less of these sheets left) you will probably be seeing a lot of them before I use them all. I am a little tired today. Two women are supposed to stop for me to attend a meeting in Frankfort, at 8:45 and I waited until 9:15 and started out myself. When I got to Frankfort couldn’t find the church. The Methodists have built a new church on the east edge of Frankfort and after stopping at 4 filling stations and riding around in circles for about an hour finally arrived. It seems my friends stopped at the wrong house and when no one answered they drove on and here I sat waiting for them. The driver was quite embarrassed when she learned she has stopped at 226 instead of 312 and the outcome is that I am quite tired from the ratrace of getting there late and trying to find the church. We have plans drawn up for the addition to the house we are buying and Dad has talked to a contractor who is highly recommended. He says he can’t touch it until Sept. We are waiting for his bid, then we will see what we will do. John, Lea and Bob were here to spend the day Sunday and we looked around the yard. I called the present owner and told them we wouldn’t bother them in the house, just wanted to look around. They were all quite impressed with the lot since there is a patio (bricked) which overlooks a ravine. The dogwood trees were all in bloom and in spite of the cold weather we have had things look green and the flowering shrubs have flowered. The Harrises have sold our old house to Mary Kay Anstett. The Jansses are leaving Kentland. Garnett has been appointed to manage a store in LaPorte. When Mary Kay heard the news, she said she went “to pieces,” since Marge had seen to it she has transportation – Mary K. doesn’t drive. She decided with the two little girls she had better be a little closer to schools and stores. The Harrises paid us off and made enough (without cashing anything) to make the down payment on the house here. We went back to Kentland last Saturday – in fact on Friday evening – and Dad had office hours. We won’e go back until the last Sat. in May since he has duty at Health Center next two Saturdays and May 20^th we are planning to go to Centerville. I stop and see Mrs. M. every time we are in K. and she gives me your letters, so keep up on the news from you. You had better write now once in a while since we won’t be back in K. until the 27^th. Hope Bonnie likes her new position. I thought when we got to W. Lafayette I wouldn’t have much to do, but it seems I have been too busy. Since I have this Conference office I have done a lot of traveling. I am not looking forward to moving, but since we have this house leased for a year and I don’t know whether we can be

[page 2] “released from the lease” we may have plenty of time to move. If we have to keep this, I think we will move by car loads. At least that will be easier (I think). I hope to be able to stay put for a while after moving to our new home. Dad is attending a lunch today with his “boss” and a professor. I don’t know what the purpose of the affair is, but at any rate he won’t be home for lunch, but has the afternoon off and we are going to take the abstract to a lawyer’s office to have it examined. Also buy Dad a new raincoat, and do a few other things. Since we have been here I haven’t bought anything new, but a hat and 3 pair of hose. I decided since no one around here had seen my clothes, I don’t [need] any new ones – (until next year when we go traveling again).

Love Mother

The enclosed came and since it didn’t have a 5₵ stamp, I opened it and decided to send it on. It was addressed to us.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/03/released-from-the-lease/

The General Idea

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

12-12-66

Dear David and Bonnie: Haven’t written to you recently or heard from you. Seems I have been pretty busy, but this afternoon am in the process of defrosting the refrigerator and at present waiting for all the water to get from one side to the other and it seems to take just so much time for that, so while I am waiting will get a line or two to you. We have our tickets for the Rose Bowl Game. Those are hard to come by, but we managed through the Health Center at Purdue. We haven’t made any official announcements yet, but Dad says if it isn’t out by the time we get back from Calif., we will make an announcement. I think he plans to tell the Rotary Club – give a program for them and tell them in that way. He probably will make some kind of program about his years here. Floyd and Ruth were here yesterday on their way home from seeing Ruth M. I had stopped at Lebanon one day and told Ruth. Floyd was talking on the phone to Ruth M. and mentioned something to her and since we hadn’t said anything to her she was about to burst from curiosity. She called me one day last week and wanted to know all about it and I told her I couldn’t talk to her about it over the phone, but by giving her a few hints, she got the general idea. When R & F were here yesterday they said she still wanted to know more. Such as where we were going to live, etc. We don’t know that yet ourselves. I thought I was going to have to go to Lafayette to attend a Comm. Meeting this week (but found I don’t have to) and intended to go to a rental agency and see what is available. I think we will probably get an apartment for the present. One with the kitchen furnished.

[page 2] As yet we have had no indication that any MD is interested in coming here. Dad as a friend in Indianapolis who is going to post some notices on bulletin boards in several hospitals around Indianapolis where interns will see them. He is to write to Dad if he finds an intern or two interested in coming here. To look in the Medical Journal want ad sections, one gets a little discouraged about trying to find someone to come to a small place like Kentland. It seems there are opportunities in places with more to offer. I think one of the big problems is, not many people are willing to work like your Dad does. We were talking to Bob Batton about what a Dr. could make here if he is willing to work. Bob calls it a little gold mine. My answer was, “yes it is a gold mine, if a person is willing to work it.” Well, be that as it may Dad intends to go to Purdue March 1^st and I hope to have us a place to move to by then – or a little sooner. I may possibly go to Lafayette tomorrow. I do have some shopping I want to do. I did shopping for Mark and Shirley via Sears. We called them last night and only part of the order had been delivered. However, I sent them two packages from here Saturday and they should get them this week sometime. Dad has just finished a sewing cabinet for Lea and it is a beauty. I said I wanted one and when the family was home for Thanksgiving, in unison they said “what for, you never sew.” However, Lea stuck up for me and said she thought I should have one, so after Christmas Dad has promised to make one for me. He put the finish on hers last night – it is an oil and makes a beautiful finish. When she was staying with me after I

[page 3] come home from the hospital she was looking through a catalog of patterns for woodwork and found the sewing cabinet and said she would like to have one. Dad said if she would order the pattern he would make it. This year I am not going to gift wrap her present. I think you were home last year to help me. I have gotten Mrs. Myers Christmas gift – a Jansen sweater which I think is lovely and a small coin purse and billfold combination. She is to come out for Christmas Eve dinner and since there won’t be anyone around with chicken-pox, it should be safe.

Love Mother

P.S. Our Christmas cards haven’t come so I am using note paper form last year.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/03/21/the-general-idea/

Time to Write

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

April 14, 1966

Dear David and Bonnie:

This morning there was an area hospital meeting at our Geo Ade and since it was so close I attended and was asked by the President to ask the blessing at the meal (I was asked to do that several days ago, so it wasn’t a surprise). This afternoon there was a tour of the hospital, but I didn’t stay for that since I have been around the place a few times. This afternoon I have been working on the books and tonight while trying to finish the task at hand and put the put the books away I discovered I had paid your taxes ($19.40) which is due before May 1. In running the amounts we paid, but in sorting out the different tax categories discovered yours had been paid. We have to list the tax on house and furniture in one place on the big return and tax on the office in another place. Don’t bother to send me a check, I think I owe you something for the pictures and I may have you get me a book or two. Get me Contemporary Continental Theologians. Let me know how much I still owe you.

We enjoyed your last letter, but know you don’t have time to write that much very often. You are so right in your conclusion that people say one thing and do another. However, we must keep our own eyes on the right goal and practice what we preach. In spite of the way things seem to be going, we have to keep believing in the right. I am sure we know foreign policy can be so far off. I agree with you on many things and it is a puzzle at times as to how our foreign policy can be so far off. Our might doesn’t seem to be making much right.

Dad worked in the yard this afternoon and then went to the hospital and delivered a baby. He was home by 8:30. He had trouble with the riding mower, so had to do half of the yard with the walking type. He is very healthy looking from his afternoon out of doors. He finally got the go-ahead from me to dig up some of the shrubs along the south side of the yard. He has started another row about five feet further to the north and will in time take out the larger bushes that have been encroaching on the evergreens. He divided and says good, so two weeks ago I got some replacements while in Lafayette. I have another appointment with Dr. Ferguson May 9. My arm is some better. It doesn’t give me much pain, but I still can’t bend it certain ways. I have trouble getting my arm around back to run up a zipper.

Mark and Shirley and the children, John and Lea and Bob were here for Easter. Shirley’s parents came in the afternoon. Little David is such a good baby he stayed in the bed most of the time they were here. Shirley said she knew it much have been strange for him, because he is used to sleeping in a basket at home. We took some pictures and when I get some back will send you some new ones of him. Kirk is so possessive about David, he tells everyone who may be interested that they cannot have David. Becky thinks he is pretty cute, but I rather think Kirk is more interested in the baby.

Mrs. Myers has a dental appointment next Tuesday. She called me today to ask me if I could take her to the dentist. She was rather annoyed with Dr. Limp. She seemed to think he wasn’t as concerned with her case as he should have been. I think she wanted me to suggest that she go to Dr. Logan, but he is booked so far ahead I don’t know when she could get an appointment and I really think she should stay with Limp. She probably will have to have that tooth pulled. When I talked to her today I promised her I would stop and see her tomorrow. So far this week I haven’t had an opportunity. She doesn’t get up until noon some days and when I go to the office in the evening I usually don’t leave home in time to stop—due to one cause or another. Monday this week I had to go to Lafayette (had an eye appointment with a Dr. at the Clinic). I may get contact lenses, if he says yes. I am to see him again the 21^st. It is a little closer to go to Lafayette than Hammond.

Next month our W.S.C.S. will celebrate the 25^th year (one year late) and I have been elected to give the program. I am in the process now of going through records of the past 25 years to get some data. Some of our secretaries left something to be desired in keeping records. At Christmastime Ruthie wrote to me about a friend of theirs who lives in Boston—Barbara Schrier (Mrs. R.W.) her husband is in Harvard Med School and their address is 849 Mass Ave, Arlington, Mass. She thought Barbara would be happy to know you, since she knew the Yegerlehners in Lebanon. If you have time and want to look them up, you have the address after all these months.

I must get back to my research.
Love Mother

(over)

I had such a nice letter from Dr. Beck, but haven’t had time to answer. I will get around to it soon. I want to thank him. I certainly wish we could have planned to go when he will be there (Holy Land).

Christmas is Coming

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Thurs. Dec. 16, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

The wrapping room (wherever you want it) will be open when you come home. I talked to Mark last night and he said he thought they might have Christmas for the children before they come down Christmas Eve and though you wouldn’t mind sleeping a little longer. However, I think he plans to be here by noon. He said the children were quite excited about Christmas. He was telling me that Kirk has a memory like an elephant. He had promised Kirk he could have some eggnog before going to bed, but for some reason he didn’t get it and went to bed in a sulk. At six o’clock the next morning Mark had to go the bathroom with him and although he was groggy with sleep he said, “You wouldn’t give me any eggnog last night,” or something to that effect. I said, “Why do you have to get up and go to the bathroom with him?” Mark said he thought at that hour he was so groggy he might fall in if he didn’t go with him and another reason, he is too short to reach the stool. I think you will agree he is pretty cute. (fond grandmother speaking)

My Christmas cards haven’t come, but I found some Christmas correspondence cards from last year, so have written to the McGraws (Louise bought another wood carving for me in Singapore and I wanted to send her some money). Also wrote to the Mercurios, the Easterlys, the Moores and a few others. Marie Mace has remarried and we received a card from her today—Mrs. Don. Shewmaker.

I don’t remember whether I wrote you about Aunt Clara, but she isn’t very good. I am afraid from the way she looked when we were down there and from what was going on—she is losing so much weight and can’t keep her food down—or couldn’t when we were there, that she isn’t going to get better.

I want to make it to the P.O. before it closes, so must get this ready to mail. We are going to Country Club tonight to a party for Hospital. Dad is making a Lazy Susan for Lea’s table. He just started on it today, but I think he will get it finished before they come home.

Will be looking for you some time Christmas Eve.

Love Mother

P.S. I can’t remember whether there was a letter enclosed with the Echlin information.

Haven’t Time to Write

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Dec. 10, 1965

Dear David:

I really haven’t time to write—it is time for my siesta. I have been working in the office this week to help Edna get caught up with insurance forms. Yesterday (Thurs.) I took the leased car to Lafayette to have it serviced and did a little shopping for myself and Mrs. M. Dad opened this letter by mistake. I thought you could perhaps use it before Christmas. Mark is going to meet you at the airport since they plan to come down Christmas Eve. Lea and Bob will be here, also John, so we will all be home for Christmas.

Tomorrow night my S.S. class will meet here for Christmas Party and I am not ready. Tonight we go to the Hospital for annual meeting. Maybe I will have time when we return after the meeting to get a few things done. At least I am not going to knock myself out trying to clean. I think everyone will have just as much fun whether or not I dust the books, etc.

I must get to that siesta, so for now this is all. We should have the stereo installed by this time next week.

Love Mother

Thanksgiving Week

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Nov. 29-1965

Dear David and Bonnie –

I am writing again in Wilmington. Will spend the night here and then go home in the morning. We have had a full week. Last Tuesday we went back to Kentland—stopping in Kankakee to shop and eat. It was about 4 PM when we reached Kentland, so after a short siesta I went to the office and after we had dinner I was ready to fold. Wed. we started preparing food for the homecoming. John came home about 2:30. Lea & Bob came in time for dinner. Mark, Shirley & children arrived later in the evening. Lea & Bob left to go to Bob’s parents in the afternoon (Thurs). M. & S. stayed until Fri. afternoon. John left to return to Champaign after church

[page 2] Sunday. Dad & Aunt Ruth & I went to Clay City to attend the Alumni Tea. None of the Yegerlehners were there, so we went out to see Clarence. Aunt Clara is not well. She had an operation for cancer last summer and also had cobalt treatments. In Sept. Clarence and Clara visited Aunt Ruth & Clara seemed fine. They had stopped to see us, but that was while we were away. Aunt Ruth was quite surprised to see how thin Clara is. Uncle Clarence told Dad she isn’t able to retain her food much of the time. We went on down to see Ralph & Faye. Faye said she is quite upset over Clara’s condition. Evidently from what Faye told us the cancer wasn’t all removed. I have never seen Clara as thin as she is now. Just a shadow of her former self.

[page 3] Duane has a church in Rockford, Ill. now. He was in Shelbyville, Ind.

We stopped in Brazil to see Vic & Beulah. They told us Marie had been married recently. I called her and she and her new husband, Mr. Shewmaker, came to Vic & Beulah’s to see us. All in all we had a very nice day, except for seeing Aunt Clara in such a poor condition.

Today I made statements and mailed them as we were ready to leave town. Aunt Ruth folded them and stuffed envelopes. I ran the amount on the adding machine and when I showed Aunt Ruth how much it amounted to, she said she could see why I would spend a day making them. (Not that we will collect one third of the amount.)

[page 4] Mrs. Myers didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with us. She was upset and couldn’t eat. I went to see her the next day and she was feeling much better. She was looking in a Sears catalogue and wanted to order a bathrobe. I told her not to buy anything until after Christmas. I found one that I thought was quite pretty at Ashton’s, so bought it for her for Christmas. I was wondering what I would give her—now I have that taken care of. I think she is going to have to go to a nursing home because I think she shouldn’t be alone. I think she is thinking that way herself now. I have had a full day, so think I will soon take a bath & retire.