1920: Was cloudy at times and sprinkled a little and rest of day was warm and bright. Decoration Services were held at Spencer [Nebraska] this p.m. We went to Spencer, got ice and weanies, so we had a picnic down on Knoll’s, on the other side of creek, west of Bradstreets, consisting of McDuffy, Whitcher, Bradstreet and Knoll families. Had a pleasant time, for the weenie roast, potatoes, peas, pickles, bread, butter, coffee, pumpkin pie, ice-cream, and cake were just great. Sitting on ground with my cold made me all in, but Will’s eats was the only thing that affected him.
1921: Was a cold, cloudy Decoration Day. Will listed corn on Dave’s land, and I had a headache and cold, but hoed the garden. Mr. and Mrs. Merle Gallentine brought their buggy and got ours. The American Legion from Bristow paid Papa a Memorial visit today.
1922: A bright, cold day. We went to Decoration Services and Will wore his uniform. Had dinner at my folks. Papa and Mr. Marlatt were the old soldiers present. All the neighbors were there.
1923: This is Decoration Day, a bright day, quite warm midday. We went to Memorial services in forenoon, came back at noon, and in p.m. walked up the tracks to World Bros. Circus, rode home with Langans in evening. Will had a headache and I had a toothache last couple of days, but we are better now. Chas. Ward came in the morning for tobacco.
1924: Quite a nice Decoration Day. We decorated graves for Mabel, Papa, Mary and baby Robert. In p.m., Cora and children, I, Louise Ernest and Lorin and Paul Meyers went to Knolls, Crabtrees and Sherlocks. Those at folks today were Mr. and Mrs. John Kirwin and Irene and Helen Scanlan, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ernest and Lorin, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Jr., Katie Taylor, Paul Meyers, William Whiting, Mrs. Ed Angel and Bess, Cora and children, and I. Had eats galore.
1925: Quite a nice day but still dry for Decoration Day. Will finished listing corn and went in p.m. with Jr. Wisenberger to look about cattle. Wisenberger traded eggs (duck) for our hen’s eggs. Clouded in the evening, but was clear in a short time and pleasant out-doors, so I made butter at the well in the evening, also made bread, cake, pie and baked beans. Mr. J. C. Snyder of Kilgore, Nebr. came to sell insurance security in the p.m. and we took some.
1926: Bright, beautiful morning but got real hot at mid-day and clouded in evening, but not much rain. Helen and I went to communion and early Mass, and Will took in Legion doings and joined it and had a dinner there, but Helen and I just walked around and lunched, so am all in. Came home from Saint Francis in the evening via Mission and Ed’s, and it was dark when we came home. Memorial Services at St. Francis were fine.
1927: Bright but cool Decoration Day. Ben, Henry, Will and I went to Parmelee to services and had a picnic dinner with Dorians. Mrs. Roundy was here last evening, also Harry Furrey’s boys, and they and Will went to Tates to get him to go with Will, so after our return from Parmelee, we got Tate, and he and Will left for Kennebec and on to Pierre on the morrow. Everything well at home today and we were little pigs.
1928: Bright most of day, a few clouds, but no rain and cool in evening or rather towards evening. Will, Jeanette, Mary, Harriet, Louise, Dave, Ben and I went to O’Kreek to Memorial Day services and had flat tires, so Louise and Jeanette had to walk home from the store. Mary and Harriet started to get supper. Henry stayed home today. William Whiting and Mrs. Edith Anderson were here this evening.
1929: A lovely, hot day for Decoration Day. B. J. Wagner was here before we got up to return a syringe. Will and Roy got in horses before breakfast from pasture down the river. Dave and Roy went to Dave’s land to plow for corn. Will worked with horses and around cattle and put some of our cows in pasture down the river from out in the hills’ pasture. Louise and Will cleaned basement and put junk in the wagon at basement door. In p.m. Louise dusted out front room. I finished meat, got meals, fussed with chickens and turkeys and sewed on green dress for myself.
1930: Bright, cool day, strong south and S. E. wind after a frost of the night for Decoration Day. Will cleaned hog-shed and he took Mr. Winieger of Carter who came in a.m. to Pat Karnes to see about drilling a well, and he stayed for dinner. In p.m. finished hog-shed and we went to store where we got tractor oil to put on hogs. Ben finished listing his corn late evening. We stopped at Lattimores and got a bushel of wheat for chicks. Boyd came this a.m. and mailed letters to American Credit Co. for Dave and to C. H. Hyers and Sons for my shoes.
1931: A lovely day except got warm in p.m. for Decoration Day. The men chored and I finished lunch. They shaved and Will washed dishes and they put things in the car. We left for O’Kreek Memorial Services. A nice program, firing squad, decorating graves, picnic lunch, Rosebud vs. O’Kreek ball-game, O’Kreek won, score 6-7. Home behind Mrs. C. H. Elshire and family as they had car trouble, so we went to Harry and Louise’s, also Wm Pierces, and then they went home fine. We chored and the men went to the store to see if Tom would take truck to ball-game tomorrow, then we ate supper.
1932: Bright, nice day until late clouds and a shower. Wm, Will and I went to O’Kreek to Memorial Day. Decorated graves there, went to Mission Cemetery and decorated. Picnic Lunch, Program at 1 p.m. at Trinity Chapel. Rosebud vs. Mission Ball-game, Rosebud lost 3 to 11. Dave Dorian and Wm Smith rode with us.
1933: Everybody is remembering Memorial Day, and I lie in bed at Rosebud Ashurst Hospital, for last evening at around 10 o’clock, William was reading and I had just two more pans of meat to cook when, with pains in my stomach, I went out the back door. I got to the path to the toilet, and the men had dug a four foot hole and threw dirt from this hole to the path, and the rain of last night made it slippery, so down I went into this hole with several inches of water. I braced both my arms in this water and called for William, who was reading in the front room. He heard me scream. He came and lifted me out of the hole but couldn’t do much, as my left leg was numb. I couldn’t put weight on my leg, so I crawled to the house by using two arms and my right leg. William wanted to carry me in, but I thought I was too heavy.
With his help, I got on the porch and into our bedroom. He lifted me in bed, gave me a glass of water and some aspirins, and said not to move. I put my left foot in a pan of hot water. As only Swede (the bronco) and a saddle horse that was not too trusty were in the barn, William ran west to Tom and Sadie’s, and met LeRoy Koeppe and his wife, and Jerome Jamison, his wife and two children, and they got here in no time. Then Will and Narvin returned. They got me ready to go to Rosebud Hospital. Thomas and Will took me in their car. William and Narvin stayed home to finish cooking the meat, since this Memorial Day begins after midnight.
They got me to the hospital at about two a.m. We had to stop at Bert Roundy’s where I used their slop jar. They put me in the south ward downstairs, and my foot was swelling, so they put it in hot packs. I was put to sleep, as Dr. Kempers said. At daylight, they would X-ray. There is no power, as it is Memorial Day, and all the help left for places for Memorial Day exercises. So the Doctor fixed me as comfortable as could be until five p.m. When the power was on, Will and the Doctor took me upstairs to X-ray with a nurse’s help. The X-ray showed the large bone from the ankle on my left leg cracked lengthwise, so they bandaged it and sent for Dr. Davis of Pine Ridge Hospital, a Bone Specialist. When he comes, they will put me in a steel brace when the swelling goes down, then a cast.
Will and Thomas went to O’Kreek this morning to the Legion Program, then George O’Conners took Will in his car to Mission to help decorate graves and then back to O’Kreek to dinner. Will then went on to see me at hospital. It was my wish that he do all he could, also the boys. William and Narvin did fine with lunch. Will said that all the meat is put in the basement and the kitchen is cleaned and mopped. All the pork is cooked and in jars, covered with fryings and lard, so the men can batch awhile. The doctor says it will be two weeks before I can go home. [Note: Hattie wrote two different entries for May 30, 1933. Read the other account.]
1934: Another bright, hot day, with a south-west breeze. Will is not home this Decoration Day, and I feel bum and Maggie has the measles. She got breakfast, washed the dishes and cared for chickens and made the beds, then had to go to bed. Elmer chored and Noble Moore came, so they went to the store after Elmer and Maggie had to chase the Old Gobbler because he bothered a turkey-hen hatching by the house. It made Maggie all in to chase him on account of her Measles. Elmer told Orville yesterday not to fix fence today, so he went to Armbusters, and Carl Gehleson brought Josephine down and she got the meals and sprinkled the clothes and folded some of them and fed chickens and brought in five little chicks from the barn, as a hen is hatching in a place where the chicks fall from the hay-mow to the floor. Maggie certainly has a red face this evening, but doesn’t feel so bad otherwise, but itches. I mended socks, slept in p.m., read some stories, and missed Memorial services.
1935: Cloudy, sun shone awhile in a.m., an east wind, and p.m. was cloudy, chilly. Fritz and Hank got in old Mike, who was out, and Fritz fixed fence north-east of house, and Henry drove Tom’s cattle out of pasture south of house. Elmer got Old Nellie and her nine day old colt and was back at noon. In p.m. Henry and Fritz went to N. E. hills and got wood and three small trees to set out in yard. Will was sick with a cold and was in bed all day for Memorial services at O’Kreek by the Dan Dorian Legion Post. I had to get meals, slept in p.m., and, since this is this Ascension Day, I did only necessary work. Elmer went to pasture in p.m. He and Fritz went to store in evening.
1936: Bright, nice until around mid-day a strong south wind and dusty. I got breakfast then washed dishes, fixed lunch, got ready, for Will and I went to O’Kreek to Memorial Services. The Legionnaires decorated two graves in Catholic Cemetery, several in Episcopal Cemetery, had a program at Guild Hall in connection with O’Kreek School Americanism program. Then we took Billie Gunhammer, Dolly Mae Haukaas, and another little girl to Boarding School. We went on to Cemetery near there where Legionnaires decorated the graves, to Mission Park, had dinner, back to Boarding School to Americanism Program by O’Kreek, Mission and Parmalee. Mission got first trophy given by Dan Dorian Post No. 245. It is a banner of Legion Colors and Emblem. We came back to O’Kreek, watched ball-game, O’Kreek vs. Wood, then to Furreys where we stopped awhile, came home for supper. Thomas and Lemoyne stayed home all day, chored, got their dinner, cleaned the house, went swimming, and Stanley came for them in the evening to go to dance somewhere.
1937: Rained early morning and again before noon. Was nice in afternoon but cooler and clouds in evening. I got breakfast and fixed a lunch, so after Will and Lee milked and Lee washed dishes, Will and I left for O’Kreek. Not an Ex-Service man there, so we went to Tom Sazama’s where Jay Tate’s, Carl Anderson’s, Henry Sells’ Families were, also Mary Gehlsen who stays at Sells since Mrs. had operation in March. Mrs. Sells is none too well yet. Mr. Sazama suggested that Mission graves be decorated first, so we put our lunch in Sazama’s house and I stayed there while Messrs. Sazama, Sells, Tate, Whitcher and Anderson went in our car to Mission. They came back in an hour and a half. We then got started for O’Kreek. The men decorated graves in Catholic and Episcopal Cemeteries. George Sazama with the help of little boys froze two freezers of ice-cream before we left Sazamas, one belonging to Tates and the other to Sazamas. Sazama’s axe was buried in the dirt, so George had to go to Crowley’s to get an axe, but he got the job done before the men came from Mission. We took in O’Kreek vs. Mission ball-game at O’Kreek and Mission won. Lee and Thomas went horse-back to store and chored in evening and they were out for the evening when we got home.
1938: Rained most of this day and last night, so Men chored, cared for the stock, and Will and Howard took the fence away from two stacks north of Strids. LeMoyne milked out the cows as usual in p.m. and fed the dizzy calf. Joe Colombe was here at noon. His two mares, bred by Scotty, were bought from Clarence Wheeler. Ben Clausen came for watermelon seeds. We couldn’t get to O’Kreek Memorial.
1939: A beautiful Memorial forenoon and wind started to blow from south towards noon and was real windy for awhile. I got breakfast and fixed lunch to take to O’Kreek to Memorial Day Services. The men chored. Narvin went horseback to cattle, then to cut Will’s hair. Will shaved Narvin’s neck. They cleaned the car and went to Hidden Timber, got gas, then on to O’Kreek. Tom Sazama, Jim Dowd, Carl Anderson, Jay Tate and Will went in Anderson’s Car to Mission, decorated the graves there, then went to Catholic Cemetery, O’Kreek, which is two miles east of town. We then had a program under the trees at Guild Hall, O’Kreek, consisting of Songs, Prayer, addresses by J. H. Tate and Dan Red Buffalo, a Memorial to Mrs. Anne Lambert, who died last July 28th or the morning of 29th and was buried at O’Kreek Aug. 1st, 1938, having died at Evelyn’s (Mrs. Richard Bergen), Rosebud. The Rosebud Band of over 20 members came in a He Dog Bus from Rosebud to play at the Program and marched to graves to play America and the Taps. The Legionnaires decorated graves at this cemetery. We went back to Guild Hall, but there was not enough to eat as there was a large crowd. Will, Narvin and I went to Mission to Mission vs. Soldier Creek Indians ballgame. The Indians won 5 to 6. We had Hamburger Sandwiches, Pop, Coffee and Pie at Ranger’s Café owned by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kratochvil. We came Home. Men changed clothes. We went to Wm Abbotts, no one was home, left a note to tell Mr. we were going to brand and castrate calves tomorrow.
1940: A beautiful Memorial Day, a few clouds and few drops of rain here, but wish we would get a rain for it is real dry. I got breakfast, fixed a lunch. Will chored, also LeMoyne. Will washed dishes and he and LeMoyne washed the car so it looks good. Will and I went to O’Kreek, where Henry Sells, Mrs. Sell, Carl Anderson, Pauline and Mildred, Will and Wm Chief-Eagle went to Catholic Cemetery, and Dan Red Buffalo went along to Episcopal Cemetery, where all graves were decorated. Then we went to Mission. Decorated graves at Union Cemetery, went to the Park for Dinner. Mr. Sazama had to stay home with Helen, Mrs. Anderson with Raymond, Mrs. Dowd with Larry on account of mumps, but rest of the family was there. The Episcopal Indians had a Picnic at Mission Park, so we went to them and Tom Sazama gave an address at their Program. Jay Tates were late on account of car trouble. Mr. Merchen pulled them in from his Place. They ate when they got there. Mr. Tate gave an address at the close of the program. We brought Tates home. LeMoyne stayed home and did the odd jobs.
1941: Decoration or Memorial Day was cloudy, rainy in a.m. Sun shone late p.m. I got breakfast, Seth chored. He then got an orphan-calf and Milk-Cow Barney and her calf so she could feed this calf. In afternoon he looked for coyotes and worked at his yard-fence and was here to chore as we got back from O’Kreek and Mission Memorial Services. Carl Anderson, Jim Dowd, Jay Tate, Tom Sazama decorated Catholic Cemetery graves. They were at the Episcopal graves when we got back from Sazamas. We talked to Hank Haukaas, took Tate and Sazama to Sazamas, got Mrs. Tate, Dickie and Raymond at their lunch, on to Mission Cemetery, after grave decoration to Mission, store, got lunch, on to Park. Tates, us, Dowds, Andersons, Sazamas were only ones there for dinner.
1942: Rained last night. Damp, misty, cloudy and Northwest breeze chilly. Sun just peeped out two times for a minute today. I got breakfast, fixed a lunch. We got ready, went to Tom Sazamas, got him and J. H. Tate. We first stopped at Tates. Mrs. gave me Poppy Money and Poppies she didn’t sell. Went to Mission, then to Cemetery. Decorated those graves for we got wreaths at Sazamas. Then to Catholic Cemetery, O’Kreek, and Episcopal Cemetery. Folks there. After decorating graves, they had short services. Carl Anderson went in his car to Mission, as we were gone.
1943: Cloudy and some rain this morning, but a rain that didn’t last long at noon when we were at Mission Episcopal Cemetery. Anderson, Sazama and Will decorated graves here, also at O’Kreek, both Catholic and Episcopal graves. We had a picnic dinner at Mission Hall. Those there were Mr. and Mrs. Art Estes, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Moser, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sazama, Alice, Edward, Thomas, Johnnie, Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Anderson, Raymond and Pauline. Pauline is working in Beauty Parlor in Winner but is home on Sundays. Raymond graduated from Mission High School this spring. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sell, Delores, Gerald, Howard, Donald Ray, Gerry Dean, Will and I, Mrs. Grayce Rodee and Donna went to Van Epps before going to Memorial Exercises, then to Tom Sazama’s. Took Mrs. along and Andersons in their car to O’Kreek and Mission. Stopped at Carl Gehlsen’s. Carl is in Valentine Hospital, but Joe and Rita Marie and Bobby are at home at White Eagle Filling Station. We brought out dishes to Van Epps, just as Bill was going to Winner to get Cloe Armbuster, Aberfellers and Rosalie and Mary Katherine. We came home, got different clothes, back to help Elsie and Lloyd Totton, whom Bill Van Epps and W. L. Abbott got at Mission yesterday in a.m. and Elmer took to his place to help work. Elmer brought him and took Mary today. Van Epps washed clothes and Will and I helped Lloyd, Elsie, Viola, and Margie move furniture.
1944: Sun shone until mid-day, some clouds, sprinkle of rain. This is Memorial Day, so I got up at 5:20 a.m., boiled a picnic ham, cooked carrots and peas, fixed coffee, took bread and butter, cookies and pickles. We went to highway west of here, met Ted, Mrs. Lein, Billy and Dickie, took them to O’Kreek. Jay Tate, Carl Anderson, and Tom Sazama were there, so Men decorated graves, stayed for short services and went to Mission, decorated graves there, on to park, where Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sazama, Edward, Tom, John and Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Tate, Richard and Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Lein, Billie and Dickie, Mrs. Arnold Mosher and daughter Mrs. Johnson and son Larry, Will and I had a picnic dinner. Jim Gee, his mother Lucy Gee, and Mrs. Tim Crowley came from Winner where they decorated Gilbert Gee’s grave, Husband and Father, so were late.
1945: This is Memorial Day and the sun shone, only a few clouds at times. I got beans baked and took dishes and we got cookies and bread at Whiting Store, meats at Seadores, Mission, also some groceries. We took Mr. and Mrs. Jay H. Tate, Richard and Raymond, went direct to Mission and to Community Hall for a Program was ready for Memorial Day. We went to Park, had a picnic dinner and so many folks there. Eats bountiful. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Anderson and Tom Sazama decorated graves at Episcopal and Catholic Cemeteries, O’Kreek, and one near Mission. 25 graves in all. Sorry no more turned out. We came home via Lew McKee’s to tell them that we would brand calves tomorrow. Mr. and Mrs. McKee had gone to Witten to decorate their 14 year old son’s grave who was buried there in 1918 or sometime with the flu, must be later. Bus and Mrs. were at Mission to decorate their grave of a little child this forenoon. Jesse Lewis, a prisoner in Germany from Dec. 1944 to April 1945, now released, was at McKee’s. He worked there two years before the war and has cattle and a horse there now. We left Tates, went to Van Epps, told them that we would brand tomorrow. Elsie and Billie were here this p.m. finishing cleaning the pantry and were home when we got there. We went to Abbotts to tell them that we would brand tomorrow, and Mrs. said she would come over and help clean the house. We came home to eat supper, tired, so Will chored and we quit to rest and retire for we were all in this day.
1946: Rained at times all day, was cool. Had to have fire in the Heater. Sun shone awhile in afternoon and only partly cloudy rest of day. I got meals, lay down in forenoon, for Will milked the cow and had to stay in bed until we went to the pasture awhile after dinner on to the river to look at cattle. We never got in milk cows this evening, and I had to do most of the chores.
1947: Froze ice last night and Thursday night also, was 30 above and got warm, but chilly indoors, so had fire in heater in morning and late p.m. Sun shone and wind from Southwest strong. Will and I took lunch of peas, egg and lettuce salad, also fruit cocktail with corn-starch, oranges, and banana flavor, corn-beef hash sandwiches. Went to Sazamas. Got Mr. and Mrs. Tate, Richard and Raymond went to O’Kreek where Carl Anderson and Tom Sazama were decorating graves, and several people were decorating graves at Episcopal Cemetery. We went to Catholic Cemetery where Men decorated the graves, then on to Mission Auditorium where program address by A C. Miller, Kennebec, South Dakota,Taps, Prayer, Star-Spangled Banner, Lunch at hall and Mrs. Thomas Sazama had fried chicken, the first we had this season, also potato Salads, different kinds of Sandwiches, pies, beans, baked meat and spaghetti, pickles, coffee and cream. A lot of people there for the program but none too many at lunch. Tates, Sazamas, McKenzies (visitors), A. C. Miller (visitor), two couples I didn’t know, Beryle Holmes and Neil Larson. Mrs. Frank Cordeir and son, Will and I, Mr. Mosher’s Sister (visitor). We brought Tates to Sazamas and they got in their Pick Up and came home. Will helped Levi deliver a calf on our return. Levi drove Klein’s cattle out of their grain field this forenoon and they stayed at home today. Chilly this evening, so we will retire early as the fire is out.
1948: Cloudy, damp, cool and some rain last night but today just heavy mist and foggy. Joe chored and he and Will went to look at cows and get one in before noon. Thomas, Athel, Doris and David came, so Thomas went out with Will, then Joe went on Alabama, got a heifer in, and they got a calf and it was a large one. Will and I ate a lunch and went to Kriz ball diamond where the Men were putting up a new back stop and leveled off the diamond.
1949: Rained last night, Sun shone and was nice, a South breeze. Clouds toward evening to South, it was real dark. Memorial Services O’Kreek were fine. Program March to Cemetery, Colors and Firing Squad. Minister and Officers and Legion and Auxiliary Members and Relatives and friends of Deceased buried in the Cemetery, the the Episcopal one on Hill. After Services for the dead, Salute, Prayers and Taps, we came back to Day School and Millers’ Home where lunch of Pork and Beans, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Sandwiches, Pickles, Jello, cakes, Coffee, Cream, and Orange Lemon Drink. Cora May and Bernadette Whiting graduated at St. Francis High, also Beverly Haukaas yesterday at 11 a.m. and Henrietta Haukaas told me to-day that the girls cried when graduating, but May God Bless them all. We went to O’Kreek vs. Rosebud ball-game at Diamond near Guild Hall, came home at seventh Inning. Came to get mail, then home all in, down and out. No More Taking Picnic Lunches for Us. We had Sandwiches and Ice-Cream for Supper.
1950: A few clouds and N. W. wind quite strong after a beautiful morning, but Sun shone all day. Will and I
went to Memorial Program and Services at the graves and Lunch sold at Miller (Wilbur) Porch so we went there. Will got me a plate and cup of Kool-Aid and was it good. We went to Ball game, O’Kreek vs. Ideal, Tripp Co. and after getting Charles No Heart to sign application to Sell Cecilia No Heart Land. We went to Medicine Eagle, Mosher, S. D. and found him, wife and small son at Church west of where they had Been at Cemetery for graves so nicely decorated.
1951: Rained last night and cloudy, foggy, got chilly late p.m. Rainy at times all forenoon, but rest of day foggy, damp, cloudy. Carl Schuppan brought us a load of sand he got at Burke, S. D. Clarence was still here so they unloaded five tons. Mr. Schuppan and Will came up here, for Coffee and Will served it as I had jobs to do in our room. Will and I ate sandwiches, took water, candy and bananas, went in pick up to look for a heifer in Big Pasture. Bus McKee came last evening and said that when they were fixing fence South side of Hampl Land, he saw this two yr. old heifer about to calve soon. Rena, Charlotte and Irene came to Clarence’s, also a salesman for John Marville Insulation from Valentine. Left for graves yesterday p.m., were to go to Memorial Services at O’Kreek this Day, but we did not go on account of rain. Had to come in for salt to put in boxes in Big Pastur,e so Will got me some milk to drink and I took it along. After filling boxes we came back, so Will went to McKee’s, took Bus along to Paulsons, got twelve sacks of cement as Paulson has 79 left from the foundation to his new addition to his house, but he was planting Corn at Morford Place, so Will did not pay. Came home in a hurry to eat Supper, Read and Retire.
1952: Sun shone but I don’t remember much else. Coles worked at Foundation on Porch and Dan helped them. They had it in this a.m. Made of Cement. Bus never came as they had to go to Decorate their Baby’s Grave at Mission. I guess the Family went to Services at O’Kreek but we never went, as Will feels bad, but he and Dan worked at some repairing.
1953: Bright nice day. Will and I went to O’Kreek to Memorial Services this a.m. and decorating of graves, program, sale of noon lunch, meeting of Auxiliary and Legion, John Jansen, Commander. Mrs. Phillys, Aux. Pres., Mrs. Delelea Jansen, Sec. Treas. We left for Winner, visited Nellie Larmer at People’s home and she had been five days last week in Hospital, pains and lack of blood flow in right leg, but better now, left one was like that and better now. She had a neighbor push her to the American Legion Hall and a girl about two years old pushed her back. She was a carnival girl living in a trailer house near the Hall. Nell attended Memorial Service. Fr. Eugene Szalaly of Mission was the speaker of the day at Services at O’Kreek. We got to O’Kreek, no Haukaas family there. We had supper of Meat Patties, Potatoes, Cream Peas, Pear relish, Pickles, Butter, Jell, Home Made Bread, Coffee, Cream, and Peach Sauce, then Lew and Patsy followed us to the hill in Klein Pasture and went back for fear the car would stop. We had some time to read as Will never milked. Dan and his Family left for Ainsworth, Neb. this morning.
1954: Bright but towards evening began to cloud and had very much rain at bedtime, about 9 p.m. Wales went to Valentine and got Dona as she came on the train from Fremont where Mr. and Mrs. Glen, Earl and David live in a Trailer House and work at making foundations and Floors for a lot of Government Granaries to store Grain this fall. Earl is working in Electric Shop. Will and I cleaned dishes, cooked a chicken and Will cleaned front room. I made a Devil’s Food cake and we rested awhile this p.m.
1955: Bright, nice day, except south wind strong at times. Last evening Will and I went to J. H. Tate’s and they were alone as Raymond took the car and went away for the evening. We got home at 10 p.m. and Parkers were home from Races at Winner. Will and I went to O’Kreek 9:30 a.m. for Memorial Services. Elmer and Clara Anderson went to Spencer, Gross and Rosedale (Boyd Co.) Nebr. to decorate Relatives’ Graves as Carl is buried at Spencer. All Brownfolds, Chris and Florence Nelson and Andersons were at Gross and Rosedale yesterday, and were home this day to come to O’Kreek, brought evergreens and Poppies for Soldiers’ graves, so had to wait for them. A program at School-house, Rev. Snook of Christian Church, Winner, Speaker. A Tedeman Girl tap danced. Eva Jean Jansen dressed as Baton Twirler, did an act. We had lunch and visited with lots of Folks, came home, saw Clarence, Frankie, Roger, Billy and Chuck going from Thomas’s to Harps’, LeMoyen’s and Eds. We came home to go to Pasture, but at first windmill we overflowed and clogged. Had to come home as pick-up was too much shaking for me. We had Supper, and Parkers were at home this eve. I had sickness.
1956: Bright, cool day. N. W. wind strong. Vere went with us to O’Kreek Service at the graves. Chester and Vere were in the firing squad. Henry Sells and John Jensen were color Bearers. Flag Guards were Jack and Harry Jensen, Commander Wayne Holmes, Chaplain Wilbur Miller, Flower Girl Barbara Jansen, Flower Boy Bobbie Holmes. Program and Eats (sold) at school House.
1957: This is a Holiday for the Departed who gave their Lives for our country, and now we respect all the Dead. Tom and Sadie are to get Flowers at Winner to put on the Folks’ grave at Spencer, Nebr., and I don’t know who put any on Nell’s at Winner, as I am too all in to even walk, and my feet are in Bad Shape from Diabetes. There is a program at O’Kreek, and Graves were decorated and a dinner served at 50 cents per plate. Will drilled Alfalfa and LeMoyne disced for Oats. Clarence went on his horse went to look over the cows and calves, and one calf at the spray pen had to look for its Mother in p.m., and all is well this evening. LeMoyne went to Mission, his home, before supper and was back at 9:30 p.m. to see Johnny and his burnt arm. I got eats, laid down after dinner for awhile, listened to the radio and played solitaire. Frankie washed her clothes and our towels. The boys went fishing in p.m.. We never saw anyone, but a Sewing Machine Agent brought Frankie a Machine, $71.00 on it, wow, at Carter.
Hattie’s last entry was on June 2, 1957. On the following pages of the diary, Louise Furrey, Harriet’s youngest sister, wrote the following:
May 30, 1958: Bill Whitcher came to tell us that he had taken Hattie to Winner Hospital. I visited her often and stayed during many days to give Bill a rest. On July 3rd I went to stay. Hank and Vivian Haukaas were also there. We stayed there that day and night, all day Friday, July 4th and that night. Hattie passed away at 5:22 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 1958. Dad and I helped Bill with funeral arrangements. All attended rosary for her July 7th at 8 p.m.. Funeral was at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Winner and burial in Winner cemetery.