On Monday, September 30, 1957, taking a day off work, Dale was in Osceola and wrote, “Bought five dozen eggs from Lloyd. Got my hair cut for $1 at John Devore’s barber shop in Osceola. Mother and I went to see Aunt Meda, she has cancer. Drove from Osceola to Minneapolis in 6 hours, 300 miles. Home at 6:40. Beautiful day.” Aunt Meda was Ida Almeda Robins, the wife of Dale’s uncle Charlie Gardner. She died a week later. Above: their wedding picture from 1907.
Osceola Visitors
On Sunday, September 29, 1957, Dale wrote, “Left Minneapolis at 8:45 for Osceola, got there at 3:15 p.m. Drove Lloyd’s new tractor. Had supper at Lloyd’s. Marie took me for a ride in her new Mercury. I drove out to Dad’s grave in the cemetery. Peaceful out there. Stayed all night at Mother’s.” Lloyd was Dale’s brother and Marie was Dale’s sister. Above: Dale, Helen, me (with a flat-top haircut!), Jettie and her second husband Clarence Liggitt, with Marie’s daughter Susan in front, at Jettie’s house in town. Dalene or Marie must have taken the photo.
Bike Riding
Dale Breaks Some Eggs
Night Passage
An Osceola Reunion
On Sunday, September 25, 1966, Dale wrote, “At Mother’s in Osceola. Gardner, Williams, and Machlan reunion in the afternoon at the library basement. 52 people there. Flew back to Minneapolis on Braniff from 8:45 to 9:33 PM. Smooth ride.” Above: Gene Yates’ sister Louise Yates Wilson, Elsie Gardner’s daughter Dorotha Matheny Kerr, Gilham Gardner’s daughter Leona Gardner Van Sant, Helen’s sister Lela Schaffer Yates, and Dale’s mother Jettie at the reunion.
Jettie Turns 60
The G.A.R. Parade
Retiring To Osceola
On Sunday, September 22, 1968, Dale wrote, “Helen and I stayed in a motel in Belmond, Iowa, last night. Today we drove to Des Moines for lunch. On to Osceola to Wilma’s house and then to Mother’s and then to Mac and Wilma’s farm in the country. Supper at the Christian Church, Mother too. To bed at Mother’s after news and weather.” Above: Dale and Helen two weeks earlier when he was newly retired. They would move from Minneapolis to Wilma’s house in Osceola the following month. Helen’s sister Wilma had married ‘Mac’ McFarland in July.
Dalene Breaks A Window
Visiting Southern California
Vacationing from Minneapolis at Dalene’s apartment in Brentwood (Los Angeles area) on Monday, September 20, 1965, Dale, Helen, and Dalene, drove to Dale’s cousin Leona (Gardner) and Bill Van Sant’s for the afternoon and for supper. Dale’s cousin Orville and Vera Gardner were there, as were Bill and Leona’s son and daughters, Richard, Judith, and Lana. Above: Dalene and her roommate Vicki (left of man in red) at their apartment pool.
Old Settlers And Threshers
Dale And Helen See ‘Indiscreet’
Gas Heat
In Muscatine on Monday, September 17, 1951, having moved from 507 East Seventh Street (a house with a coal-burning furnace) next door to 505 East Seventh Street, Dale wrote, “Cooler and rain at night. Gas furnace wonderful.” Coal furnaces like the one above (left) were dirty, sooty, smelly, compared to a gas furnace (right). No shoveling required.
Caseys Visit Washington
My Blue Heaven
Minneapolis Shootout
In In Minneapolis on Saturday, September 14, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan and I painted on the back porch until we ran out of paint. Dalene went downtown with Diane. Police killed two and wounded one, killers of Officer Fossum.” Diane was a friend of Dalene. Officer Fossum had died August 17 from a running gun battle. Read the story at:
http://mnlema.org/fallen_insert.php?officer_id=130
http://mnlema.org/fallen_insert.php?officer_id=130
Milestone Birthday
Movie Time
Defrost That Fridge
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 11, 1957, Dale wrote, “Another nice day. Had to have the defroster fixed on the Coldspot refrigerator. Card from Mother in South Dakota. Wrote a birthday card to Lloyd and an accident card to Marie. Stan went to church at night to practice for choir.” Dale’s brother Lloyd turned 50 in two days; Marie was their sister.