Tag Archives: Ruth (Salter) Yegerlehner

38th Wedding Anniversary

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/

Mother’s Day 1967

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[mid May 1967]

Dear David and Bonnie:

Thanks for the Mother’s Day card. Mark called us Sunday morning and thought he got us out of bed – he didn’t – we were still in, but awake just enjoying not having to get up. We usually go to church at 11, so there is not any hurry about getting up. John called us Sunday evening, so all in all I can’t complain about being remembered on Mother’s Day. Dad took me out to dinner – we went to the Nu-China Café and had a Chinese dinner. It was very good and if you come home this summer – and or course, you know it made us very happy when we read your last saying you were planning to come – we will take you there for a Chinese meal.

We made a down payment (bought the equity of previous owner) on the house at 118 Juniper Court yesterday. We won’t get possession until June 17^th. A contractor is coming this evening to talk to us about the remodeling we want to do. He will have to do some figuring then let us know what the estimate will be. One contractor is figuring now, but says he can’t get to it until Sept. The man who is coming tonight says he can start in June, so if his price isn’t too high, we may be in the midst of remodeling soon. We plan to start moving as soon as we get the house and be finished by July 1. I talked to the agent at the bank and he said we could get out of this contract, which was for one year.

Today I attended an Officer’s Training meeting at Battle Ground. Am to go to Rochester tomorrow. Conferenece at Purdue next week. I am on a luncheon committee and have to help decorate tables for a ladies luncheon. After building bookshelves for the family room here, Dad has to move all these shelves down to the house on Juniper. – We just had a conference with a contractor and he assures us he will be able to begin on the house in June and thinks he can have it finished in 5 weeks. I just hope he is as good as his word.

We received word by Ruth Ford yesterday that Mrs. Myers had fallen more than a week ago and broke three ribs. She, of course, is in the hospital at Brook and will probably be there for some time. We haven’t been in Kentland this month and since we plan to go to Centerville next weekend we plan to go to Kentland May 26^th and Dad is going to have office hours the 27^th and we plan to see Mrs. M. sometime during the weekend. On Saturday evening we are to go to Champaign and spend Saturday evening and Sunday with John, Lea, and Bob.

We received a letter from Duane. He wants to get a family wappen, so I have written to him giving him the address of the place where we got ours. Duane, Aunt Ruth and Uncle Clarence drove to Monroe, Wisconsin, and found another branch of the Jegerlehner family – Albert. He was quite surprised to know there was a tribe of us here in Indiana.

Since I have to get up early tomorrow, must get this finished and get to bed.

Love Mother

Will be planning on seeing you sometime in Aug. Floyd & Ruth are talking about Expo [?] – and that the prices of accommodations are very high.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/04/mothers-day-1967/

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).

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/03/11/time-to-write/

The Saga of the Stereo

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

February 27, 1966

Dear David and Bonnie:

Was ist los? Denken Vater und Mutter nein sprechen zee Duetsch? Ihr meinung ich versteche nicht.

Don’t worry about our German. So what if we can’t speak it perfectly! Cousin Joyce took her dictionary along and said she forgot about grammar and had a wonderful time talking to the relatives in her own way. They seemed to enjoy her visit. We have decided to fly to Zurich and rent a car and take about two weeks in Switzerland and just see the country in our own way. Floyd and Ruth were here today (Floyd was taking Ruth back home). Floyds, the two Ruths and Helen (Ruthie’s sister) went to Florida together for two weeks. He was telling us about a friend of his in Lebanon who went to S. and rented a VW and had a good time seeing the country. He said he found that there is a lot of English spoken. He didn’t have any trouble. I think we will know enough by the time we go to get by very well.

There has been someone or more than one perhaps in Kentland driving around town shooting at windows. Several windows on Main Street had been hit. One evening last week Mrs. Myers’ living room window was hit. I stopped in to see her Friday (after attending the funeral of Mrs. Van Kirk) and saw where the shot (we think it was a bebe) hit the window. It sent glass across the room—not much, but some. She was pretty well shaken. She called the Prongers and Harold and they went to her apartment. She called here and Dad told her to call the sheriff. I think it was reported to the authorities, but as Dad says, it is hard to catch someone like that. They will eventually get caught I hope.

There are meetings at our church tonight—Lenten services, to be conducted by Rev. Watson, McClure and Stevenson. Watson is going to teach Ephesians and McClure Tests of a Living Church. I think Stevenson has a topic about Your God is Too Small. I haven’t decided yet whether I will sit in the Watson or McClure class. I would like to hear Watson, because I listened to his Lenten lectures last year. I would also like to hear what McClure has to say about the Tests of a Living Church. If it wasn’t so much trouble I would get Watson’s lecture on tape and sit in McClure’s class. However, I have my Interpreter’s and can read what it has to say about Ephesians.

The story of our stereo is long and complicated. We are not satisfied with it at all. The amplifier we had when you were here proved not to be stereo. We have another one which is stereo, but we have a rumble that is quite noticeable, even when listening to Das Rheingold. Janssen said he would do what we want. He said he would keep ordering sets until he gets on that is satisfactory. Also one of the speakers gets mushy. Dad has tried everything possible to find the trouble. We have that extra turntable (the one we gave to hospital and which was not satisfactory, because no one there seemed to know how to take care of records). My good little stereo radio is out there now and I am using a small radio from Sears (on loan). The help at the Hospital want to keep my radio. I will get something out of the deal, but at present things are in a state of confusion. As stated above we have the turntable and an extra amplifier, as a start on your stereo. We think the trouble must be in the amplifier we now have. The extra amplifier is on its way from Chicago and when we get it hooked up and we still have the rumble, I may tell them to take it all back. Will let you know what we do. Don’t worry about not getting your stereo. We will eventually get one for you.

Saturday was Mark’s 33^rd birthday. I called him. The baby is getting along first rate. The other children were well, and Shirley feels fine. Last Sat. a week ago I called and when Mark answered I said “Guten Morgen, mein sohn.” He replied, “I am sorry, but I think you have the wrong number.” When I told him it was his Mother speaking he said it was too early in the morning for such talk. He said I had gotten him out of bed. Little David requires a 2 o’clock bottle, and since Mark gets that bottle for him, I think he was getting a little extra sleep that morning.

One of these days, when I am in the mood, will send you the money for the operas mentioned earlier.

I talked to M. Beatty last week one day. She now lives in Chicago (Jim’s mother) and she has been to Petra. She was telling me about her experiences. She says if you like that sort of thing, not to miss it. I wrote to Louise and Mac and inquired if they would be interested in seeing it. Since we will be in S. until about Aug. 1, we might be able to make connections with them.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/03/05/the-saga-of-the-stereo/

Long Weekend Vacation

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

January 25, 1965

Dear David & Bonnie:

Yours of the 20^th (you mailed it 23^rd) received today. We have just returned from a long weekend vacation. We left Wednesday evening after attending a stockholders dinner meeting given by the Bank. The dinner was at Sumava and we traveled as far as the Howard Johnson Motel in Lafayette to spend the night. Thursday AM we leisurely traveled to Indianapolis, stopping at Lebanon to see Ruthie. Floyd was busy and we didn’t get to see him. Uncle Jim was gone (on a business trip), but we did see Aunt Thelma. I hope you sent them a thank-you note for their gift. Also I was wondering if you sent Phyllis and Art a thank-you for the Teflon. If you didn’t, I hope you will. Which reminds me, I sent your thongs and the pan lid and also a few little items for Bonnie which I purchased while I was buying some things for myself. Just in case she hasn’t had time to make a blue slip for her knitted dress.

We spent Thurs. and Friday in Indianapolis and saw My Fair Lady, Father Goose, and John Wayne in Cinerama. Saturday morning we left for Champaign and spent the afternoon with John and Lea and Bob. John took us out to dinner then we saw a James Bond – Goldfinger. I wouldn’t advise it for children. We attended the Methodist Church which is located on campus, and heard the Wesley minister. He gave a very interesting sermon about Timothy and St. Paul. He addressed the congregation as Timothy speaking. We visited with John and Bob a while after church—we went to the 11 o’clock service and had eaten at the pancake house at 10 o’clock so we didn’t need any lunch—so started home soon after 1 o’clock (Lea had to work, so wasn’t with us Sunday).

While in Indianapolis we visited the Legislature (it is in session now) and saw Senator Landgrebe. He wanted to know your address so you will probably be hearing from him. I was supposed to attend a Legislative seminar in Indianapolis (for WSCS) Tuesday, but since we had planned to go Wednesday night, I didn’t see how I could make it, so did the next best thing, but visiting the Legislature while in the city. Our Christian Social Concerns committee had met the Sunday before to compose a letter to send to Rep. Hendrix about the gambling bill. The Bishop sent letters to (I suppose) all churches to be read to the congregations urging everyone to write to Rep. or Sen. in opposition to the bill. I didn’t write since we made the trip in person.

I think your grades are not to be looked down upon, but if you are trying for all A’s I hope you succeed next semester. And about the typing—how many times did I try to get you to learn to type correctly? From the looks of this letter I didn’t learn too well myself, but I will blame it on fatigue. That makes me think of something else. We have decided to take a month’s vacation in September and go out through the northwest. I told the girls not long ago that we were going to take a month and of course, expected them to take their vacations at the same time. Arvella said she wants her vacation in July, because they want to go to California. We haven’t mentioned the subject further, but I do not want to work for her and we were wondering if you had any definite plans (Bonnie, that it) as to what you will be doing this summer. Would you want to work in the office two weeks? Of course, if you get a job in Bloomington, that might not work out so well for you to work for us two weeks, but if you think you want to do that, let us know. We have to get a replacement for those two weeks if Arvella is to go in July. We plan to take a month this year and another long vacation in 1966—something like 3 months. It doesn’e look like it is possible to find a young man to come in here, so since Dad doesn’t want to quit work altogether, we will

[page 2] have to take a long vacation every year or two. Let us know what you think about working. John has received a grant and is going to Arizona and Bob thinks he is going to get one and plans to go to Texas for the summer.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/26/long-weekend-vacation/

The Funeral

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

9-1-64

Dear David & Bonnie –

The past week has been rather full. Mark & Shirley left Kirk with us Monday. He got quite attached to John and John to him. Friday night Aunt Ruth called and told us Uncle Earl had passed away. Floyd came Sat. a.m. and went over to be with Aunt Ruth. Tye & Romaine couldn’t get there until Sat. evening. They drove. Sunday Steve brought Aunt Ruth here and in the afternoon we drove to Wilmington. Friday afternoon Shirley & Mark came back to get Kirk and he wasn’t quite sure he wanted to have anything to do with them. Shirley said she thought he was mad at them for leaving him. Lea & Bob came the same day, so we had a family reunion for a little while. Lea & Bob stayed but M. & S. took Kirk and went to get Becky. They are coming back today. John just left to go to Champaign with his car loaded. He bought about

[page 2] $200.00 worth of household goods, and took most of his things on this trip.

Yesterday we attended the funeral. Dad & John went to Wilmington Mon. a.m. So many of the Clay City relatives were there, Clarence, Clara, Ralph, Kenneth, Mary Lois, Duane & Joan and a number of Mutchler relatives. Since I had been with Aunt Ruth the better part of one week (Aug. 18 to 21) and had gone over Sunday afternoon, John & I came back home shortly after the funeral was over. Some of the relatives didn’t arrive until just before the funeral so they stayed longer. Ruth & Floyd stopped here on their way home at about 7:30 and they said they were the last to leave. Tye & Romaine were gong to stay in Wilmington a day or two.

I have to give a program at Williamsport tonight and as of this minute haven’t decided what I will give and before Mark & his family get here I think I had better get my program ready. M. & S. are going to be here until Thurs. then they are going back home (to mow lawn, etc.). Mark has a new job with All American Ins. & Casualty in Park Ridge – which will be closer home than his present job.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/09/the-funeral/

Thanksgiving Plans

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Letter postmarked the day Kennedy was killed 11-22-63

Letter transcription:

Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
146 W. Graham Street
Kentland, Indiana
Nov. 21 – 1963

Dear David –

I banked $200.00 for you this week (so you can keep your accounts straight).

Floyd, Ruth & Steve are coming up, for Thanksgiving and Ruth and Earl will come over if someone can go get them. I thought since you and Bonnie would be coming home on Wed. evening you could go over to Wilmington Thurs. morning and get them. I hope that is agreeable with you.

Dad has gone to the hospital on a baby case and I should be getting to bed but want to do a few things yet.

I am to take Mrs. Myers to the dentist tomorrow afternoon and told her I would take her grocery shopping after she gets through. I think she seemed a little disappointed when I told her we wouldn’t have anyone here for Christmas. Maybe we can plan to bring her here for dinner sometime before Christmas. If possible we will go to Chicago for the day.

Clarence & Clara and two of Kenneth’s girls came last Thurs. so Clarence could hunt pheasant. He hunted but didn’t

[page 2] have any luck. This morning a beautiful cock pheasant strutted around our front yard. Too bad Clarence wasn’t here today.

We will be looking for you Wed. evening.
Love Mother

Visiting Relatives

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
March 20, 1961

Dear David:

I think I forgot to tell you to add another $2.00 to your bank account, (GM dividend). I deposited it for you when it came, but haven’t written since then. I am a little tired today, but not as tired as I thought I would be. I have just about replaced everything and have washed all the extra bed clothes, so by tomorrow I should be ready for the club luncheon and meeting in the afternoon. The only thing left is food. I put the steak into several packages and put it in the freezer and the ham also. For some reason my apple pies didn’t get eaten and now we are working on them. The Clay City relatives and the Mutchlers left around 4:30. Uncle Floyd and Aunt Ruth and Steve stayed a while longer. When they got ready to leave Floyd told Ruth she had to drive home. He had taken a long trip on Saturday and only had two hours of sleep Sat. night. Mark and Shirley stayed long enough to feed Becky her supper. I put her in her pajamas and when they left Shirley had a bottle to give her on the way.

I have some tax business to work on, so must get with it. Can’t keep them waiting (they gave us ten days to answer a question and it has been almost a week since we received the letter).

Love Mother

A New Chapter

4 Replies

Just about fifteen years after Gladys wrote her last letter to Roscoe in 1945, Gladys wrote one of her first letters to her youngest son, David, when he went away to college. The baby of the family, born in September 1942, was now almost 18 years old and attending Indiana University at Bloomington. Mark, the middle son, had married and his firstborn child, a daughter, had been born just four days prior to the following letter. Gladys and Roscoe’s oldest son John was living and working in Indonesia. Having earned a PhD in linguistics, John had worked on several projects related to Native American languages during the 1950s.

September 14, 1960

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Indiana
146 W. Graham Street
September 14, 1960

Dear David:

First to answer your questions

(my) Place of birth: Terre Haute, Indiana, November 1, 1905.
(Dad’s) (Roscoe Schiele Yegerlehner) Clay County, Indiana, November 25, 1904

Dad has: B.S. degree from Indiana State Teachers College
M.S. degree from Indiana University
M.D. degree from Indiana Univerity (9 years)

I had two years business college.

Mr. Floyd Yegerlehner (or Mrs.) 1603 Garfield, Lebanon, Indiana.
Mrs. Earl Mutchler, Wilmington, Illinois. (115 East Street)

Or you could give

Mr. Mark Yegerlehner, 6107 N. Kenmore, Chicago, Ill.
Or you could give Dr. John Yegerlehner, Malang, Indonesia. (just joking)

In case you look for your suit, I hung it at the north end of your closet on a hook, a little lover than the road. Why don’t you use that laundry case for your clothes hamper – well that might be a little unhandy. I will send you a plastic bag, since I have so many of them here, but won’t have time to make any cookies to send along.

Received a letter from John. I will quote you something from his letter. “Kate Garvey and I have been giving a five-week seminar (10 sessions of two hours each) for high school English teachers here: modern methods of teaching English. When I think of the lies I was told about the English language by that old crock Kitsmiller…well. (Really the teaching of English is in the stone age in America. It would be as if they taught alchemy instead of chemistry in high school) We should be able to do better here.” He had received my birthday card, but since you didn’t send yours it couldn’t get to him.

Mark called Monday evening to tell us not to try to come up this week. Because of the hospital rules, we couldn’t get in to see Shirley and the baby, so maybe we can plan to go next week. Mark is going to Traders Point Friday to get Mrs. Ward, so he will stop here on his way.

I talked to Mr. Molter this morning and he said you would not have to make a special trip home to register, but that you could take care of it when you come home for Thanksgiving vacation. You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to come home if you want to come, but he said you didn’t have to make a special trip just to register.

Mrs. Fields called this morning to talk to Dad about Mark. He is still have some difficulty and she was to take him to the office at 10:20.

John’s first dividend check from Standard Oil came today – $27.50. Also your dividend check from GM ($2.00) which I will deposit in your account. Put that down on your check book, to keep your balance correct.

It is about time for Dad to come for lunch, so must get things ready.
Love Mother

P.S. Decided to enclose sack.

[handwritten notation on back in David’s handwriting – Received Friday AM Sept 16]