In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 22, 1957, Dale wrote, “Got a gas pipe at work for Stan’s clothes closet rod in the new basement closet. Mixed some paint for Dalene to use tomorrow.”
Still Under Construction
Bamboo Shades
In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 21, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 72°. Nice day. Bought some cord and fixed the bamboo curtains on the front porch. Bought a new chamois. Took Helen and Dalene downtown after supper to Dayton’s, S & L, and the library.”
Under Construction
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 20, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan, Helen, and I built a clothes closet on to the basement room after work. Took until 11 p.m. Glad to get that job done. Made it out of plaster board and 2×4’s.” That’s the room I was living in, since the first floor had just two bedrooms – one for the folks, and one for Dalene.
Marie Visits Yosemite
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 19, 1961, Dale wrote, “Put 1 gallon of asphalt paint on the garage roof, no good. Tied the springs in the davenport. Card from Marie from Yosemite.” Marie was his sister.
Mmmmmm!
In Muscatine on August 18, 1953, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4. No news yet about assignment. Bought meat on way home, ‘T’ bone steak for supper. TV at night & to bed early. Cool night.”
Helen Bakes A Cake
In Muscatine on Monday, August 17, 1953, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4. Nice day. Plant running right along. Helen wrote letter to Mother. Helen baked a cake. Stan to Mick’s in evening. Cool tonight & to bed early.” Mike ‘Mick’ Collier was a high school buddy.
Supper At Okoboji
On Saturday, August 16, 1958, Dale wrote, “We all drove from Minneapolis down to Lela and Gene’s at Estherville from 10 to 3. George and Wilma were there too. Bob and Rae there too. Went to a buffet supper at Lake Okoboji in the evening, then drove around the lake looking at lake homes. Nice day, nice time, nice visit.” Lela (married to Gene Yates) and Wilma (married to George Casey) were Helen’s sisters. Bob (married to Rae) was Gene and Lela’s son. Lake Okoboji is 20 miles west of Estherville, Iowa.
They Were All Relatives!
In Osceola, Jettie Gardner’s diary included a newspaper clipping reporting a “dinner was held on Friday, August 15, 1952, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Van Sant and Dick, Judy, and Lana of Los Angeles, Calif. at the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gardner. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Everett Saylor, Mary and Gene, Mrs. Eddy Saylor, Mabel Garwood, Mrs. Marie Kimmel and Susan, Mamie Trisler, Roy Diehl, Mrs. W. M. Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Edris Owen, Martha and David, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Gardner, Kay, Phillip and David of Woodburn, Stanley Gardner of Muscatine, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gardner, Carol, Nancy, Marie and Mary.”
No Rent Control?
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 14, 1963, Dale wrote, “All time low of 47° overnight. High 74°. Supper at Murphy’s. Dalene called from L. A. at 11 p.m., to visit. She is moving into an apartment with three other girls.” Her apartment, at left, was upstairs at 2929 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica.
Under A Mountain
On Friday, August 13, 1965, Dale wrote that Stan, Judy, and their three boys left Minnesota for a one-week vacation in Colorado Springs. They stayed with friends Tom and Lois Vandezande; Tom worked at Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD’s underground facility). Tom and Stan had shared an office at System Development Corporation a couple years earlier.
Dalene At Lake Johanna
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 12, 1958, Dale wrote, “A perfect day, low humidity and clear air. High about 80°. Picked the girls up at 6 p.m. at Lake Johanna. Mowed the back yard. Took Dinny to her club meeting.”
Smorgasbord!
In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 11, 1966, Dale wrote, “High about 60°, cool. Merle and Beulah Osterquist came about 5:30, on their way home to Iowa from Alaska all summer. Supper at Sweden House.” Dale and Merle had been co-workers.
Helen Starts Child Care
In Minneapolis on Monday, August 10, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 87°. Wrote Stan and Judy a letter. Helen started taking care of a 3 month old baby ‘Teri’ days, at $2 per day. Rain in the evening, a good shower, ½ inch by bedtime.” That would be $16.35 per day today. Helen would take care of Teri Lee Roath for several years to come.
NY Times Bestsellers
Eight months into World War II, on Sunday, August 9, 1942, the New York Times published its first “bestseller” list.
Golfing Around
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 8, 1959, Dale wrote, “High about 67°, nice and cool. Went to Wards and Atlantic Mills. I knocked some golf balls with Dalene and friends at Columbia Park. Marie called in the evening to tell us about visiting Stan and Judy in Santa Monica last week. Dalene went to a show with girlfriends.” Marie was Dale’s sister.
Dalene Goes To California
In Minneapolis on Monday, August 7, 1961, Dale wrote, “Nice day. Dalene called from Reseda after 6 p.m. She had a nice train trip.” Dalene came to visit Judy, Jeff, and me in California. Our house, above, was in the San Fernando Valley.
Wilma Gets Sick
In Osceola on Friday, August 6, 1982, Dale wrote, “Foggy in the morning. Cooler. 80°. No air conditioning today. Helen and I and Mac took Wilma to the local hospital at 6 p.m. with a gall bladder attack.” Wilma’s husband Charles ‘Mac’ McFarland took Wilma to Des Moines Methodist Hospital in an ambulance the next day; Helen’s nephew Don Schaffer and Dale drove Mac’s car to him. Mac brought Wilma home from Methodist Hospital on August 11, but the diary makes no mention of outcome. Photo, Left-Right: Wilma, Mac, Dale, Helen, several years later.
Hot Twin Cities Day
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 5, 1959, Dale wrote, “Hot and humid, 96°. Cooled off in the evening. Helen rented the basement room to Tom Speece, a plumber. He drives a Cadillac.”
Dalene’s Drivers Exam
In Minneapolis on August 4, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 94° and humid. Dalene took the drivers license exam for a temporary permit and passed.”
More Painting
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 3, 1957, Dale wrote, “Finished painting the house trim, finally. Looks pretty good too. Took me from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Took a ride to Coon Rapids and back. High today was 73°, low 64°. Nice weather to paint. Low humidity. Helen called Lela after supper.” Helen and Lela were sisters.