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Halvor’s unsuccessful search for a hired girl had a happy ending. He met Pernella Johnson who promised to be his bride rather than his hired girl. They were married in June. In May Palmer took Mother, Gunhild, and me to our old home to help Halvor get the house ready for his bride. While there, Mother had the misfortune of falling and breaking her hip. I went along in the ambulance to the Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse and stayed with her several days. Arne was graduating from High School so I caught the bus and came to Houston just in time to see the graduates march in.

Arne had always been eager to get ahead fast. He turned down an offer to hire out to a neighbor. He was anxious to get out to look for a better paying job. We knew that would be difficult to find for a 17 year old. But we had to let him try. It didn’t work out. He came home on weekends very downhearted. In the fall his uncle Old who had started the Landsverk Electrometer Company in Chicago was looking for people to hire. Arne was really too young but Ole decided to give him a try. Arne was delighted. We hoped this was an answer to our prayer. He left an empty place in our home. We missed his outgoing, ambitious, and warm-hearted personality. Arne came home for Christmas. He had bought himself a new overcoat, wore a big smile, and looked great. He handed us a sealed letter from his boss. It said he had done real well. They were well pleased.

We raised tobacco the three years we were on this farm. In between times Palmer helped neighbors with haying and harvest. We had a good sized garden, strawberry and watermelon patch. The children were in 4-H. Ellert was chosen Houston County 4-H Health champion one year. Ellen was runner-up the next year. We got many compliments on their good posture and healthy looks. Ellen had been homesick the last weeks in Chicago and was glad to be home.

These were busy years with gardening, canning, sewing. Besides, we had three teenagers in school and 4-H. We were expected to take part and help with activities. Our children had belonged to the Cushion Peak Echoes 4-H Club since we moved back to the Houston area. This summer Palmer and I had been chosen to be adult leaders. It involved a lot of work: being present at the meetings each month, encouraging our own children and other members to work on their project such as health, gardening, livestock, sewing, baking, home beautification, and others. Palmer helped the members build a float for the fair on a wagon in our yard.

Ellen and Frieda started their freshman year in Houston. Ellert didn’t continue his education. He had trouble learning to read. The doctor called it a mental block that usually disappears. Ellert was blessed with a good personality. His schoolmates were always willing to help him read his assignments and arithmetic problems. He figured the answers in this head. Ellert, Ellen, and Frieda were taking confirmation instruction and were confirmed at the Stone Church by the Rev. Orion Anderson.

Mother was quite well. She wiped dishes and did some embroidery. She was afraid to be alone, even to be left with one of the children. We took her along whenever we could but most of the time I stayed home with her when the rest of the family went away. The second summer we moved her to Gunhild’s home. She didn’t like to move but it was only to be for the summer.

Mother died the next May at Gunhild’s home after being sick in bed for one month. Gunhild, Halvor, and I changed off every three nights staying with her. She was glad to go, had been waiting for her Savior to come and take her home.

Many little events occurred those years we lived by Highway 16. Palmer and Ellert chased watermelon cooners several times. One day a tramp asked for a handout. He had slept under a culvert during a rainstorm. While eating bacon and eggs, he talked very interestingly about his home and college years. He believed in God, but sometimes people would chase their dogs at him. Some mother must have loved and had hopes for this once good looking boy. What had happened? I often wonder.

Paul and Elsie surprised us one evening when they drove in with their new little house trailer. Paul had recently returned from his year of service in Okinawa and had left the Air Corp.

One Sunday afternoon a motorcycle roared into our yard. A tall, lanky guy stepped off. Who was he? What did he want? Sure enough, he had come to court our Ellen. It was a fiery but short romance. Some months later a more easy-going, well-groomed farm boy with a brand new pickup truck came for visits. It looked like a budding romance.

One morning while we were eating breakfast a boy drove in on a bicycle to get out of the rain. We gave him dry clothes and breakfast. We gave some evasive answers but said he was on his way to see his father. A little later the school bus caught up with him. They discovered he was riding a bicycle that had been stolen in Houston the night before. They relieved him of the bike and he walked on. Poor kid.

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Next chapter: Oak Ridge [a second time]