My parents married on September 3, 1930, one year into the great depression. They stood before a Justice of the Peace, with a borrowed ring and Aunt Jessie and Uncle Truman acted as their witnesses. Blanche held Loraine’s hand, and Daddy held Barbara in his arms, as they exchanged vows. Daddy started to put the ring on Blanche’s finger; Barbara accidentally hit his hand and knocked the ring to the floor. Amid much laughter and scrambling around on hands and knees, everyone looked for the ring before the ceremony could continue. With the last “I do,” Blanche and Daddy shared a kiss, hugged the two little girls and started a life that in the next twelve years would see four more children added to their family: George, born May 25,1931; Joel, July 5,1934; Mona, December 14,1936; and myself, October 21,1942.
Their married life began in Granger, Utah, later moving to, Diamondville, Wyoming. Daddy worked for a ranch that furnished them a “shack”, to live in. I can see then now, cleaning, plugging holes between the rough boards with old rags, as they tried to block out the ever-present Wyoming wind. In summer dirt sifted through the cracks and in winter, mounds of snow were ever present inside the house. Mom found more rags and plugged more holes. They papered walls with old newspapers to hide the grease and grime of many years, and add light to the small rooms. A milk cow supplied the family with milk, butter and cream, and chickens furnished fresh eggs and occasionally graced the table for a special Sunday dinner. Mom at 20 years old was already an accomplished cook and seamstress. She planted a garden, giving them fresh vegetables for the summers and when Daddy bought her a pressure cooker she worked during the heat of the day, over a wood stove, canning vegetables and meat along with fruit to store for winter. She stitched together warm coats for Loraine and Barbara, out of hand me downs from her family. In the evenings seated close to the stove, under a dim light from the gas lantern, she mended old and worn clothes so they would last another year. After the family moved to Diamondville, Wyoming, in the early 1930’s, Daddy still worked as a ranch hand but also found part time work in the coalmines. He told me he liked working in the coal mines, but only because when under ground the days passed quickly. To be continued. Hugs To All...OWAV:)
The following photos were in their first years of marriage.
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