Davis of Iowa - Appendix Three

APPENDIX THREE

MY PARENTS AND MY SIBLINGS

MY PARENTS –

My father was born at home in Yadkin County, North Carolina on March 11, 1913. Where his father farmed, raising primarily tobacco. When father was two years his parents decided to relocate their family of six to IA where farming was more rewarding and the schools better. They moved in with relatives in Union, Iowa until they located a nearby farm to rent. The farm had a very large house, which unfortunately was destroyed by fire in February 1917. The family lost all of their belongings as well as the coming year’s seed corn. The family lived in a temporary storage building while farming in 1917. In November 1917, when dad was not yet five years old his parents decided to return to North Carolina. In January 1919 the family decided to return to Iowa once again. My father accompanied his father, older sister Safrona and older brother Howard on the return to Iowa. Father’s mother, two sisters and one brother stayed in North Carolina until dad’s brother Thomas was born. Two months after Thomas’ birth the five of them traveled to Iowa to rejoin the family.

My father began school in September 1920 at a country school south of Union, Iowa. The family moved several times with dad and his brothers and sisters attending various country schools. In 1923 the family moved to near Clemons, Iowa where the family attended and most of them graduated from Clemons High School. Father contracted osteomyelitis in about 1931 which required several months of hospitalization at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Because he lost so much of his school year, he dropped out of high school upon recovery from his surgery. He located a job as a hired man working on a farm directly across the road from where mom lived with her parents on the then Ware family farm.

My mother was born on December 23, 1912 probably in their home on the Marshalltown family farm. She was raised primarily on the family farm except for her first five years, when her family lived in Marshalltown and her father worked as a carpenter. That was the time of WW I but I am not aware of any of her relatives being in the military service at that time nor that being the reason the family moved to Marshalltown. Also, we don’t know who farmed the home place between 1913 and 1918.

My mother attended school the nearby one-room country school enrolling in the fall of 1918 and completed her first eight years there, most likely walking to school as soon as she was old enough to walk the ¼ mile to school and to return to home. She then attended Marshalltown Senior High School for her next four years graduating in 1931. My mother probably lived with family or friends in Marshalltown while attending school there, maybe even working for the party where she stayed or part-time in a local store. Upon graduating from high school, mom enrolled at William Penn University from where her older brother and older sister had recently graduated. She however, transferred to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa where she earned a two-year elementary teaching certificate in 1933. My mother was then employed as the teacher at the Hurricane #5 country school close to the family farm. She lived at home while teaching there.

My father and mother met, dated, fell in love and married on August 31, 1934. However, since my mother’s employment as a primary grades teacher required her to be unwed, she and he kept their wedding a secret. They lived apart for that school year. Because, I was to be born in August 1935, mother did not renew her teaching contract upon the competition of that school year. My father was then employed as a hired man near Marshalltown so my parents moved into a local rental for the first year of my life. My parents then moved in with her parents in the spring of 1936 as dad and mom began renting the Ware Family Farm at that time.

My mother died in the Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, IA of cardiac failure on December 15, 1988. My father died June 18, 1996 in his home of prostate cancer which metastasized into his bones. They are both buried in the family plot of the Hartland, IA cemetery.

MY SIBLINGS -

RALPH & RUTH DAVIS’ CHILDREN

Witten by themselves, other than Bob and Nancy’s which were written by their spouses,

children and/or brother Jim

Gerald Robert (Bob) Davis (December 15, 1936 – October 9, 2013)

Bob was born December 15, 1936 at the Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, IA. He was just 16 months younger than Jim. They grew up together sharing toys, playmates and events. Bob began helping Jim with chores as soon as he was able during those early years. Bob started school two years later than Jim, as one needed to be five years old to begin school. Bob and Jim walked to and from school together. As his older brother, Jim looked after him. Bob occasionally needed help with his studies and Jim was there for him. As he was able, Bob accepted more responsibility for the chores, field work and other farm tasks. He was a good worker and eager to learn. As Jim accepted more responsibility and more difficult assignments, Bob would take over some of my jobs.

When, Jim’s pony Rusty, foal of Beauty, was ready to ride, Bob was about seven years old. He became Beauty’s primary rider and care giver. He, our sisters and our guests, would ride Beauty around the farm. Bob, also participated in both the LaMoille basketball and baseball teams. His athletic skills were probably about average as were the rest of his team-mates. In as much as the school district his family lived in was considered “an independent district” his parents could send their children to any school in IA without an additional cost. Bob and his younger siblings decided along with their parents to attend the Clemons Consolidated School located about ten miles northwest of his home beginning in the fall of 1952. Bob graduated in 1954 from Clemons. Bob enrolled in Iowa State College – now ISU – for the fall 1954 term. He rented an apartment in a nearby private residence and chose Farm Operations as a possible major. Jim was enrolled in engineering and living in the Acacia Fraternity at that time. Bob and Jim socialized and kept in touch with each other. Jim offered to help him with his studies whenever he needed some help.

However, college did not work for Bob. At the end of the first quarter, he decided to drop out of ISU and to enlist in the Army-actually he volunteered for the draft. This was during the Korean War. He was sent to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After basic training, Bob chose the Army Airborne and was assigned to the 101^st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Bob, enjoyed a week of leave between his basic training and reporting to Fort Campbell. While training for the paratroops, Bob made his first parachute jump. He then decided that “paratrooping” was not something he wanted to do after all. He was able to transfer to the Military Police (MP) at Fort Campbell. He enjoyed the MP and completed his two year tour as a MP.

Bob and Vieve Galloway were married in the LaMoille Methodist Church on July 21, 1955. Jim was honored to be Bob’s best man. Bob and Vieve returned to Fort Campbell for the completion of Bob’s enlistment. Bob and Vieve’s first child, Kindra was born November 27, 1956. They were not able to return to Iowa for Christmas 1957. However, Jim would finish his USMC Basic School assignment in Quantico, Virginia in February 1957 and would be driving from Virginia to his next duty station in California with a planned several day stop in Iowa to see our parents. Since none of Kindra’s four grandparents had met Kindra, Bob arranged for Jim to drive to Ft. Campbell on his way from Virginia to Iowa and to have Vieve and Kindra accompany Jim on to Iowa. Kindra was the Davis grandparents first grandchild. After Vieve and Kindra’s visit to Iowa, Bob’s mom and dad drove them back to Ft. Campbell where they lived until Bob’s two year tour was completed.

Bob, Vieve and Kindra returned to Iowa and began farming a rented, farm just north of Hartland, IA. Kraig was born June 29, 1958. Bob and Vieve rented several central Iowa farms the following twenty three years. Their family grew to four with two daughters, Kindra born on June 29, 1958 and Kyla born on November 17, 1959 and a son, Keith who was born on June 27, 1963. Bob, Vieve and family spent most of their time on a large farm immediately west of Nevada, IA where all four of their children graduated from Nevada schools.

Kindra married Barry Jones on July 21, 1978 in the Methodist church in Nevada. Barry was employed at the Heart of Iowa grain elevator in Nevada. Kindra and Barry had two daughters, Amber born July 19, 1981 and Ashley born September 20, 1982. Amber had a son, Kaine born February 13, 2007. Amber married Jim Albright on March 21, 2017. On February 12, 2020 Amber delivered a baby girl, Lillian Vieve - appropriately named for her grandmother.

On May 14, 1983 I was visiting Bob for a few days at their home in Nevada and attending meetings at ISU. On that Sunday morning Bob learned that Kindra had been in an auto accident earlier that morning and was in Mary Greely Hospital. Bob and I rushed to the hospital. Her husband, Barry was there. Amber and Ashley fortunately were not in the car at the time of the accident. They were safely asleep with their grandparents, at Bob and Vieve’s house.

As the result of severe spinal injuries from the accident, Kindra lost the use of her legs and has been confined to a wheel chair ever since. She is blessed with a wonderful personality and has accepted her fate with dignity, bravery and perseverance. She found part-time employment at the Nevada School system. She is reasonably mobile with her auto and powered wheel chair which she graduated to in 2018. Barry, worked his entire career as an employee of KeyCoop. He was a valued employee and is frequently called back to work as a temporary employee. They are retired and continue living in Nevada. Kraig attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical School in Prescott, AZ for two years but then left that and began working for Honeywell in Mesa, AZ.

Kraig was married to Tomiko April 2, 1988 at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, Arizona. Kraig and Tomiko had two children, Lauren, born on October 13, 1991 and Austin born on August 21, 1993. Kraig and Tomiko were divorced in 2011. Kraig worked his entire career in the aeronautical manufacturing field, always in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. He is now retired and living in Phoenix. Kyla attended Patricia Stevens Business College, Omaha, NE from September 1978 to May 1980. She was then employed by a small engineering firm in Omaha.. She subsequently made her career as a nanny caring for young ones - as they are the delight of her life – many of those years were in greater Boston, MA and for the past eight years in the Des Moines area. She owns a home in nearby Ankeny, IA. Keith married Denise Holzmer on August 30, 1986 in the Nevada Methodist Church. Keith completed two years of DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) was employed by Grainger in Des Moines for 13 years. He then moved to a nearby ethanol plant as the maintenance manager of the newly constructed plant. Keith left that position in 2011 and is now a Field Service Representive with Danfoss. Denise has worked her entire adult life, as a cosmetologist, a real estate agent and currently as the office manager/receptionist/chief honcho/”Greeter” for the Iowa State University Foundation in Ames. They built a home adjacent to Bob’s home in Nevada. Keith and Denise have two sons, Zachary, born June 10, 1989 and Kolin, born July 23, 1991. Zachary married Logan Pejsha on October 17, 2015. They have three children: Jax, born September 6, 2014, Tatum, born September 8, 2017 and Ryan, born February 27, 2019. They now own and live in their grandfather “Bob’s” house adjacent to Zachary’s parents. Kolin married Morgan Shickell on September 16, 2017. They have a daughter, Grace, born August 31, 2020. They reside in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Bob and Vieve were divorced in 1987. Bob married Janice Heiberger on December 28, 1988 at the Marshalltown Methodist church. Unfortunately, while returning from a visit to Des Moines on June 15, 1989 they were in an auto accident when an on-coming driver veered into their lane and hit the right side of Bob’s car killing Janice outright. Bob “retired” from farming in 1981. He built a new home on old Route 30 about one mile east of Nevada. He drove a school bus for the Nevada school system for many years after that.. Bob built a “ware” home (a combination three bay, high clearance, oversized garage with a single level approximate 1000 square feet attached wing) which he finished off as comfortable living quarters located about one-half mile south of Nevada on Farmland that he owned. He subsequently sold a two acre contiguous parcel to his son Keith and Keith’s wife Denise on which they built their lovely residence.

In October 2013., I was visiting Bob at his home and reconnecting with family and ISU Chemical Engineering Department, while staying with Bob. Francine drove to Bob’s place from Minneapolis on Saturday morning October 5^th. The three of us drove in Bob’s car to Oskaloosa, Iowa to attend a William Penn University (WPU) awards ceremony. The ceremony among other things included the recognition of the Howard and Emma Ware family – mother’s father and mother - with the WPU Torch Award. We spent the evening and the following morning in Oskaloosa and drove back to Bob’s home about noon on Sunday. Fran and I said our good byes to Bob and headed to Minneapolis early that afternoon.

Later that afternoon, Bob decided to do some work in one of his buildings across the road that he had built and rented as storage space to individuals who need to store their boat, extra car or whatever for the winter. He had arranged to meet one of his renters there that afternoon. While waiting for his renter, Bob decided to replace a burned out light bulb that was about 12 feet above the concrete floor. As he descended the ladder, after replacing the lightbulb, his foot missed a rung and he fell to the floor, hitting his head. He lost consciousness. He recovered consciousness, sat on a bench for a bit and called Denise, his daughter-in-law who lived across the street. Denise rushed over to see him. He told Denise he had only fallen from the second rung of the ladder and was OK. Never-the-less, Denise wisely said no we are going to the emergency room in Nevada – about 2 miles away. Preliminary evaluations concluded that Bob had a blood vessel(s) broken in his brain and he needed more care than could be provided by that medical care facility. They transferred him to the Mercy hospital in Des Moines. They asked Bob if he wanted to go by air flight or by ambulance. The medical team evaluating him apparently did not impress on him the need to go by air, so he chose to go by ambulance which was only minutes longer than the air flight, but significantly less expensive. During the 30 minute ambulance ride, Bob lost consciousness and never recovered it.

Bob was kept in the hospital for a day and then transferred to a hospice facility in Ames, as the decision was made that surgery, the only possible remedy, was ill-advised. Bob lasted three more days with family in continual presence. He died peacefully, with family by him on October 9, 2013. Bob was buried at the Rose Hill cemetery located on the south east outskirts of Marshalltown. The internment attended only by family was favored by rifle Honor Guard salute, from Harry C Harter VFW Post 839, arranged by brother Dick Davis.

By daughters Kindra and Kyla and by brother Jim

Beverly JoAnn (Davis) Everist (July 16, 1938 - )

In July of 1938 I was born into a marvelous family. It was at that time Mother and Daddy (always called them that) and 2 brothers, James Howard and Gerald Robert. Both had nick names of Jimmy and Bobby and as the years went by I had my own names for them. Jimmy was almost 3 and Bobby was going to be 2 in December. According to Mother and Aunt Bea I had 2 brothers that wanted to help take care of me all the time. I was healthy and have great memories of the life on the farm!! We lived in the same house all of my growing up years, 2 story with the 4 bed rooms upstairs and the one down stairs. I was lucky enough to have my own room for a while. More will be added later.

We had a country school house that we attended and then bussed to LaMoille where I went thru my sophomore year of high school and then to Clemons consolidated for my last 2 years of high school. We had a country church which we attended every Sunday with both Sunday school and church. Home-made ice cream socials were held frequently and they were such fond memories with the men all cranking the ice cream freezers until the electric powered freezers came along. And we had chicken burgers – something that no one seems to know about if they did not live in our part of the country!!

I was a 4 H member, both boys and girls clubs, more good memories of the boys club. Daddy let us choose our project and mine was always a Hereford calf that we had responsibility to raise, to feed and groom and to train them to be led. It was a powerful project, teaching us many things from care of animals and how to manage the money when we sold the calves at the county fair. A very tough part of this was leading the calf in the show ring on the final day of the fair where an auctioneer would be selling your loved calf. I remember the auctioneer saying “IT WILL BE OKAY BLONDIE” as I was crying when I led calf in the ring. However, it was my money when the calf was sold. I put it the money in my college education fund. The girls 4 H was great also but most of us preferred the boys club because of the outdoors. And it was such fun being at the fairgrounds, with all the activities during that week.

School was great, had many friends thru all the activities, girls basketball, band, glee club etc. Speaking of band, I played alto saxophone and that is when I met Allan. He also played the alto sax and told me when I met him that I would never get First Chair as that was his and he was right, but I did get to have Second Chair. We had great fun with all the extra-curricular activities. I strongly feel I had a good education. I did well in school and know my parents were proud of my report cards!! I detasseled corn in the summers and worked for a Dr. in his home in Marshalltown helping with the children and their activities. Thank goodness as this paid for my nurses education. I graduated from the Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines, IA. This was a 3 year program with no summer breaks. It was a good decision for me as Allan and I had been dating through high school and he had one year of college left at Iowa State. My choice was to be married 10 days after my graduation so I could get a job in Ames and help with Allan’s finances for his last year of education. He was enrolled in Army ROTC and had a 2 year obligation in the service after his graduation, so this was our best plan. I was fortunate to get a job at McFarland Clinic in Ames, rotating thru each department so that nurse could have a day off. I managed the front desk on Saturdays and that is what real experience is all about, handling so many different problems. A great beginning to my career and it was very rewarding.

Allan and I left for Fort Riley Kansas a few days after his graduation and commissioning. What an adventure. He was instructor for the basic training of new recruits. We found a lovely apartment, moved in and because of a little problem stayed only one night. The next day we moved a furnished duplex in Manhattan, KS (the opposite side of the base). It was a little frightening for me that first day, when on a walk to the nearby grocery store, three soldiers grabbed my arms and pressured me to go home with them. Hence, the very quick move. The Manhattan apartment was within walking distance of Kansas State where I got a job immediately at the Student Health Center. Another eye opening experience. We spent 3 months at Ft. Riley and then moved to Fort Lawton in Oklahoma where Allan spent the rest of his 2 year commitment. Great friends were made there with whom we are still in touch.

Upon completion of his service, Allan was hired by the Farm Credit Federal Land Bank and started his career in Iowa City, IA, a few days after our return from Oklahoma. I was pregnant with our first child so I did not look for employment when we moved to Iowa City. Our son was born December 24, 1961. Michael Allan was the prize and was born on the day he was due. I am sure he has not been late for anything since. We had a great time with our new addition and we had church friends with whom we spent a lot of time with as they had a baby girl the same age as our Michael.

We were soon transferred to Cedar Rapids, IA by The Federal Land Bank and loved it there. We bought a house with a huge yard loaded with fruit trees and with plenty of room for the friends of Mikes that loved to be outside. Frequently, the boys would not have time to come into the house for the bathroom and Mike explained to me it was okay because his “Grandad did the same in his field”!!! What could I say?

We soon were saddened as our 2nd pregnancy, a baby girl we named Michelle Lynn, at one day-old was flown to Iowa City University Hospital. When she was fed the first time they soon learned that found she had no connection from esophagus to the stomach. Additionally, pneumonia immediately became a problem. We lost her 8 days later. The loss of Michelle was very traumatic for all of us.

We got pregnant shortly thereafter and our 2nd baby girl, Jolinda Ann was born on August 3. 1966. She was a healthy happy baby for which we were so thankful. We had such fun in Cedar Rapids as it was a neighborhood with young children and with our large yard it seemed we always had the activity at our home.

Allan was soon promoted to the Farm Credit Bank central office in Omaha, NE where the kids both went to school at Prairie Lane and Westside High School. Mike became interested in flying during high school and took private flying lessons. He had his private pilot’s license before he was 16 years old Thus after high school graduation he was off to school at Embry Riddle Aeronautical in Prescott, AZ. He began his career after graduation from Embry Riddle at Grand Canyon Charter Tours. He also was a flying instructor at the Las Vegas Airport. I may not have the next few years exact but he had a jobs with Air Midwest, TWA - as the youngest pilot they had hired - and then with United Airlines, where he is now a Captain flying out of Denver, CO

Jolinda was in 9th grade in Omaha, when Allan was a promoted to increased responsibility at the Louisville, KY office of the Federal Land Bank. Jolinda had just made the high school cheer leading group so was hard for her to be happy about the move. Regardless, we moved and she was an excellent student there as well. Upon graduation, she enrolled in Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana. She graduated in four years and then travelled to Florida with a couple student friends. She was hired as a hotel guest desk attendant at the Hyatt Regency in Miami. Thus began her career with the hotel industry where she has done very well. She has had jobs with a small boutique hotel on Miami Beach, then began with Omni Hotels in Texas, then Four Seasons in Texas and now in Denver. She also now has concurrent responsibility for the staffing of the Four Seasons Hotel in Nashville, TN which was under construction. She will be Senior Director of Marketing there as well as Denver. What an experience!!

Michael married Cindy Gunnels and they were proud parents of 2 girls, Alexandria Elise born July 15, 1991 and Madison Ellen born June 11, 1994! Even though Ali was born the day before my birthday I consider her the best gift I have ever received!! Both girls have been a blessing! Ali graduated from university of Colorado in Boulder and Madi from Ft Lewis College in Durango, CO! Both girls have had great careers and made Allan and I feel very proud! Ali was married to Jimmy Forsyth on September 9, 2020. They both worked from home during the Covid outbreak and with that advantage they bought a house in Durango, CO and have since made their home there! They have had a baby girl (Olive James) on August 7 2022! She was given Allan’s mother’s name Olive which has been such a blessing! One of many given to me. I am so thankful!

Mike and Cindy were divorced and Mike was married to Lizette Stuber December 27, 2011! They are both United Airline captains and continue to make their home in Golden, CO! Mike is a volunteer for Alpine Rescue and should write a book about his many experiences and years there! Jolinda was married to David Cohavi and had their first child, Jaden Davis! They were divorced when Jaden was an infant! Jaden is a sophomore in Golden High School and did a year of virtual education while living in Nashville with his mother. They have moved back to Golden and Jaden is a sophomore at Golden High School!

We have been blessed with such wonderful children and grand-children. They are in my daily prayers!

Allan and I had 62 years of marriage and many great experiences. We both loved to travel and enjoyed many driving trips in the United States and many cruises, using several different cruise lines. We did get to do all that we wanted except for France which had to be cancelled. Our travels with the family were the highlight of all. We have been very fortunate and thank God every day for the life we have had.

I will end on a sad note, Allan died May 23 2021. It was a peaceful death which one has to be thankful for. Many of my friends are going thru the same and have been there for me. It is a part of my life that I must think of all the great memories that I will always have.

By Beverly Everist

Nancy Eileen (Davis) McLemore (December 18, 1940 – May 6, 2018)

Nancy was born December 18, 1940 at the Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, IA. Being the fourth of soon to be six siblings, Nancy had both older and younger siblings to experience help from older siblings and taking care of younger siblings. She started school in 1946 and attended our near-by country school house for one year. She transferred to the LaMoille Consolidated School, joining brothers Jim and Bob and sister Beverly in 1947. Nancy was a good student, she participated in both the LaMoille basketball teams. Her athletic skills were about average as were the rest of her team mates. As she was able, Nancy accepted more responsibility for duties in the house, helping mom and with the chores, field work and other farm tasks. She was a good worker and eager to learn. As Bob and Beverly accepted more responsibility and more difficult assignments, Nancy would assume responsibility for their jobs.

In as much as the school district in which her family lived was “an independent district” the parents living in that district could send their children to any school in IA without an additional cost. Bob and his younger siblings decided along with their parents to attend the Clemons Consolidated School located about ten miles northwest of our home beginning with the fall of 1952. Nancy graduated in 1958 from Clemons. Nancy enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) in the fall 1958 term. She lived in the girls dorm and chose primary education as a major. Nancy graduated from ISTC with a two year (four year?) degree and began teaching second grade in the Rochester, MN public school system.

In the fall of 1965, Nancy and her good friend and fellow Rochester teacher, Betty Cox, visited her older brother Jim and family, who had moved to Minneapolis that summer. During the visit Nancy and Betty became interested in following up on an advertisement in the local newspaper announcing plans to hire primary grade teachers for a military base located in the South Pacific on the Kwajalein Atoll. In the process, Nancy was offered the job she wanted teaching second grade but Betty was not offered a job. Nancy advised the employment company that she would not accept the job unless Betty was also employed by them on Kwajalein. Betty was then offered employment and they both made plans to move from Rochester, MN to Kwajalein Island.

Kwajalein Island and is on the Kwajalein Atoll and is only three miles long and half a mile wide and was primarily occupied by U.S. military and defense operations, including recovering ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) parts from the lagoon, a relatively shallow part of the Pacific Ocean. Kwajalein Atoll is about 210 miles around the lagoon. The native population was Marshallese and fairly small.

On Kwajalein, Nancy met Neal McLemore, a “Rambling Wreck” from Georgia Tech, who was a civilian contractor working for Kentron Hawaii, Ltd. Neal’s primary responsibility on Kwajalein was range operations. Neal was three years older than Nancy and had two sons, Kevin, born April 19, 1958 and Shaun, born August 18, 1959 in a previous marriage, who were living with their mother in Sacramento, CA. Nancy and Betty taught school on Kwajalein for four years and Betty for three years. Neal and Nancy moved from Kwajalein to Huntsville, AL where Neal continued working for Kentron performing defense industry work.

Nancy introduced Neal to her family at a family reunion held at brother Jim’s place in Upper Arlington, OH in July 1968. They were married in Marshalltown, IA at the Methodist church on September 7, 1968. After a short honeymoon they returned to Huntsville, AL where Neal continued to work for Kentron. Nancy began teaching second grade at Randolph Academy, a private school in Huntsville. One of the students at the school at that time was Werner von Braun's son.

Neal, Colin and Nancy

On July 31, 1970 their son Colin was born. Nancy taught school and Neal worked in Huntsville until the summer of 1972. Neal accepted a Kentron position on Kwajalein and the family of three moved back to the South Pacific for a six year assignment. Nancy again taught school on Kwajalein.

In 1978 Neal accepted a Kentron job as Site Manager for the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) at Hill AFB, UT and the family moved to UT. Again, Nancy taught primary school, this time in Kaysville, UT. While living there Nancy and Neal hosted winter/Christmas/skiing Davis Family reunions in both 1978 and 1980. These were great family reunions, piling into Nancy and Neal’s home, enjoying a big fire, sleeping on the floor and many of the family learning to ski.

Kentron then proposed that Neal transfer back to Kwajalein. However, Neal accepted employment with Boeing in 1985 so the family moved to Kent, WA, where Neal engaged in a number of interesting assignments. The most recent was in classified electronics work on Boeing’s 747 planes for military uses sold to international customers. They purchased a lovely two story walkout ranch which had a large auxiliary building in which Neal immediately set up a large, heated garage where Neal and Colin rebuilt classic cars, trucks and handled other mechanical challenges.

Colin graduated from Kent High School in 1988 and enrolled in Washington State University. He majored in business and embarked on a successful entrepreneurial career by founding his own automotive related manufacturing and sales company, MACS TIEDOWNS. Colin moved his business to Sand Point, ID. Colin has twin sons, Cody and Jackson, born February 23, 2010. Nancy, retired from teaching with the move to Washington and began a new career in real estate sales.

Nancy was unfortunately challenged by cancer on three occasions. The first encounter was lymphatic cancer. After two bouts of chemotherapy, she was eventually treated with a Monoclonal Antibody transplant in at University of Washington Hospital/Fred Hutchinson Institute. This treatment was considered experimental at that time which required Neal and Nancy to get special medical insurance coverage from Boeing’s medical benefits department. The second cancer was breast cancer which required chemotherapy and radiation. This cancer returned in her leg after a year or so and broke her right femur. This required a rod to be inserted into her femur. She fought this off and the cancer returned again and required another operation to remove it from her leg. The third cancer was pancreatic in 2017. Nancy fought this for a year. Despite this gallant last cancer fight Nancy, died of pancreatic cancer on May 6, 2018.

Nancy and Neal enjoyed their marriage and its many adventures. These included many scuba dives together in Kwajalein, and a wonderful vacation to Australia and New Zealand with Nancy’s parents, Ralph and Ruth joined them. In Huntsville they hiked the Appalachian Trail. While in Washington they enjoyed many wonderful times cruising on their boat on Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and the Gulf Islands in Canada. They also pursued harvesting/trapping crabs during some of these cruises and eating these freshly caught treats that same evening.

By husband Neal, son Colin and Jim Davis

Ralph Richard (Dick) Davis (December 29, 1942 - )

Dick was born December 29, 1942, 2:41 PM at the Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, IA. His Mom wrote, “I knew you would be a boy because you were born on a Tuesday.” Dad said, “The doctor charged me $ 45 for a delivery fee, but I had visited Ruth and the new baby and was leaving the hospital when he came in. Dick was the 5^th child and the 3^rd son. All living in the house that Ruth was born and raised in.

Chores were all part of farm life, and the complexity stayed the same as we kids grew into them. The Davis family had milk cows, chickens (both laying hens and butchers), hogs, feeder cattle, and every few years sheep, and the horse herd which numbered 23 at one time. The horses were the only animals that didn’t require daily care. We rode but not often or on a regular schedule. Sometimes we helped neighbors with cattle herds as we were the only horse holders in the community. When asked why he had the horses Dad often responded that he just liked to watch them run and play in the pasture.

The six siblings had the same home all through high school, but schools attended were Hurricane # 5, a single room building ¼ mile away {Mom was a Student, Teacher and Mother of Students}, Lamoille, 6 miles south of our home, Marshalltown High School (Jim went his senior year as he wanted chemistry – not available at Lamoille) Clemons, 9 miles NW of our home and State Center 13 miles SW of our home. Nobody was expelled! After I graduated from Clemons and ranked # 4 of a class of 13 {All but one of which came to our 50^th year High School reunion). At Clemons everybody did just about everything: baseball, basketball, band, chorus, and debate team.

I was presented my High School Diploma by the President of the School Board Ralph W. Davis who dropped out of CHS during his sophomore year because he lost so much of the year due to months spent in Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN recovering from massive surgery on his leg.

I enrolled at Iowa State University, selected Navy ROTC – every able male at land grant colleges had to take at least 2 years of ROTC. Soon after starting I found some of my NROTC shipmates were getting paid and having books, tuition provided. I asked oldest brother Jim why didn’t he tell me about this program? Well, you would have to serve TWO extra years of active duty! SO?

Annual Navy Ball celebrated by Judy and Dick 1964, Ames Iowa

I graduated from ISU on November 25, 1964, and the same day I was commissioned Ensign USN, and headed for NAS Pensacola FL for Pre-Flight Training. I completed Pre Flight (broken ankle) VT-1 {T-34}, Primary Flight, VT-2 {T-28}, and Intermediate Flight, then flew to Iowa for a weekend to marry Judith Jane Sawyer, my ISU Sweetheart. The wedding party included her sisters Tomi and Jo Ellen, my sisters Nancy and Jaynane and Brother Bob, Brother-in-Law Allan Everist and cousin Darrel Davis and returned to Pensacola for VT-5 (T-28C) carrier qualification. We went home for Christmas with family and then proceeded to Corpus TX for Advance Flight Multiengine (TS2A) and Winging Ceremony pinned on by aforementioned Judy. Headed for NAS Lemoore Calif for A-1H / J Attack Training. Lots of good times in that group. After 6 months headed for Fleet Squadron, Attack Squadron 176 at Jacksonville FL. I joined the squadron when they triumphantly returned from a cruise on USS Intrepid where they earned the nick name MiG Killers as prop bombers shot down jet MiGs. We cruised on the USS Saratoga to the Mediterranean Sea, during which the USS Liberty was attacked by Israelis and the Achille Lauri was attacked by terrorist both of which we were involved in counter strike plans. Judy joined the Executive Officers Wife and her three boys to follow the ship as we hit ports around the Med. Obviously the port schedule was in jeopardy because of world events.

Upon return to Jacksonville in an 18 Plane V formation (we lost two aircraft on cruise) the Navy retired the SPADS and I was sent to VA-43 NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA for Jet Transition (TA-4) followed by A6A Replacement Air Group Intruder Training (VA-42) also at Oceana. Next, we reported to VA-35 (A6A) at Oceana. When I Checked in, I told the XO that Judy was expecting, I called him the next morning and reported I was not at work because Judy had given birth to Richard Weldon Davis on September 26, 1968.

The turnaround training cycle of VA-35 was horrible. I believe that an overly extreme aggressive leadership pushed the members to foolish and dangerous decisions. We lost 3 aircraft and 5 aircrew in 4 months. We then cruised to the Tonkin Gulf aboard the USS Coral Sea and engaged in combat operations for over 8 months and lost 1 A/C and crew due to operational loss. At the end of that cruise, I was ordered to “Shore Duty” at VA-128 NAS Whidbey Island, WA where I Instructed Intruder pilots and welcomed Jason Robert Davis, born March 29, 1971. He was delivered by our flight surgeon on a quiet evening at the Navy Clinic. Lots of great times/visitors/salmon fishing/ partying /elk hunting and trips to Iowa Christmases during that two-year tour. I was invited by VA-95 Squadron Commander to join their squadron leaving “next Tuesday” for a Coral Sea Cruise back to the Tonkin Gulf. Our departure was delayed but we did arrive in time to provide cover for the evacuation of South Vietnam. On the next cruise on the USS Coral Sea, we were involved in the counterattack on the Freighter US Mayaguez and covered the Marine rescue of the imprisoned crew on Koh Tang Island. After that evac, a Marine corporal approached me on the Hanger Deck and asked what a 100 Tai Bat money was worth because he had a canvas sack with several thousand of them! I looked it up and told him in total it was worth about $ 13.28. He was disappointed!

Next, we as a family of four towed a trailer behind our 1964 Jeep Cherokee to Newport, RI for Naval War College. We saw a lot of the northern tier of States and family and friends on the way. An excellent year at War College was rewarded by assignment to the Pentagon as the Chief of Naval Operations’ Personnel Officer for two years. We went to one of Jimmy Carter’s inaugural balls.

Rich, Dick and Jason at end of Cruise Fly In of

VA-95 “Green Lizards” Whidbey Island WA 1975

Back to Sea Duty as Aviation Ordnance Officer on USS America based in Norfolk VA. I was also the ship’s C1A aircraft commander (the COD GOD). We had some interesting out of the way ports and airfields and I was able to get Judy to fly as the only passenger from Barcelona to NAS Rota Spain where we surprised old Whidbey friends Fred and Kay Dickinson. We spent the night Toppi Hopping in the local bars. On the return 8-day trip from Rota Spain to Norfolk, we were joined by several hundred dependents (male relatives older than 10). I was joined by Father Ralph and Son Rich. Upon return to Norfolk.

Ralph, Dick and Rich next to USS America’s Carrier Onboard Delivery (C1A) aircraft “Miss America” enroute from Rota Spain to Norfolk VA 1978

I was promoted to the rank of Commander and was selected for Command during that tour. We were then off to the Training Command as XO then CO of Advanced Squadron VT-21 in Kingsville, TX. I think most Naval Officers agree that their Command Tours are the best tours of duty. VT-21 was great. My parents and several siblings came to Texas to help us celebrate the Change of Command. There were many clearly superior officers that worked as flight instructors. And when you have great personnel, they attract other great officers. Much of the daily hard days instructing was completed by our “Ser- Grads” These were the recently winged officers that excelled in their training and were Selectively Retained Graduates. The Training Commanding Officer could select or reject candidates. These young officers were sharp, good at their trade and excelled at teaching those just junior to themselves. The comradery was fantastic which made the resolution of the few minor problems and mistakes easy to correct. The morale and production from both Navy and Marine officers were most impressive.

Following the Command tour, I received orders to return to USS America as the Assistant and then as Air Officer, an assignment as good as any aviator could expect. “Air Boss” is responsible for the flight deck, hanger deck, weapons elevators, and all air space from surface to 3,000’ within 5 nautical miles of the ship. It was another great job on the USS America and resulted in my selection for Captain, under the tutelage of the best Naval Officer, I ever served with Snuffy Smith ADM USN Retired. The tour was the most demanding, stressful and rewarding of all my jobs in the Navy and I could not have spent it with a better crew.

Judy’s mother, Mary, The Air Boss and Judy on a Dependent’s Cruise in 1984. Mary received

the United States flag flown on USS America that day

As a newly selected 0-6 with both sons in High School, Judy and I decided we wanted an overseas duty assignment. We were penciled in for a NATO job in Garmisch, Germany. But before we could pack for the move, the Bureau of Naval Personnel changed it to Naples, Italy. We both had spent some time in Naples during carriers’ deployments and decided it would be an adventure, and it was. We lived on the economy (rented a villa in an Italian community) and made a successful attempt to learn about our neighbors and their lifestyles. My job required me to travel to some interesting NATO Countries and several out-of-the usual-bases, to say the least.

One “Sea Story”: I was sent to the then under construction Ground Launch Cruise Missile Base (GLCM) the Air Force chose a sparsely settled wooded area in far southern Sicily. Construction was well behind schedule and the Area for Helicopter Landing Field hadn’t even been annotated in the plans! But the Real Deal GLCM’s had a scheduled delivery date to make the Squadron’s Ready for Action deadline. The Command was in a dither they needed to land/unload/refuel/launch helicopters with nuclear weapons and all the security/safety that entailed! I found out that the Navy was going to deliver the weapons with H-46 helicopters from a Navy Ammo ship. I pointed to a concrete area down the street and asked what is that for? “That’s the Air Force Exchange parking lot.” I said, “That will be your helicopter operating area as well. That is bigger, better, and more equipped than where those guys operate every day. It was so designated.

Not all travel in Europe was for business. As a family we skied in Austria, toured in London, preferred Ischia, over Capria for a weekend getaway and even took brother Jim to that Island when he visited. My parents were scheduled to come to Italy to attend Rich’s graduation. We were forced to cancel their trip as the Red Brigade (Italian Terrorist) were making serious threats. The folks did come for a visit the following year. At that time Rich’s was the only Grandchild’s graduation they had failed to attend.

Rich graduated from Naples American High School and left, solo, for Blacksburg, VA to enroll in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech. He chose the school location at least partially because our next tour of duty, next year, would probably be in Norfolk or DC and we would be close. Rich was able to travel to Arkansas and Iowa to visit Grandparents enroute to VA. He was also able to attend and represent the family at Keith and Denise’s wedding. Next, he flew from Des Moines to Washington DC to visit a Naples friend. The day he traveled to Blacksburg was “The Worst Day of My Life!” He traveled via bus, arriving at a new and confusing college campus without a guide or direction late in the day with all the gear he would/might need for a freshman semester and two weeks of international travel beforehand.

We traveled as a family, but we also traveled in smaller groups or solos. Judy did some travel with her job, and she did join me in Germany when I was having my throat cut – spine operation. I was in the hospital and called to see if she could come for the event. She arrived on Easter Sunday. We went to the Club for Dinner where a program was going on. I took the hand of a big guy dressed in a pink easter bunny costume, sweating like crazy, red in the face, and said Judy this is my surgeon! I came to Iowa/Nebraska to house hunt in May 1988 as my next assignment was at Offutt Air Force Base, I stayed with Jaynane and Jerry and looked at every acreage the Century 21 agent could find. I gave him our Italian address and asked him to keep in touch. Judy and Jason headed home from Italy about a month before I did. When we arrived at the Aikin’s’ home in August, Century 21 had just the same listings. We drove to Glenwood IA in response to a flyer and the agent showed us 6 properties and we made offers on two because we had a Davis reunion in Missouri to get to. So, we bought our home while enjoying Lake of the Ozarks. Now that we are fully retired it seems harder to plan where to next. Our 3 weeks in New Zealand is by far our favorite of them all. We enjoyed traveling with Iowa State Alumni. In the Navy I traveled East and West. I went West as far as Patio Beach, Thailand and I went East as far as Ceylon, so on a globe I missed around the world by about ¾ of an inch. I did make it to Australia on 3 port visits (when you sail on the USS Coral Sea – you get invited to the land down under ever cruise. Judy and her girlfriend did a Hawaii vacation in 2019 so she could claim her 50^th State visited; I had seen Hawaii more than enough so I puppy sat.

Speaking of puppies. We took our second Golden Retriever, Rusty, to Naples and the Italians were fascinated with him because we took him on a leash about a block from home to do his business. We would put his leash in his mouth and down the road we would go. They couldn’t believe the dog took himself on a walk. Rusty’s fathered a litter of Goldens in Italy and more when we returned home. We quickly learned there were Goldens that needed adoption and Judy found her new passion. She has been a major player in Golden Retriever Rescue In Nebraska for over 30 years. That comes in handy when we need a new best friend and we have had plenty of occasions to watch over a newly surrendered dog to determine their wants and needs. On one weekend, we actually had three dogs all named Sadie. One was ours.

My last tour of duty was with the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt AFB. Judy and I decided to see if we could stand midwestern weather for retirement, we hadn’t been in Iowa for a full winter in 27 years. And I wanted the job because when I joined my 1^st Squadron (VA-176) I had to plan two long missions that the fuel consumption figures provided for our use were unbelievable! Who provides these stupid numbers? Answer: JSTPS! So sure enough 24 years later I got to where the numbers had originated but by then the services missions had ended. So, what was a Naval Aviator doing here? My next mission was to do away with the billet but not before I was ready to leave. For my retirement Brother Bob brought Dad and my Uncle Bud to Omaha for the ceremony. I introduced Uncle Bud to my boss Vice Admiral Etchison as my WWII Submarine uncle and they talked about subs for the entire evening.

Rich and Jason both thrived at Virginia Tech and NROTC. Rich went on to have a great career as a Naval Aviator. Jason’s eyesight precluded a flying job and he entered into the Supply Corps. He spent a little more time on active duty than he anticipated after which he immediately went to Colorado. We asked what his career plans were, and he said he was working on it. He used his /engineering degree as a car salesman, a financial arranger, head server and trainer for an Asian restaurant and then became a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines. The job fits his personality perfectly. He and his wife Michelle take advantage of the flexible schedule to travel widely, and Michelle has launched a commercial quilting business. She comes from a quilting lineage and has created so many beautiful creations for family and friends including a Colorado State Flag Contest. Rich chose early on to be a helicopter pilot so he could control his assignments with more precision. He graduated from VA Tech with his sweetheart Bonnie Gail Kraus. They married and they left for Pensacola. They have three sons and Bonnie was primary and frequently the solo parent. Rich was deployed much of the time even when he was on shore duty. Rich retired as a Captain in June 2018 and they moved to Roanoke, VA close to Bonnie’s old stomping grounds and her mother. Rich was awarded an Air Medal for flying all night supporting the evacuation of the Achille Lauri (remember her?) which was sinking in the southern Indian Ocean.

After retirement I gave myself a 9-month cruise to do whatever I wanted to do. Mostly work on old Farmall tractors and hay making equipment with a little hunting rolled in. Then Judy started looking for a job for me, (she was still working full time during which she went to Turkey for 3 months TDY living in a tent and wearing combat boots!). She settled for “Executive Director of the Glenwood Area Chamber of Commerce”. I got very involved in the community. Almost as much as I was with the Southwest Iowa Sportsmans Club. {Yes, it should be “Sportsmen’s” but the incorporation was filed that way} I became Chief Instructor for Mills County Iowa DNR Hunter Education, in 1988, and 10 years ago started the Glenwood HS Trap Club for state wide competition. About the same year Neal and Colin McLemore convinced me to join them on a pheasant hunt in Downs, Kansas. It was and still is great an annual 4-day November- Michelle’s Birthday- adventure for Rich, Jason and me. Plus, we have added several SWISC shooters as well. My deer hunting has slowed down since the hay days of the early 2000s when deer were becoming too plentiful. I think 5 of us were party hunting on Opening day 2001, we were party hunting so anybody can shoot any deer for the group present. We had 6 tags, and I filled all 6 of them that Saturday – right place right time. The best rack I’ve harvested was a ten point with an 11-inch drop tine on one side. I missed him on Monday but harvested him on Wednesday evening with a black powder muzzle loader on our West property line. I had to have help loading him in the truck. To occupy my spare time, I chair the Glenwood Planning and Zoning Board, am a Trustee on the Glenwood Municipal Utilities, am a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars taking part in the business of caring for veterans conducting memorial services.

I’ve joined the Church that Judy has been involved with since we moved to Glenwood. Good people, good ministers but I can’t help comparing it with Hartland of our youth. The Ice Cream Socials, Christmas programs and even the digging of the basement all were labor intensive, and everyone pitched in with good spirits and a true sense of belonging. The night Dad’s grain bin caught on fire was another community pull together event. Telephone calls went to neighbors who called other relatives, brother Bob called the elevator in Albion and told them they had to open now at 2AM, they did. At dawn Mom, who had been making coffee and sandwiches since midnight, counted trucks, tractors, wagons, and cars there were 28 in the lane.

The environment our family was blessed to grow up in was not rare in those days. May we find the same in future.

By Dick Davis

Jaynane K Davis Aiken

I was born on July 27,1946 @ 7:21 AM in the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Ralph W. and Ruth L. Davis. I am not sure how long Mom was able to stay in the hospital, but at home I joined five siblings @ RR. #3 Marshalltown. My first remembrance of the family, was the great family meals and gatherings that took place. I am sure they have somewhat run together, but it usually involved Aunt B and Eithel, or neighborhood families. The folks had a terrific support group in the community and church of Hartland. The community men worked together with any farming needs or shortages, and the women cooked, sewed and gathered in a very tight, loving circle of hard work and love. Some of the first church memories that come to mind, was sitting in a row with the siblings in “our pew”. No, we weren’t assigned seating, but it just became to be, that was Ruth and Ralph's family row, there were The Landers, the Packers, the Goeckes and the Tomlinson’s, and so on. It was fun to begin to sit with other Sunday School classmates at times in the rows further toward the front, probably to keep an eye on us. It always amazed me, that as the years went by, the seating never changed. So, if you were not there that week, the spot was noticeably vacant. And the phone calls after church began to see if everything was OK at RR.#3. What wonderful memories were created with the summer Ice cream socials, where Hartland was known for its famous chickenburgers and the baked goods the women had made with homemade ice cream as the best. The men would spend lots of years cranking the ice cream by hand, batch after batch, until they made an electric motor to crank the paddles in the cannisters. Every family and each member of the family was expected to work the ice cream social in some capacity, from doing dishes, to serving, to taking the money in. We all had our roles.

I remember what a fantastic cook my mother was. She could work in the field all day beside Dad, and then come in and have dinner on the table. We always had our bigger meal at noon and our evening meal was Supper. She could have a packed lunch ready and deliver it to whatever field they were in and they could pause long enough to eat and then back to the field. She baked everything, and my birthday cake was always a chocolate angel food. Perfect! The freezer always had baked treats and was stocked with our own meat and items to construct a meal that most people wouldn’t know where to start. She froze corn, fruit and then canned what she could grow or buy. How she found the time is a mystery, but of course she was seldom seen sitting. Mom and her sister Aunt Bea made or sewed a great deal of our dresses and eventually even bridesmaid’s dresses for our weddings. When Aunt Bea came for the week, there were two sewing machines whirling all the time and the best of times. Aunt Bea was also a great cook and baker, and her yeast rolls were the best. Aunt Bea was a school teacher and she was our substitute mother whenever she was around. Such a wonderful, little woman.

I always remember there were animals that were pets, there were animals that needed tending to, there were chores, there were household tasks and there was not a doubt that everyone was helping out with these. We nursed several orphaned pets on the back porch when the weather was too brutal for them outside. We always had outside dogs, that quite frequently spent time inside and then there were cats that I insisted in making them domesticated, whether it was a good idea or not. Mom was always such an animal lover, that she had a hard time turning me down. We usually made the cats and dogs comfortable in the old cob shed out the back porch. There we used warm milk and table scraps, and bales of straw to keep them going through the roughest of winter weather. I remember one cat, “Baby Face” that became a favorite, as she would let me dress her in a doll dress and sleep in the cradle, with a blanket pulled right up to her chin. What a life!

I attended Lamoille Consolidated School for one year, joining the rest of the siblings. I remember riding the bus, parts of the school building and site. We had the ultimate smallest gym ever and people would line the stage and the side courts to watch basketball. I remember the baseball fields were on a low land of the west side, that required going down a steep flight of steps. I remember walking over to Ingeldue’s welding/machine shop after school. Dad would often times, pick me up there, as the older kids had sports after school. That always meant, a cold soda for 5 cents out of the vending machine, the best ever orange soda! I always had my siblings to play with and do things with. However, my best friend growing up was Janet Dunn. Their family moved in across the road, and our birthdays were a year apart, and we were inseparable most of the time. We hiked, explored the farm grounds, played in the barns and out building and we were at the Davis or the Dunn house, it was just such a great time growing up with a friend that close. Keep in mind, that was very doable to be with friends, without our parents driving us to a person’s house for “play dates". Obviously, they would not have had the time with six children and all the faming they worked so hard at accomplishing. I remember that a lot of times, Dick was the leader in our exploration of the woods behind the Dunn farm or the creek that ran through our back 80 acres.

I remember going into Marshalltown with Mom and Dad, not sure where the rest of the siblings were. But to go to the Fremont Grill with just Mom and Dad for a hot beef sandwich or tag along to the Kent Feed store to buy the new chicks. Mom would choose the feed sacks she wanted, to sew for a later project. The Maid Rite was a great favorite and of course, Dad would not need much convincing to grab a sandwich. I remember Tractor Supply Store and all its gadgets and dad knew everyone and they called him by his name, the minute he walked in. I always thought that was pretty special. I remember that Dad would sometimes wear his older bib overalls if he was headed into town, other times it was a newer, dark washed pair. Of course, that was embarrassing to me as a kid, but it wasn’t until I was older, that Dad said, “you never wear your good bibs into the bank”. Seberg's pharmacy on 13^th street was like a whole different world with lots of pretties. And then who could not love fresh doughnuts at the Kresge’s store on main street. The entire front window was the doughnut machine, that would drop the dough into the next

vat, and then the machine would scoop them up and then on to the machine that frosted them. That was also the best soda counter, for ice cream treats and malts, it seemed to go the entire length of the store.

When our parents enrolled us in the Clemons School system we rode the bus together, and I started 2^nd grade with Mrs. Gamble as my teacher. She was the most memorable and welcoming teacher and I was lucky enough to have her a couple of years later in 4^th grade. I can still picture her smile and her warmth. Janet moved when I was in the 5^th grade, and it was very hard to not have her so close, even though our families remained very close throughout the years. It was different not having her just right across the road. I loved school and always liked being there, and having new classmates. My class consisted of 10 girls and 2 boys, from 2^nd grade throughout our entire time at Clemons, through our sophomore year. Talk about getting to know your classmates, I am in touch with several on them to this day. Along with school, came Boy’s and Girl’s 4-H, sports and band. Joining both Boy’s and Girl’s 4-H was common, as then we had baby beef’s for showing and selling at the County Fair, along with my siblings. Dad would buy the calf and provide the feed, but it was up to us to follow through with feeding, grooming and showing the steer. No doubt, Dad did far more than any one of us did. The entire process, was how I paid for 3 years of Nursing classes. Today, as I look back, that was quite an accomplishment and quite a no brainer for my parents. I always liked the Boy’s 4H classes and meetings more than the household and cooking that the Girl’s 4H provided, and the culmination of Fair week was just such fun. Until it was time to show the beef, get the price and then lead them away, I always had a rough time with that part. I played the saxophone because Beverly had played one, and it was available. I can’t remember enjoying it too much, but remember the great band experience and the teachers.

When we were growing up, we had the Minnesota Woolen Mills to look forward to. This was usually a married couple that would call and book and appointment to come to the farm for an early fall evening or showing the family the items that they were selling. They would arrive that evening and bring in 5-6 huge (as I remember) trunks to the dining room. And when they opened the trunks, it was like a Christmas seeing all the beautiful but practical coats and jeans and sweaters and mittens and hats! As a family, we really didn’t go buy clothes in a store, how could you walk in with 6 kids and not break the bank. I do know, that we wore woolen or flannel shirts from this company for years, handed down to the next sibling. I remember the flannel lined jeans that were my older brother’s, that layered over me became my sledding pants The kids were sent off to bed and the bill would need to be dealt with. And I can only imagine what that must have felt with all six of us needing and wanting what we had just seen. .One year, I think I was probably about 12 years old, I saw and tried on and wanted with all my heart, a mint green “Good coat” with a fake fur collar. Of course, it was too much with all the other more practical purchases that the folks could budget for. When Christmas rolled around, I didn’t see that present under the tree and I just knew that I needed that coat. All the wrapping were cleared away and the visiting was still going on, when Daddy told me "To move that couch out away from the curtain”, there was my green coat! Daddy was so very proud of himself and the joy was to this day, something I remember.