My great grandma Winona turned 95 years old this past summer. She threw herself a pink birthday party with yummy treats, pictures of her childhood and family, and she even had a fancy chair she sat on for family and friends to greet her. It reminded my of a funeral/wedding reception. There was a "receiving line" and all the old pictures and stories made it feel like we were "remembering her life" as if she had gone to the other side... Although, she is very much alive and healthy for a 95 year old. She got herself all ready and doll-ed up for the party. Of course she was matching with her jewelry, shoes, and dress suit. Winona is a remarkable lady and has lived a great life thus far. I hope to be just like her when I'm a old lady! We had a great time with her.
On Saturday, November 22nd we are going to pick her up and go to the Ogden temple to preform ordinances for our ancestors. GG has always been good at documenting her own history and researching the history of her ancestors who have paved the way for our family. On July 20th, 2013, the day Jared and I got married, she gave us a book called "From There to Here: Life Story of Winona Seely Thorderson". I will always count this book as one of my most prize possessions.
Here are a few stories from the book...
GG's mother Rhoda Clegg Nelson and Justus Earl Seely met through Rhoda's brother Jack. Earl and Jack played baseball together which allowed him to get to know Rhoda. They met in the spring and were married June 26th, 1918 at the Nelson home in Alberta, Canada. Her mom was 17 and her dad 22. (This story reminds me of Mr. Young and I, because we fell in love fast and we are 6, almost 7, years apart... it's good to know we are completely crazy!)
Winona was born one year later on June 28th, 1919. (I can't imagine having a baby at 18.) Later Reta, then Nadine, and Calvin, and last Erleen joined their family.
GG's senior year of high school she dated her young teacher Parley Thorderson. It was kind of a secret love affair because it was frowned upon, but back then it was widely more accepted and their principal chose to "look the other way". Parley taught her chorus class. Friends and classmates quickly caught on to the idea of their romance, and they gave Winona a mousetrap at graduation for her to "catch Parley". And she did! On July 7th, 1937 at the Farmington Justice of Peace courthouse they were married. She had just graduated in May of that same year.
My grandpa Richard was born on December 26th, 1937 and was premature (his actual due date was in February). Winona was barely 18 years old when she married and had my grandpa when she was 18 1/2. Next came my great aunt Nedra, then Sheila, followed by Connie, and last but not least Zak (born August of 1950). Dick and Zak were 13 years apart.
My GG wasn't an active member of the LDS church much of her life, although after she had my grandpa and Nedra, their bishop talked to them about going to the temple and they each received their endowments and were sealing on November 29th, 1939 in the Logan, Utah Temple.
No comments:
Post a Comment