Diary Blog – Page 38 – Heartland Diary

Good Basketball Games

February 18, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, February 18, 1955, Dale wrote, “Took Dalene to a basketball game at night, Muscatine High School beat Ottumwa High School. Muscatine Junior College beat Waldorf Junior College at Webster City in the Junior College tourney.” Above: Dalene in 1955.

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Good Sunday Supper

February 17, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, February 17, 1952, Dale wrote “Took Stan to Dr. Swayze for a shot. Dalene and I took a ride to the airport. 15° above at 8 A.M. 40° in the afternoon. Dalene and Sonja to a show in the afternoon. I have a sore throat. Had good roast beef supper.” Sonja was a friend.

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Bush Lake Ski Jump

February 16, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, February 16, 1958, Dale wrote, “Stan went to church. 14° below zero and warmed up to 0°. Dalene and I drove to the Bush Lake ski jump but it cost too much so we didn’t stay.”

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Dale Bakes A Cake

February 15, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Tuesday, February 15, 1955, Dale wrote, “I baked my first cake and frosted it. Dalene ate three big pieces. It was good too.”

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Valentine Party

February 14, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 14, 1959, Dale wrote, “Stan in Fargo for the weekend. I washed and cleaned the basement floor. Watched basketball on TV all afternoon. Took Dalene to a Valentine party at night, Helen and I stayed home. High 25°.”

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Fargo Trip

February 13, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Friday, February 13, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 33°, low 11°. Took Stan to the University at 8 a.m. He went to Fargo with a school group. Dalene went to a basketball game at North St. Paul.” Fargo was about 250 miles northwest via U.S. highway 10.

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Working At Woolworth’s

February 12, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Saturday, February 12, 1955, Dale wrote, “Stan worked at Woolworth’s. Dalene went to a party at Sonja’s. Helen worked 7 to 3.” My favorite part-time job was selling hot cashews at the candy counter, like the one above.

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Liggitts Visit Twin Cities

February 11, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 11, 1956, Dale wrote, “We took Mother and Clarence downtown and then for a long ride around Minneapolis and St. Paul.” Jettie and her new husband Clarence Liggitt were in town for the weekend. Above are Helen and Jettie on the back porch.

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Wildcat Den State Park

February 10, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, February 10, 1952, Dale wrote, “Took family to Wild Cat Den State Park for awhile. Bright warm day in 50s. Stan sick, doctor shot him.” Makes me sound like a horse with a broken leg. The park was 12 miles from our house.

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An Early Start

February 9, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, February 9, 1956, Dale wrote, “Stanley left at 4:30 a.m. for Muscatine in his 1949 Ford. Mother called in the evening. They are coming up tomorrow.” Jettie and Clarence arrived the next day from Osceola. Did you see my ’49 Ford (above)? Meanwhile, back in Muscatine, there was this girl….

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Jettie In Minneapolis

February 8, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 8, 1964, Dale wrote, “Took Mother to the 11:15 train to Chariton. Bright day, high 21°. Lunch at Brookdale. TV all afternoon and evening.” Above: Helen and Jettie in Minneapolis in 1964. She had been visiting there from Osceola for a week.

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Dale Has A Flat

February 7, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Monday, February 7, 1955, Dale wrote, “Took Dalene to school at 8 a.m. for a golf lesson. Had a flat tire. Took it to Standard Station for repair.” He bought a spare tire the next day.

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Not A Passing Fad

February 6, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, February 6, 1953, Dale wrote, “In bed all day, sick leave. Letter from Mother, she has a new DuMont 21 inch TV. Stan went to a basketball game and dance at night.” Above: a 1953 Dumont ad.

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Battle Creek Park

February 5, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, February 5, 1961, Dale wrote, “High 28°, cloudy. Stayed in the house all day. Dalene went to a ski jump and Battle Creek Park.”

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A Very Nice Place

February 4, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 4, 1961, Dale wrote, “Helen and I went to the new downtown library, very nice place. 6° below at 7 a.m., 25° above for the high today.” The library in 1961, above.

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Nifty ’49 Ford

February 3, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Friday, February 3, 1956, Dale wrote, “Went to the store after work. Dalene and I went to a show. Stan worked at the drug store. Dalene and I took his car up to him at 9:30 p.m. Not quite so cold today.” My car then was a 1949 Ford, like the one above.

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Watching Toboggans

February 2, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, February 2, 1958, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I drove over to St. Paul to see the toboggan slide. Stan joined the Methodist church.” The church was two blocks from our house, and I wanted to sing in their choir.

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Working On The Car Heater

February 1, 2015 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 1, 1958, Dale wrote, “I worked on the Dodge heater most all day. Bought a used fan motor and put it in my heater. It works.” He sounds surprised.

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Driving To Osceola

January 31, 2015 by Editorial Team

On Friday, January 31, 1964, Dale wrote, “Helen and I drove from Minneapolis to Latimer after work, to Gerald and Ressia’s by 11 p.m. Moonlight night for driving. Stayed up and visited until 2 a.m.” They were on their way to Osceola and spent the night at the home of Helen’s brother Gerald. This day’s drive, above, was 160 miles.

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One Big Family

January 30, 2015 by Editorial Team

Now living in Osceola on Thursday, January 30, 1969, Dale wrote, “About 16° above, windy, cloudy. Very, very icy. Visited at Keith’s a little while in the afternoon. Marie here a minute. Supper at Pleasant’s, saw Emil and Ruth and their son there.” Keith Schaffer was a nephew of Helen’s, Marie was Dale’s sister; Pleasant’s was a restaurant. Emil Rinderspacher would be the soloist at Helen’s funeral in 1996, singing Amazing Grace and Whispering Hope. His wife, Ruth LaFollette, was the granddaughter of Jonathon Norville Williams; she and Dale had the same great-grandfather, Jonathon Smith Williams. Dale’s father, Williams Gardner, was named after Nancy Ellen Williams, a daughter of Jonathon Smith Williams.