Dear Family,
Mother goes into the Hospital on Sunday, the ninth and will be operated on, on the 12th. Recent
X-rays of her knee have shown a spot on the bone that the Doctors cannot identify. At first they thought
it came from the injections of cortisone they had given her, but it is on the opposite side of her knee and
is the only spot that is painful, becoming progressively worse. The pain killer gives her very short relief
now. Before deciding to operate, the Doctors at D.M. consulted a civilian specialist.
I am writing this while she is in Relief Society as she gave me strict orders not to say anything to
you. She is fighting very hard to postpone the operation till after the Stobbe’s visit, even though the Dr.
told her she would be able to go fishing, if we all take care of her – this she hates. We have an
appointment with the Dr. this afternoon when she will make her last effort for postponement. I don’t
think she will get it. I am going against her wishes in telling you this, because I would like all of you to
remember her in your prayers when she goes under the knife a week from to-day.
Bill, I have come to the conclusion that you and Fran cannot tell the twins apart. You sent us a
picture of the other twin, but kept both of the first pictures that were alike. Send one of them back and
indicate on the back which of them it is – if you dare.
Everything depends on the outcome of Mother’s operation, as to when we can go your way, but
I do hope we can get there before your garden is all gone.
We finally got a letter from David with some corrections. He fell off the mast! His home Station
will be long Beach not Venice however letters will still reach him through the FPO San Francisco Zip
96601 to USS Somers.
The Stobbes should be airborne to day and can read this letter today at Marta’s”.
No letters from the rest of you. Tell my Granddaughters that the Granddaughter decker just went out
of circulation---no subscriptions!
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tucson, May 16, 1968
Dear Family,
We have the chickenpox in El Monte, (Rinda and Wendy now) and David is in the hospital, (ships?
) with a broken wrist, bruises and contusions. He fell off scaffold, or the scaffold collapsed with him
while painting aboard ship. Mother talked to him so I did not get many details.
Mother had quite a nice Mother’s Day. Most of you called. The cards were all late but Rina’s
and that went by way of Manila. Bill and Fran’s card was, “par for the course”, three days late, but it was
worth waiting for. They enclosed beautiful color pictures of all the kids. Lloyd is almost as big as the
twins and looks very McKayish. He must be a well behaved child. My contribution to Mother’s Day was
to get her a corsage and take her to dinner.
You “Smog Smelling “ McKays will get this one more issue because of your phone call, but this is
the last! From the cooing and aahing when she opened your present I gathered she was quite happy
with it. She will undoubtedly write and thank you for it.
Betty you are no help! Just when Mother was getting reconciled to her new job you write
something like that! The other day I picked her up at Relief Society and she came out crying; “I’ll never
get relieved of that job now.” she boo hooed. When I asked her what had happened she said that all the
mothers of the girls in her Primary class had come to her individually and had thanked her and told her
how much more interest the girls were taking in Primary. I think that she too is becoming attached to
her 11 year olds. Last Sunday they sang a Mother’s Day song and you should have seen the look of pride
and affection on her face.
We got a letter from Julie and she says in affect; We are leaving on the 5th of June, on the 5th of
June we are leaving. They expect to stay a few days in Hawaii and visit with and Marta, so it will be
toward the 1st of July when they get here.
I have a talk on Sunday in commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood so I had
better get with it.
“AN ARTIST HAD NO INVISIBLE MEANS OF SUPPORT”
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We have the chickenpox in El Monte, (Rinda and Wendy now) and David is in the hospital, (ships?
) with a broken wrist, bruises and contusions. He fell off scaffold, or the scaffold collapsed with him
while painting aboard ship. Mother talked to him so I did not get many details.
Mother had quite a nice Mother’s Day. Most of you called. The cards were all late but Rina’s
and that went by way of Manila. Bill and Fran’s card was, “par for the course”, three days late, but it was
worth waiting for. They enclosed beautiful color pictures of all the kids. Lloyd is almost as big as the
twins and looks very McKayish. He must be a well behaved child. My contribution to Mother’s Day was
to get her a corsage and take her to dinner.
You “Smog Smelling “ McKays will get this one more issue because of your phone call, but this is
the last! From the cooing and aahing when she opened your present I gathered she was quite happy
with it. She will undoubtedly write and thank you for it.
Betty you are no help! Just when Mother was getting reconciled to her new job you write
something like that! The other day I picked her up at Relief Society and she came out crying; “I’ll never
get relieved of that job now.” she boo hooed. When I asked her what had happened she said that all the
mothers of the girls in her Primary class had come to her individually and had thanked her and told her
how much more interest the girls were taking in Primary. I think that she too is becoming attached to
her 11 year olds. Last Sunday they sang a Mother’s Day song and you should have seen the look of pride
and affection on her face.
We got a letter from Julie and she says in affect; We are leaving on the 5th of June, on the 5th of
June we are leaving. They expect to stay a few days in Hawaii and visit with and Marta, so it will be
toward the 1st of July when they get here.
I have a talk on Sunday in commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood so I had
better get with it.
“AN ARTIST HAD NO INVISIBLE MEANS OF SUPPORT”
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tucson, April 30, 1968
A GRANDSON “DECKER”
Dear Grandsons,
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” not long ago and I guess they did not like it as no one
answered. So now I write to the boys to see if I have better luck.
I am working on my life story. As I complete each page I give it to your Grandmother to read and
correct. Yesterday I completed an episode about my experiences in the Horse Cavalry and passed it on
to Grandma. She read for a while and burst out laughing. “What’s the matter?” I asked, I did not
remember writing anything funny in that page. “Do you mean that you were in “F Troop?” She
answered and laughed all the harder. She was thinking of that goofy “F Troop” on TV, which is an insult
to a good Trooper.
As I wrote of my Cavalry experiences I was reminded of many experiences I did not write about.
My horse was a little red mare. She was as sleek as a race horse and could jump like a bird flying.
Everyone was armed with a saber, not a curved sword as you usually picture a saber, but a long straight
double edged blade. To stab the “heads” as our horse jumped the wall. “Red” as I called my horse, went
over the jumps so smoothly that it was no trouble for me to get a hundred percent hits with my saber.
Well, one day she got careless and skimmed the wall too close. A protruding rock caught her front legs
and tore the skin form them. I never rode her again.
I was leading Red to the vets, heartsick because of her injury, when I passed a group of Officers.
I kept turning to watch Red and paid no attention to them. A captain rode over to me and started to
bawl me out for not saluting. Then I heard a deep voice shout, “Leave that Sergeant alone Captain!
Can’t you see his horse is hurt!” I looked up and saw that the man talking was the Commanding General.
I received a letter from Steven McKay not long ago. I would like to hear from the rest of you,
especially you Bob , John and Mike. Did you have fun at Disneyland? Mark, we would like very much to
hear from you. What are your plans for this summer. Tell your Mother and Dad that their subscription
to the “old Folks” Decker just expired and the only way they can get it started again is to write.
Scot, you owe me two or three letters.
Grandma sends her love and joins me in hoping and praying that those of you who go to church
will continue to do so and those of you who don’t will start going. In this day and age there isn’t much
that is stable to tie to. The older I get the more I realize that Education is a must – it is no longer the
same as when I was a boy. All you needed then was a strong back and a weak mind.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandpa
Dear Grandsons,
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” not long ago and I guess they did not like it as no one
answered. So now I write to the boys to see if I have better luck.
I am working on my life story. As I complete each page I give it to your Grandmother to read and
correct. Yesterday I completed an episode about my experiences in the Horse Cavalry and passed it on
to Grandma. She read for a while and burst out laughing. “What’s the matter?” I asked, I did not
remember writing anything funny in that page. “Do you mean that you were in “F Troop?” She
answered and laughed all the harder. She was thinking of that goofy “F Troop” on TV, which is an insult
to a good Trooper.
As I wrote of my Cavalry experiences I was reminded of many experiences I did not write about.
My horse was a little red mare. She was as sleek as a race horse and could jump like a bird flying.
Everyone was armed with a saber, not a curved sword as you usually picture a saber, but a long straight
double edged blade. To stab the “heads” as our horse jumped the wall. “Red” as I called my horse, went
over the jumps so smoothly that it was no trouble for me to get a hundred percent hits with my saber.
Well, one day she got careless and skimmed the wall too close. A protruding rock caught her front legs
and tore the skin form them. I never rode her again.
I was leading Red to the vets, heartsick because of her injury, when I passed a group of Officers.
I kept turning to watch Red and paid no attention to them. A captain rode over to me and started to
bawl me out for not saluting. Then I heard a deep voice shout, “Leave that Sergeant alone Captain!
Can’t you see his horse is hurt!” I looked up and saw that the man talking was the Commanding General.
I received a letter from Steven McKay not long ago. I would like to hear from the rest of you,
especially you Bob , John and Mike. Did you have fun at Disneyland? Mark, we would like very much to
hear from you. What are your plans for this summer. Tell your Mother and Dad that their subscription
to the “old Folks” Decker just expired and the only way they can get it started again is to write.
Scot, you owe me two or three letters.
Grandma sends her love and joins me in hoping and praying that those of you who go to church
will continue to do so and those of you who don’t will start going. In this day and age there isn’t much
that is stable to tie to. The older I get the more I realize that Education is a must – it is no longer the
same as when I was a boy. All you needed then was a strong back and a weak mind.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandpa
Tucson, April 23, 1968
Dear Family,
We have received a couple of letters since my last “decker”, from Rina and Marta. Rina’s letter
was a tale of woe. It reminded me about the story of the Farmer, whose best mule broke her leg etc,
etc. She had a week when everything went wrong. You did not say anything about Lane, Rina. I trust he
has recovered from his illness. You must have been hard to get along with about then, with the Bazaar
toping everything off. I sympathized with Frank.
Marta too had her troubles. Wendy was quite ill, then Candy got the Chicken Pox. We, talked to
the Wilsons Sunday. The Meeker family came to L.A. Easter and it seemed like they had a really good
time.
Wow, you two think you got troubles, let me tell you mine! A couple of weeks ago, the First
Counselor of our Ward, (whose wife is Stake Primary President) came to our house and asked Mother to
teach a class in Primary- the 11 year old girls. She accepted, with a lot of reservations, but she did
accept. After her first Primary meeting she was ready to throw in the sponge, because she found out
that she not only had to teach but to deep records, make reports, take ‘em camping and what have you.
Between us both we have more books than a C.P.A. She has been trying to resign ever since, but the
trouble is, that the girls all like her and some of them have taken an active interest who were dragging
their feet before. SO, she takes it out on me! She has nightmares, because none of the Church
Authorities will accept her resignation or at least they talk her out of resigning every time she tries. She
even had a special Tutor to-day. I wish that some of you girls who have been in her spot would write to
her and offer her advice and or commiseration. EVEN MY TYPING HAS DEVELOPED AN ABRRATION AND
REFUSES TO WRITE PROPERLY EXCEPT IN CAPS.
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” right after Easter, in which I included other family news which
you must have read. I don’t think this effort was very well received, because I received no comment or
letter from any of the girls.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We have received a couple of letters since my last “decker”, from Rina and Marta. Rina’s letter
was a tale of woe. It reminded me about the story of the Farmer, whose best mule broke her leg etc,
etc. She had a week when everything went wrong. You did not say anything about Lane, Rina. I trust he
has recovered from his illness. You must have been hard to get along with about then, with the Bazaar
toping everything off. I sympathized with Frank.
Marta too had her troubles. Wendy was quite ill, then Candy got the Chicken Pox. We, talked to
the Wilsons Sunday. The Meeker family came to L.A. Easter and it seemed like they had a really good
time.
Wow, you two think you got troubles, let me tell you mine! A couple of weeks ago, the First
Counselor of our Ward, (whose wife is Stake Primary President) came to our house and asked Mother to
teach a class in Primary- the 11 year old girls. She accepted, with a lot of reservations, but she did
accept. After her first Primary meeting she was ready to throw in the sponge, because she found out
that she not only had to teach but to deep records, make reports, take ‘em camping and what have you.
Between us both we have more books than a C.P.A. She has been trying to resign ever since, but the
trouble is, that the girls all like her and some of them have taken an active interest who were dragging
their feet before. SO, she takes it out on me! She has nightmares, because none of the Church
Authorities will accept her resignation or at least they talk her out of resigning every time she tries. She
even had a special Tutor to-day. I wish that some of you girls who have been in her spot would write to
her and offer her advice and or commiseration. EVEN MY TYPING HAS DEVELOPED AN ABRRATION AND
REFUSES TO WRITE PROPERLY EXCEPT IN CAPS.
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” right after Easter, in which I included other family news which
you must have read. I don’t think this effort was very well received, because I received no comment or
letter from any of the girls.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
April 17, 1968
Dear Family,
We enjoyed our stay with the Wilsons and the McKays, but our trip home was quite hectic. We
hit high winds most of the way home and at one point West of Indio, we drove for miles, (or so it
seemed), through a blinding dust cloud. We could not see the road, so we got behind a vehicle with a
tall silhouette and stayed on his tail until we emerged.
It seems lately we have been experiencing a number of firsts, besides driving in a dust cloud.
Most of these firsts happened in the Temple. There was another one when we went with Lloyd and
Carol. It seems there were too many people going through the marriage and sealing session, so they
pulled all those who were not close relatives of the bride and groom and formed another group. Even So
the room was full with those of us who were left. We did not get out of the temple until two o’clock.
There were quite a few of Carol’s relatives as well as friends from the Ward. Brian has penchant for
flipping light switches on and off. A few weeks past, the McKays attended Sacrament meeting in the
Wilson’s Ward. Somehow, they haven’t quite figured out how, Brian found the switch and left the
Sacrament meeting in darkness. When they brought him into the sealing room, which is illuminated by
beautiful crystal chandeliers, he looked up and said: “Ah, lights, lights!” I immediately checked the walls
to see if any switches were in his reach. He was very much a gentleman during the ceremony.
We found letters from Betty, Rina and David when we returned home. We were indeed pleased
to hear that David had received a promotion. We realize that the navy gives only earned promotions,
and he had to be on the ball and do a lot of studying to get it. His ship is presently in San Diego where is
will undergo a further course of training. His grade is now ETR2 and his address is the same. Why don’t
you drop him a line?
Rina was taking Scot to school when someone ran into her. The reason she had been taking him
to school is because the school bus had been in an accident. Scot should be getting gun shy soon and be
riding his bike to school. Congratulations on you’re pitching in the little league Scot. Your “Hole-in-one
and not hitters make you the only claim for fame this family has sports wise speaking that is.
Betty loaded up her “Bevy of Beauties” and paid Grandma Rice a visit in concord. She has a pool
and Betty said the girls really had a ball. They are so used to swimming in Tahoe snow water that I
wonder how they could stand that warm pool. Betty has promised Marta that she will let Robin visit her
for a while after school is out. Even though it puts my nose out of joint, (she would not let Robin visit us
last year). Marta has developed a bad knee; something like Mother’s and is having a hard time getting
around. Her own girls help her a lot, but there are a lot of things she can’t do.
Marion, we are still waiting for a letter from you. I told Mimi in my last letter to her that we
were tentatively planning on going to your house, if it is all right with you.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We enjoyed our stay with the Wilsons and the McKays, but our trip home was quite hectic. We
hit high winds most of the way home and at one point West of Indio, we drove for miles, (or so it
seemed), through a blinding dust cloud. We could not see the road, so we got behind a vehicle with a
tall silhouette and stayed on his tail until we emerged.
It seems lately we have been experiencing a number of firsts, besides driving in a dust cloud.
Most of these firsts happened in the Temple. There was another one when we went with Lloyd and
Carol. It seems there were too many people going through the marriage and sealing session, so they
pulled all those who were not close relatives of the bride and groom and formed another group. Even So
the room was full with those of us who were left. We did not get out of the temple until two o’clock.
There were quite a few of Carol’s relatives as well as friends from the Ward. Brian has penchant for
flipping light switches on and off. A few weeks past, the McKays attended Sacrament meeting in the
Wilson’s Ward. Somehow, they haven’t quite figured out how, Brian found the switch and left the
Sacrament meeting in darkness. When they brought him into the sealing room, which is illuminated by
beautiful crystal chandeliers, he looked up and said: “Ah, lights, lights!” I immediately checked the walls
to see if any switches were in his reach. He was very much a gentleman during the ceremony.
We found letters from Betty, Rina and David when we returned home. We were indeed pleased
to hear that David had received a promotion. We realize that the navy gives only earned promotions,
and he had to be on the ball and do a lot of studying to get it. His ship is presently in San Diego where is
will undergo a further course of training. His grade is now ETR2 and his address is the same. Why don’t
you drop him a line?
Rina was taking Scot to school when someone ran into her. The reason she had been taking him
to school is because the school bus had been in an accident. Scot should be getting gun shy soon and be
riding his bike to school. Congratulations on you’re pitching in the little league Scot. Your “Hole-in-one
and not hitters make you the only claim for fame this family has sports wise speaking that is.
Betty loaded up her “Bevy of Beauties” and paid Grandma Rice a visit in concord. She has a pool
and Betty said the girls really had a ball. They are so used to swimming in Tahoe snow water that I
wonder how they could stand that warm pool. Betty has promised Marta that she will let Robin visit her
for a while after school is out. Even though it puts my nose out of joint, (she would not let Robin visit us
last year). Marta has developed a bad knee; something like Mother’s and is having a hard time getting
around. Her own girls help her a lot, but there are a lot of things she can’t do.
Marion, we are still waiting for a letter from you. I told Mimi in my last letter to her that we
were tentatively planning on going to your house, if it is all right with you.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tucson, April 9, 1968
Dear Family,
We have heard from several of you since my last Decker, Bill, Betty, Marion, Rina, and David.
While I have written to some of you under separate cover, I feel that I actually owe a letter this time.
Bill’s family is fine. Lloyd is beginning to have some of the twin’s tendencies of getting into
trouble. I am sorry about that. I thought, with that name he will be a model child- like his name sake.
Bill has been doing work on the McKay line. He has shook more relatives out of the bushes than I had
ever heard of. Two Aunts, Mary J. and Judy, the first born of David, (your great Grandfather), I had not
even heard mentioned. Bill, your Great Grandfather, Alexander, is supposed to have been born in
Scotland; consequently, he may not have been listed in that Tenn. Census, because he was dead or out
of the State at that time. Anyway it is very interesting. I have passed your findings on to Ruth for her
comment. Maybe we are descendents of Abraham McKay, (One of the early settlers in Tenn., and
a “Hard Shelled” Baptist). Maybe that is where we get our Yiddish snozzle.
Betty’s family also got the San Francisco bug, but they recovered much more promptly than I.
She was quite pleased because the girl’s report cards were so good. We did enjoy your long newsy letter
Betty, even though you did write it over a period of several weeks.
The Wilsons and McKays went to some Church sponsored program, a week ago. Wendy’s
babysitter let her get chilled and she caught a cold. Let’s don’t use that Sitter again Marta. Call me I will
Baby sit for you. We had hoped that the Wilsons might join us for Easter, but they can’t get away.
Marion, we sent three jackets for the boys and still have $10.00 left. Does Mimi still want the squaw
boots? If so send the size. If the coats don’t fit the boys, maybe you can sell them to someone there.
Don’t let them throw the coats in the washer or adios.
David says he has been so busy aboard ship that his extra-curricular activities have been badly
curtailed. He is going on another shakedown cruise soon.
I just realized Lloyd, that you are the only one we have not heard from. What is the matter? Has
Martin Luther King got you down?
Mother and I are contemplating hiding our over Easter week end. It makes us too homesick for
our grandchildren, to watch the Easter Program.
Mother was called by the Bishopric to be a teacher in Primary. She will have the 11 year old
girls, but she has lots of doubts about the whole thing.
Love,
Dad
We have heard from several of you since my last Decker, Bill, Betty, Marion, Rina, and David.
While I have written to some of you under separate cover, I feel that I actually owe a letter this time.
Bill’s family is fine. Lloyd is beginning to have some of the twin’s tendencies of getting into
trouble. I am sorry about that. I thought, with that name he will be a model child- like his name sake.
Bill has been doing work on the McKay line. He has shook more relatives out of the bushes than I had
ever heard of. Two Aunts, Mary J. and Judy, the first born of David, (your great Grandfather), I had not
even heard mentioned. Bill, your Great Grandfather, Alexander, is supposed to have been born in
Scotland; consequently, he may not have been listed in that Tenn. Census, because he was dead or out
of the State at that time. Anyway it is very interesting. I have passed your findings on to Ruth for her
comment. Maybe we are descendents of Abraham McKay, (One of the early settlers in Tenn., and
a “Hard Shelled” Baptist). Maybe that is where we get our Yiddish snozzle.
Betty’s family also got the San Francisco bug, but they recovered much more promptly than I.
She was quite pleased because the girl’s report cards were so good. We did enjoy your long newsy letter
Betty, even though you did write it over a period of several weeks.
The Wilsons and McKays went to some Church sponsored program, a week ago. Wendy’s
babysitter let her get chilled and she caught a cold. Let’s don’t use that Sitter again Marta. Call me I will
Baby sit for you. We had hoped that the Wilsons might join us for Easter, but they can’t get away.
Marion, we sent three jackets for the boys and still have $10.00 left. Does Mimi still want the squaw
boots? If so send the size. If the coats don’t fit the boys, maybe you can sell them to someone there.
Don’t let them throw the coats in the washer or adios.
David says he has been so busy aboard ship that his extra-curricular activities have been badly
curtailed. He is going on another shakedown cruise soon.
I just realized Lloyd, that you are the only one we have not heard from. What is the matter? Has
Martin Luther King got you down?
Mother and I are contemplating hiding our over Easter week end. It makes us too homesick for
our grandchildren, to watch the Easter Program.
Mother was called by the Bishopric to be a teacher in Primary. She will have the 11 year old
girls, but she has lots of doubts about the whole thing.
Love,
Dad
IT COULD HAPPEN (A bad dream by L.J. McKay)
We had been on vacation in the mountains for several weeks. We camped in a deep canyon,
where radio reception was nil. We had been completely out of touch with our ever worsening world and
had enjoyed it. When our mountain road joined the Freeway, on our way home, I drove for about an
hour before it occurred to me that something was different- something was wrong. I thought about
commenting to my wife, but she was dozing and I did not want to disturb her. I drove another thirty
minutes before it occurred to me that my perturbation was caused by the absence of trucks from the
freeway traffic, neither had we met or passed a train on the track that paralleled the Freeway. Now, for
the first time I turned on the radio and heard the frightening news that a strike had not only tied up all
trucking, but had curtailed rail shipments also.
I awakened my wife and gave her the bad news. We discussed the strike and its probable effect
on us. We now realized just why Church Authorities had been hammering at us for years to accumulate
a year’s supply of food. We had not done it. We are old, in retired status. We had concluded that we
would probably be dead before any emergency arose, necessitating the consumption of the year’s
supply. Now we had been caught with our procrastination showing. We had a small savings account.
We decided that we would use this money to accumulate all the food stuffs it would buy.
When we came into our Home town, we stopped at the first Supermarket we encountered. We
were confronted by a large sign as we entered the door; “ONLY ONE STAPLE TO A CUSTOMER. Two LBS
OF PRODUCE TO A CUSTOMER”. The shelves had a leprous appearance. Many were empty and others
badly depleted with large bare spots. Pushing through the crowded aisles we finally managed to
partially fill one cart. A can of this and a can of that. We got the last sack of flour, but the sugar supply
was exhausted. The produce notice was a laugh. There was none. Meat seemed to be in plentiful
supply, but our freezing compart would only hold so much. We dropped everything and shopped until
padlocks appeared on market doors with a sigh; “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE”. We still had money
to spend, but no food was available. We did manage to buy a quarter of beef from a meat market, which
we cut in thin strips and hung on the clothes line to dry. We prayed that it would not rain and took turns
standing guard to fight off stray dogs, who had been released by their owners and were now half wild
and starving.
When we were force to stop buying, we took inventory. We concluded that we had enough food
stuff to last us several weeks, maybe, three or four months if we went on short rations. My wife
sighed; “Well” she said, “I hope the strike is over before we run out of food.” Then she brightened; “but
we can always drive to one of our children in California or Utah”. They have a year’s supply and they all
want us to live with them.” “You forget one thing darling” I answered
“What is that?”
“No gasoline”
where radio reception was nil. We had been completely out of touch with our ever worsening world and
had enjoyed it. When our mountain road joined the Freeway, on our way home, I drove for about an
hour before it occurred to me that something was different- something was wrong. I thought about
commenting to my wife, but she was dozing and I did not want to disturb her. I drove another thirty
minutes before it occurred to me that my perturbation was caused by the absence of trucks from the
freeway traffic, neither had we met or passed a train on the track that paralleled the Freeway. Now, for
the first time I turned on the radio and heard the frightening news that a strike had not only tied up all
trucking, but had curtailed rail shipments also.
I awakened my wife and gave her the bad news. We discussed the strike and its probable effect
on us. We now realized just why Church Authorities had been hammering at us for years to accumulate
a year’s supply of food. We had not done it. We are old, in retired status. We had concluded that we
would probably be dead before any emergency arose, necessitating the consumption of the year’s
supply. Now we had been caught with our procrastination showing. We had a small savings account.
We decided that we would use this money to accumulate all the food stuffs it would buy.
When we came into our Home town, we stopped at the first Supermarket we encountered. We
were confronted by a large sign as we entered the door; “ONLY ONE STAPLE TO A CUSTOMER. Two LBS
OF PRODUCE TO A CUSTOMER”. The shelves had a leprous appearance. Many were empty and others
badly depleted with large bare spots. Pushing through the crowded aisles we finally managed to
partially fill one cart. A can of this and a can of that. We got the last sack of flour, but the sugar supply
was exhausted. The produce notice was a laugh. There was none. Meat seemed to be in plentiful
supply, but our freezing compart would only hold so much. We dropped everything and shopped until
padlocks appeared on market doors with a sigh; “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE”. We still had money
to spend, but no food was available. We did manage to buy a quarter of beef from a meat market, which
we cut in thin strips and hung on the clothes line to dry. We prayed that it would not rain and took turns
standing guard to fight off stray dogs, who had been released by their owners and were now half wild
and starving.
When we were force to stop buying, we took inventory. We concluded that we had enough food
stuff to last us several weeks, maybe, three or four months if we went on short rations. My wife
sighed; “Well” she said, “I hope the strike is over before we run out of food.” Then she brightened; “but
we can always drive to one of our children in California or Utah”. They have a year’s supply and they all
want us to live with them.” “You forget one thing darling” I answered
“What is that?”
“No gasoline”
Monday, December 6, 2010
From Bill, March 1968
Dear Lloyd,
We were really tickled to get your letter and couldn’t have been more pleased over the news.
I’m sure that this is a decision that you will never regret. I know from experience that there is nothing
that will bring more permanence and stability into your marriage than being sealed to each other. Or for
that matter nothing that will bring more joy into your family union. My only regret is that we probably
won’t be able to take advantage of your invitation. Fran wouldn’t leave the two little ones and I’m afraid
that to make the trip in two days would be a little bit too hectic. It’s too bad that you didn’t pick the
week end before (Conference weekend) we get our Easter Vacation then and get off the 4th 5th 6th and
7th. This would have given us four days which would have ment that we could have brought the whole
family.
I know that you have probably chosen the date after much deliberation and that there are a lot
of folks there to consider so we wouldn’t ask you to change it for our sake but it sure would nice if you
could without a lot of trouble. We would very much like to be there. This would also give us time to
spend more than just a couple of hours with you.
What ever the case we are very happy for you and Carol and know that you will not regret your
decision.
Even if we are not able to attend your sealing we will be looking forward with anticipation to
your trip here this summer.
Make sure you take advantage of having Dad and Mom in the Temple with you and get sealed to
them. Usually you have to make arrangements ahead of time with the Temple.
Bill, Fran and Family
We were really tickled to get your letter and couldn’t have been more pleased over the news.
I’m sure that this is a decision that you will never regret. I know from experience that there is nothing
that will bring more permanence and stability into your marriage than being sealed to each other. Or for
that matter nothing that will bring more joy into your family union. My only regret is that we probably
won’t be able to take advantage of your invitation. Fran wouldn’t leave the two little ones and I’m afraid
that to make the trip in two days would be a little bit too hectic. It’s too bad that you didn’t pick the
week end before (Conference weekend) we get our Easter Vacation then and get off the 4th 5th 6th and
7th. This would have given us four days which would have ment that we could have brought the whole
family.
I know that you have probably chosen the date after much deliberation and that there are a lot
of folks there to consider so we wouldn’t ask you to change it for our sake but it sure would nice if you
could without a lot of trouble. We would very much like to be there. This would also give us time to
spend more than just a couple of hours with you.
What ever the case we are very happy for you and Carol and know that you will not regret your
decision.
Even if we are not able to attend your sealing we will be looking forward with anticipation to
your trip here this summer.
Make sure you take advantage of having Dad and Mom in the Temple with you and get sealed to
them. Usually you have to make arrangements ahead of time with the Temple.
Bill, Fran and Family
March 22, 1968
I had begun to think that I had finished writing deckers as none of you had answered my last
one, when we received a long delayed letter from Rina. Who had been in Hong Kong – the Chinese
Santa Claus town. They came home with a lot of loot, including a “Golden Touch” Singer sewing
machine. Rina, I don’t think you read my last decker through or you would have caught the paragraph
about going fishing. Now if you read this far, we want you to set a date as when you want to go fishing.
They are having an education Program to-day. At the Priest Ex, meeting a couple of weeks ago,
Bishop Post, telling about the wonderful speakers, mentioned that he had seen you and Frank both cry,
when you attended one of these meeting several years ago. I think it is mostly about raising a family.
We are not going. We have already made our mistakes, besides, it cost five bucks.
The weather here is beginning to get nice again. I have had my shirt off a couple of times. Bill, I
heard over the radio day before yesterday that five feet of snow fell in S.E. Utah. Did you get any of this?
If you still have snow in May, all bets are off.
I am well enough now so that I have started doing a little work again. The other day I was
working on a missing Person case in Nogales, when our Landlady dropped in to visit Mother. When she
asked for me, mother told her that I was looking for a girl; “My goodness! She said, Don’t you mind?”
We did get a short note from David; you could hardly call it a letter. His ship went to sea on a
shakedown cruise. He was very proud of the fact that de did not get sea sick. He has a new address, but
he has changed his writing style and we could not make it our very well. When I am sure of it, I will pass
it along. This will be his permanent address now, F. P. O one, which will stick to him- even in Viet Nam.
We would like to hear from some of you Calif. People to learn how the “bug” treated you. Every
time we turn on T.V. we hear of someone who has gone to Cal. And caught the bug.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
one, when we received a long delayed letter from Rina. Who had been in Hong Kong – the Chinese
Santa Claus town. They came home with a lot of loot, including a “Golden Touch” Singer sewing
machine. Rina, I don’t think you read my last decker through or you would have caught the paragraph
about going fishing. Now if you read this far, we want you to set a date as when you want to go fishing.
They are having an education Program to-day. At the Priest Ex, meeting a couple of weeks ago,
Bishop Post, telling about the wonderful speakers, mentioned that he had seen you and Frank both cry,
when you attended one of these meeting several years ago. I think it is mostly about raising a family.
We are not going. We have already made our mistakes, besides, it cost five bucks.
The weather here is beginning to get nice again. I have had my shirt off a couple of times. Bill, I
heard over the radio day before yesterday that five feet of snow fell in S.E. Utah. Did you get any of this?
If you still have snow in May, all bets are off.
I am well enough now so that I have started doing a little work again. The other day I was
working on a missing Person case in Nogales, when our Landlady dropped in to visit Mother. When she
asked for me, mother told her that I was looking for a girl; “My goodness! She said, Don’t you mind?”
We did get a short note from David; you could hardly call it a letter. His ship went to sea on a
shakedown cruise. He was very proud of the fact that de did not get sea sick. He has a new address, but
he has changed his writing style and we could not make it our very well. When I am sure of it, I will pass
it along. This will be his permanent address now, F. P. O one, which will stick to him- even in Viet Nam.
We would like to hear from some of you Calif. People to learn how the “bug” treated you. Every
time we turn on T.V. we hear of someone who has gone to Cal. And caught the bug.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
March 6, 1968
Dear Family,
It seems a long time since I wrote the last decker and for a while I wondered if I would ever write
another. Whatever that bug was that hit me in San Francisco, it was sure a lulu. I began to get ill as we
reached Marta’s on the way back and was afraid I would pass the bug on to the baby. This did not
happen, but we left there as soon as we could. I remember driving the Freeway, than Mother took over
and drove almost all the rest of the way to Tucson. I sure had a time of it. It took the prayers of those of
you who knew I was ill, plus the administering by the Elders, plus a peck of antibiotics, to snap me out of
it and I am still a bit on the week side.
Rina, you are the only one we have received a letter from since we returned. In a way I am glad
that your “slow boat to China” tour was canceled. Knowing what a Mamma’s boy my buddy Lane is, I
hate to see him left alone. Now, our only plans for the summer are to go to Bill’s about the time School
is out, so that he can go fishing with us before he goes to work in the timber. Then we are coming back
to Tucson to wait for you. If you truly want to go to the white Mts., (I am afraid you will want to stay
around Tucson and yak with friends), I think you should be thinking of reserving a camper, tent or what
have you I mind, right now.
Another reason I have not written is because my church responsibilities were in such a mess.
The forming of the new Ward, (8th) took about 35 families from our Ward. I lost Home teachers, had to
regroup my Home Teaching areas and even lost my Assistant, which is the hardest blow. The fact that I
did not go to church for two weeks after we returned, did not help either. It seems the people we lost
were the young energetic ones, like Bill Biggs, way out in the East side of town. When I bugged the
Bishop about getting me an assistant he showed me a list of 16 vacancies he could not fill.
Mother talked to Marion Sunday. Her entire family had also been bitten by the bug that got me
and were just getting back on even keel. We have had not report from the Rices or the McKays and have
been wondering if they too were ill.
Mother and I started at the wrong end of Skousen’s thousands of years. We started at the
4ourth thousand and we are now reading the 1st thousand. His explanation of things I have always been
a bit skeptical of , seem very logical to me and I don’t believe I ever did thank you for your book, The
Naked communist”, also by Skousen. I am reading parts of it in our weekly Home Evening. Last night our
lesson was #26 in the Manuel. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Mother is still having a lot of aches and pains, but keeps going just the same. I think she is just
feeling pains she did not have time to feel while I was ill. It was quite a strain on her. She is in Relief
Society to-day. Her work also went to pot while I was ill and she is working overtime now, getting it
squared away.
Hey David! Did you find a new girl among the mob that visited the ship? How about dropping us
a line?
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
It seems a long time since I wrote the last decker and for a while I wondered if I would ever write
another. Whatever that bug was that hit me in San Francisco, it was sure a lulu. I began to get ill as we
reached Marta’s on the way back and was afraid I would pass the bug on to the baby. This did not
happen, but we left there as soon as we could. I remember driving the Freeway, than Mother took over
and drove almost all the rest of the way to Tucson. I sure had a time of it. It took the prayers of those of
you who knew I was ill, plus the administering by the Elders, plus a peck of antibiotics, to snap me out of
it and I am still a bit on the week side.
Rina, you are the only one we have received a letter from since we returned. In a way I am glad
that your “slow boat to China” tour was canceled. Knowing what a Mamma’s boy my buddy Lane is, I
hate to see him left alone. Now, our only plans for the summer are to go to Bill’s about the time School
is out, so that he can go fishing with us before he goes to work in the timber. Then we are coming back
to Tucson to wait for you. If you truly want to go to the white Mts., (I am afraid you will want to stay
around Tucson and yak with friends), I think you should be thinking of reserving a camper, tent or what
have you I mind, right now.
Another reason I have not written is because my church responsibilities were in such a mess.
The forming of the new Ward, (8th) took about 35 families from our Ward. I lost Home teachers, had to
regroup my Home Teaching areas and even lost my Assistant, which is the hardest blow. The fact that I
did not go to church for two weeks after we returned, did not help either. It seems the people we lost
were the young energetic ones, like Bill Biggs, way out in the East side of town. When I bugged the
Bishop about getting me an assistant he showed me a list of 16 vacancies he could not fill.
Mother talked to Marion Sunday. Her entire family had also been bitten by the bug that got me
and were just getting back on even keel. We have had not report from the Rices or the McKays and have
been wondering if they too were ill.
Mother and I started at the wrong end of Skousen’s thousands of years. We started at the
4ourth thousand and we are now reading the 1st thousand. His explanation of things I have always been
a bit skeptical of , seem very logical to me and I don’t believe I ever did thank you for your book, The
Naked communist”, also by Skousen. I am reading parts of it in our weekly Home Evening. Last night our
lesson was #26 in the Manuel. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Mother is still having a lot of aches and pains, but keeps going just the same. I think she is just
feeling pains she did not have time to feel while I was ill. It was quite a strain on her. She is in Relief
Society to-day. Her work also went to pot while I was ill and she is working overtime now, getting it
squared away.
Hey David! Did you find a new girl among the mob that visited the ship? How about dropping us
a line?
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tucson, March 5, 1968
Dear Family,
The big news at this writing is that Lloyd and Carol have finally got things squared away, Mark
legally adopted etc. so that they can be married in the Temple and have Mark and Brian sealed to them.
We will go and have Lloyd sealed to us at the same time. We expect to leave here on or about the 3rd of
April and spend Easter in Cal. They will be sealed on the 12th.
We received a nice letter from Debora McKay yesterday. She included a clipping from the local
paper with her picture as Honor Roll winner in the Forestry Work Shop. We have received letters from
almost all our Granddaughters, (Who dat almost?) and have enjoyed them very much. Robin reports
that they are having trouble in school with the same thing that troubles most of our High Schools
everywhere-pot and what have you. I can’t help but wonder if someone is not subsidizing or fomenting
this mess, because it seems to be everywhere. Renee reports that they have lost the back fence, (over
ten feet tall) under snow. They even had a picture of Snowy Lake Tahoe in our paper yesterday.
Mother is still busy, busy, with her quilting projects and I have been fairly busy with the Adult
Aaronic Program. Every once in a while they dig me about staying away two months. We are staying
until after the Temple session this time and then returning to Tucson-I warn you in advance. I hope to be
relieved of this job when we leave in May.
Mother remarked the other day about how good her knee felt now, but she has been having a
lot of heart pains since our weather became unsettled. We have been having goofy weather. One day
so sunny that I can take my shirt off and sun bathe, the next cold enough for an overcoat.
Speaking of weather, the McKays and Wilsons report that they survived this second storm
without incident.
The last we heard from the Stobbes, Rina had hitch hiked to Hawaii for a week on the FAA plane.
She is either getting very luck or very brassy. She is lucky at least in having a husband who will put up
with her gallivanting, but I suppose any one cooped up on a small island for several years is entitled to all
the breaks they can get.
David’s ship is in dry dock. He says they are expected to take a cruise along the American coast
and Hawaii after they are at sea again. He says that they may go to Viet Nam in August. He is still
running around with the girl we met Christmas-who we liked.
Mother and I went to the Temple last Saturday to witness another sealing of people we had
helped advance. The Temple was crowded with Indians from the SW Mission and it took us 5 hours to
go through. While we were waiting in the Chapel I leaned over to our Bishop and whispered; “If I had
known there would be so many Indians I would have brought a gun” It struck his funny and he almost
laughed aloud. He even mentioned it next day in Sacrament meeting.
We love you and enjoy your letters.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
The big news at this writing is that Lloyd and Carol have finally got things squared away, Mark
legally adopted etc. so that they can be married in the Temple and have Mark and Brian sealed to them.
We will go and have Lloyd sealed to us at the same time. We expect to leave here on or about the 3rd of
April and spend Easter in Cal. They will be sealed on the 12th.
We received a nice letter from Debora McKay yesterday. She included a clipping from the local
paper with her picture as Honor Roll winner in the Forestry Work Shop. We have received letters from
almost all our Granddaughters, (Who dat almost?) and have enjoyed them very much. Robin reports
that they are having trouble in school with the same thing that troubles most of our High Schools
everywhere-pot and what have you. I can’t help but wonder if someone is not subsidizing or fomenting
this mess, because it seems to be everywhere. Renee reports that they have lost the back fence, (over
ten feet tall) under snow. They even had a picture of Snowy Lake Tahoe in our paper yesterday.
Mother is still busy, busy, with her quilting projects and I have been fairly busy with the Adult
Aaronic Program. Every once in a while they dig me about staying away two months. We are staying
until after the Temple session this time and then returning to Tucson-I warn you in advance. I hope to be
relieved of this job when we leave in May.
Mother remarked the other day about how good her knee felt now, but she has been having a
lot of heart pains since our weather became unsettled. We have been having goofy weather. One day
so sunny that I can take my shirt off and sun bathe, the next cold enough for an overcoat.
Speaking of weather, the McKays and Wilsons report that they survived this second storm
without incident.
The last we heard from the Stobbes, Rina had hitch hiked to Hawaii for a week on the FAA plane.
She is either getting very luck or very brassy. She is lucky at least in having a husband who will put up
with her gallivanting, but I suppose any one cooped up on a small island for several years is entitled to all
the breaks they can get.
David’s ship is in dry dock. He says they are expected to take a cruise along the American coast
and Hawaii after they are at sea again. He says that they may go to Viet Nam in August. He is still
running around with the girl we met Christmas-who we liked.
Mother and I went to the Temple last Saturday to witness another sealing of people we had
helped advance. The Temple was crowded with Indians from the SW Mission and it took us 5 hours to
go through. While we were waiting in the Chapel I leaned over to our Bishop and whispered; “If I had
known there would be so many Indians I would have brought a gun” It struck his funny and he almost
laughed aloud. He even mentioned it next day in Sacrament meeting.
We love you and enjoy your letters.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
Tucson, March 2nd, 1968
Dear McKays and Wilsons,
We were pleased and happy that you, (Mckays), are finally squared away to go to the Temple.
Our Lord willing and the rain stops and the roads are open, we will leave here on the third of April,
arriving at Marta and Bob’s on the fourth. We may possibly be delayed another day, but we will try our
best to get as far as Yuma on the Third.
It seems that it has been years since we spent Easter with any of our kin. The last time was in
Hawaii with the Stobbes. This is the reason for leaving so early. We will return to Tucson right after the
Temple session.
Mother and I were at the Temple again Saturday and witnessed another couple from our ward
getting sealed. It was the longest Temple Session I have ever attended. We did not get through until
3:00 P.M. It seemed as through the entire Apache Indian Reservation was there. That is what held us
up. It will be good to witness a sealing of our own family.
This is just a note to tell you that we plan to be with you in the Temple. I will have to write a
Decker soon as almost everyone has written.
Again, congratulations, that things have worked out your way.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
PS from Grandma
Dear Lloyd and Carol,
Your have given us the best new and with our Lord help we will be there.
Our best wishes and we are happy and proud of you. May our Heavenly Father bless you,
All our Love,
Mother
We were pleased and happy that you, (Mckays), are finally squared away to go to the Temple.
Our Lord willing and the rain stops and the roads are open, we will leave here on the third of April,
arriving at Marta and Bob’s on the fourth. We may possibly be delayed another day, but we will try our
best to get as far as Yuma on the Third.
It seems that it has been years since we spent Easter with any of our kin. The last time was in
Hawaii with the Stobbes. This is the reason for leaving so early. We will return to Tucson right after the
Temple session.
Mother and I were at the Temple again Saturday and witnessed another couple from our ward
getting sealed. It was the longest Temple Session I have ever attended. We did not get through until
3:00 P.M. It seemed as through the entire Apache Indian Reservation was there. That is what held us
up. It will be good to witness a sealing of our own family.
This is just a note to tell you that we plan to be with you in the Temple. I will have to write a
Decker soon as almost everyone has written.
Again, congratulations, that things have worked out your way.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
PS from Grandma
Dear Lloyd and Carol,
Your have given us the best new and with our Lord help we will be there.
Our best wishes and we are happy and proud of you. May our Heavenly Father bless you,
All our Love,
Mother
February 11, 1968
Dear Family; (those not here)
It was quite a day. Lloyd, Carol and family and Betty and the girls joined us her Friday night. We
took off for Hunters Point on a very nice morning, marred only by grandpa blowing his jets, because
everyone was so slow in starting.
There must have been a least a thousand at the Ceremony, highlighted by speeches by Admirals,
Rear Admirals, and Commanders Etc. Even the Chaplin, who gave the invocation and Benediction, was a
high Ranker.
After the Brass had left, we all filed aboard the ship, which seems about as large as the now
famous, Puebla. We finally found David stationed at the bottom of a steep companion way, (stairs),
helping people down. Mother said his face was red most of the time because of the Mini skirted girls.
Lloyd and Bob accused him of paying off to get the post. I took pictures of the boat and will send some
along if they are good. We saw David’s bunk, a bid with a four inch foam mattress. Paul Jones must
squirm in his grave to know that the modern sailor has it so good.
It has really been hectic with 15 people here. I don’t know how or where they all slept, but I do
know that the bath room became a shining goal. We all sat around talking with one ear tuned to the
closing or opening of the bath room door. When we heard it open we would wander casually around as
though going to the kitchen or the telephone and then make a dash. It was sure a good feeling when we
made it. Mother drafted me to run interference for her then stand on guard in front of the door so that
she would not be interrupted.
Coming up from L.A. we drove through fog for about four hours. Mother tied herself in knots
trying to see through the fog. She even suggested that we sell the car and fly back, but we will try it
again tomorrow.
Betty came off the mountain in a snow storm and sideswiped a road marker in a skid, but her car
was not damaged. The Rice girls and Mimi were in Mimi’s room directly across from where we slept. As
is usual with girls after not seeing each other for a long time, they tittered and tee heed and talked until
the wee hours, finally quieted by a bellow from Grandpa; “Knock it off!” It reminded me very much of
the days when my own did the same.
Marion, who seems to be growing to a “big shot” in Sears, was in Fresno for a three day Sears
conference last week and came back the same day we arrived. Bob is working steadily again and says
that he doesn’t believe there will be another lay-off for a long time.
Brian Jon does not quite understand why there are so many people. He seems to have settled
his affections on Robin and won’t have anything to do with anyone else.
We received your letter here Rina and were glad to know that you were back on even keel. We
were also glad to hear that Frank is flying again. We still have not found a tape recorder to play your
tape. We depended on Lloyd but he did not bring his. Maybe we will hear it by next Christmas.
Lloyd, David and I are getting ready to go to Priesthood meeting so I will close.
Everyone sends their love,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
It was quite a day. Lloyd, Carol and family and Betty and the girls joined us her Friday night. We
took off for Hunters Point on a very nice morning, marred only by grandpa blowing his jets, because
everyone was so slow in starting.
There must have been a least a thousand at the Ceremony, highlighted by speeches by Admirals,
Rear Admirals, and Commanders Etc. Even the Chaplin, who gave the invocation and Benediction, was a
high Ranker.
After the Brass had left, we all filed aboard the ship, which seems about as large as the now
famous, Puebla. We finally found David stationed at the bottom of a steep companion way, (stairs),
helping people down. Mother said his face was red most of the time because of the Mini skirted girls.
Lloyd and Bob accused him of paying off to get the post. I took pictures of the boat and will send some
along if they are good. We saw David’s bunk, a bid with a four inch foam mattress. Paul Jones must
squirm in his grave to know that the modern sailor has it so good.
It has really been hectic with 15 people here. I don’t know how or where they all slept, but I do
know that the bath room became a shining goal. We all sat around talking with one ear tuned to the
closing or opening of the bath room door. When we heard it open we would wander casually around as
though going to the kitchen or the telephone and then make a dash. It was sure a good feeling when we
made it. Mother drafted me to run interference for her then stand on guard in front of the door so that
she would not be interrupted.
Coming up from L.A. we drove through fog for about four hours. Mother tied herself in knots
trying to see through the fog. She even suggested that we sell the car and fly back, but we will try it
again tomorrow.
Betty came off the mountain in a snow storm and sideswiped a road marker in a skid, but her car
was not damaged. The Rice girls and Mimi were in Mimi’s room directly across from where we slept. As
is usual with girls after not seeing each other for a long time, they tittered and tee heed and talked until
the wee hours, finally quieted by a bellow from Grandpa; “Knock it off!” It reminded me very much of
the days when my own did the same.
Marion, who seems to be growing to a “big shot” in Sears, was in Fresno for a three day Sears
conference last week and came back the same day we arrived. Bob is working steadily again and says
that he doesn’t believe there will be another lay-off for a long time.
Brian Jon does not quite understand why there are so many people. He seems to have settled
his affections on Robin and won’t have anything to do with anyone else.
We received your letter here Rina and were glad to know that you were back on even keel. We
were also glad to hear that Frank is flying again. We still have not found a tape recorder to play your
tape. We depended on Lloyd but he did not bring his. Maybe we will hear it by next Christmas.
Lloyd, David and I are getting ready to go to Priesthood meeting so I will close.
Everyone sends their love,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
January 24, 1968 Tucson Arizona
Dear Family,
Several weeks ago, when the weather was real cold here, Mother made me a present of a new sweat shirt, fleece lined, to wear at night and in the mornings. It has a big 70 on front and back. I didn’t not know what that signified, as I am only an elder. This morning I realized that she got it knowing that I would grow into it. It now denoted my aged.
I was surprised when Mother remembered my birthday and gave me my present and card before I got up for breakfast. Then Marion and her entire brood called and wished me a Happy Birthday. I don’t feel such different than I did 10 years ago, except I huff and puff a little more.
The Stobbe family sent us a roll of tape they had evidently recorded about Christmas and thinking that we had heard it and knew all the news about them, Rina had not written. We could not get a tape recorder so we will take it with us when we go to S.F. Maybe we can borrow Lloyd’s recorder along the way. I also received a birthday card from them.
There is very little of note since I last wrote. We received letters from the Rice family including Roberta and Robin. They, (including Queenie) are well again and expect to meet us at Marion’s next month when we go to David’s “fandango”.
Mother banged her knee a few days ago and went back to her cane for a while. She seems O.K. now, but we are going to take it easy going to S.F. We expect to leave here on Friday the Second, arrive at Marta’s on the third and rest up a few days before going on to S.F. The weather permitting, we hope to stay several days with Marion. We read now of the nice warm weather there and in L.A. Both places were reported to be warmer than Tucson yesterday, but just wait until the “stormy petrels” get there!
Marion I don’t know if David had an invitation sent to the Jenkins or not, but you might call Dorthy and tell her that we have included them on our card if they wish to go to the Ceremony.
We love you all and pray for you daily,
Vaya con dios,
Dad
Tucson, January 9, 1968
Dear Family,
Bill, your Birthday present to Mother was kike giving an Irishman a gold plated pick and telling
him; “Sure now Pat, it will be twice as sissy diggin with this beautiful instrument”. (He has signed up for
a genealogical excursion once a month to S.L.) Mother is required to get a lot of information for him and
has scattered her papers along the family. She says to tell you, that she appreciates all the work you will
do as we have reached a dead end and have been dragging our feet. She will send you the dates she has
now and more later. We know that this work will cost money and we suggest that those of you who are
interested, send Bill a couple of bucks to help defray the expenses he will incur.
Bill is the only one who has written us this year, (we heard over TV that your hots is 120 below
the goose egg, brrrrrrrr rrr!), but we did get a very splendid invitation from the navy brass, inviting us to
the commissioning of David’s Ship Feb. 10th. Before we answer the invitation David, we would like to
know if the Meekers and Rices received an invitation or if we include their number on our card. If so
just who are going? Expedite this information as we should return our card as soon as possible.
Mother and I seemed to have a lot of business all of a sudden. She is quilting director of the R.S.
and I am all bogged down with the work of The General Secretary of the Senor Aaronics. Mother is
helping me with my reports but I have to attend a lot of meetings.
Hey David! I note on this invitation that all military personnel are required to wear full dress at
your shindig. Does that mean that I will have to rent a soup and fish? I am about to back out!
I hope you will pardon the appearance of this letter. After being washed in a Mexican river and
bounced over those miles of rough roads, this old typewriter “ain’t what she used to be” I tell Mother
we need a new one but she says no!., not until we have a color TV!, (That will be when the rivers in
Tucson freeze in July, because I don’t like them). So if the deckers stop, you will know that the old grey
mare gave up the ghost.
Love,
Dad
PS Lloyd, we did not send Brian’s hat. We will bring it when we go the first of Feb.
Bill, your Birthday present to Mother was kike giving an Irishman a gold plated pick and telling
him; “Sure now Pat, it will be twice as sissy diggin with this beautiful instrument”. (He has signed up for
a genealogical excursion once a month to S.L.) Mother is required to get a lot of information for him and
has scattered her papers along the family. She says to tell you, that she appreciates all the work you will
do as we have reached a dead end and have been dragging our feet. She will send you the dates she has
now and more later. We know that this work will cost money and we suggest that those of you who are
interested, send Bill a couple of bucks to help defray the expenses he will incur.
Bill is the only one who has written us this year, (we heard over TV that your hots is 120 below
the goose egg, brrrrrrrr rrr!), but we did get a very splendid invitation from the navy brass, inviting us to
the commissioning of David’s Ship Feb. 10th. Before we answer the invitation David, we would like to
know if the Meekers and Rices received an invitation or if we include their number on our card. If so
just who are going? Expedite this information as we should return our card as soon as possible.
Mother and I seemed to have a lot of business all of a sudden. She is quilting director of the R.S.
and I am all bogged down with the work of The General Secretary of the Senor Aaronics. Mother is
helping me with my reports but I have to attend a lot of meetings.
Hey David! I note on this invitation that all military personnel are required to wear full dress at
your shindig. Does that mean that I will have to rent a soup and fish? I am about to back out!
I hope you will pardon the appearance of this letter. After being washed in a Mexican river and
bounced over those miles of rough roads, this old typewriter “ain’t what she used to be” I tell Mother
we need a new one but she says no!., not until we have a color TV!, (That will be when the rivers in
Tucson freeze in July, because I don’t like them). So if the deckers stop, you will know that the old grey
mare gave up the ghost.
Love,
Dad
PS Lloyd, we did not send Brian’s hat. We will bring it when we go the first of Feb.
News Year Day, 1968
Dear Family,
It looked for a while as though Mother and I would spend New Year’s Eve in a river or mud hole in northern Mexico. After a week of deluge we finally took off on that Mexican job Wednesday. We had to go to Cananea and Hermosillo. Cananea is the mining town whose lights we saw Marta, when we were living out on that ranch near Ft. Huachuca. There is a paved highway that runs from Cananea to the Nogales highway. When we turned off on this road our troubles began. Bridges were washed out and we had to drive for miles over rough sandy, boggy detours. I think Mother splintered the floor boards she pressed so hard.
It took us about six hours to drive 50 miles. We had to return over the same road to go on to Hermosillo. We were stuck in the middle of a river on this part of the journey and had to wait for a truck to come along to pull us out. I know the Lord was with us or we would not have made it. We helped several people who had damaged their cars badly. We were one day in Hermosillo. Our Hotel was near the Market. (we had stayed here with Rina once before). Mother shopped while I worked.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for your thoughtful Christmas gifts. Marion your package did not come until after Christmas – just as we were taking off. We took them with us and believe me those flaming night shirts and caps, (flannel) came in mighty handy in those cold Mexican Hotels. We wondered if the maids cleaning the rooms, seeing those red and white night caps and night shirts, thought that Santa Claus had been there.
We returned to Tucson Saturday Evening and we are still tired. We do not intend to do a thing this New Years day except sit here in our cozy Apartment.
Saturday night the Bishop called me in for Tithing settlement. I was so tired that I could hardly wriggle. I guess he thought it would be a good time to hit me when I was groggy. He asked me to take over the secretary of Senior Aaronics job. Last night the old Secretary dropped off a stack of books two ft. high. Mother promised to help me with the book work, but now that she has seen all the work to do, I think she has reservations.
Hey David! Just when is the commissioning? Just because you have a new girl you don’t have to desert us altogether.
We love you. We pray that Our Heavenly Father will watch over you and guide you during this New Year.
Dad
PS
Lloyd, we go Brian a cowboy hat in Mexico. We want a pic of him in it.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
December 11, 1967
Tucson
Dear Family,
Mother gets hard to get along with this time of year. She wants to send everyone nice presents
and is so frustrated when finances won’t permit her to do it. “Thank goodness.” she said, “This year I will
have my own money to spend as I please.” Meaning her SS check. Then to top it all off, our December
checks have been lost, destroyed, or stolen. We are going to the SS Office to make a claim to-day, but
the man said there was little hope we would get them before Christmas.
So we are staying in our own little igloo for Christmas. It will make us sad to be away from our
Grandchildren, but another deterrent is that my health has not been so good. The weather has
been “Blah” and I have been feeling pretty bad recently. I don’t feel up to fighting that “Mad muddle of
mixed up motorists” who will be on the highway during the coming days.
We have heard from no one since my last decker. We did get your nicely wrapped, (Mimi?)
Christmas Package Marion, which we will open on Christmas. Mother talked to Bill Sunday and he and
Fran are becoming more reconciled to their loss. He promised to write, so we may have more news from
him also.
We send our love to each and every one of you and we hope and pray that you will have a
wonderful Christmas.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
December 15, 1967, Tucson
Dear Family,
The best “Christmas” we could possibly have received was a letter from Betty, telling us that,
after many x-rays, more tests and your prayers, the Doctor concluded that Renee did not have Hepatitis
after all, but probably had some gall bladder infection, not nearly so serious. You may be sure that we
thanked Our Heavenly Father. I told Renee that she was in luck to be a member of a family, some of the
members of which live in such a manner that they can expect their prayers to be answered.
It has been raining cats and dogs here for the past two days. Night before last I was called on a
case which involved visiting Hermosillo and several other northern Mexican towns. Yesterday morning I
went to get gas and had a hard time getting back to the Apartment, so I called the boss and we agreed to
postpone the trip until next week- if it quit raining by then. We were all packed and I was set to take
Mother with me.
I have held off writing this “Good news” letter, hoping that we would hear from some of you, but
nada! Mother was worried about the “bug’ biting the new baby and/or Marta, so we called. Everyone
was alright. We got the pictures we took in L.A. I am proud of the pictures of the baby, the rest of them
are just so, so. We will send them to Rina. She can send them to Betty. Lloyd, you or Bob send some of
your pics of the Baby and “Brian on to Marion.
Carol, the pics of Mother and I, I wanted to blow up, turned out very malo, either the one of me
was bad in one shot or the one of mother squinty in the other. If yours turn out good be sure and send
us the negative or slide.
We are braced to have a rather lonely Christmas- no Grandchildren. I think this the first time in
our lives that we have ever planned to eat out on Christmas day. Marion wanted us to go to her, rather
fly to SF. But we concluded that we could not and do the things we want to do this summer too.
Mother and I hope this finds you all well and hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that our
Lord will watch over you during the coming New Year.
Monday, September 27, 2010
October 7, 1967
Dear Family,
Believe it or not, the Smoggy McKays are responsible for this decker. As Lloyd said, Carol finally
bugged him into writing. Thanks Carol! The only news from that pall of Smog is that Brian is walking or
as Lloyd says; “he looks like a drunken Charlie Chaplin leading a band, while trying to walk the wrong way
on a conveyor belt.” Lloyd passed the Sgts exam—just. He thinks he just possibly might make it if we all
pray for him.
I had quite a hectic time in Mexico City. I had had a hard day in Guadalajara I had to do a lot of
walking. We got into Mexico about 9:00 P.M. and had to walk about a mile from the plane to the
Customs inspection point. Then my baggage turned up missing and I had to walk all the way back to the
Areonaves Office before I found it. I got to a hotel about 11:00 P.M. and had charley horses all night.
I know now what happens to old Mexican cowboys—they make them into jet pilots. They take
off like a vaquero spurring his horse—straight up! They land rough, like a Vaquero pulling his horse back
on his haunches and making him crow hop.
I had a bad scare when I got on the plane last Thursday morning to come home. We left very
early and a copy of the morning paper (Mexican) was lying on each seat. I had not heard the outcome of
the first game of the World Series so I quickly turned to the sport section. When I finally turned back to
the front page I saw a black bordered box in the middle of it. And caught the word Gua… It said that a
professor in Mexico had caught the record of a bad earthquake in the vicinity of Gua… on the
seismograph. He said it was nine pint something intensity and that the tidal wave would probably wash
out Hawaii.
I read the item over half a dozen times. You may well imagine I was in sweat and a dither. When
we got to Tucson I rushed to the telephone and called Mother. “What about our children” I croaked.
“Well, what about them?” Mother answered. “What about our children?” She knew nothing of the
earthquake, there was nothing in the morning paper. I called the FAA and they knew nothing either.
The manger here was very kind. He called Los Angles and advised me that it was not true. The only
thing we could conclude was that the Mexican Professor got drunk and stumbled over his Seismograph-
jiggling the graph. Anyway it could happen, so you Stobbes keep it in mind and be prepared.
I was very happy to find upon my return, that Mother’s knee is much, much better; she had
abandoned her cane and was swinging that leg like she wanted to dance. I don’t know if it was the
cortisone taking effect or my being away.
Just before I left for Mexico we received a very tristul letter from Debby McKay. Tell her that we
will answer her soon, Fran and while we are not going to promise her anything, to keep her fingers
crossed.
We love you all
Dad
(Look Lloyd, Page #1!)
Believe it or not, the Smoggy McKays are responsible for this decker. As Lloyd said, Carol finally
bugged him into writing. Thanks Carol! The only news from that pall of Smog is that Brian is walking or
as Lloyd says; “he looks like a drunken Charlie Chaplin leading a band, while trying to walk the wrong way
on a conveyor belt.” Lloyd passed the Sgts exam—just. He thinks he just possibly might make it if we all
pray for him.
I had quite a hectic time in Mexico City. I had had a hard day in Guadalajara I had to do a lot of
walking. We got into Mexico about 9:00 P.M. and had to walk about a mile from the plane to the
Customs inspection point. Then my baggage turned up missing and I had to walk all the way back to the
Areonaves Office before I found it. I got to a hotel about 11:00 P.M. and had charley horses all night.
I know now what happens to old Mexican cowboys—they make them into jet pilots. They take
off like a vaquero spurring his horse—straight up! They land rough, like a Vaquero pulling his horse back
on his haunches and making him crow hop.
I had a bad scare when I got on the plane last Thursday morning to come home. We left very
early and a copy of the morning paper (Mexican) was lying on each seat. I had not heard the outcome of
the first game of the World Series so I quickly turned to the sport section. When I finally turned back to
the front page I saw a black bordered box in the middle of it. And caught the word Gua… It said that a
professor in Mexico had caught the record of a bad earthquake in the vicinity of Gua… on the
seismograph. He said it was nine pint something intensity and that the tidal wave would probably wash
out Hawaii.
I read the item over half a dozen times. You may well imagine I was in sweat and a dither. When
we got to Tucson I rushed to the telephone and called Mother. “What about our children” I croaked.
“Well, what about them?” Mother answered. “What about our children?” She knew nothing of the
earthquake, there was nothing in the morning paper. I called the FAA and they knew nothing either.
The manger here was very kind. He called Los Angles and advised me that it was not true. The only
thing we could conclude was that the Mexican Professor got drunk and stumbled over his Seismograph-
jiggling the graph. Anyway it could happen, so you Stobbes keep it in mind and be prepared.
I was very happy to find upon my return, that Mother’s knee is much, much better; she had
abandoned her cane and was swinging that leg like she wanted to dance. I don’t know if it was the
cortisone taking effect or my being away.
Just before I left for Mexico we received a very tristul letter from Debby McKay. Tell her that we
will answer her soon, Fran and while we are not going to promise her anything, to keep her fingers
crossed.
We love you all
Dad
(Look Lloyd, Page #1!)
October 20, 1967
Dear Family,
I have been rather hoping I would hear from some of you before writing you with the news of
the new member of this family. Bob called us Thursday evening and told us that their daughter had been
born at 2:00 P.M. that afternoon. Mart a came home Saturday and called us. Mother talked to her and
has all the details of the new baby. She is quilting at the church now. If she comes back in time I will
write the details in the margin.
David is the only one we have heard from since my last 666 two deckers. He must have a girl
friend again because he only wrote a few lines. I must be, when he is between girls, that he writes such
nice long letters.
The big news here is that day before yesterday Mother played nine holes of golf. I rather held
my breath the next morning to see if she was going to complain of added pain, but it did not seem to
hurt her.
Again I include all of your addresses so that you can send each other a Christmas Card at least.
Bill & Fran the same
Betty P.O. Box 7306 South Tahoe
Marion
Lloyd
Marta
Rina
David,
We received a letter from Marta giving us the complete scoop- here it is
Gwendolyn Rae Wilson born October 12 1967 at 2:05 P.M. weight 7lbs 4 oz. 20” long,
(Marta’s note-“and lovely!”)
The plans are now that, we will go to the Wilsons for Thanksgiving and be there to help bless the
baby on the Dec. Fast Sunday.
Marta says she is doing fine. The way she tells it Bob is treating her like it was the first baby,
flowers, diaper service, pampering and the whole bit. She says the girls have been wonderful and help
her a lot. We are very proud of them.
Vaya con Dios,
same
same
12042 Schmidt St. El Monte, Cal
210A Karen Drive. Finigayan, Agana Guam
B 801707 (DDG-34) S. F. Navy Ship yard, Hunter’s Point, San Francisco, Cal
Dad
I have been rather hoping I would hear from some of you before writing you with the news of
the new member of this family. Bob called us Thursday evening and told us that their daughter had been
born at 2:00 P.M. that afternoon. Mart a came home Saturday and called us. Mother talked to her and
has all the details of the new baby. She is quilting at the church now. If she comes back in time I will
write the details in the margin.
David is the only one we have heard from since my last 666 two deckers. He must have a girl
friend again because he only wrote a few lines. I must be, when he is between girls, that he writes such
nice long letters.
The big news here is that day before yesterday Mother played nine holes of golf. I rather held
my breath the next morning to see if she was going to complain of added pain, but it did not seem to
hurt her.
Again I include all of your addresses so that you can send each other a Christmas Card at least.
Bill & Fran the same
Betty P.O. Box 7306 South Tahoe
Marion
Lloyd
Marta
Rina
David,
We received a letter from Marta giving us the complete scoop- here it is
Gwendolyn Rae Wilson born October 12 1967 at 2:05 P.M. weight 7lbs 4 oz. 20” long,
(Marta’s note-“and lovely!”)
The plans are now that, we will go to the Wilsons for Thanksgiving and be there to help bless the
baby on the Dec. Fast Sunday.
Marta says she is doing fine. The way she tells it Bob is treating her like it was the first baby,
flowers, diaper service, pampering and the whole bit. She says the girls have been wonderful and help
her a lot. We are very proud of them.
Vaya con Dios,
same
same
12042 Schmidt St. El Monte, Cal
210A Karen Drive. Finigayan, Agana Guam
B 801707 (DDG-34) S. F. Navy Ship yard, Hunter’s Point, San Francisco, Cal
Dad
November 2, 1967
Dear Family,
We received a three (count’em! Three!), page letter from David yesterday. He says that his ship
will be commissioned sometime in February and the Captain has invited the families of the crew for
a “Coming out party”. He thinks it will be about the tenth. Mother and I had tentatively planned to go
visit the Meekers for a couple of days after Thanksgiving, but we will wait now until we go to
David’s “Fandango”. We will be able to stay longer. It would be nice if Betty and the girls could come
down for this “Commissioning”. It would be very educational for the girls, to say nothing of a peek at a
bunch of good looking “Swabies”. Can you put us all up Marion? We would bring our own trailer of
course.
We received a nice long letter from “Queenie” and did she give us the low down, from the
canine point of view, of the Rice family. I answered her under separate cover and I can’t disclose the
secrets we discussed, except they are all well and Bob went antelope hunting in Wyoming.
Rina, we received your letter telling us about the typhoon alert. You never did say that you
received my letter telling about that Mexican report of earthquake in Guam. I won’t forget that for a
long time.
The Bishop read my “Home Evening” effort to the assembled Priesthood at the monthly Home
Teaching session. I don’t have another copy. If Frank is through with your copy will you please send it to
Bob and Marta. Boy! You want my biography 10 years ago. You said you wanted it by Christmas 1958.
As Mother says I have not “done one lick”. I have been waiting for cold weather to come, that will keep
me in the house and pointed toward the typewriter. I blame your Mother a bit too. I am reading the
Fourth Thousand Years to her and every time she becomes engaged in some of her doings, like dish
washing or rug making, or quilting, she wants me to read to her. We are enjoying this book very much.
It covers from David to Christ and has given us a new and more thorough understanding of that part of
the Bible.
Tell our Grand Children that I hope they did not get sick on “Trick or Treat’. We were not visited.
There is so much foliage around the house that it was too “Spooky” for spooks to dare.
Maybe it is just that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but as we look around us we are
more appreciative of our own family and thank the Lord for them.
All Our Love,
Dad
We received a three (count’em! Three!), page letter from David yesterday. He says that his ship
will be commissioned sometime in February and the Captain has invited the families of the crew for
a “Coming out party”. He thinks it will be about the tenth. Mother and I had tentatively planned to go
visit the Meekers for a couple of days after Thanksgiving, but we will wait now until we go to
David’s “Fandango”. We will be able to stay longer. It would be nice if Betty and the girls could come
down for this “Commissioning”. It would be very educational for the girls, to say nothing of a peek at a
bunch of good looking “Swabies”. Can you put us all up Marion? We would bring our own trailer of
course.
We received a nice long letter from “Queenie” and did she give us the low down, from the
canine point of view, of the Rice family. I answered her under separate cover and I can’t disclose the
secrets we discussed, except they are all well and Bob went antelope hunting in Wyoming.
Rina, we received your letter telling us about the typhoon alert. You never did say that you
received my letter telling about that Mexican report of earthquake in Guam. I won’t forget that for a
long time.
The Bishop read my “Home Evening” effort to the assembled Priesthood at the monthly Home
Teaching session. I don’t have another copy. If Frank is through with your copy will you please send it to
Bob and Marta. Boy! You want my biography 10 years ago. You said you wanted it by Christmas 1958.
As Mother says I have not “done one lick”. I have been waiting for cold weather to come, that will keep
me in the house and pointed toward the typewriter. I blame your Mother a bit too. I am reading the
Fourth Thousand Years to her and every time she becomes engaged in some of her doings, like dish
washing or rug making, or quilting, she wants me to read to her. We are enjoying this book very much.
It covers from David to Christ and has given us a new and more thorough understanding of that part of
the Bible.
Tell our Grand Children that I hope they did not get sick on “Trick or Treat’. We were not visited.
There is so much foliage around the house that it was too “Spooky” for spooks to dare.
Maybe it is just that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but as we look around us we are
more appreciative of our own family and thank the Lord for them.
All Our Love,
Dad
November 10, 1967
Dear Family,
We received letters from Rina, Marta and David this week, so you know who is going to get the
first three copies of this decker. Rina did not have much to say, except everyone is well and that Scot
and Julie won prizes at the Church Halloween party. She says there is a Negro family there who are
members of the church. I am anxious to receive a report on them, whether they are active etc. I noticed
in this morning paper that Dick Gregory says he will back Romney.
The Wilson family are fine. Bob is working his head off in school trying to make up for the time
lost during “Operation Stork”. The Smoggy Mckays, the Wilsons, (Elder ) and us will meet there for
Thanksgiving.
David is “between girls” again and wrote us a nice long letter. He got a government driving
license and is assigned part time as a driver. You never did say David, whether or not the full crew was
aboard, but you talk of sleeping barracks so I take it they are not. I hope you get your camera back by
Christmas.
For the benefit our teenage daughters I want to pass along a definition of a “Hippie” I heard the
other day; “He is a man who thinks he looks like Tarzan, but who actually looks like Jane and who smells
like Cheetah”.
Mother is feeling a lot better, although her aches and pains shifted to her shoulder last week and
it was quite painful for a couple of days. We attributed it to the weather, which was unsettled and
cloudy. We play golf at least once a week and sometimes work on the new chapel. I was out last week.
They issued me a shovel and it almost killed me. I have not been back since. Last night Mother did not
take any pain killer and she slept quite soundly all night. She is trying to get along without medication as
much as she can.
We talked to Marion the other night. Bob, who has had a long siege of work stoppage, is
working again and Marion too is on the go for Sears. She wants us to come out for Christmas, but I don’t
think we could go then and in February too. It would be just too much traveling for Mother. We went to
Phoenix last Monday to see your Aunt Grace who was visiting Gene and family. She looked quite skinny,
having recently been operated on in Portland for gall stones, but was very chipper and feeling fine.
We are just about through reading Skousen’s “Fourth Thousand Years” which covers from David
to Christ. I was amazed at my ignorance. He includes recent archeological discoveries, and weaves their
translation into the story of the Jews. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah make us wonder if it is
not; “later than we think”.
Mother joins me in sending our Love,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We received letters from Rina, Marta and David this week, so you know who is going to get the
first three copies of this decker. Rina did not have much to say, except everyone is well and that Scot
and Julie won prizes at the Church Halloween party. She says there is a Negro family there who are
members of the church. I am anxious to receive a report on them, whether they are active etc. I noticed
in this morning paper that Dick Gregory says he will back Romney.
The Wilson family are fine. Bob is working his head off in school trying to make up for the time
lost during “Operation Stork”. The Smoggy Mckays, the Wilsons, (Elder ) and us will meet there for
Thanksgiving.
David is “between girls” again and wrote us a nice long letter. He got a government driving
license and is assigned part time as a driver. You never did say David, whether or not the full crew was
aboard, but you talk of sleeping barracks so I take it they are not. I hope you get your camera back by
Christmas.
For the benefit our teenage daughters I want to pass along a definition of a “Hippie” I heard the
other day; “He is a man who thinks he looks like Tarzan, but who actually looks like Jane and who smells
like Cheetah”.
Mother is feeling a lot better, although her aches and pains shifted to her shoulder last week and
it was quite painful for a couple of days. We attributed it to the weather, which was unsettled and
cloudy. We play golf at least once a week and sometimes work on the new chapel. I was out last week.
They issued me a shovel and it almost killed me. I have not been back since. Last night Mother did not
take any pain killer and she slept quite soundly all night. She is trying to get along without medication as
much as she can.
We talked to Marion the other night. Bob, who has had a long siege of work stoppage, is
working again and Marion too is on the go for Sears. She wants us to come out for Christmas, but I don’t
think we could go then and in February too. It would be just too much traveling for Mother. We went to
Phoenix last Monday to see your Aunt Grace who was visiting Gene and family. She looked quite skinny,
having recently been operated on in Portland for gall stones, but was very chipper and feeling fine.
We are just about through reading Skousen’s “Fourth Thousand Years” which covers from David
to Christ. I was amazed at my ignorance. He includes recent archeological discoveries, and weaves their
translation into the story of the Jews. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah make us wonder if it is
not; “later than we think”.
Mother joins me in sending our Love,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
December 6, 1967
Dear Family,
I am finally convinced that the L.A. Smog acts as a sheath over the town, through which, not self
respecting flu or cold germ can pass. We were there 14 days and the City was free from smog during the
whole time, but the flu bug zeroed in and we all caught it. I think that Lloyd was the only one who was
healthy. Both Mother and I caught it. I was quite ill for two or three days and Mother is still coughing.
She lost her voice completely the morning we left L.A. I think from L.A. to Yuma was the longest I have
ever driven without a smidgen of back seat driving. It made me nervous. I had to look at her once in a
while to see if she was giving me any dirty looks. We got some “yarb” tea in Yuma and the next morning
she was able to talk again.
In spite of our “aches and pains” we enjoyed our visit with the Wilsons. Lloyd and Carol came
over again last Sunday and Lloyd and I assisted in the Blessing of “Wendy”. She grows on one. Gets
prettier each day.
Carol was having a hard time throwing off her cold. Brian was not feeling so hot either and
wanted nothing but his Daddy. We took some pictures with three cameras after church Sunday. Some
of the pics should get passed around.
We found letters from Betty and Rina awaiting us here. We also received your letter Rina from
Hawaii. All of the women were oohing! And aahing! About how fortunate you were to be able to make
the trip. How nice, etc, etc. but I could not help feeling sorry for your abandoned family. Sometimes I
wonder if you get our letters. I wrote to Scot, telling him about how scared we were when we heard
about Hilda and how we prayed for your safety. Grandma will undoubtedly write them and thank them
for the birthday cares. They were very cute. She is also very pleased with the “cat-eye” rings.
Betty in the letter we found here, you made no mention of Renee’s illness. Did it come all of a
sudden? We have remembered her in our daily prayers and would like to hear from someone who can
tell us about her condition. We were also sorry to hear that Queenie was so sick. Was it just
housesickness for the Master or something she ate? You censure us for not driving a 1000 miles to the
bay area for a short visit and you make a big deal out of driving about a hundred miles to the same area-
with a new car yet! You never did get around to telling us what kind of a car it was, or rather is.
Marion I want to abjectly beg your pardon. I was looking through our file and found your letter
that you had written just before we left for L.A. I had forgotten all about it. I got a kick out of John’s
gruesome “pome”. I think Bob is right to do something else while waiting for construction to begin
again. Congratulations on winning the Sears award. Is there any tangible compensation? Or is it all on
paper?
I got chills and fever when I got this far and went to bed. Must have been one of those mutant
L.A. bugs. I had a rough night but felt better when Marion called this morning. She told us that David
has the duty Christmas and cannot come home. She wants us to go there, but I don’t think we can make
it. By the way Betty, Marion told us that you had an “esplendido” 1967 Dodge Wagon. She had not
news of Renee. Please keep us posted. It only cost 75 cents between Midnight and 0700 to make a
phone call. Tell Boo and Robin we are convinced that they don’t love us or they would have written long
since.
Love,
Dad
In almost every neighborhood where respectable people live there dwells a certain type of
scalawag, seemingly devoid of any trace of conscience or principle, whose conduce makes him the
subject of a lot of gossip, especially among the women.
Morals don’t mean a thing to him. He’s unmarried and lives openly with a woman he is crazy
about; and doesn’t care what the neighbors say or think. He has no regard for truth or law.
The duties of this so-called good citizen are just so much bunk so far as he is concerned. He
doesn’t vote a t all. He never thinks of paying a bill.
We have seen him take a two dollar taxi ride without giving the driver so much as a pleasant
look. The driver only stared a t him and muttered something silly.
He won’t work a lick; he won’t go to church; he can’t play cards; or dance or fool around with
musical instruments. So far as known he has no intellectual interests at all.
He neglects his appearance terribly. He is so indolent that he’d let the house burn down before
he’d turn in the alarm. The telephone can ring itself to pieces and he wouldn’t bother to answer it. Even
on such controversial subjects as the liquor question, nobody knows exactly where he stands, because
one minute he is dry and the next minute he is wet.
But we will say this for him. In spite of his faults he comes of a darn good family. He is our new
baby.
I did not sent one these to Marta as I did not know how to change it around to apply to a girl.
Dad
I am finally convinced that the L.A. Smog acts as a sheath over the town, through which, not self
respecting flu or cold germ can pass. We were there 14 days and the City was free from smog during the
whole time, but the flu bug zeroed in and we all caught it. I think that Lloyd was the only one who was
healthy. Both Mother and I caught it. I was quite ill for two or three days and Mother is still coughing.
She lost her voice completely the morning we left L.A. I think from L.A. to Yuma was the longest I have
ever driven without a smidgen of back seat driving. It made me nervous. I had to look at her once in a
while to see if she was giving me any dirty looks. We got some “yarb” tea in Yuma and the next morning
she was able to talk again.
In spite of our “aches and pains” we enjoyed our visit with the Wilsons. Lloyd and Carol came
over again last Sunday and Lloyd and I assisted in the Blessing of “Wendy”. She grows on one. Gets
prettier each day.
Carol was having a hard time throwing off her cold. Brian was not feeling so hot either and
wanted nothing but his Daddy. We took some pictures with three cameras after church Sunday. Some
of the pics should get passed around.
We found letters from Betty and Rina awaiting us here. We also received your letter Rina from
Hawaii. All of the women were oohing! And aahing! About how fortunate you were to be able to make
the trip. How nice, etc, etc. but I could not help feeling sorry for your abandoned family. Sometimes I
wonder if you get our letters. I wrote to Scot, telling him about how scared we were when we heard
about Hilda and how we prayed for your safety. Grandma will undoubtedly write them and thank them
for the birthday cares. They were very cute. She is also very pleased with the “cat-eye” rings.
Betty in the letter we found here, you made no mention of Renee’s illness. Did it come all of a
sudden? We have remembered her in our daily prayers and would like to hear from someone who can
tell us about her condition. We were also sorry to hear that Queenie was so sick. Was it just
housesickness for the Master or something she ate? You censure us for not driving a 1000 miles to the
bay area for a short visit and you make a big deal out of driving about a hundred miles to the same area-
with a new car yet! You never did get around to telling us what kind of a car it was, or rather is.
Marion I want to abjectly beg your pardon. I was looking through our file and found your letter
that you had written just before we left for L.A. I had forgotten all about it. I got a kick out of John’s
gruesome “pome”. I think Bob is right to do something else while waiting for construction to begin
again. Congratulations on winning the Sears award. Is there any tangible compensation? Or is it all on
paper?
I got chills and fever when I got this far and went to bed. Must have been one of those mutant
L.A. bugs. I had a rough night but felt better when Marion called this morning. She told us that David
has the duty Christmas and cannot come home. She wants us to go there, but I don’t think we can make
it. By the way Betty, Marion told us that you had an “esplendido” 1967 Dodge Wagon. She had not
news of Renee. Please keep us posted. It only cost 75 cents between Midnight and 0700 to make a
phone call. Tell Boo and Robin we are convinced that they don’t love us or they would have written long
since.
Love,
Dad
In almost every neighborhood where respectable people live there dwells a certain type of
scalawag, seemingly devoid of any trace of conscience or principle, whose conduce makes him the
subject of a lot of gossip, especially among the women.
Morals don’t mean a thing to him. He’s unmarried and lives openly with a woman he is crazy
about; and doesn’t care what the neighbors say or think. He has no regard for truth or law.
The duties of this so-called good citizen are just so much bunk so far as he is concerned. He
doesn’t vote a t all. He never thinks of paying a bill.
We have seen him take a two dollar taxi ride without giving the driver so much as a pleasant
look. The driver only stared a t him and muttered something silly.
He won’t work a lick; he won’t go to church; he can’t play cards; or dance or fool around with
musical instruments. So far as known he has no intellectual interests at all.
He neglects his appearance terribly. He is so indolent that he’d let the house burn down before
he’d turn in the alarm. The telephone can ring itself to pieces and he wouldn’t bother to answer it. Even
on such controversial subjects as the liquor question, nobody knows exactly where he stands, because
one minute he is dry and the next minute he is wet.
But we will say this for him. In spite of his faults he comes of a darn good family. He is our new
baby.
I did not sent one these to Marta as I did not know how to change it around to apply to a girl.
Dad
Sunday, August 29, 2010
September 23, 1967
Dear Family,
We have decided not to go to Utah for Conference. We have prayed about this. We feel that it
would be just too much traveling for Mother at this time. While the Cortisone shot seems to be doing
some good, the Dr. told her to take it easy until he sees her again the first of next month. We would not
go to the McKays without going across to the Meekers. We feel that this would be just too much
traveling for Mother at this time. Then too, Mother wants to be available in case Marta should need her.
I am sorry about this. I so I wanted to see my namesake before he started chopping down trees.
We received a nice long letter from David. He sent us a news clipping about the USS Somers,
(this is the first time I knew how to spell the name). According to this clipping David is among the
advance techs that are getting the ship ready for commission. She will not be completed until May;
however her crew will join her in December. Thanks for the letter David. If you ever get a chance to
attend other schools, be sure to do it.
By the way you Stobbes, David says you owe him a letter. We have been wondering about you
as we have not received a letter from you for more than a week. We realize that the typhoon did not hit
you, (according to the papers). But we wondered if you had to take in some refugees from Wake,
although the paper said they all went to Hawaii.
We talked to Marta over the phone and she seems to be quite chipper. Bob has been working a
lot of extra hours lately. By-the-way Bob, I see that your GI bill allowance will increase. There is also a
provision in this new bill whereby a Vet with vision permanently impaired can get up to $1,600.00
toward the purchase of a car. If I just had the gift of persuasion of Frank I could get most of that. As it is
I will probably get $1.60 or thereabouts. At any rate I am going to apply for it as I need something to
help me drive at night.
What has happened to the Smog bound McKays? I have been giving you lower and lower copies
of the “Decker” hoping that you would get the hint that “Writers get legible copies”. We would like to
hear about Brian Jon. Is he walking yet?
The following is David’s address. I am sure he would appreciate a letter from any you.
SM L.D. McKay B 801707
USS Somers (DDO-34)
S.F. Navy Shipyard
Hunters Point
San Francisco Cal. 94135
We have decided not to go to Utah for Conference. We have prayed about this. We feel that it
would be just too much traveling for Mother at this time. While the Cortisone shot seems to be doing
some good, the Dr. told her to take it easy until he sees her again the first of next month. We would not
go to the McKays without going across to the Meekers. We feel that this would be just too much
traveling for Mother at this time. Then too, Mother wants to be available in case Marta should need her.
I am sorry about this. I so I wanted to see my namesake before he started chopping down trees.
We received a nice long letter from David. He sent us a news clipping about the USS Somers,
(this is the first time I knew how to spell the name). According to this clipping David is among the
advance techs that are getting the ship ready for commission. She will not be completed until May;
however her crew will join her in December. Thanks for the letter David. If you ever get a chance to
attend other schools, be sure to do it.
By the way you Stobbes, David says you owe him a letter. We have been wondering about you
as we have not received a letter from you for more than a week. We realize that the typhoon did not hit
you, (according to the papers). But we wondered if you had to take in some refugees from Wake,
although the paper said they all went to Hawaii.
We talked to Marta over the phone and she seems to be quite chipper. Bob has been working a
lot of extra hours lately. By-the-way Bob, I see that your GI bill allowance will increase. There is also a
provision in this new bill whereby a Vet with vision permanently impaired can get up to $1,600.00
toward the purchase of a car. If I just had the gift of persuasion of Frank I could get most of that. As it is
I will probably get $1.60 or thereabouts. At any rate I am going to apply for it as I need something to
help me drive at night.
What has happened to the Smog bound McKays? I have been giving you lower and lower copies
of the “Decker” hoping that you would get the hint that “Writers get legible copies”. We would like to
hear about Brian Jon. Is he walking yet?
The following is David’s address. I am sure he would appreciate a letter from any you.
SM L.D. McKay B 801707
USS Somers (DDO-34)
S.F. Navy Shipyard
Hunters Point
San Francisco Cal. 94135
Guadalajara, 2 October 1967
Hotel Fenix
My Beloved Family:
This includes your mother as I am here alone working. It has been a long time since I arrived by
air and no one was waiting to greet me. It made me feel rather blue. The trip down was very bumpy as
it was cloudy all the way, but the plane- a jet, is not at all bad. After dinner this evening, I found a barber
shop, (I was beginning to look hippy) and had a manicure to get my spirits up. I miss you my darling
Wife and it is no fun going places without you anymore.
I have a hard day’s work tomorrow and hope to catch the plane to Mexico City at 7 p.m.
We received letters from Bill, Marta and Rina in that order. They are home and I don’t
remember much they said. Bill’s garden was frozen. Marta was writing from the Hospital, where she
went for a check-up. I remember that she said that the Young Marrieds, I believe from her old Ward,
gave them a high chair for the baby.
Rina’s letter was full of church activities, it appears that the Navel Base is not far from them and
they entertain Mormon Sailors quite frequently.
David is becoming our most constant Correspondent. I am going to have to cut him out of this
decker, so you can send your copy to him Mother. He told us that he had gone to church with a Mormon
friend-which as you might suppose, made Mother very happy. When Mother and I went to Rocky Point
last month, they almost did not let her go. They would accept nothing but a Birth Certificate, or a
certificate of citizenship. Just by luck, she had her’s with her.
My ID card has always been sufficient identification, but I told her this morning that I was going
to take my Certificate, just in case. It is a good thing I did. We did not go through Immigration until we
got to Obregon and they took two Americans off the plane who did not have a Birth Certificate.
Muy Buenos noches, con todo mi carino
Su Marido ye Padre
My Beloved Family:
This includes your mother as I am here alone working. It has been a long time since I arrived by
air and no one was waiting to greet me. It made me feel rather blue. The trip down was very bumpy as
it was cloudy all the way, but the plane- a jet, is not at all bad. After dinner this evening, I found a barber
shop, (I was beginning to look hippy) and had a manicure to get my spirits up. I miss you my darling
Wife and it is no fun going places without you anymore.
I have a hard day’s work tomorrow and hope to catch the plane to Mexico City at 7 p.m.
We received letters from Bill, Marta and Rina in that order. They are home and I don’t
remember much they said. Bill’s garden was frozen. Marta was writing from the Hospital, where she
went for a check-up. I remember that she said that the Young Marrieds, I believe from her old Ward,
gave them a high chair for the baby.
Rina’s letter was full of church activities, it appears that the Navel Base is not far from them and
they entertain Mormon Sailors quite frequently.
David is becoming our most constant Correspondent. I am going to have to cut him out of this
decker, so you can send your copy to him Mother. He told us that he had gone to church with a Mormon
friend-which as you might suppose, made Mother very happy. When Mother and I went to Rocky Point
last month, they almost did not let her go. They would accept nothing but a Birth Certificate, or a
certificate of citizenship. Just by luck, she had her’s with her.
My ID card has always been sufficient identification, but I told her this morning that I was going
to take my Certificate, just in case. It is a good thing I did. We did not go through Immigration until we
got to Obregon and they took two Americans off the plane who did not have a Birth Certificate.
Muy Buenos noches, con todo mi carino
Su Marido ye Padre
Sunday, August 22, 2010
August 19, 1967
Dear Family,
Rina, your letter activates this decker. We had not received a letter from anyone for so long that
we were beginning to wonder. You sure sound like a full time missionary. The more power to you! I
don’t see how you can miss if you turn “High Pressure” Pancho, loose on those people.
Speaking of Missionary work. We received letters from Mimi and Johnny Meeker that really got
us stirred up. Mimi says that her Mother is about ready to join the church. We are delighted. We have
heard nothing from Marion though, so maybe it is just wishful thinking on Mimi’s part.
Mother and I went to the funeral of old Bill Young yesterday. Everyone thought that his brother
Phillip would pass away first as he looks like he is on his last legs. Marta you should remember him, he
was the Grandfather of the girl you palled around with here.
Rina, the Anglina, who were our Landlords on Wintstel St., moved to Mesa. They sold their
property to Lonny and Lannete, or almost gave it away, (18,000.00 for both houses and that big lot),
anyway they rented the house we lived in to a middle aged couple and night before last the woman shot
herself.
Mother is about the same or maybe just a little better after her therapy. She keeps taking pain
killer and when her leg feels good she does not know whether it is the pain killer taking effect or whether
it is better. We finally got the exercise board just yesterday. She says, so far she does not know if it
hurts or helps.
David is through school and is assigned to a ship. We think the following is his address. We took
it over the phone and it may be wrong, but I am sure if you write to him he will receive it.
L.D Mckay B 801707 USS SHMMERS (shig (DDC-34) U.S. Navy Shipyard Hunters Point San Francisco, CA
94135
This ship is being remodeled and will go to Long Beach when completed. Long Beach will be his
home station.
Hey Rina! Does this excursion you plan to the slant eye country mean that you are not coming to
the Main Land this next summer?
You McKays in Utah have just about had it. Bill, unless you have shot out your light again there is
no reason you cannot write out in camp in the evenings.
Robin, I will get around to answer your letter. Tell Renee and Boo, not letter, not pictures.
Love,
Grandpa
Rina, your letter activates this decker. We had not received a letter from anyone for so long that
we were beginning to wonder. You sure sound like a full time missionary. The more power to you! I
don’t see how you can miss if you turn “High Pressure” Pancho, loose on those people.
Speaking of Missionary work. We received letters from Mimi and Johnny Meeker that really got
us stirred up. Mimi says that her Mother is about ready to join the church. We are delighted. We have
heard nothing from Marion though, so maybe it is just wishful thinking on Mimi’s part.
Mother and I went to the funeral of old Bill Young yesterday. Everyone thought that his brother
Phillip would pass away first as he looks like he is on his last legs. Marta you should remember him, he
was the Grandfather of the girl you palled around with here.
Rina, the Anglina, who were our Landlords on Wintstel St., moved to Mesa. They sold their
property to Lonny and Lannete, or almost gave it away, (18,000.00 for both houses and that big lot),
anyway they rented the house we lived in to a middle aged couple and night before last the woman shot
herself.
Mother is about the same or maybe just a little better after her therapy. She keeps taking pain
killer and when her leg feels good she does not know whether it is the pain killer taking effect or whether
it is better. We finally got the exercise board just yesterday. She says, so far she does not know if it
hurts or helps.
David is through school and is assigned to a ship. We think the following is his address. We took
it over the phone and it may be wrong, but I am sure if you write to him he will receive it.
L.D Mckay B 801707 USS SHMMERS (shig (DDC-34) U.S. Navy Shipyard Hunters Point San Francisco, CA
94135
This ship is being remodeled and will go to Long Beach when completed. Long Beach will be his
home station.
Hey Rina! Does this excursion you plan to the slant eye country mean that you are not coming to
the Main Land this next summer?
You McKays in Utah have just about had it. Bill, unless you have shot out your light again there is
no reason you cannot write out in camp in the evenings.
Robin, I will get around to answer your letter. Tell Renee and Boo, not letter, not pictures.
Love,
Grandpa
Tucson, August 26, 1967
Dear Family,
I am keeping my fingers crossed and almost holding my breath, because that exercise board
seems to be helping Mother’s knee. It is a bit too early to tell because the unwanted exercise has caused
her a lot of aches and pains in other areas. I even got on the thing and I’ll admit that it exercises a lot of
muscles, (especially in the “pot” area) that had not been exercised in a long time. Keep Praying.
We received a nice long letter from Marta which rather changed out plans. She has asked her
Mother in Law to help out during the time of the Baby’s birth. She, Mrs. Wilson is quite thrilled. It
seems that her other Daughters in Law rather ignore her when anything important occurs. We too are
satisfied with the set-up. I am sure Mrs. Wilson is better able, physically to cope with our darling
Granddaughters, than Mother.
Our tentative plans now are to go to Utah for conference the 1st of October. We were going to
Bill and Fran’s and watch it on TV, but since they have quite corresponding with us we will probably
camp out someplace near enough to Salt Lake to catch it on the radio at least. Then we will go on to
Marion’s. We received a letter from Mary Ann the other day. She said that while her Mother had not
gone back to drinking coffee, she is wavering. Actually all the information we have comes from Mimi.
We have not heard a word from Marion verifying or denying.
I am back P eyeing again. I had a case in Nogales Arizona the other day and interviewed the
widow of a colonel regarding it. When she found that I too was a retired Officer she really let her hair
down, even religion entered the conversation. She said she was a Catholic but was not very satisfied
with that church. When I told her I was a Mormon she became very interested. The uphot? I referred
her to the Missionaries.
We may get a case in Guadalajara. I am trying to get to drive down so I can take Mother, but
those kinds of cases seem too good to be true and usually fizzle out.
We received a letter from the “Old Salt”. He is aboard his ship, which he says, can hardly be seen
for all the scaffolding around it. He says it will not be in commission before December. How is the chow
aboard ship David? Is your rate still SN?
We went to Stake Conference last Sunday and saw Don Pederson and family. He was David’s
teacher in Ft. Huachuca and asked about him. He is teaching now in Patagonia. His boys are taller than
their father.
There is no other family news I know of. We continue to have home evening with the
Jaspersons. We can realize now just how important this program is for a family with children and I hope
you all participate.
Mother joins me in sending all of our love.
Dad
I am keeping my fingers crossed and almost holding my breath, because that exercise board
seems to be helping Mother’s knee. It is a bit too early to tell because the unwanted exercise has caused
her a lot of aches and pains in other areas. I even got on the thing and I’ll admit that it exercises a lot of
muscles, (especially in the “pot” area) that had not been exercised in a long time. Keep Praying.
We received a nice long letter from Marta which rather changed out plans. She has asked her
Mother in Law to help out during the time of the Baby’s birth. She, Mrs. Wilson is quite thrilled. It
seems that her other Daughters in Law rather ignore her when anything important occurs. We too are
satisfied with the set-up. I am sure Mrs. Wilson is better able, physically to cope with our darling
Granddaughters, than Mother.
Our tentative plans now are to go to Utah for conference the 1st of October. We were going to
Bill and Fran’s and watch it on TV, but since they have quite corresponding with us we will probably
camp out someplace near enough to Salt Lake to catch it on the radio at least. Then we will go on to
Marion’s. We received a letter from Mary Ann the other day. She said that while her Mother had not
gone back to drinking coffee, she is wavering. Actually all the information we have comes from Mimi.
We have not heard a word from Marion verifying or denying.
I am back P eyeing again. I had a case in Nogales Arizona the other day and interviewed the
widow of a colonel regarding it. When she found that I too was a retired Officer she really let her hair
down, even religion entered the conversation. She said she was a Catholic but was not very satisfied
with that church. When I told her I was a Mormon she became very interested. The uphot? I referred
her to the Missionaries.
We may get a case in Guadalajara. I am trying to get to drive down so I can take Mother, but
those kinds of cases seem too good to be true and usually fizzle out.
We received a letter from the “Old Salt”. He is aboard his ship, which he says, can hardly be seen
for all the scaffolding around it. He says it will not be in commission before December. How is the chow
aboard ship David? Is your rate still SN?
We went to Stake Conference last Sunday and saw Don Pederson and family. He was David’s
teacher in Ft. Huachuca and asked about him. He is teaching now in Patagonia. His boys are taller than
their father.
There is no other family news I know of. We continue to have home evening with the
Jaspersons. We can realize now just how important this program is for a family with children and I hope
you all participate.
Mother joins me in sending all of our love.
Dad
August 31, 1967
Dear Family,
Well the twist board was not the cure for Mother’s knee after all, although it does not seem to
hurt it, there is a swelling under the joint that does not want to reduce. She saw the Doctor this week.
He decided that she should see an orthopedist and made an appointment with one on 12 September,
however he said that the swelling must be reduced before then. He reluctantly gave a new
medicine, “Muy fuerte” which, he said, she should stop immediately if there were any symptoms of
stomach ulcers, (he described these symptoms) or if her heart appeared to be overworked. She has
been taking these pills since Monday and her knee is relieved. We know now that she does not have
ulcers and to keep her from having them, we have moved.
Mother has been very unhappy in the 1st Ward. The Relief Society, according to her, has fallen
by the way side and the people are the clannish descendants of Binghamton Settlers who are hard to
get acquainted with. Then, the Jasperson place in which we lived is on a dirt road, one block from the
school and traffic keeps a continual dust storm stirred up.
Mother, who has been continually looking, found this place advertised. She jumped in the car to
come see it and got lost, this is not the place she was looking for at all. I guess the Lord directed her,
because we later looked at the place she started for and it is Ugh!
We are very comfortable here. We have a very large bedroom, with screens that will allow it to
be made into two. A large living room looking out on lawn, surrounded with foliage, with two large palm
trees in the center that remind us of Hawaii. The thing that made us almost ill, was to break the news to
the Jaspersons that we were moving. I think it did make Ida ill. We are only a few blocks from them
however and will continue our association with the, Howe Evening etc.
According to Webster, “Orthopedics is the branch of Surgery dealing with diseases and injuries
of the bones and joints” so our plans depend on the outcome of Mother’s next appointment.
Rina, we were talking to Sister Ripley and she said that her daughter had been quite ill. I
suppose your RS had things well in hand. Our new address is 3536 N. Blackledge App #5. Telephone is
the same.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
Well the twist board was not the cure for Mother’s knee after all, although it does not seem to
hurt it, there is a swelling under the joint that does not want to reduce. She saw the Doctor this week.
He decided that she should see an orthopedist and made an appointment with one on 12 September,
however he said that the swelling must be reduced before then. He reluctantly gave a new
medicine, “Muy fuerte” which, he said, she should stop immediately if there were any symptoms of
stomach ulcers, (he described these symptoms) or if her heart appeared to be overworked. She has
been taking these pills since Monday and her knee is relieved. We know now that she does not have
ulcers and to keep her from having them, we have moved.
Mother has been very unhappy in the 1st Ward. The Relief Society, according to her, has fallen
by the way side and the people are the clannish descendants of Binghamton Settlers who are hard to
get acquainted with. Then, the Jasperson place in which we lived is on a dirt road, one block from the
school and traffic keeps a continual dust storm stirred up.
Mother, who has been continually looking, found this place advertised. She jumped in the car to
come see it and got lost, this is not the place she was looking for at all. I guess the Lord directed her,
because we later looked at the place she started for and it is Ugh!
We are very comfortable here. We have a very large bedroom, with screens that will allow it to
be made into two. A large living room looking out on lawn, surrounded with foliage, with two large palm
trees in the center that remind us of Hawaii. The thing that made us almost ill, was to break the news to
the Jaspersons that we were moving. I think it did make Ida ill. We are only a few blocks from them
however and will continue our association with the, Howe Evening etc.
According to Webster, “Orthopedics is the branch of Surgery dealing with diseases and injuries
of the bones and joints” so our plans depend on the outcome of Mother’s next appointment.
Rina, we were talking to Sister Ripley and she said that her daughter had been quite ill. I
suppose your RS had things well in hand. Our new address is 3536 N. Blackledge App #5. Telephone is
the same.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
Tucson Sept 12, 1967
Dear Family,
I think the Millennium must not be too far in the offing, because I was paid to go fishing last
week end. Mother and I went to Rocky Point last Friday and returned Sunday evening. Our Office has a client who is on a diet of fish and claims that the commercial fisherman dip the fish in preservative solution to which she is allergic. We stayed in the best Motel in the place, (Ugh) and I hired a boat to take me out. It was a small open boat and I was glad Lloyd was not with me because it pitched like a bucking bronco and he would have been seasick for sure. We, (the Mexican boys and I), caught about a hundred pounds of Mackerel, which did not cost the client much more that tow dollars a pound.
We have received three letters at our new address, from Bill, Marion, and Rina. And to you Bill, I
want to make one statement, “No quiero decir que Vd des Embustero, pero, Vd. Esta estrechando la verdad”. That old story of not knowing where to write has long white whiskers. We do plan to get up there for Conference as long as you have the family room completed we will leave our trailer at home. How is the road between Ducheane and Price? According to the map I have it as still unpaved. Tell Fran not to be too miffed about us not going your way last spring. We would have gone if it had not been for Mother’s knee. By-the-way, her knee seems much better and did not bother her nearly as much on this Mexican trip. We were glad to hear that Lloyd is walking, but not surprised to hear that he is such a good baby. How could he miss with a name like that?
Marion, thanks for your invitation to move to some place like Napa, but I don’t think I could take
it there during the winter. We will look that area over next spring though. Your temperatures as
announced over TV sound mighty inviting right now. We talked to Marta and Bob the other day and they said it had been miserable there. Bob said he even had to quit school one day because the smog was so bad they could not study. You don’t say a word about the most important subject in my recent letters,
although, I am glad you enjoyed the outing with the LDS girls. Thanks for the report on David. It makes mother feel good to hear that he is putting on a little weight.
Rina, we were sorry to hear that your Church Picnic washed out and that school conditions are
not so good. There is always a fly in the ointment, and you can’t always have everything just the way you want it. We were also sorry to hear that Lane has impetigo? But things like that can be expected in the tropics. I remember I had it once in Venezuela. Yes we were very glad to get back in the 5th Ward and we were greeted like returned prodigals. The Bishop even took me out to play Golf. We are paying $75.00 a month for this apartment, $25.00 more that the other one, but the comfort and contentment of your Mother is more than worth it. I will take some pictures as soon as she gets the drapes up. I am trying to hold her down as much as I can so that she does not do too much at once.
Betty, called the other day, she wanted some of her childhood pictures to enter in some church
contest. She is very active with the girls in Mutual.
Rina, we enclose some pictures of our Oregon trip and would like you to return them to Marta.
Vaya con dios
Dad
I think the Millennium must not be too far in the offing, because I was paid to go fishing last
week end. Mother and I went to Rocky Point last Friday and returned Sunday evening. Our Office has a client who is on a diet of fish and claims that the commercial fisherman dip the fish in preservative solution to which she is allergic. We stayed in the best Motel in the place, (Ugh) and I hired a boat to take me out. It was a small open boat and I was glad Lloyd was not with me because it pitched like a bucking bronco and he would have been seasick for sure. We, (the Mexican boys and I), caught about a hundred pounds of Mackerel, which did not cost the client much more that tow dollars a pound.
We have received three letters at our new address, from Bill, Marion, and Rina. And to you Bill, I
want to make one statement, “No quiero decir que Vd des Embustero, pero, Vd. Esta estrechando la verdad”. That old story of not knowing where to write has long white whiskers. We do plan to get up there for Conference as long as you have the family room completed we will leave our trailer at home. How is the road between Ducheane and Price? According to the map I have it as still unpaved. Tell Fran not to be too miffed about us not going your way last spring. We would have gone if it had not been for Mother’s knee. By-the-way, her knee seems much better and did not bother her nearly as much on this Mexican trip. We were glad to hear that Lloyd is walking, but not surprised to hear that he is such a good baby. How could he miss with a name like that?
Marion, thanks for your invitation to move to some place like Napa, but I don’t think I could take
it there during the winter. We will look that area over next spring though. Your temperatures as
announced over TV sound mighty inviting right now. We talked to Marta and Bob the other day and they said it had been miserable there. Bob said he even had to quit school one day because the smog was so bad they could not study. You don’t say a word about the most important subject in my recent letters,
although, I am glad you enjoyed the outing with the LDS girls. Thanks for the report on David. It makes mother feel good to hear that he is putting on a little weight.
Rina, we were sorry to hear that your Church Picnic washed out and that school conditions are
not so good. There is always a fly in the ointment, and you can’t always have everything just the way you want it. We were also sorry to hear that Lane has impetigo? But things like that can be expected in the tropics. I remember I had it once in Venezuela. Yes we were very glad to get back in the 5th Ward and we were greeted like returned prodigals. The Bishop even took me out to play Golf. We are paying $75.00 a month for this apartment, $25.00 more that the other one, but the comfort and contentment of your Mother is more than worth it. I will take some pictures as soon as she gets the drapes up. I am trying to hold her down as much as I can so that she does not do too much at once.
Betty, called the other day, she wanted some of her childhood pictures to enter in some church
contest. She is very active with the girls in Mutual.
Rina, we enclose some pictures of our Oregon trip and would like you to return them to Marta.
Vaya con dios
Dad
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tucson, June 1, 1967
Dear Family,
The Stobbe’s address sounds like it should be written with a background of Tom-toms. It
is 118 So. Ocean Drive, Finegayn, Agana, GUAM 96910. It looks like they are going to like
Guam very much. They were given the “red carpet” treatment when they arrived. The Relief
Society Teachers visited them the next day and the children have found a lot of children their
age to play with. They have PX and Commissary privileges. If Frank is happy in his work I
would not be surprised if they signed over for another “hitch”. By-the-way Rina, thanks for the
Fathers Day present. You did not say a word about it in the letter but I gather it must be mine as
Mother does not wear tie clasps—as yet. Anyway, thanks a lot. We found an extra shirt in that
bundle of my shirts you sent from Hawaii. It was a size 15. Did you include one of Franks by
mistake? If you did he has lost a shirt (white) because it fits me fine, (I am on a reducing kick
again.
We also received a letter from David. The “latrine” rumors have that poor kid in a dither.
He thinks now that he won’t be going to ‘Diego after all and that he will have five more weeks of
school. Stay in that school as long as you can boy, this looks like it will be a long war.
We called Marion on her birthday, 30th and found that she too had been in dither
Mother’s Day as their car was totaled in an accident. She was not hurt, thanks to our Heavenly
Father. She is preparing to take the church girls to a girl’s camp. I think it is a MIA activity.
Marta, Mother received her unmentionables, but we were sorry and surprised to learn,
when we opened the pk., that you did not include a tiny clandestine note telling us how you and
the family are getting along. I am wondering why you have not received our gas bills. I had the
address changed to the Hemlock Address. Do you suppose the Post Office has not transferred
them? Did you get the package mother sent?
Mother’s knee is getting worse and worse. We had to give up golf. We saw the Doctor
yesterday. He gave me a thorough examination and said my arteries are not hardening as of
yet. They ex-rayed Mother up down and sideways. She has to go back on the 19th, when they
might know what is the matter with her. If it is bursitis as mother thinks, or maybe they can inject
the knee with cortisone, (painful as it is) to alleviate this condition. He told her yesterday to keep
off her feet as much as possible. This is a big laugh. It is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
You all know your Mother. I try to get her to stay in bed in the mornings, but NO! She struggles
out of bed to make breakfast, with the excuses that I will make too much mess in the kitchen.
When did you mail that exercise board Rina? We realize that it will come by slow boat, but if
you mailed it from Hawaii it should be getting here soon.
We would give up this trip, (we may have to het, if Mother gets worse) but this may be
the last opportunity we have of taking a long one. If this Middle East thing breaks and it looks
almost impossible now, that it will not, gas will either be rationed or so costly that we cannot
afford the trip. We have been reading a book by Cleon Skauson called Prophesies and Modern
Times. You would almost think to read some of the prophesies, that Ezekiel, Isaiah and some of
the other Biblical prophets had picked one of our morning papers, they describe the now
conditions of Israel so closely.
Lloyd, Marta sent us the map with projected itinerary. I will write you under separate
cover listing the things we have so there won’t be a duplication of too much stuff.
Still nothing from the “chilly” McKays. We had better hear from you by the 20th “or else”.
What are the plans for this summer? Are you going back to the timber Bill?
Dad
WRITTERS GET GOOD COPIES
P.S. Just heard that your Aunt Ruth’s husband’s Virgil Smith, is very ill in the Hospital.
We would appreciate it very much if you would remember him in your prayers.
D.
PPS. We had a formal family night with the Jespersons last night.
D.
The Stobbe’s address sounds like it should be written with a background of Tom-toms. It
is 118 So. Ocean Drive, Finegayn, Agana, GUAM 96910. It looks like they are going to like
Guam very much. They were given the “red carpet” treatment when they arrived. The Relief
Society Teachers visited them the next day and the children have found a lot of children their
age to play with. They have PX and Commissary privileges. If Frank is happy in his work I
would not be surprised if they signed over for another “hitch”. By-the-way Rina, thanks for the
Fathers Day present. You did not say a word about it in the letter but I gather it must be mine as
Mother does not wear tie clasps—as yet. Anyway, thanks a lot. We found an extra shirt in that
bundle of my shirts you sent from Hawaii. It was a size 15. Did you include one of Franks by
mistake? If you did he has lost a shirt (white) because it fits me fine, (I am on a reducing kick
again.
We also received a letter from David. The “latrine” rumors have that poor kid in a dither.
He thinks now that he won’t be going to ‘Diego after all and that he will have five more weeks of
school. Stay in that school as long as you can boy, this looks like it will be a long war.
We called Marion on her birthday, 30th and found that she too had been in dither
Mother’s Day as their car was totaled in an accident. She was not hurt, thanks to our Heavenly
Father. She is preparing to take the church girls to a girl’s camp. I think it is a MIA activity.
Marta, Mother received her unmentionables, but we were sorry and surprised to learn,
when we opened the pk., that you did not include a tiny clandestine note telling us how you and
the family are getting along. I am wondering why you have not received our gas bills. I had the
address changed to the Hemlock Address. Do you suppose the Post Office has not transferred
them? Did you get the package mother sent?
Mother’s knee is getting worse and worse. We had to give up golf. We saw the Doctor
yesterday. He gave me a thorough examination and said my arteries are not hardening as of
yet. They ex-rayed Mother up down and sideways. She has to go back on the 19th, when they
might know what is the matter with her. If it is bursitis as mother thinks, or maybe they can inject
the knee with cortisone, (painful as it is) to alleviate this condition. He told her yesterday to keep
off her feet as much as possible. This is a big laugh. It is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
You all know your Mother. I try to get her to stay in bed in the mornings, but NO! She struggles
out of bed to make breakfast, with the excuses that I will make too much mess in the kitchen.
When did you mail that exercise board Rina? We realize that it will come by slow boat, but if
you mailed it from Hawaii it should be getting here soon.
We would give up this trip, (we may have to het, if Mother gets worse) but this may be
the last opportunity we have of taking a long one. If this Middle East thing breaks and it looks
almost impossible now, that it will not, gas will either be rationed or so costly that we cannot
afford the trip. We have been reading a book by Cleon Skauson called Prophesies and Modern
Times. You would almost think to read some of the prophesies, that Ezekiel, Isaiah and some of
the other Biblical prophets had picked one of our morning papers, they describe the now
conditions of Israel so closely.
Lloyd, Marta sent us the map with projected itinerary. I will write you under separate
cover listing the things we have so there won’t be a duplication of too much stuff.
Still nothing from the “chilly” McKays. We had better hear from you by the 20th “or else”.
What are the plans for this summer? Are you going back to the timber Bill?
Dad
WRITTERS GET GOOD COPIES
P.S. Just heard that your Aunt Ruth’s husband’s Virgil Smith, is very ill in the Hospital.
We would appreciate it very much if you would remember him in your prayers.
D.
PPS. We had a formal family night with the Jespersons last night.
D.
Mt. Whitney, July 23, 1967
Dear Family,
There has been a change of plans. We stayed for an entire week at Loon Lake in
Oregon and even then the girls did not want to leave. They had made friends with other girls
their age and were having a lot of fun. We finally broke away last Monday and drove down the
Oregon coast. The girls kept pestering to let them wade in the surf so I stopped at a place
called Gold Beach and the girls ran along the beach and gathered shells. We stopped that night
in a State Park at Crescent City (Jedekiah Red Woods). This is the only place we have been
gypped. They charged us three dollars to stay the night and the camp was no nicer than Loon
Lake.
We had planned to go on down the coast to San Francisco, but it was here that Roberta
started to get ill. Probably due to playing in the cold sea water she came down with a sore
throat and fever. We decided to get her home by the shortest route. We drove south on 101 to
Arcata and turned toward Redding on 299. What a road! Mountainous, narrow and twisty. We
stopped at the first place we found to camp. Here we were adopted by a couple puppies
someone had abandoned. The girls fed them and they slept under our trailer, growling and
barking at everything that moved-mostly chipmunks. The next day we drove on to Tahoe. This
long drive almost killed Mother. We stayed one day to wash a few clothes, but she still was not
rested when we hit the road Friday. She was in a lot of pain and I had to stop frequently to let
her exercise her leg. We barely reached Bishop Friday night and camped in a State Park off
395. This place was jumping all night. We did not get much sleep and found the next morning
that two people were bedded down in our camp site. They had not awakened before we left so
we don’t know what they looked like.
It was hot in the valley. We decided yesterday that we would find some camp and if it
was nice, lay over the week end. We only drove about 60 miles and turned off 395 at Lone Pine
and climbed to a camp at the foot of Mt. Whitney. It is a very pretty camp alongside a swift
running stream in which you can see the trout, but who refuse all offerings. I have not talked to
anyone yet who has caught one. It is here that climbers jump off to climb Mt. Whitney. We saw
a team of Mexican climbers as we drove in yesterday. We also saw a few Hippies, but they
were leaving. We are just resting, trying to store up enough energy for the drive across the
desert. I don’t think we will even go to see Bob and Marta, even though we have a package of
clothes for them from the Rices. It is according to how Mother feels when we reach San
Bernadino.
Rina, we found your letter waiting at Betty’s. We were very sorry to hear that Julie is ill
and wish there was something we could do. Congratulations Scot on your ninth birthday. We
will save our present until we see you again.
We have heard nothing about David since we left Tucson. Betty said that she had not
heard from him either so it may be that he has been transferred. We should find a letter waiting
at home.
Marion we were indeed sorry that we did not get to see you. But it was just too much
extra driving for Mother to take. We may see you next year if the treatment the Doctor is going
to give her is effective, otherwise you will just have to come see us.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
There has been a change of plans. We stayed for an entire week at Loon Lake in
Oregon and even then the girls did not want to leave. They had made friends with other girls
their age and were having a lot of fun. We finally broke away last Monday and drove down the
Oregon coast. The girls kept pestering to let them wade in the surf so I stopped at a place
called Gold Beach and the girls ran along the beach and gathered shells. We stopped that night
in a State Park at Crescent City (Jedekiah Red Woods). This is the only place we have been
gypped. They charged us three dollars to stay the night and the camp was no nicer than Loon
Lake.
We had planned to go on down the coast to San Francisco, but it was here that Roberta
started to get ill. Probably due to playing in the cold sea water she came down with a sore
throat and fever. We decided to get her home by the shortest route. We drove south on 101 to
Arcata and turned toward Redding on 299. What a road! Mountainous, narrow and twisty. We
stopped at the first place we found to camp. Here we were adopted by a couple puppies
someone had abandoned. The girls fed them and they slept under our trailer, growling and
barking at everything that moved-mostly chipmunks. The next day we drove on to Tahoe. This
long drive almost killed Mother. We stayed one day to wash a few clothes, but she still was not
rested when we hit the road Friday. She was in a lot of pain and I had to stop frequently to let
her exercise her leg. We barely reached Bishop Friday night and camped in a State Park off
395. This place was jumping all night. We did not get much sleep and found the next morning
that two people were bedded down in our camp site. They had not awakened before we left so
we don’t know what they looked like.
It was hot in the valley. We decided yesterday that we would find some camp and if it
was nice, lay over the week end. We only drove about 60 miles and turned off 395 at Lone Pine
and climbed to a camp at the foot of Mt. Whitney. It is a very pretty camp alongside a swift
running stream in which you can see the trout, but who refuse all offerings. I have not talked to
anyone yet who has caught one. It is here that climbers jump off to climb Mt. Whitney. We saw
a team of Mexican climbers as we drove in yesterday. We also saw a few Hippies, but they
were leaving. We are just resting, trying to store up enough energy for the drive across the
desert. I don’t think we will even go to see Bob and Marta, even though we have a package of
clothes for them from the Rices. It is according to how Mother feels when we reach San
Bernadino.
Rina, we found your letter waiting at Betty’s. We were very sorry to hear that Julie is ill
and wish there was something we could do. Congratulations Scot on your ninth birthday. We
will save our present until we see you again.
We have heard nothing about David since we left Tucson. Betty said that she had not
heard from him either so it may be that he has been transferred. We should find a letter waiting
at home.
Marion we were indeed sorry that we did not get to see you. But it was just too much
extra driving for Mother to take. We may see you next year if the treatment the Doctor is going
to give her is effective, otherwise you will just have to come see us.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
3819 E. Farr, Tucson 85716 August 2, 1967
Dear Family,
We left Bob and Marta’s Friday morning and drove to Yuma. They were having a heat
wave in L.A. and we felt it more there than we do in Tucson. We stayed Friday night in Yuma,
leaving there about 5 A.M. It must have been a hundred at that hour.
Your prayers for our safety on the highway were very effective. We drove 4,000 miles
without incident- then the morning after we arrived, the car would not start. The ignition switch
was burned out.
I took Mother to the Doctor Monday and he prescribed physical Therapy. This will be
continued for at least a half hour each day for two weeks. Mother says they hook her up to
a “big old “machine, attaching elements to each side of her knee. I think it diatherpy. She says
that it seems to be doing her some good.
That rest Mother had at Mt. Whitney seemed to have done her a lot of good. She still did
not want to travel any further that Marta’s when we left the camp. We were very pleased to see
how Bob and Marta have fixed up their home. They now have wall to wall carpeting throughout
the house. It made us want to take off our shoes. I think Marta would have a lot less work if she
would initiate that old Japanese custom. We ate peaches off the trees in their back yard.
We called Lloyd and Carol and learned that they had stayed several days at Marion’s
and that she is going to take Mark for a couple of weeks when she returns from the church
outing. They also saw David. What is the matter Swabbie? We expected to find a letter from
you at Betty’s.
Rina we found an old letter waiting us here, (5 June). You should never have sent us
that brochure on Guam, Mother keeps looking at and saying how nice it would be to go there.
(she will be alone if she goes).
Now that you know we are home I expect letters from all of you, especially you Bill and
David.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We left Bob and Marta’s Friday morning and drove to Yuma. They were having a heat
wave in L.A. and we felt it more there than we do in Tucson. We stayed Friday night in Yuma,
leaving there about 5 A.M. It must have been a hundred at that hour.
Your prayers for our safety on the highway were very effective. We drove 4,000 miles
without incident- then the morning after we arrived, the car would not start. The ignition switch
was burned out.
I took Mother to the Doctor Monday and he prescribed physical Therapy. This will be
continued for at least a half hour each day for two weeks. Mother says they hook her up to
a “big old “machine, attaching elements to each side of her knee. I think it diatherpy. She says
that it seems to be doing her some good.
That rest Mother had at Mt. Whitney seemed to have done her a lot of good. She still did
not want to travel any further that Marta’s when we left the camp. We were very pleased to see
how Bob and Marta have fixed up their home. They now have wall to wall carpeting throughout
the house. It made us want to take off our shoes. I think Marta would have a lot less work if she
would initiate that old Japanese custom. We ate peaches off the trees in their back yard.
We called Lloyd and Carol and learned that they had stayed several days at Marion’s
and that she is going to take Mark for a couple of weeks when she returns from the church
outing. They also saw David. What is the matter Swabbie? We expected to find a letter from
you at Betty’s.
Rina we found an old letter waiting us here, (5 June). You should never have sent us
that brochure on Guam, Mother keeps looking at and saying how nice it would be to go there.
(she will be alone if she goes).
Now that you know we are home I expect letters from all of you, especially you Bill and
David.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Sunday, August 1, 2010
June 10th. 1967
Dear “Smoggys”,
Con favor de Dios we will leave here ten days from today. Mother has a Hospital
appointment on the 19th about her knee. We hope she can obtain relief, but relief or not she
says she will “grin and bear it” as it should hurt not more traveling than staying home. It will be
impossible to keep her from working, but we should try to save her as many steps as possible
without drawing attention. If we try to make her sit down it will just make her mad.
Now we have the trailer loaded. Here are the things in it.
Axe, Shovel, hammer
Dishes for six
Two boxes of food, (we cannot have too much of that), including a good supply of jerky,
some pinole.
Stove, lantern and supplies for same
1 cot, two tables, a card table and the one you know.
Three chairs. (we acquired a camp rocker without webbing. I was trying to reseat it with
some of that rubber tubing and I pulled so hard that I broke the chair.
If any of your friends have a good sized Dutch oven, try to borrow it.
We received a letter from Betty. She says that the girls can hardly wait. There was one
bit of bad news though. Robin, who is so very good in camp and who would be such a good
baby sitter, is in difficulties and may not go with us. Betty said that her grades had dropped off
and unless she got them back up before the end of the School term, she would have to go to
Summer school. She has just turned teen-------------.
We want to know just when you are leaving L.A. The reason we are going early is
because we are going to take it mighty easy on the road. Probably spend a day or two at
Boulder Dam. Then too Mother wants to visit a day or so with Betty before we go on.
Your itinerary looks good. There seems to be good camping places along that route so
that we won’t have to drive more that 150-200 miles or less on any day.
Break down and write. We would like your comments and itinerary between L.A. and
Tahoe.
Mother and I went to the Temple Wednesday and did Ordinance work for all the
Grandparents on the Mckay McGinnis side. Mother forgot to get the baptismal certificate date,
but the ordinance work was done on 1 June. Also for Verna, my oldest sister who is dead.
When you are ready to go the Temple we will do all the sealings at one time. If you don’t have
time to write, the telephone number is 326-0665
All Our Love,
Dad
Con favor de Dios we will leave here ten days from today. Mother has a Hospital
appointment on the 19th about her knee. We hope she can obtain relief, but relief or not she
says she will “grin and bear it” as it should hurt not more traveling than staying home. It will be
impossible to keep her from working, but we should try to save her as many steps as possible
without drawing attention. If we try to make her sit down it will just make her mad.
Now we have the trailer loaded. Here are the things in it.
Axe, Shovel, hammer
Dishes for six
Two boxes of food, (we cannot have too much of that), including a good supply of jerky,
some pinole.
Stove, lantern and supplies for same
1 cot, two tables, a card table and the one you know.
Three chairs. (we acquired a camp rocker without webbing. I was trying to reseat it with
some of that rubber tubing and I pulled so hard that I broke the chair.
If any of your friends have a good sized Dutch oven, try to borrow it.
We received a letter from Betty. She says that the girls can hardly wait. There was one
bit of bad news though. Robin, who is so very good in camp and who would be such a good
baby sitter, is in difficulties and may not go with us. Betty said that her grades had dropped off
and unless she got them back up before the end of the School term, she would have to go to
Summer school. She has just turned teen-------------.
We want to know just when you are leaving L.A. The reason we are going early is
because we are going to take it mighty easy on the road. Probably spend a day or two at
Boulder Dam. Then too Mother wants to visit a day or so with Betty before we go on.
Your itinerary looks good. There seems to be good camping places along that route so
that we won’t have to drive more that 150-200 miles or less on any day.
Break down and write. We would like your comments and itinerary between L.A. and
Tahoe.
Mother and I went to the Temple Wednesday and did Ordinance work for all the
Grandparents on the Mckay McGinnis side. Mother forgot to get the baptismal certificate date,
but the ordinance work was done on 1 June. Also for Verna, my oldest sister who is dead.
When you are ready to go the Temple we will do all the sealings at one time. If you don’t have
time to write, the telephone number is 326-0665
All Our Love,
Dad
Tucson, June 12, 1967
Hi:-
Received your letter, in fact we received a letter from everyone but David this past week. I am
reluctant to write a “decker” as it will be hard to keep my “good copy to writer” promise.
I do not care for some of your last projected itinerary. For instance you have by-passed
Shasta Lake, which is the place I had picked out to camp the second night from Betty’s. I
enclose a clipping about the fishing in that area which may make you change your mind. Your
map of Oregon is old. It does not show some of the better roads. Here is the way we have
tentatively planned. We can discuss it at Betty’s.
1st Day. Leave Betty’s as early as possible, (Grandma will undoubtedly want to stop at
Carson City to lose her small change) then to Lassen National Monument.
2nd Day. No rush. Leisurely breakfast. Drive to Shasta Lake, where there is dozens of
Camping Sites to choose from. Here we will stay as long as we wish. Grandpa has lost a lot of
his push, especially if the fishing is as good there as the enclosed article indicates.
3rd Day. Day or third camp. Drive north on 99 to Medford, (where I think there is a
commissary), turn off on 62 and camp at Union Creek, 19 miles from Crater lake, but down off
the mountain. It will be too cold for the Baby to camp right at Crater Lake.
4th Day. Early start. Drive up to Crater Lake. Take pictures, then down 138 to Eagle
rock. From here you can do the pushing. If the trout are biting I would just as soon stay here for
the duration.
There is nothing else of note here since I wrote you last. We don’t know what we will do
on our Anniversary.
All Our Love,
Dad
Received your letter, in fact we received a letter from everyone but David this past week. I am
reluctant to write a “decker” as it will be hard to keep my “good copy to writer” promise.
I do not care for some of your last projected itinerary. For instance you have by-passed
Shasta Lake, which is the place I had picked out to camp the second night from Betty’s. I
enclose a clipping about the fishing in that area which may make you change your mind. Your
map of Oregon is old. It does not show some of the better roads. Here is the way we have
tentatively planned. We can discuss it at Betty’s.
1st Day. Leave Betty’s as early as possible, (Grandma will undoubtedly want to stop at
Carson City to lose her small change) then to Lassen National Monument.
2nd Day. No rush. Leisurely breakfast. Drive to Shasta Lake, where there is dozens of
Camping Sites to choose from. Here we will stay as long as we wish. Grandpa has lost a lot of
his push, especially if the fishing is as good there as the enclosed article indicates.
3rd Day. Day or third camp. Drive north on 99 to Medford, (where I think there is a
commissary), turn off on 62 and camp at Union Creek, 19 miles from Crater lake, but down off
the mountain. It will be too cold for the Baby to camp right at Crater Lake.
4th Day. Early start. Drive up to Crater Lake. Take pictures, then down 138 to Eagle
rock. From here you can do the pushing. If the trout are biting I would just as soon stay here for
the duration.
There is nothing else of note here since I wrote you last. We don’t know what we will do
on our Anniversary.
All Our Love,
Dad
June 19, 1967
Dear “Smog Sniffers”,
Reference our conversation last night, (in the middle of the night”), here is the best I can
do on directions to Betty’s
1. As you come down the mountains and enter the South Lake Tahoe area, turn off
Highway 50 onto 89. You will notice a Super Market on your right just after you
make the turn, I think it is Safeway). Turn right on the second street after you pass
the market.
2. I don’t know the name of this street, but drive down it to the second intersection and
turn left. This should be the street Betty lives on. I don’t know the name of it either,
however Betty’s house should not be more than a block from the intersection. It has
a big vacant lot on one side, (facing you where you should see our tent. A two story
apartment is on the other side.
Now if after receiving these detailed, minute, explicit instructions you cannot find the
place, go back to the Super Market and call 541-2258. Some one will rescue you.
PS If you cannot find the place, I advise you a refresher course at the Police
Academy
PPSS Safeway store – Turn onto 89 to Tahoe City
Go down to 10th &Turn Right
Go 2 blocks & Turn Left on Eloise
Address is 780 Eloise
Reference our conversation last night, (in the middle of the night”), here is the best I can
do on directions to Betty’s
1. As you come down the mountains and enter the South Lake Tahoe area, turn off
Highway 50 onto 89. You will notice a Super Market on your right just after you
make the turn, I think it is Safeway). Turn right on the second street after you pass
the market.
2. I don’t know the name of this street, but drive down it to the second intersection and
turn left. This should be the street Betty lives on. I don’t know the name of it either,
however Betty’s house should not be more than a block from the intersection. It has
a big vacant lot on one side, (facing you where you should see our tent. A two story
apartment is on the other side.
Now if after receiving these detailed, minute, explicit instructions you cannot find the
place, go back to the Super Market and call 541-2258. Some one will rescue you.
PS If you cannot find the place, I advise you a refresher course at the Police
Academy
PPSS Safeway store – Turn onto 89 to Tahoe City
Go down to 10th &Turn Right
Go 2 blocks & Turn Left on Eloise
Address is 780 Eloise
Thursday, July 15, 2010
May 1967
3819 E Farr Pl., Tucson
Dear Family,
I don’t think Mother had such a good Mother’s Day. To begin with I did not get her a
present. I inserted a Promissory Note in her Mother’s Day card as follows-
I will “pop” for a show
When you say let’s go
I will buy you a dinner
Because you are a winner
I will give you a ten
When my pay check comes in.
So far I have paid everything but the show. I think she is a little reluctant about asking
me to take her to a second rate show, knowing my attitude. With her Mother’s Day “ten” she
bought a pair of socks, pardon me, hose, and gadgets for the house, what a present.
Then, by Mother’s Day she had only heard from three of the family. We went to church
and seeing other Mothers with their children and Grandchildren make her bluer still. She
expected phone calls that day especially from Marion and David, but nada! We hardly expected
anything from the Stobbes in as much as Rina had already given her a Mother’s Day present.
Lloyd called the next day and we received a nice long letter from David yesterday, which is the
reason for this decker. It seems he bought his Mother’s Day card two weeks in advance, then
lost it! Anyway David I am sure your letter more than made up to Mother.
David expects to be transferred soon to San Diego, where he will be further schooled
until September, when he will possibly be assigned Sea Duty. Hey Boy! How come you are
broke? When we were in S.F. you had money to loan. Those trips to Nevada must be
expensive, or have you been playing the slots? You should all see the nice, shiny, legible copy
of this letter David is getting. I just cleaned my typefaces and bought a new ribbon. You don’t
know what you are missing by not writing.
Betty, what was the idea of sending Mother that sleazy, slinky, diaphanous, short
connected, mini sided, night gown? You are wrong. My blood pressure will rise.
We are beginning to start to get ready to take off north. As the temperature climbs
Mother becomes more willing to go just anyplace where it is cool and possibly damp. I don’t
know what we are going to do. She hates it here, but just a thirty minute sun bath a day keeps
my chest clear. It is no more than right that we should live half the time where she can be
comfortable.
Que pasa Marion? We do hope that everything is “Bueno” at your house.
We are reading a new book called “A long Hot Summer” published at BYU about the
Mormon “Exodus” from Mexico. You should read it Bill. You will run across many familiar
names.
WRITERS GET GOOD COPIES.
Dad
Dear Family,
I don’t think Mother had such a good Mother’s Day. To begin with I did not get her a
present. I inserted a Promissory Note in her Mother’s Day card as follows-
I will “pop” for a show
When you say let’s go
I will buy you a dinner
Because you are a winner
I will give you a ten
When my pay check comes in.
So far I have paid everything but the show. I think she is a little reluctant about asking
me to take her to a second rate show, knowing my attitude. With her Mother’s Day “ten” she
bought a pair of socks, pardon me, hose, and gadgets for the house, what a present.
Then, by Mother’s Day she had only heard from three of the family. We went to church
and seeing other Mothers with their children and Grandchildren make her bluer still. She
expected phone calls that day especially from Marion and David, but nada! We hardly expected
anything from the Stobbes in as much as Rina had already given her a Mother’s Day present.
Lloyd called the next day and we received a nice long letter from David yesterday, which is the
reason for this decker. It seems he bought his Mother’s Day card two weeks in advance, then
lost it! Anyway David I am sure your letter more than made up to Mother.
David expects to be transferred soon to San Diego, where he will be further schooled
until September, when he will possibly be assigned Sea Duty. Hey Boy! How come you are
broke? When we were in S.F. you had money to loan. Those trips to Nevada must be
expensive, or have you been playing the slots? You should all see the nice, shiny, legible copy
of this letter David is getting. I just cleaned my typefaces and bought a new ribbon. You don’t
know what you are missing by not writing.
Betty, what was the idea of sending Mother that sleazy, slinky, diaphanous, short
connected, mini sided, night gown? You are wrong. My blood pressure will rise.
We are beginning to start to get ready to take off north. As the temperature climbs
Mother becomes more willing to go just anyplace where it is cool and possibly damp. I don’t
know what we are going to do. She hates it here, but just a thirty minute sun bath a day keeps
my chest clear. It is no more than right that we should live half the time where she can be
comfortable.
Que pasa Marion? We do hope that everything is “Bueno” at your house.
We are reading a new book called “A long Hot Summer” published at BYU about the
Mormon “Exodus” from Mexico. You should read it Bill. You will run across many familiar
names.
WRITERS GET GOOD COPIES.
Dad
Tucson May 3, 1967
Dear Family,
David gets the original copy. We were glad to hear from you David. Your letter broke
the cob webs in the mail box at our new address. I called Mrs. Lance to get the news of John
and she said to tell you that John made Radioman 3/C, that his sister Kelly? Kitty?, is in Russia
on some sort of Student exchange. She said that Rusty Moser is expected home from Viet Nam
very soon. The Lance Family is moving to Washington for good. She said she hopes to see
you if you go East. We heard that you bought a new Polaroid camera. How about having one of
the boys take your picture when you write next. Marion says you were gaining weight, but
Mother would like to see some concrete evidence of this. Have you any dope about future
orders? Keep us posted.
Mother just about has this house fixed to suit her. She can at least sit down and take a
rest once in a while. Her leg keeps hurting her. We are going to the doctor today. Maybe they
can do something about it. Her back has been bothering her too. The other day I was called by
my old boss to do a job for him in Casas Grandes and she mopped and waxed the floors while I
was gone. This is probably one of the reasons her back is hurting her.
Lloyd, did you find out anything about that exercise board? How about calling the
Chamber of Commerce in Compton. If you will get me an address I will order from here. Mother
insists that it did her a lot of good.
It has been sunny here, but we have had a cold wind. I wore my heaviest suit to church
Sunday. By the way they have a new set up at conference here. They have two morning
sessions dividing the wards. It is easy to get a soft seat. The afternoon session is for everybody
as a lot of people usually do not go.
This place is quite comfortable. I don’t know how it will be in the winter but I am already
shivering. It has no central heating and believe me we won’t go through another winter like we
did in the other house. We also have a hard time getting a bed just right for us. This one,
although just right for me, was too soft for Mother and hurt her back because she sunk in too
much. I solved this by laying some one inch by 12 boards across the center of the bed, (short
ways). Mother now sleeps comfortable, but, when one of us is in bed and the other sits down on
his or her end of the boards, he or she gets tossed. As I am the one in bed first, I am beginning
to feel like a “sputnik”.
We talked to Marta by phone since I wrote last. Lloyd was over the week end after we
were and helped them do the things we would like to have done. She said she was still feeling
pretty good. We hope she has not overdone on getting the home in shape.
Bill, David said you wrote him about building a catamaran to float on Paradise Lake. You
had better take it to the Flamingo Gorge where you can catch some fish.
WRITERS GET GOOD COPIES
All our Love, Dad
David gets the original copy. We were glad to hear from you David. Your letter broke
the cob webs in the mail box at our new address. I called Mrs. Lance to get the news of John
and she said to tell you that John made Radioman 3/C, that his sister Kelly? Kitty?, is in Russia
on some sort of Student exchange. She said that Rusty Moser is expected home from Viet Nam
very soon. The Lance Family is moving to Washington for good. She said she hopes to see
you if you go East. We heard that you bought a new Polaroid camera. How about having one of
the boys take your picture when you write next. Marion says you were gaining weight, but
Mother would like to see some concrete evidence of this. Have you any dope about future
orders? Keep us posted.
Mother just about has this house fixed to suit her. She can at least sit down and take a
rest once in a while. Her leg keeps hurting her. We are going to the doctor today. Maybe they
can do something about it. Her back has been bothering her too. The other day I was called by
my old boss to do a job for him in Casas Grandes and she mopped and waxed the floors while I
was gone. This is probably one of the reasons her back is hurting her.
Lloyd, did you find out anything about that exercise board? How about calling the
Chamber of Commerce in Compton. If you will get me an address I will order from here. Mother
insists that it did her a lot of good.
It has been sunny here, but we have had a cold wind. I wore my heaviest suit to church
Sunday. By the way they have a new set up at conference here. They have two morning
sessions dividing the wards. It is easy to get a soft seat. The afternoon session is for everybody
as a lot of people usually do not go.
This place is quite comfortable. I don’t know how it will be in the winter but I am already
shivering. It has no central heating and believe me we won’t go through another winter like we
did in the other house. We also have a hard time getting a bed just right for us. This one,
although just right for me, was too soft for Mother and hurt her back because she sunk in too
much. I solved this by laying some one inch by 12 boards across the center of the bed, (short
ways). Mother now sleeps comfortable, but, when one of us is in bed and the other sits down on
his or her end of the boards, he or she gets tossed. As I am the one in bed first, I am beginning
to feel like a “sputnik”.
We talked to Marta by phone since I wrote last. Lloyd was over the week end after we
were and helped them do the things we would like to have done. She said she was still feeling
pretty good. We hope she has not overdone on getting the home in shape.
Bill, David said you wrote him about building a catamaran to float on Paradise Lake. You
had better take it to the Flamingo Gorge where you can catch some fish.
WRITERS GET GOOD COPIES
All our Love, Dad
May 12, 1967
Dear Family,
Betty went bond for this decker and our face is very red. Two birthdays were celebrated
at the Rice home last month and we forgot both of them. Robin and Renee, we want to make a
public apology for our forgetfulness and promise to try to make it up to you when we see you.
Anyway Congratulations Robin and Renee. It seems like yesterday that we peeked through the
glass at St. Mary’s Hospital at a puckered face infant who is now our teen aged Robin. Stay
with it Robin! It is a hard row to hoe, but if your mother did it, I am sure that you too someday
can show off the babies at the Hospital, among your other duties as a nurse.
Congratulations to Bob on his promotion to Assistant Manager of the Engineering
Department at Harrah’s Club. I never thought I would see the day that he would stand hitched in
a white collar job. What is this bit about him being appointed (or elected) “commodore of the
Flotilla”? Do you now click your heels, salute and say “Aye Aye Sir”? I am very glad that you
have found an activity that you and the whole family can engage in. It is too bad that you don’t
have more nice weather for boating.
Here I went to all the trouble of giving all of you the address of each member of the
family and you throw it in the ash can. David’s address is. David has not telephone. You can
reach him by calling the Locator section of T.I. they leave him a message to call you. His
address or part of it (enough to get him) is Class 6707 SAW, ETA,
T.I. San Francisco 94103.
By the way David, you were doing really good with your letter writing and all of a sudden
you stopped. Is writing to Nevada taking all your time? Carl Uda, the son of friends in Hawaii
has been transferred to T.I. If you have time we would like for you to look him up. His mother is
a good friend of yours. You should find him through Locator. He too is ETA.
The doctor told Mother that her knee trouble was due to poor circulation. He said she
should get as much exercise as she can without overdoing. We have been playing golf at least
twice a week. She does a lot of complaining when she gets on the course about this and that
not being just right, but she managed to clean my clock the first 9 holes. She begins to “poop
up” (as Lane would say) about the 15th hole and I pass her.
The little golf course we now play is now managed by a couple of Mormon boys from
Logan Utah. We were talking to them yesterday about how much a Golf Course was need in
Guadalajara and one of them made plain reservations to go look it over. Maybe we can go
down and help if he decides to build one there.
Lloyd, we called Marta the other evening about things we might have left at her house
and she told us about your efforts to locate one of those exercise boards. I am sure you did
everything possible. I guess they are just not out on the market. Thanks anyway.
I am in a quandary about what to get Mother for Mother’s Day. I have promised I will
take her to a show, for one thing. You all know how much of a concession that is!
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Betty went bond for this decker and our face is very red. Two birthdays were celebrated
at the Rice home last month and we forgot both of them. Robin and Renee, we want to make a
public apology for our forgetfulness and promise to try to make it up to you when we see you.
Anyway Congratulations Robin and Renee. It seems like yesterday that we peeked through the
glass at St. Mary’s Hospital at a puckered face infant who is now our teen aged Robin. Stay
with it Robin! It is a hard row to hoe, but if your mother did it, I am sure that you too someday
can show off the babies at the Hospital, among your other duties as a nurse.
Congratulations to Bob on his promotion to Assistant Manager of the Engineering
Department at Harrah’s Club. I never thought I would see the day that he would stand hitched in
a white collar job. What is this bit about him being appointed (or elected) “commodore of the
Flotilla”? Do you now click your heels, salute and say “Aye Aye Sir”? I am very glad that you
have found an activity that you and the whole family can engage in. It is too bad that you don’t
have more nice weather for boating.
Here I went to all the trouble of giving all of you the address of each member of the
family and you throw it in the ash can. David’s address is. David has not telephone. You can
reach him by calling the Locator section of T.I. they leave him a message to call you. His
address or part of it (enough to get him) is Class 6707 SAW, ETA,
T.I. San Francisco 94103.
By the way David, you were doing really good with your letter writing and all of a sudden
you stopped. Is writing to Nevada taking all your time? Carl Uda, the son of friends in Hawaii
has been transferred to T.I. If you have time we would like for you to look him up. His mother is
a good friend of yours. You should find him through Locator. He too is ETA.
The doctor told Mother that her knee trouble was due to poor circulation. He said she
should get as much exercise as she can without overdoing. We have been playing golf at least
twice a week. She does a lot of complaining when she gets on the course about this and that
not being just right, but she managed to clean my clock the first 9 holes. She begins to “poop
up” (as Lane would say) about the 15th hole and I pass her.
The little golf course we now play is now managed by a couple of Mormon boys from
Logan Utah. We were talking to them yesterday about how much a Golf Course was need in
Guadalajara and one of them made plain reservations to go look it over. Maybe we can go
down and help if he decides to build one there.
Lloyd, we called Marta the other evening about things we might have left at her house
and she told us about your efforts to locate one of those exercise boards. I am sure you did
everything possible. I guess they are just not out on the market. Thanks anyway.
I am in a quandary about what to get Mother for Mother’s Day. I have promised I will
take her to a show, for one thing. You all know how much of a concession that is!
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
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