Christmas

Christmas was one of Mom's favorite times of the year. Some years we had little to put under the tree but we alway had a lot of love and some good food to celebrate. This year Vi and Joni will have Salmon and Caleb, Sam and I will have roast beast...oops I mean Roast Beef, Mashed Taters, vegies, and a fresh homemade Chocolate Cream Pie. Anyone want to come over and enjoy with us?? Wishing all a very MERRY Christmas... May your stockings never know the feel of COAL. Love and best wishes from Arizona. Can't wait for Ang and Lynn and family to arrive and visit. Then Cheryl in January. 2010 going out on a good note and 2011 coming in the same way... Love, Love, Love...

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all a very thankful week and a joyous time of visitation with family and other loved ones. We are hosting a Friday Feast with Tim & Jenna, Joni and Caleb and Sam, Jill and Chad with Baylee, Aly, and Jenni. I am driving over 400 miles one way on wed 11/24 to pick up Skye at UTEP and bring her to Thanksgiving. Then on Sunday I will make the same trip taking her back. Hope she survives all my Grandpa stories. I will probably sleep all day Saturday and not just from the Tryptophan. I will probably sleep all day Monday at my desk at work, too, but what makes that a different Monday from all the last year full of Monday's?
We are doing very well,(actually Vi is doing very well, I am Old and Grumpy)and sincerely hope all of you are, also. (Well, not old and grumpy) Love /Butch/

More memories about Henry Robert

When I was a little girl, it was a HUGE occasion when Henry Robert Patton came to visit Grandma Grim. Excitement for days in advance, as we all helped prepare for his visit. He was a favorite of everyone, and one of Mom's most special cousins. One time when he came, he was very shaken, and told a difficult story about his trip into Nebraska. He was driving near Hebron, Nebraska, and a tornado struck the area. He went into a farmyard that was heavily damaged. There were dead family members scattered around, and he started gathering them up. Nine members of the family died. He was very sad, and as Grandma tried to comfort him, he told her this was just more of the horrible things he had seen in his life. What a unique person.

More

An article about Henry Robert Patton

Henry Robert Patton (Oct 4 1919 - March 16 2007) was the son of Mariah (Aunt Rye) Bowman and Sam Patton. Mariah was a half sister to Grandma Nettie Grim. This article tells the story of Henry Robert's Military Service for which he was honored in 2005 at a Veterans Day Memorial Service at the University of Utah.

These photos are really tiny. They are also on my family tree at ancestry.com, where they are much larger. If anyone would like me to send the photos by e-mail, just let me know. Ang

As a boy, Henry Patton loved watching airplanes and knew he wanted to fly. In 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was sent for training to Clark Field in the Philippines. On December 8, 1941, across the International Date Line from the United States, Patton heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Assigned to the 2nd Observation Squadron as a radio operator, he rushed to the airfield and took off in an O-52. By the next evening, he had been shot down three separate times. As a member of the 4th Marine Division, he fought on the Bataan Peninsula, surrendered in April 1942, and began the infamous Bataan Death March. After five days without food or water, he escaped into the jungle. Suffering from illness, Patton was nursed back to health by native Filipinos who risked their own lives to protect him. He joined their resistance movement and for a year-and-a-half, led the Filipino Scouts in hit-and-run attacks. In October 1943, they were caught and forced to surrender. With other American prisoners, Patton endured horrible torture at Bilibid Prison, which left only 17 of the 63 alive. Eventually, they were shipped to Japan to work in the steel mills and coal mines. While enroute however, American submarines sank the Japanese ship carrying the POWs. Of some 1,200 prisoners, just 53 survived. In May 1945 a B-29 began flying over the prison camp every day. “Lonesome Joe,” as the prisoners called it, was likely conducting reconnaissance. American air raids began in June. On August 15, 1945, the surrender of Japan was announced over the camp’s speakers. In September, the camp was liberated. Patton weighed 67 pounds, down from 180 at the beginning of the war. A few days later, Patton and several friends visited the destroyed city of Hiroshima. He and his comrades later developed cancer. Patton returned home in October 1945 having earned the Bronze Star. Of the 384 men who had been a part of the 2nd Observation Squadron in 1940, only 10 survived.

copied from http://www.veteransday.utah.edu/honorees/2005/patton/patton_popup.html

Nola's Clan Picnic

It was a wonderful Sunday when Nola's Clan gathered at the park in Ansley. The booklets with dates and addresses Angela brought were delightful, and created a lot of conversation. Food was great as usual, and next year's gathering was discussed. Any ideas, suggestions, etc are welcome. Let's work hard to keep this family going.

Love you all,

Cheryl

Nolas Clan Reunion

Nola's Clan Reunion to be held July 25th at the Ansley Park.
Lunch will be served at 1:00
Meat Dishes & Table Service will be provided
Bring Side Dishes, Desserts, etc.

RSVP - to Ang at rpsd01@qwestoffice.net

Daniel Cox

http://www.custercountychief.com/content/view/191846/1/
This is a link to an article in the Custer County Chief about the closing of Round Hill School. A bit of family history here. Our ancestor, Daniel Cox was one of the original organizers of this school District, and two of grandma's aunts, Maude and Osa were among the first students.

Seeking a Photo Please.

I am looking for a copy of Mom's high school graduation picture. She is wearing a sailor dress. There was one that hung on the wall of the Ansley house in the old kitchen area. Anybody have it. If so I'd like to have a copy. Please let me know. Thanks!!

Thank you, Mother

Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for me.

Thank you for all you've given me and all you've done for me.

I know there have been times that, had it now been for you unselfishness, my life

would have been different; not as balanced, not as happy.

Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for your example.

Thank you for being my mother. I wouldn't trade you even if I could.

I love you so much.

*this poem was among some items that I had given momma before she passed. It is a tribute to mothers everywhere!

Third birthday of the week

They say good things come in threes, and birthdays did this week. Yesterday, I enjoyed attending Rosa Tiff's 90th birthday party. Mary and Ed and their families were there, (for those of you who might not have know, John passed away several years back). The party was at the Vet's building, and a large crowd attended, including lots of old Berwyn neighbors. My hat's off to the three birthday girls, Kathryn, Dollie and Rosa, may we all age so gracefully and well.

Aunt Dollie's Birthday

We had the chance to enjoy a second birthday this week, when by chance, we headed for Tub's Pub Friday night, only to run into Aunt Dollie and Donna and John, celebrating Dollie's 89th birthday. She had never been to Tub's before, so imagine her surprise when Tub sang his famous birthday greeting to her, followed by "Hello Dolly". She was definitely surprised, to the delight of all the rest of us. She actually tried to shush him during the rendition, too funny. As always, the food was up to the Tub's Pub excellent standards. Now getting ready to start the graduation celebration rounds.

Kathryn's birthday

Phil and I had a great day with Aunt Kathryn yesterday. We took a carry in dinner, and Terry Jones joined us. Good conversation, lots of laughs. Kathryn expressed that several have indicated she should move to a smaller place, but she says she is still able to take care of herself at this time. She continues to sort thru closets, drawers, etc, trying to downsize so..as she says, somebody else won't have to do it later. We took food and flowers, and she says it's great to get things to eat and things to smell, and not things to dust. My kind of woman. Terry brought her a clematis, and I think Phil and I are going to get some tall ornamental grass to plant at the garage corner. She wants that done.

Cheryl

In Memory of Momma

If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again.
~Author Unknown

Scholarship Awards

The scholarship committee is pleased to announce that we have awarded two Nola Rookstool Memorial Scholarships this month.
The recipients are Jordan Smith, a student at the University of Nebraska Kearney, studying business administration; and Caitlyn Thomas, a student at Wayne State College, studying political science.
Congratulations to both.

The next round of scholarships will be offered in the fall of 2010. You will receive a letter in August announcing the application deadline.

Valentine's Wish

I wish each and everyone the joy of being loved and having a special person to love. Enjoy the littlest blessings that are evident with each person you love.

And remember,

Beware of strong drink, it will cause you to shoot at tax collectors,...... and miss!

Ferns

Ahhhh yes the fern patches.

And I remember GrandMa Grim's rhubarb, iceplant, cast iron skillet fried chicken and chicken gravy. And stealing cracklings from the rendering pan on the stove hot out of the oven in the wash house. How about the trails we made in the fern patches? wonderful memories!!!

Me too

I agree with you Ang,
I think of Mom and Grandma every day. So many things, actions, smells, recipes, all bring memories flooding back. Guess that is the legacy we all leave for our families.

Love you all.

In Memory of Grandma Grim

Just thinking of our dear ole Grandma Grim. Sure do miss her.

And happy 10th birthday to Aly Rapier today and 25th birthday to Nels Jr. tomorrow.

Happy new year.

We celebrated New Year's Eve by going to bed around 10PM and sleeping till 7AM. Exciting stuff. Wishing everyone a Great 2010. Health and Happiness to all. Vi is doing well half way through the follow up treatments and other than fatigue and lack of appetite and discomfort eating, she is doing very well. We plan to take down the Christmas decorations today and go for a short walk. It's supposed to reach 72 degrees here today. Have fun and enjoy all that you can. And for all my brothers and sisters, you can always have a happy childhood, the second one is entirely your choice and responsibility. Love all, Butch