Larsen Armstrong Family

March 20, 1942

2009-12-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom, Pop and Tom:

Well, here I am at last. I don't know where the days and weeks go to so fast. It seems that every time I manage to get this typewriter home I have some typing to do for the Primary. I have turned into their official typist, seems to be the only one in the Church.

I want to thank you first for the lovely gift to Bobby. It is the sweetest little outfit I have ever seen and he looks so cute in it. A friend of Blanche's is knitting him a baret to match it and I hope we manage to get home to show him off in it sometime this spring or summer. It's his Sunday-go-to-meetin' suit and that reminds me that some Sunday when he has it on we should take to meetin' and have him blessed--he hasn't really got a name as yet. He's just at the stage where he's proud of new clothes and knows we think he's pretty cute. I had a little birthday party for him and invited three other Mommies and their babies in for the afternoon and the Mommies sure did have fun. Mildred Cahoon, whose baby is the one in the last picture I sent of Bobby, brought her movie camera and took pictures of them. I haven't seen them as yet but they should be good. I bought a decorated cake and ice cream and a good time was had by all. Colleen Morrow, the three year old, gave him a toy; Blanche gave him a little 0ne-piece knit suit; Judy gave him two pair of little summer seersucker pajamas and Billy Cahoon gave him a corduroy suit. I bought his first pair of long jeans and a little sweat shirt. They are little overalls really and he needed them for crawling-he gets so dirty his knees won't come clean and when they do they are red from floor burns. Dad gave him house slippers. Speaking of "Dad" he calls every man he sees Dad and it's mighty embarrassing to "Mom". Mrs. Armstrong sent a little navy blue wool coat, double-breasted and it has little gold buttons and navy insignia on the sleeve. It has a little hat with visor and about next fall it should fit pretty well and he'd better be walking so he can wear it. He is certainly well-outfitted now but he had just reached the point where he was down pretty low on clothes. His things have to be washed so often and he's growing fast. And buying baby shoes is no joke. That last word remind me, Do you know how to tell when a Scotchman is in love?---"By the tilt of his kilt." Isn't that cute?

Getting back to Bobby, I am going to have a nice picture taken of him now and will be sending it along to you soon. We are giving him inoculations for children's diseases. We should have started at six months but I didn't have the heart to do it. So far he has just one shot for diphtheria. He has one more in three weeks. Thenk he has tree shots for whooping cough and a smallpox vaccination. We had it done at five in the afternoon, brought him home, gave him his supper and put him to bed. He went to sleep immediately and slept the night through without a sound. Aside from being a little grouchy, it didn't seem to bother him a mite. I forgot to tell you that he's a regular member of the family now. He has just three meals a day, drinks whole cow's milk from a glass and has one nap after lunch. He even eats such things as round steak(scraped) and cottage cheese. And, of course, he also eats a lot of other little knickknacks like the daily newspaper and wet washcloths. He's a lot of fun and good company. He chases me around the house all day in his Taylor-tot and he is full of mischief and loves to ease. When he first started drinking milk from a glass he choked on every gulp. Now he does pretty well and when he has had his fill he pretends to choke on it or he waits until I get it to his lips then hits the glass and that ends that meal.

Judy had her lip operated on last week and it looks much better. It left It left just a tiny little dcar and I think it will go away entirely. Blanche took her up and cared for her for two days and it was more than she could stand. When Mary finally took her home, Blanche was sick for a few days. Judy walks nicely and is a pretty little girl. Oh, I almost forgot--I had the scare of my life the other day. Bobby was in his bedroom in his Taylor-tot alone and he whimpered a little. It was the sort of cry he generally uses when he gets stuck somewhere and can't make it move. Then he stopped and it was awfully quiet. I went to take a look and you'll never believe it but he was standing on the floor holding to the back of the cart. He had apparently run alongside of his play pen, reached up with both hands and got a good hold on the pen, then stood up in the cart and either stepped out or the cart moved out from under him and he hung tight and found himself out on his feet. At any rate he was out, all in one piece and looking awfully pleased.

Well, I could go on for pages telling you little things about him. I wish we lived closer. We went to Seattle last Saturday and came back Sunday. Our friends at Sand Point wanted some meat for dinner and the markets were all closed by order of the unions. They own that town. We didn't do anything but enjoyed the outing. tomorrow we are going down to Elams to entertain some soldier boys. Thelma is busy doing re cross work and is having three or four boys in for dinner and cards or something and she wants us to help with the fun. I do feel sorry for them, though. There is a whole regiment stationed here and I can sympathize with them--there is certainly nothing to do in Yakima in the way of entertainment--unless you go to someone's home.

Tom, I enjoyed your letter and you had better write often or I won't send you cookies when you are at Fort Lewis. That will be swell as long as you have to be in the Army. You will probably be even closer than that when you go out for ski practice. And you can come over and spend your days off with us. Hope they make you a general someday.

Mom, if I get a little pattern and some seersucker, would you run up some little sun suits for Bobby this summer. I want them for everyday and seersucker is so easy to keep up and you just can't buy them in anything but materials that need ironing. They needen't be fancy, just something to cover his little diaper and a couple of straps to hold it up.

Pop, I just thought I'd tell you that I read Bob's letter before he did and surely enjoyed it. You needn't think there is any privacy in this house. And it seems to me that I write two letters to everybody's one down that-a way. Anyway mine are the longest and I don't leave out things you are just dying to know, like what is Gwen's baby a girl or a boy? I wish someone would tell me.

Well, it's getting late and chilly. We have fire in the morning and then let it go out, the afternoons are just wonderful. But about ten in the evening it starts to get cold. Everybody write. And thanks again for the nice gift--I'll see that you see him in it. Good nite. Much Love, Louise

February 25, 1942 Letter From Robert

2009-12-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom & Pop:
Surprise----Bet you'd given up hope of every hearing from your renegade son-in-law. Now admit it.
I got Louise going on the Church work so don't have to worry about us getting into heaven now, and was just sitting here smoking and trying to figure out what Roosevelt said Monday, what to believe in the newspapers-- and mulling over the sob story I've herd so much of the last sixty days, that I finally decided Confucius (the Chinese seer) Mohamed and dozens of others were all nuts---none knew what is going to happen.

I thought over the pleasant things I've enjoyed----a trip (free of charge) to San Fransisco, a mix-master in which I get a lot of pleasure, belive it or not, and naturally I was anxious to know how your both getting along with no one at home to heckle you.---When are ya coming up?

We got three inches of snow Monday. Today (Tuesday) it's all gone down---funny weather.

Louise took out our little bundle of energy and pent up T.N.T. to be checked over for an insurance policy I took out for some sort of "promise" to pay when he's 21 years, and I'll be damned if she aint all convinced that everyone stops what they are doing to play with him---(she may be right) Anyway, he's tops as far as health goes and we've decided to keep him even tho I have to fed him every A.M. at six.

We are still terrible busy at the Bank and looks as tho they might believe I'm not all muscle between the ears. So if the Army don't get me, (or I don't get too mad and enlist) we may live in the Northwest a month or so more.

Tom wrote us once---maybe twice--come to think of it, it is twice--seems to be getting along swell, tho Louise worries over his being drafted---but whether he does you'll be proud of him.

Love to both of you and don't forget to drive up--make it while gas is still sold on the open market. Bob Louise says hello.

February 11, 1942

2009-09-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dear mom and Pop:

I've been trying to write ever since you called but we are always so busy that when we have a free night we go to bed early and try to catch up in one night on a week's sleep. The night you called we had company and it was hard to talk--there is always an automobile dealer and his wife in our living room. When Bob took the job and they told him they wanted him to live with the dealers, I didn't know they meant it literally. I think they told the dealers and their wives to come and live with us, too. I wanted to tell you what a swell little boy we have but it's kinda hard to brag in front of some people. His teeth are popping in everywhere--has about eight all totaled now. But he still hasn't any hair--everybody grows hair, don't they? We have a lot of cute little things we do every day--he is a great little mimic--I'm going to have to watch my step. He seems to understand everything I say. When I tell him "no" he sasses me--it makes him mad as the dickens. He hasn't had any kind of cold or cough but we ask him how his bad cough is today and he almost strangles himself coughing. The blue bear sits on top of his chest of drawers and I hold him up and ask him if he wants to talk to the blue bear. Then I say "hello Bobby," in a high squeaky voice and he knows he is being kidded. He glances at me with a twinkle in his eyes, then he squeals in a high thin voice, very much like the voice I used. Now ain't that cute--I hope you think so cause I do. I think you had better send me some sort of book on child psychology, Pop, cause I find I don't know how to handle him without giving him a good pop on the fanny. He's determined and strong as a little Sampson. He goes after and gets what he wants. He climbs out of and onto anything he wants. He stands up in his high chair, climbs out of his Taylor Tot and on to a chair, coffee table or anything handy. I've kept an eagle eye on him and he has never had a bad fall but he is very careful with himself, when he gets on the edge of something he peers over and hangs on for dear life. So I stay at a safe distance and let him take care of himself and he does a pretty good job of it, but I'm stumped on one thing. I thought I had him trained not to touch certain things when I told him no and everything went fine for awhile then he suddenly started running around grabbing everything he knew he shouldn't--that's about all he bothers to touch now, in fact, and when I slap his hands he tries to cry and sails into it again. So you tell me what I am to do.

Trouble is coming thick and fast for poor Bob. Boys joining up just tell him to come and get their cars from all corners of the state. They are kicking all the shady ladies around from place to place and trying to catch up with them long enough to get a payment or the car is a job for a detective. All of the dealers are twiddling their thumbs wondering what happens next and their isn't any new business, it's all old. So I suppose a year from now there will be a great many changes for a good many people. I guess as long as there is an automobile department, we'll be here, and do far Seattle talks like they mean to keep the thing alive. I maybe told you that Bob got a $25 a month increase but we are buying a bond a month so it just takes care of it nicely. It's just too bad. I guess we'll be middle-age and still be trying to get a start and stick with something. Don't let all this worry you because to date everything is really going fine. And you know I haven't got a worry portion to my brain and Bob instead of worrying gets mad and does something better.

I wish I had something interesting to tell you but we just see a show, play Tripoli every Saturday night, have people drop in and that's about all. Sunday was a beautiful spring day and Blanche and Sid took us and Judy up to Ellensburg to have dinner. Oh, one thing I almost forgot. Mary's father passed away about two weeks ago and he was a very devout Catholic and we attended the funeral in the Cathedral. It was an amazing show. I'm afraid I could never be converted to it. It just doesn't appeal to my comfortable soul. He left Mary a rather tidy little estates--if they can get it from the church. He had been living in a Catholic home in Seattle and they had tied up a good part of it and Mary is taking it to court. So it is going to be very interesting. I'll tell you the whole story when I see you. it's much too long and complicated to put in a letter.

Well, I must close and go to bed. Our new alarm clock says 10:30 and I feel silly going to bed at 9:30 only that rising an hour earlier in the morning makes me give in.

Write soon and tell me all the gossip. Tell Dick and Ellen hello and they had better write. Hope everybody is well. I write to Tom occasionally and get an occasional answer. Good night. Love. Louise

January 5, 1942

2009-09-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Well at last I have moment for myself. I have been trying to write ever since Xmas and we have either gone somewhere or had company every single night. It's terrible having the holiday come in the middle of the week, when it comes over a week-end you get the week-end and the holiday celebrations all over with at one time.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the lovely present--the mix-master. I should say "we" appreciate it--Bob was the first to use it. He mixed up eggnog for Christmas day. He just can't leave it alone--read all the instructions before I ever got to them and now asks me when I'm using it if I do this and that according to the rules. It's just a beauty and wonderful to use. I've made waffles, a cake and, of all things, my own mayonnaise with it already. Thanks so much but I think you should have kept if or yourselves--it's much too nice for someone who doesn't know how to cook. On second thought it may be just what someone like myself needs. Anyway I surely love it. You may regret sending it--Bob says he doesn't need a wife.

Bobby enjoyed Christmas and we enjoyed him. He had gotten down to practically nothing in the way of toys and clothes since I was making him wait for Xmas to replenish his supply. The Teddy bear was darling and is decorating the top of his chest of drawers. I let him hold it when I'm with him but it's too cute to let him tear to bits. He likes it because it's so colorful. Colors fascinate him. And thanks too for the little suit, it's very pretty and he was certainly in need of it. I hadn't bought him clothes for sometime and he is too big for practically everything he owns. Santa Claus brought him a Taylor-tot, Kiddy car with all the trimmings, a high-chair and odds and ends in toys. The little girl, who tends him gave him a big ball and Judy gave him a little toy gift dog made of oil-cloth. The Leonards were pleased as punch about the pink bear you sent to Judy. I shouldn't tell you but we plan to have their pictures taken together with their bears and will be sending it along soon. It was nice of you to remember her. They all gave us some little gift--we practically belong to the family--and we just couldn't begin to give to all of them so we remembered Blanche and Judy only. We made several calls Xmas day and spent that evening at Leonard's and had supper with them. I almost forgot our own Xmas. Bob gave me three lovely pairs of nylon hose and a .25 defense bond which I can either cash in a couple of months or keep, which I plan to do cause we have been wanting to start buying a bond a month and it is a good time to get started. As a matter of fact the bank took a vote of its employees and sort of pushed thru a plan for each one to spend 10% of his salary for a bond each moth. But we meant to anyway and it's a good thing--I'd like to get this war in the bag. So far our business has gone alone as usual but their will soon be some drastic changes--no tires, no automobiles, no gas, etc. It sort of hits the automobile dept. pretty hard. However, we aren't worried. The bank is absorbing two of Bob's men and Bob will have to run his own dept. Practically alone with a stenographer or two--but it's still a job.

I don't know why but I always get around to talking about the war. I was telling you about Christmas. I gave Bob a hunting coat and Bobby gave him a pair of house slippers. Bobby gave me a bottle of cologne and bath powder. So we had a very nice Christmas with only one flaw and that was being so far from home. Tom sent Bob three lovely hankies and me a table cloth which is very much California. It is a heavy linen in bright color and will be very pretty with my pottery. Speaking of dishes I just can't wait to see your new set, it sounds very pretty. I haven't even seen the dining room set yet. I'm serving warning on Bob that the war gets any closer I'm going to S.L. and he thinks I'm fooling but I'm not. What I started to say is that I may get to see it all soon.

Pop. I'm sorry about the books being such a muddle. Maybe it's all my fault for ever setting them up the way I did. Maybe I'm the only person who could possible ever get them straightened out. Don't tell Mr. Williams when he sees who did it. I'd certainly be happy to help you with them if I were there. I'll have to confess they weren't any too easy for me to balance at the end of the year either and it was my baby. Well, I hope by this time it's all figured out and forgotten and you are busy with a swell new year. And if you are serious about the apple picking job you won't be able to keep from helping to harvest the crop this year if you will just come up into this country. I expect I'll be drafted into the hop-picking corps. I'll have to put Bobby in a sack on my back and you won't be able to tell me from the Indians.

Mom, I have had all I can do on the little quilt done for sometime but just postponed putting it in the mail. I'll have it to you in a few days. Will you please buy a little dollar white baby quilt to pad it with. I think you can get one about the right thickness at Penney's. And also buy the backing for me. I will send a dollar or two and leave the selecting of the quilt for padding and backing to you cause you probably know more about it than I do. They told me that the little light weight quilts are just as easy to quilt and wash without matting inside. As for the backing you use your own judgment on it, I haven't any idea what to even suggest. His little room will be pretty with the blue bear on the dresser, the quilt on the bed and I have red, white and blue seer-sucker drapes at the windows and the whole room is his.

I am sending a picture of Bobby and Billie Cahoon, son of the Studebaker dealer here. I may ask you to send it back if I can't get another print made, the negative belongs to Mrs. Cahoon. It was taken in their home. Billie is three months younger than Bobby. Thought I'd tell you so you would know which one was our young giant. He's the one who looks like a bull in a china closet. But he's cute.

Must close for now. Tell Dick and Ellen I will write tomorrow or next day without fail. Write often and make them long. Thanks again for the lovely presents. Much love, Louise

December 9, 1941

2009-08-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Sorry to be so slow writing but I just never seem to have a minute of my own. We went over to Tacoma to a football game Saturday, drove back to Seattle that night to stay with some friends and see the beginning of the fireworks. I suppose everybody knew this would happen sometime soon but liked to go on pretending that it wouldn't. It was quite a shock to get up and find we were at war--just over night. Our friends the Tippery's whom we always stay with over there have the new home I told you about before, out at Sand Point. They are just one block from the Naval reserve and I can't say that I blame them for being really worried. Shari Tippery spent some time in a sanitarium with a nervous breakdown about two years ago and I think she'll be in an asylum before this is over. But Seattle--while we were there--seemed very calm. They were on their toes but everything went along as usual. Shari and I went shopping Monday morning and the stores were jammed with shoppers. Most people seemed to feel that they wouldn't reach our coast. But it was a very comfortable feeling to come back to Yakima. They were guarding all of the bridges and stopped us as we were crossing the Washington Bridge and asked us for our destination. We haven't had a test black-our here yet but I guess they had Seattle in darkness last night. I wish we lived in the middle west on one of those wind-swept farms where the windmills are three miles apart. Our landladies daughter who was recently married to a Marine doesn't know where her husband is. He was on his way to Honolulu, they thought, but he hadn't time to reach there when the bombing started. She doesn't seem particularly anxious, though, and most people I talk with are the same way. I hope you won't worry about us being here cause I think we're pretty safe. There's nothing that would bring them to our village--unless they get hungry for an apple. And Bob and I aren't at all nervous--just now we're fightin' mad. I dropped Tom a line tonight and am anxious to hear his side of it. I hope Dick has plenty of exemption with the little boys.

Well, enough of that. Blanche took Bobby for me over the week-end and she's so darn swell to us and to the baby, too. You'd think he was her grandbaby. She called this morning and asked how her baby was today. Said she just wanted to make sure we were treating him right. I think her bunch all fell in love with him. They think he's the best natured child in the world--and he is. Irene said they had all decided I had a perfect baby. So I'm pretty proud today. He is trying words now. Says dada-you know that one: and baba which means Bobby, of course. He's an awful rowdy. He squeals the loudest I have ever heard. And he's quick and strong. And one of these days he is going to be running around without any pants because it's all I can do now to hold him down and change his diapers. He pushes with his heels and lifts his whole body off the bathinette. And he keeps bouncing that way until Mommy gives him a couple of good slaps on the leg. And it doesn't make him cry, he screams at me. About the time he grows some hair you'll have to see him, I think that will be his cutest.

Dad, I called the Republic and Herald and your ad usually ran Friday evening and Saturday morning so there was plenty of time. I meant to look at it but I was busy getting ready to leave at 7:00 A.M. in the morning and forgot about it and I guess Bob has used the paper for a fire. I can't find it now. I'll look next Friday and let you know what I think of it. It seems good to hear from you and I hope Kay forgets the insertion date often.

Mom, thanks for all the clippings. News of Pheobus was a shock. She was a very sweet person. I heard from Jenore sometime ago and she planned to get married early in December. I am wondering now what has happened. If you know, don't forget to tell me about it in your next letter.

Must close and put up my hair and do my nails tonight--I'm going to the Junior Century Woman's luncheon tomorrow, and want to look my sweetest and there's no time for primping at our house in the mornings. Hope you are all well. Give my love to Dick and Ellen and boys. Write soon and often. Much love, Louise

November 16, 1941

2009-08-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks,
I thought by this time I'd have a letter saying you would be here for Thanksgiving. Course I'm going to expect you till after Thanksgiving is past. Wish you could make it. Will have goose, turnkey or anything you'd like. And don't let the thought of my working scare you out cause I've improved since last you were here.

I was terribly disappointed about our trip. The couple I was coming with left this morning for S. L. and will probably drop in to say Hello. I didn't plan to go this time since it is to close to Thanksgiving and if Bob didn't come after us at that time we'd probably have been on your hands all winter. And it's doubtful that we can come for Xmas. Bob thinks it's a little too long a trip for such a short time. However, I'll keep working on him. Unless you can come to see us we probably won't see you until spring and our vacation. As an added enticement--besides the extra special dinner--I'm sending a picture of Bobby and Judy. Bobby is sitting in the cart in case you aren't sure. They are going to enjoy each other. They have a lot of fun together now and are both cute youngsters.

I guess Tommy has seen everything Southern California has to offer now after the earthquake the other night. Let me know what he has to say about it. He just won't take time to write. I'm glad to hear that he is doing well and likes it.

We haven't been doing much to write about. When I get a typewriter at home again I'll send a longer and more legible letter. This one is just a written invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.

Tell Dick and Ellen and the little boys Hello and I'd like to hear from them. Bobby must be quite the young man by now and Gary too.

Write and if you can make it wire us. Plan to stay a few days. Much Love, Louise

Letter from Robert November 4, 1941

2009-08-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

This letter is professionally typed on Yakima Valley Branch Seattle First National Bank

Dear Louis:

I am enclosing a sample folder insert which was sent to us along with several types of letters from our main office in Seattle.

I am also enclosing copies of the types of letters which our advertising department in Seattle apparently worked out.

Personally, there are advantages and disadvantages to these letters as I see them, and I believe they lack a little modern appeal. I am sending these to you as I know you will be interested in our direct advertising campaign. I have not had an opportunity to use your letters as yet. However, I did present them to our Seattle office. After numerous committees which meet on this type of material, apparently our letters became lost in the delay. I still have your copies here, and I am planning on putting these into effect as soon as we have exhausted our present supply.

Again I want to thank you for a swell job and speed with which you turned these out to me in view of your busy routine.

Louise has just mentioned to me that you're birthday has come and gone which apparently slipped her mind, and which, i am sure, I had not remembered much to my embarrassment. We certainly would have enjoyed having you here in Yakima with us, as we miss hearing from you from time to time.

Thanksgiving this year has just been announced by the governor to fall on the 20th which may alter Louise's plans of a trip to Salt Lake. However, she is still undetermined. I hope to have some news regarding my future direct mail plans and will keep you posted. Best regards to you and Ada, very truly yours, Bob---- R.F. Armstrong, Manager, Automobile Finance Dept.

Handwritten on top says pardon formality but my steno has no sense of humor. Hello to Paul and write!!

November 4, 1941

2009-08-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Dear mom and Pop:

I guess you wonder what has happened to me but I have been waiting to write trying to decide what to do about my vacation. I was all set to come last Oct, 20. I was going to ride with Joe Smith--imagine that---a friend of Bob's who has been working with C.I.T. in Seattle but just at that time he was transferred to Denver so that was out. Now Bob has a car in S.L. that must be returned soon and he is sending one of his men after it this week-end and if I decide to come I will ride with him, otherwise, I will wait until spring when bob will get a vacation and we will all be down. If I could just be there it would be swell, but packing a baby that far really has it's problems when it comes time to leave. Another thing is the getting home. Thanksgiving here is on the 20 of November and that would make a short vacation of it and Bob isn't too sure that he can come after us then. They have just finished remodeling at the bank--his department--and they are having a big opening about that time and he should be here. So I am all undecided. I would just love to come and would be disappointed if it blows up. I would like to have you see Bobby while he is still a baby. He's growing up so fast it startles me. Well, I can't tell you anything definite in this letter but if I come I will phone or send a wire and let you know when we arrive. If you don't hear from us before next week you will know we have postponed it. Do you think I'm crazy taking a baby on a long trip this time of year? I wish someone would decide for me.

Dad, I sure missed your birthday this year. You can pretend you have two this year with out getting any older. Bob mailed you a little gift today and we all wish you many happy returns. Bob got up early this morning and turned on the radio and as I was trying to get my eyes open I heart someone say something about the 27th--I suppose they meant November but something clicked in this noggin of mine and I remembered your birthday.

Bob and I are having a little fun this fall. We joined a dancing club that meets once a month and are meeting a lot of young people. We play cards a little and seem to keep pretty busy most of the time. As a matter of fact I think I lead a pretty hectic life but Bob loves it and certainly takes it in his stride. I don't believe I ever told you that Bill Epperson called me one day. If I did just skip this paragraph. He is stationed at Fort Lewis and was just going thru Yakima. He phoned and promised to try to get over some week-end. Says he doesn't love the army and was trying to get in the air corps. I wish he would drop over it would seem good to see him and we could have some fun. I don't think of anything in particular to write about. Bob is doing a little duck hunting and I--good girl--am studying the Book of Mormon. As I told you, I am secretary to the Primary in this district and it is turning into almost a full-time job. They are studying the Book of Mormon and it is really quite interesting. I think I heckle the missionary who is teaching it without meaning to. But every time I bring up a question everybody present says, Yes, that is what we are wondering." The Missionary Ladies called on Betty Davis and left a Book of Mormon with her to read. So she called up and wanted to know if there was anything spicy in it. She is the same old Betty. We are going to play Tripoli with her Friday night if I am not in S.L.

The little boy is so full of Vitamin B1, I'm going to have to stop feeding him mush--he has too much pep for me. Maybe you couldn't stand his nonsense for two weeks. He never cries but he has reached the stage of choking to get attention and he has it perfected till it sounds like he's giving up the ghost then he giggles when I come skidding into the room. He's pretty cute--has four teeth now and just a little fuzz on his top-not and don't tell Ellen but it's not curly. Well, I wish you could see him.

It's getting late so must close. Hope everybody is well and wish someone would write. Mom, I got your letter and surely enjoyed it. I drop Tom an occasional note but can't coax or scare an answer out of him. See what you can do. Glad to hear he likes his job now and hope he can keep it. The radio scares me and I wish the whole mess would stop before there isn't anything left.

Well, Good night again. I'm going to dream on that trip. Maybe I'll figure the whole thing out and be down. Love, Louise

Letter from Robert October 1, 1941

2009-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

This letter if professional typed on a Yakima Valley Branch of the Seattle First National Bank and sent to Louise W. Larsen at Ad-Craftsmen 524 McIntyre Building, Salt lake City, Utah

Dear Louis:

I can't begin to express my appreciation for the folder of copy you sent me. You really went to work on this deal for me and as soon as I have been given the go ahead signal, I hope to be able to do a job for you. I am not certain yet as to the program in mind based on our Main Office in Seattle; however, I am most anxious to put in a regulation plan for the entire Automobile Loan Department.

I will keep you posted on further developments and in the meantime your time and trouble is worth something to us, and I will appreciate your advising me on the amount I owe you.

Again, many thanks and best regards to Ada and the office.
Very truly yours, Bob---- R.F. Armstrong--Manager--Automobile Finance Dept.

Hand Written on bottom of letter: Louise sends her loved and is surely found of the envelope you sent. "Bobby Jr" cut two lower front teeth a couple days ago and now getting back to his old happy self. Will write again soon---and many thanks.

September 24, 1941

2009-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks,

Just a line while Bob is writing. Thanks so much for the nice birthday gift. It made me feel a little better about being 29. I haven't spent it yet but will tell you what I finally decide on.

I can't think. Bob is trying his hand at advertising copy, and is thinking out loud. Pop, will you please hurry and dash something off so I can go to bed nights. I have to sit up and listen to it and boy is he full of ideas. It seems we are always bothering you with something, but we will really appreciate a little of your professional help in this job. They expect big things of Bob and he's anxious to "floor them" with something smart. Maybe something may come of it. We don't know what advertising connections they have in Seattle but if they let Bob have a free hand here maybe it would be a gorgeous "in" for you with them. If you don't want to be bothered or haven't the time just tell us and Robert can wow them with his smashing copy and ideas.

Well, I've joined the Church and it's most time consuming. They are building a big, new, $15,000 church here. I didn't know that when I let them talk me into being Secretary of the Primary. I rather enjoy it, though. They have little get-togethers and really do a nice thing for the children in the small, outlying town. Most of the children who attend the Primary meetings are non-member children and it is just about their only social life. Course it's good missionary work for the Church, too. One of the missionary ladies here is named Moore and her father teaches Seminary at North Cache in Richmond. He also taught at Rick's academy at one time. They live in Smithfield and I'll bet you know them.

Bill Epperson called me up the other day. He was just going thru and had a few minutes but promised to come over sometime and spend a week-end with us. I guess you know he is at Fort Louise and he hates the life.

A week ago Saturday Wimm and Heloise payed us an unexpected call. They were on their way to Seattle to visit some old schoolmates. They promised to call you when they get home and tell you all about the city.

Mom, I surely enjoyed your newsy letter and the clippings. Such goings-on. I guess just about everyone I know is married now. Wish you'd write more often, though.

I must stop and get some sleep now. bobby is fine except he is allergic to food. But he gains on it. He weighs 20 lbs now and is getting so darn cute. We are getting all set for our vacation. Think I'll wait until after our anniversary on the 5th of Nov. and leave Saturday Nov. 8th and stay until Thanksgiving. Can you stand it that long? Am enclosing a couple of snaps to show you how big he's getting. When we learn how to operate all the gadgets on the new camera we'll send better ones.

Tell my brothers they'd both better write or I'm going to take them off my mailing list. How are the little boys? I guess Bobby is a young man by now.

How you are well. Write Often, Much Love, Louise

P.S. Mom, I'm saving the Rinso tabs for a set of kitchen silver. Will you save yours and send to me every time you accumulate a few. We have the spoons and they are pretty.

August 29, 1941

2009-08-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:
It looks like you ain't a going to write two letters to my one and I'd better write if I want to know what you are up to. I don't know what we do with our time but every evening something comes up to keep us busy. Our little neighbor across the hall spends most of her evenings with us, she is so afraid of staying alone but they have been transferred to Eugene, Oregon, already and it's certainly lonesome. I don't know if I could ever enjoy living in the house alone. She and her two youngsters were pests at times but I guess I enjoyed them after all. Wilma and Pete Olson, Betty Davis's brother and wife are looking at the place and if they move in I'm moving out. I'd have the same thing to contend with as in the court--someone at my place all the time. You can't even have what you want for supper.

I had hoped to have some snapshots of the baby to send but will have to wait until next letter now. We bought a Kodak and the next day it started to rain. It fells like fall. It seems to be arriving much earlier than usual. Bobby is getting along beautifully and is the best little fellow you can ever imagine--never cries, not even for his dinner. He coos and calls and smiles all over when I walk into the room. Everyone thinks he is too good to be true but it's all in the way you raise a youngster--ahem. He must weigh close to 20 lbs now and I just can't handle him much. For breakfast he has 8 ounces of milk with an egg yolk in it, cod liver oil and Pablum--a cereal. At 2:00 he has 8 more ounces of milk, vegetables and a vitamin C tablet. Dinner, 8 more ounces, mashed banana of all things and more cod liver oil. The 10:00 at night feeding is the thing of the past. He eats us out of house and home and has grown out of everything. Looks like another giant in the family. I can't wait until you can see him, cause I think he's pretty swell, if my judgement means anything. Judy stands now by the coffee table all by herself. She is much smaller than Bobby. You'll think he's a freak but he's not, he's a beauty. Well, I hope to let you judge for yourselves soon. If all goes well, I plan to come home for a visit about the end of October and stay until Thanksgiving when Bob will get an extra day or two and come after us. Course you may want to send us home before that, but we'll try to be good kids. I'll tell you more about it later but you can just sort of keep it in mind.
I don't think I have written since our trip to Spokane. We went up with Hadley's--our neighbors and stayed at a cabin on one of their beautiful lakes. We took the baby and he enjoyed it more than we did. Had a peak at Spokane and I wouldn't mind living there if they should want to transfer us there sometime. But the exciting part of it all was when we arrived home. Mrs. Hadley has had a girl--sixteen--living with her to help with the children. When she came home the girl had left with every stitch of her clothing, a small radio, Kodak and $8 from a quarter bank. Come to find out she is on parole from a detention home. Poor Ruth didn't even have a pair of shoes to wear and they haven't yet found the girl. Mrs. Hadley told me one day when she first came to live with them that she made beautiful square corners on beds--she was thrilled to death about her.

We haven't done much else but swim occasionally, do a little calling, see an occasional baseball game and a few other odds and ends. Balance is fine but Sid is just getting rid of a bad infection in his arm caused from a slight cut on the elbow. Jim and Thelma Elam are still in town. Jim is working as sales manager at the Ford Agency here. Paul and Betty drop in now and then. Mom, you probably remember Paul's young son who is stationed at Fort Lewis. He just informed them that he has been married for sometime and they are all upset about it, he is only 20. Our landlord's daughter took herself off to Seattle last Saturday and married her soldier boy friend. And they feel terrible. It is certainly messing up a lot of lives, this war business but I guess it is nothing compared to the ruined lives of other people. I have had only one letter from Tom and have written only one. I hope he is doing well. I'm going to write often to him. I'd love to hear from Dick and Ellen and can't wait to see the little boys--or big boys now. Bob loves his work and we have been enjoying the car all summer.

I must go now. Bob is in bed and tomorrow is Saturday-- Six O'clock comes around sometimes before I get the bed warm. I meant to explain about the typewriter. I think Bob told you I'm doing missionary work. I'm secretary to the Primary in this district. They lend me this early model when I have something extra special to turn out. Tell Dick and Ellen hello and make them write. You write too and often. Much love, Louise

July 24, 1941

2009-08-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,
Just noticed that today is the 24th. It just doesn't mean a thing to us gentiles. What have you been doing all day for excitement? I don't know where the time goes but here is summer almost gone. I'm still coming home on that vacation but it will probably be in October before I get squared away for it. The babe will then be seven months and should make the trip like a seasoned traveler. He's quite the little gent right now. He's doing fine and is a good boy. His worst habit is being awake from six A.M. and insists that I converse with him. He's strong as a little bull and gets about when we put him on his stomach. With a little help I think he'll crawl one day soon. I'm just wondering how nice it would be to teach him that little trick. Oh, all this reminds me that I have some real news. Florence McCarthy had a Little girl June 29th. She named her Maureen. It makes a very pretty and unusual name. Louise Jarvis wrote a long letter and sent a picture of her 18 pound-er. He's a sweet husky youngster. Well, enough about babies.

We have new neighbors in the other half of our duplex. A young couple moved from Portland. They have a girl three and boy about two. We have been having a lot of fun with them. She's my age and is also struggling along with her housekeeping, working, etc. It's pleasant to have someone close who doesn't tell me how to do everything. Bob and I have been having a little fun lately. Have been swimming in the river several times. Had lots of people dropping in since we moved. Last night we went to an A.J.A. picnic with the vice president of the local First National branch. This same man just returned from a Gyro Club convention in British Columbia and told Bob he met several Salt Lakers who informed him that Bob descended from a long line of Bankers and everybody is doing a lot of talking about it. It didn't hurt him any. We drive out for an ice cream cone every night but it will soon have to stop. The baby has decided he wants one too and he has a touch of temper. That's just about all the news from up this way. The Leonard's are all fine and still talk about there stop in Salt Lake. Did you get our card from Whestling Jack's? I guess it's pretty lonesome with Tom gone but don't worry we'll probably all come home to visit again some day. We are still thinking about it. I'll try to write to Tom often and also do better about writing home. Tell Dick and Ellen hello and talk them into a vacation up this way. Write often, Much Love Louise---Bob sends his love also, Goodnight, Louise

Letter from Robert July 19, 1941

2009-07-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Ada & Louis,
I know you can't forgive my not writing before now, so will not attempt to justify such poor taste as I have shown. Really tho I'm truthfully full of regrets. Especially after you remembered my birthday with such a swell tie. Many Thanks.

I arrived in Pendleton, after leaving Salt lake at 7 P.M.---got to thinking how Louis & Tom made it up her in one day and then my pride surged up---and---well I drove on in. Louise told me in one breath she was glad I did and said If I did something similar again I was out a wife---So guess I'll quit that stuff.

Louise and Army Jr. are swell. The baby wakes up at his usual 6 A.M. schedule & takes his daily talking exercises for an hour & a half then sleeps till I leave. He's certainly going to be very out-spoken.

The weather here has set an all time heat record for several days. We have taken to swimming in the river for relief which helps. (another reason for not writing)

Louise sends love and says she also will write. Hope Tom got set O.K. and likes his new set up. Much love and deepest respect. Bob

June 29, 1941

2009-07-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Family

So sorry to be so slow but things have been piling up on me lately and are just clearing. I had the little boy's picture taken on his third birthday and meant to send one immediately and here he is almost four months.

Mom, you gave him a swell start don't you think? Looks like another giant in the family. He's sure a tall husky--not fat but muscle bound. He's as hard as a rock and good as gold. Even the Doc admits he's a swell boy, and that's something from my Dr. He doesn't just smile now but chuckles and talks--honest. I can almost get what he says sometimes. Course he wouldn't smile for the cameras, he's too sincere. Wish you could see him. He weights 14 pounds now. Well, my vacation comes in the fall and he'll be cuter still when I come bouncing home with him then. We plan to have these little pictures taken every month until he's old enough to sit alone then we'll send a big one.

Bob is going to fly to S.L. over the 4th and drive a company car home (back to Yakima). His dad is failing fast and he of course wants to see him before he goes. He doesn't know about a vacation this year after all--but I get one for sure and will see you a little later.

Now a little news. Bob joined the Lion's Club and they held a convention here last weekend. We were busy attending all the functions and met some nice people from here, Spokane and Seattle. We have been moving the last two weeks and I am just getting settled. We have a wonderful duplex-big as a house and very attractive. Baby has his own room and a big crib now. His room is going to be the prettiest in the house. We are almost in the country, have a lovely view yard and sunshine for Jr. Looks like we will become substantial citizens. Bob's work is so much lighter and he enjoys it so much, he's a changed man--has all his evenings at home (a treat for all), spends a good part of his time selling and taking afternoons off to play golf. We have a Studebaker Commander to use, a beautiful car. I know how Cinderella felt, seems like we got everything at once. They say every new baby brings good huh, Our little tyke did alright for us.

Blanche came over the night they got home and told us they had a wonderful time in S.L. and you were simply grand to them, couldn't do enough. She's such a nice person. She likes you all so much and said to thank you. Sid said he made arrangements to have Blanche write when I didn't. I've had a lot of fun telling her she owes you a couple of letters by now.

Must close so Bob can run down town and mail this tonight. Don't tell his Mother he is flying--she worries about it. He is riding to Boise with the Davies and taking a plan from there. I'll write oftener now and you all do the same. Give my love to Dick and Ellen and tell them I'll write and send a picture. Where's Tom? There are 3 cars in S.L. Ask him how he'd like to drive one here with Rob and stay awhile. Write soon. Hope you're all well. Love, Louise.

No Date but after Robert Jr was born

2009-07-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

I'm surely sorry to be so slow writing but I don't often have a spare moment. I have some real news for you. The bank job finally popped and Robert got it. He's thrilled to pieces and starts work with them Monday. It pays $200 a month and we have a big Studebaker sedan to drive and a 3 week vacation if we take it in the fall or winter and it starts this year. It's the First National Bank of Seattle. Bob will be bringing only automobile papers and there will be practically no night work. C.I.T. in San Francisco called immediately upon receipt of Bob's resignation and offered him the moon. Said if he wasn't satisfied because of the Seattle supervision they would give him a transfer. Wanted to know if he would like something in San Francisco's home office. But he's sticking with the bank and it has a big future. We went to Seattle over the week-end to make final arrangements. We may take over the duplex that Tiffany's lived in. They are being transferred to Seattle and it is his job Bob is taking. They have a dashing place---close to Blanche's--and it has two bedrooms and will cost us only about $5 more a month than here. Jim Elam lost his job--as they were expecting--and they don't want to move to Seattle so I don't know what they plan to do. Thelma says they will take a long vacation before they decide on anything and they are keeping their apartment. Blanche and Sid have gone. They are planning to spend one night with you if all goes well. I can't say just when it will be so they had no idea where all they might go. But it will be towards the end of their vacation and should be sometime around June 10 to 15th. Bob Jr. is growing into a bouncing boy now and is a grand good baby. He does as you hoped, Mom, lies by the hours awake without crying. I manage just fine. I wake at 7:00 in the morning and Bob has breakfast ready when I come out. Then it is a real whirl until about 2:00 in the afternoon at which time I find my house in order, myself cleaned up and a few hours to do as I please cause I still have that steady stream of daily visitors and I don't get some of the things done that I would like. I think when we move it will be different. Betty is going to work every afternoon so it looks like I might be lonesome. Then baby and I are going to relax every afternoon in our own backyard. Boy, I can't wait. I'm going to have a small picture of the baby taken and will send one. He has reached the cooing stage and smiles a lot.

This is the last sheet of Mama's stationary so must close. I'll write often now, and wish you would do the same. Hope you are all feeling first rate again and putting on weight. I'm not losing as I had liked. It seems to agree with me. Tell Tom hello and tell him to write. We'll be paying you a visit one of these fine days. We're going to spend our vacation with you. Hope you can stand it.; We can't wait. Love to all, Louise

P.S. Mr. Armstrong is very ill and they don't expect him to live long. It seems he had a stroke two or three years ago that no one knew of. Wish you would drop in some day and see them. They are all pretty low and Bob is worried about them.

January 30, 1941

2009-07-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Pop:

Well, well, I know you didn't really expect to see Sophie when promised but here she is all done up in Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. I hope you don't find too many errors but it isn't like just buzzing the old master mind a couple of times and asking just how this and that is punctuate or spelled. My worst trouble, as I mentioned before, was running words together but i just didn't seem to be able to keep from it. I hope it isn't too much of an eye-sore. Otherwise, I think it is in pretty good shape. If you would like me to do anymore of it, just send it up and I'll be happy to go on with the story. Don't forget I think it is a beautiful yarn and hope it is a best seller. Before I forget, I have not included the original and will send it back as soon as hubby brings another envelope from the office. I didn't like to pack too much in one.

I can't write much tonight as I am having a couple of wandering C.I.T. employees in for dinner tomorrow night and I'm in the process of making dessert and a grocery list for early tomorrow morning. I wish you were here, mom. I haven't cooked anything but plain old vegetables, un-decorated dinner. Thelma gave me a recipe for a heavenly dessert and if it is as good as supposed to be, I'll send it to you next letter.

Bob is working night and day. Business--especially collections--certainly sag in this farmer's land about this time of year. He has his credit man on the road and is trying to do two people's jobs. Well, must go now as I have a lot of little odd jobs I want to get done tonight. Will write early next week. Hope you have as much fun this week-end as last. Write. Love, Louise

January 21, 1941

2009-07-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Sounds like you lead a busy life these days and it sounds fun. Balls and ski meets, etc. How does it feel, Pop, to be a minister again. You certainly make a handsome one. And I'm just dying to see you in your orchid formal, mom. I guess you'd better pack it--not that we have anywhere here to wear such things but we'll have a little fashion revue of our own...when I get my figure back. And, Pop, if you're going to be a social butterfly you just have to put up with photographers and the like--oh, you don't think it's funny?

I don't blame you for being proud of Tom. he's getting right up among them and more power to him--I see Jimmy Howel and Dave Quinney are still sticking to B class. I'd surely like to have seen the meet and poor Bob is just dying to get out and do some skiing--it's too bad we don't live in S. L., he could go out with Tom. Bob is really a pretty fair skier himself--learned at Sun Valley while he was courting a girl there once--so I imagine he took a lot of lessons. Tell Tom to try hard and also be careful. I'm proud of Suggie, Too. Tell him I send my congratulations on those nice long jumps. I suppose since Tom jumped off cliffs, Suggie had to.

Bob is still excited about his idea of working for the banks--and don't think he lacks loyal support from wifey. But he has to tread lightly to keep C.I.T. from hearing of it. So he decided not to write to Bennett in Ogden, Dad, until he hears more from you about Clawson and the man at the Bank--have forgotten who. Is it Ray Wilson? He has been trying to write some the last couple of days but an auditor is in here and he is busy day and night with him. He tried for two months to get the information from Wimm with only promises that he would get the information.

We haven't been doing much the last week. I can't think of an interesting thing to tell you. Bob has some calls to make down the valley today and he took me with him. It seemed good to get out. Sunday was a lovely day and we took a long walk in the sunshine. Saturday night we had our usual game of Tripoli with the Elams. That's about all the excitement up this way. Like the newspaper man who said as he left the whore house, "That's -30 - For tonight. I guess I'll quite now." See, I'm still bad. Well, must really quite and get in bed for my ten hours beauty nap.

Oh yes, thought of something else. Mom, i guess I will have to wait awhile before I make definite plans with you for the time to come. Maybe I can tell better a little later on. Hope you are planning on a ling stay. And, Pop, I will mail the twelve chapters of Sophie by Friday, I have one chapter left to do. I'm afraid there are spelling errors. I have no dictionary and when in doubt have had to rely on my own memory which isn't so good but Tom can probably fix it up in the bad spots without much trouble. It's a swell story and tell Tom to hurry with his half, I'm anxious to see what you finally do with poor Sophie.

I'm really quitting this time. Tell everybody hello. Wish I were there to help tend the little boys for you now and then. Write, Love, Louise

January 20, 1941

2009-07-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Well, spring hasn't come to Yakima yet, we haven't seen the sun for days and it gets pretty monotonous--makes us appreciate last winter in Boise, but I don't suppose I could ever convince you that Boise gets any sun before June.

We haven't been doing much the last week except staying in and keeping warm. Saturday night we spent the evening with a young couple by the name of Mathews, who have just built a new home here. Bob met the boy in business and he has asked us out several times but always when we were busy. They are about our age, have no children, and are very nice so I hope to see them quite often. Sunday we went out to Blanche Leonard's to see the new baby. They took her home Saturday and I have never seen anything so tiny. But she is doing fine and weighs 5 lbs already. I held her and i do hope it is more natural to handle my own child than this little mite, I felt as clumsy as a boy. And, Mom, that reminds me that I am to ask you when you are coming up. Bob is beginning to look a little worn and asks me every few days if I know yet when you plan to come. He is scared to death he is going to get caught alone with me. I tell him that you have a family of your own to care for and can't come too early but I think he feels that they can get along a lot more comfortably without you than he can. About the tatting, it really doesn't matter what pattern you use, but I will try to copy this one for you. What I want is something lacy and fussy and in white. I would like enough to do the edge of a sheet and pillow case for a buggy and we can sew it on when you come up. If you would rather crochet it, I would be just awfully pleased with it and you can use your own judgment on any pattern you think would do. Blanche is helping me do some little flannel nightgowns and I am getting a pretty good supply together. He can came anytime he wants now cause we have him all paid for. And that reminds me that you had better all give some thought to girl's names, we are concentrating on boy's only. We have Mrs. Armstrong worried. Every letter she tells us that it might be a girl and we will like her just as much, and shouldn't set our hearts on a boy. Course we really haven't.

I had a letter from Maurine today and both Roger and Seth have been in the hospital with a streptococcus infection which had spread through Seth's blood stream and paralyzed his legs and arms for a time. Roger is home now and Seth is beginning to move his hands and apparently it will turn out all right. Otherwise, they have had a very eventful year, their business boomed, they bought their own homes and had a wonderful vacation. Poor little Maurine said she was afraid all the time that things were going too well. I told her in a letter how you happened to miss her when she was in S.L. and she said she was sorry too and would have loved to had a peek at all of your but was tied with the babies.

Pop, I'm glad the manuscript looked okay. I'm afraid Tom's half is going to put me to shame. I get along just fine except for one bugaboo--I run words together. I can't blame that on the typewriter, I guess I'm just plain out of practice but I think it will look pretty good and I'll send it all to you sometime next week. Don't forget to tell me what MacMillan's have to say. I'm also anxiously waiting to see your picture on the society page once again. Better tell me who you are this time so I'll recognize you. Hope you both have a swell time at the ball. Wish we were in S. L. and we'd go with you.

Bobby's letter was sweet and tell him I'll write one of these days. Tell Tom I'm still waiting to hear from Him-a letter a month would be appreciated. Hope he makes the "A" jump with flying colors. Tell everybody help and everybody write. Love, Louise

Letter From Bob January 20, 1941

2009-07-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Louis:

I have been trying through my illustrious brother to secure some information regarding a set-up which I feel certain is hot at the present time. As Bill is either too busy or has had too much grief in the family, with the death of Mrs. Snow, I am still without the information.

I am certain the First Security chain of banks in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming are going very strongly into retail conditional sales financing on automobile. There is a local chain of banks through Washington who have also gone into this type of financing very strongly with a great deal of success. I have been studying their operations since I have been in Yakima and as I now have a fair knowledge of their operation, I am positive I can show the First Security System a very good profit and a definite plan that can be immediately put into effect. In short, I desire to take over and supervise their entire operation in this field.

There is nothing like aiming high, and if not the supervision of this set-up, I feel that I would at least be able to get a substantial income and a residence closer to home. After this lengthy discussion, the information I need are the names of the presidents, vice-presidents, or general manager, whom I can contact by mail or phone, who will have enough authority to make such an appointment. Needless to say this job should pay a minimum of $225 a month to start, plus expenses. I do not wish to burden you with these details, what with the Hotel Utah advertising and a few more of the best accounts in Salt Lake City, I know you are busy, however, as Louise has stated you would very likely have access to this information and since I can't get any action from Bill, anything you can do will be appreciated from he bottom of my heart and I will also let you take me on another vacation t no cost to myself.

We are now counting the days for the arrival of our "son and heir" and are naturally expecting a visit from it's Grandfather Larsen before he is very many days old if nothing more than to show him his Grandfather's fine new white teeth. After all he will have to learn to appreciate beauty. Not only that but I'm curious to know if they will really work on a steak. Your Loving Son-in Law, Bob

P.S.
If given chance I guarantee to show a profit by putting out a Profit and Loss statement or I'm out defiantly. (sounds big but it's a cinch)

January 13, 1941

2009-07-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Here it is the middle of the month again. How time flies, spring and junior will be here before I know it. We have been having some real winter weather the last few days. It's quite beautiful but gets pretty dismal with no sun shining for days. A combination of fog and cold leaves the trees solidly covered with frost and it lasts for days. It's quite lovely--provided you are inside. you, feel like you're covered with the stuff by the time you walk a block. I've never seen anything like it at home. We've been sticking inside without doing much. Bob brings his work home and even holds meetings here it's so cold in his office at night.

I don't believe I told you in the last letter that Mary Leonard--Blanche's daughter-in-law had a new baby girl last week--only 4 pounds. They keep it in a hot-box and it's doing fine, is the smallest baby in the hospital. So I had a peek inside the hospital and it seems very nice and everybody says it is one of the best. Course these Yakimans would be proud as peacocks for the mere fact that they have a hospital. I had a letter from Florence McCarthy and she is expecting a new arrival in July. She says she and Dennis will be grateful even for a Pinocchio--Dennis has a long nose, too. She sounds like the same old tot. They seem to be doing fine and she says Maurine and Seth are getting rich on that piece of property they leased on the Mount Vernon highway. They were trying to raise enough money to build a drive-in stand when I was there and apparently they have it going now. Florence didn't explain but said it was paying big dividends. Maybe the government is paying them to keep a stand off, it is the only piece of property on the whole highway from Washington D.C. to Mount Vernon that isn't owned by the government. Mom, let's you and I move back there everybody has colored help. I think you could buy a darky outright for a dollar a week. Florence is still renting but Maurine and Seth are buying their own home in Arlington, Virginia.

Pop, I am sending a chapter of Sophie for you to follow. I'm sorry I'm so slow, polygamy, itself, would probably be in vogue again by the time I did the whole book. Just as soon as I finish these twelve chapters I have I'll send the whole works to you and if Tom is in need of any help on some of the rest of them I'll be glad to help--will be glad to do the rest of them if you have the patience. Anyway, I'll have this set done by the end of this month. I surely think you have done a beautiful job of the story. I realize as I type it that you have cut it down a great deal but I can't tell where, the story is still there and is very touching. Makes me feel like someone else who read it--I've forgotten who--they said it almost made them weep in places. You might send me a copy of it complete after you get it finished, I'd like to read the rest of it.

Well, it's getting close to dinner time. Christy is hanging round the door looking for Bob. She's like Dale--too smart for me to do anything with. Pop promised me a letter from you about tomorrow, Mom, with all the news. Glad you are all better. Write often. Love Louise

January 6, 1941

2009-07-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Well here I am at last. I thought that after Christmas I'd have all the leisure time in the world, then shoved that idea along to after New Year's and I'm still bustling around barely keeping up with the things I have to do. Bob has gone to a Sigma Chi dinner and election of officers for the alumnae group here. This is the first meeting he has managed to get to and they have been meeting for some months now. I wish he would go regularly. It would be a good way to meet some younger people. I had another session with my dentist this afternoon--one more trip and I'm through. I started out with only two cavities and every time I go I have worn out another tooth. Guess I'll have mine pulled too. how are you feeling by now, Pop? Better I hope. Doesn't being as pretty as Clark Gable make up for all the discomfort. I hope you are all over the flu, too. You've been holding out on me. Mrs. Armstrong writes that Ellen cooked your Xmas dinner because Mom had been so sick with the flu. In both of your letters you made it sound like you had a touch of the stuff for only a day or so. I hope you are all feeling better now. You can't keep a thing from us--we aren't so far away. I did a little worrying about Tom New Year's night. We came back from Leonard's just in time to hear KSL's late news broadcast and they announced that four members of a skiing party had been caught in a slide at Alta. Mom said Tom had gone skiing but didn't say where. Next day I received Pop's letter saying Tom was doing only the jumps this winter. It was the only time I had ever felt comfortable about his jumping. Has he done the "A" yet. Ask him when he is going to be too old for all that stuff.

We had a nice New Year's day. It was certainly swell to talk with you. We went to Leonard's for a monstrous turkey dinner and had a nice day. Thursday I washed and meant to write Friday night but Bob had a business meeting here at the apt. Their office is so cold they can't stand it after five o'clock. Saturday we played poker with Elam's and another couple here in the apartment by the name of Davis. They are from Spokane and are a lot of fun, but, as usual, they are older folks--in their forties, I'd say. Next Saturday night they are going to play at our house so I must spend this week doing a little cleaning around the place.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself this afternoon after the dentist. I bought a layette in one felswooop. Penney's had just gotten in their new stock and I hurried and bought them out. I think it is the smartest way to buy the things--at least it is the easiest. Everything was new and pretty and I discovered that it is smart to have a spring baby there are so many things you don't need. I have decided to make a buggy do instead of a basket. It won't be as pretty but we haven't room for everything and they get out of baskets so soon and into cribs. Mom, do you think you'd have time to crochet or tat an edge for a little sheet and pillow slip just big enough to fit an ordinary size buggy. Do you remember the tatting you put on some pillow slips for me? Well, they are the prettiest I have, I think, and I'd love to have a set for the baby. I promised to quit being a nuisance after Xmas...but, after the baby I will.

Well, I guess that about completes my dairy for the week. We have the cutest, cussed est little hound you ever saw. We'd give her away only we like her soo much. I have a leash for her and drag her around the block ever now and then. But winter set in again and we have had snow for the last two or three days which puts an end to our exercise. I just remembered that I meant to tell you what Armstrong's gave us for Xmas. Mrs. Armstrong gave me a lovely night gown and bob hosiery and hankies. And Helen sent a twin-oven waffle iron from the whole family, she says. It's a treat worth looking forward to, having waffles ready as fast as you can eat them.

Oh yes, and about Sophie, Pop. I have to have the twelve chapters I already have, finished by the end of this month. I really enjoy working on it and, thought, I must admit I am slow I would like to do all of it. Unless you are anxious to get it finished, send the rest of it to me.

Everybody write and I do hope you are all well again. Tell the kids and babies hello. Love, Louise

P.S. Tom, now the New Year is here you might keep that resolution to write every week that you made in 1940. Who was it said he didn't make any new ones because he had some left over from last year he hadn't kept yet. What is Bud Christensen doing in S.L.? I have been expecting him to call on me. I thought he was in Seattle.

December 30, 1940

2009-07-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Just two more days and the holidays are over. They have been sort of hectic but a lot of fun. We both want to thank you for the lovely Xmas gifts. The pottery dishes were surely sweet, I hadn't seen them before. And, Mom, I'll get in a good supply of tea to use in that tea pot when you come. We have the other dishes unpacked now but still use the pottery all the time. I still think it's awfully pretty. And Bob says thanks so much for the picture, of all his presents he likes that and the pup best. And tell Tom thanks too for the hosiery and cigarettes they are both much appreciated and in demand at our house. The color is very nice---Margy must still be on the job. So thanks again--it was surely a nice Christmas.

We would have liked to be home. but it's kinda fun to look at a bunch of presents for a week and then open them all at once. We didn't wait longer than Xmas eave. So Blanche Leonard and her whole family brought him up. They honked twice and Thelma Elam went out and got him and put a big bow around his neck, put him in his basket and left him at our door. Bob was really surprised, I don't think he had the slightest idea what was going on. The little pup is the cutest thing you have ever seen. She's only two months old and the tiniest dog you ever saw. She's a red Cocker and her marcelled ears hang almost to the floor. Everybody would like to have her. Elam's come up to see her every day and tell us we have lost all our attraction, they come just to visit her. Xmas morning we invited Grover up to have a drink and spring the dog on him. He said it was all right as long as she didn't disturb anyone and she is good as can be as long as she has company. Christmas day we called on two or three people and had dinner with the Leonard's. And we are also eating turkey with them on New Year's Day. They had a big turkey given them for Xmas and insist that we come out and help them eat that one on New Year's. We feel like we are over--doing it but they are grand people and won't let you get the word "no" out. Well, to get on with my story, Thursday we went to Mr. Chandler's funeral. He is the owner of the apartment here. He had a minor operation and was getting better when he developed pneumonia and died. He was a very prominent man in Yakima and the tenants were all very fond of him. Friday I had Blanche Leonard, her daughter Irene and daughter-in-law up for lunch and the afternoon, and Bob--the big sissy insisted on coming home to lunch. They kidded him and he said he was just curious to see what I served other people for lunch and was glad to find out. It looks like more work for me from now on. Then came the week-end. yesterday wee had a company car so we drove down the valley to look at the first white settlement in this valley. Called Fort Simcoe. It's an interesting little village full of Indians now. New Year's Eve we are going to play cards with the Elam's. Well, that's our holiday program. It's not very exciting but I'm getting a little tired.

Now to tell you what Santa Claus brought us. I gave Bob the puppy and a pair of gloves and he gave me that dress I wrote about, a bottle of cologne and a mirror to hang around my neck so that I can see the back of my head. And Santa brought us a new radio. We'll still be paying Santa off for the next two Xmases but it's surely a pleasure to own. It's a Spartan combination phonograph and radio. The phonograph changes fourteen records automatically. We haven't 14 records yet, but they tell us it will work. Tom, we'll have something for you to do besides play solitaire next time you come. It's as much fun as the nickle machines --and cheaper--or maybe it isn't on second thought. It's a $225 console and we bought it for $135. If C.I.T. ever have to repossess it, we'll ship it to you for the balance. I know you'd like it. If you want a new radio sometime be sure to let Bob see what he can do for you, we got this machine at cost. Forgot to tell you what Armstrong's sent will save if for next letter.

I guess I'd better stop, you're probably weary of this. Write and tell us all about your Xmas. I'd surely like to see that beautiful new dining room set, Mom. Dang it, why can't I just run in and look. Pop, I surely hope you are feeling better by now. I want a picture when you get beautiful again. Hope you are all over the flu by now. It has been so bad in this country, they have had the schools closed. What time do you two get started on that wine now that you have all day to loaf.

Thanks again for the lovely gifts. If any of the things we sent don't fit such as Gary's suit or Tom's socks be sure to send them back. Write Soon. Love, Louise

P.S. Happy New year to all--Certainly liked your Xmas card.

December 22, 1940

2009-07-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

I hope this reaches you before Old Saint Nick cause I'd like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.

It hardly seems like Xmas here, it's more like spring. It has been raining for several days but cleared off for a beautiful, warm day today. We went for a long walk this afternoon and the sun was so bright we needed colored glasses. We decorated our tree yesterday and I surely wish you could drop in and see how pretty we are, and have a drink or two with us. Well, next Christmas without fail we are going to spend the day with you. We'll drive down or better still, move down by that time. For once in my life I got my shopping done early and it's certainly a nice feeling. Your present arrived, also the one to Bob from Tom, and we haven't peeked. Course a little shaking and guessing is fair, isn't it? The basket arrived and surely looks like new, Mom. I was ashamed and afraid I've been a nuisance when I saw all the work you had gone to but it certainly will look nice under the Christmas tree with that little red pup. The packing looked like a lot of work, Pop,, and also the telephone directory. Thanks for everything, Xmas is going to be a big success. Blanche Leonard is making me a new dress, my present from Bob. It's a little number of our own design, meant to do a better job of streamlining me than most store models. If it does the trick like we think it will, I think I'll patent it. I'm convinced that someone could get rich designing maternity clothes. Blanche has asked us to have dinner with them on Xmas. So we have asked a few people to call early in the day then we are going out and spend the rest of the day with the Leonard's. They always have a house full and it's bound to be a jolly day, after all.

I got a card and little note from Jenore Seegmiller and she is going to be married sometime not too far off. She said they are just waiting to be married in the temple. He joined the church just this November. I'll bet he doesn't half know what a swell gal he's getting. Will tell you more just as soon as I can pry a letter out of her. Mary Enders also sent a note and said they would like to buy a home in Boise if they could be certain how long they would be there. Sounds like everybody is doing all right.

Well, that is about all the news for this week. Write and tell me what all you did all day the 25th. Tell Tom, Dick and Ellen and the little boys hello for us. Bob says not to leave him out this time, he sends greetings too. Have a lot of fun and tell us all about it. So Long. Love Lousie

P.S. Pop, hope you don't have too much trouble with those teeth. Hope they come out as easy as mine did. You'll have a lot of time to write--letters--in those ten days.

December 10,1940

2009-07-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Was surely glad to get two nice long letters the same day. Have been trying since yesterday afternoon to answer but have been busy sewing. Thelma has me struggling along with some little aprons that look simple but like all sewing has no finish. She seems up a whole one in one afternoon and I have been on mine for a week. She's just a school teacher at heart and I think she is re-living her youth showing me how to do all these things. They are cute but I think one is all I'll do this year. She's killing me with kindness and i don't know what I'd do without her but I don't think she understands tom-boys.

I received the Makoff catalog and if The Ad-Craftsmen didn't get it out, someone is stealing your stuff. It's certainly novel and beautiful. Course, I can't even get in their budget class. They are about $.50 above me at their lowest. But I enjoy looking through it. I think I'll give Thelma the catalog for Xmas. Mom, I think I'll give Bob the little dog for Xmas. It was just as cute as I expected. I know you think I'm crazy but you can't tell me about it till after Xmas and that's too late. And then we may not have it long--Grover is sure to find out. Just wait till they find out I'm going to have a little squealer too. Think I'd better ask them about doing my apartment over? Do you still have cotton's basket in the basement? I'd like very much to have it up here if it doesn't cost more to send it than it's worth. Ask Tom if he will inquire of Railway Express and if it isn't asking the impossible maybe he could get it to them someway and send it C.O.D. If it is ridiculous, just tell me and I'll let the puppy sleep with Bob. I just thought he'd look awfully cute int he basket, under the Christmas tree, with a big read bow around his neck. I'm sure bob will enjoy the present just as much without the trimmings.

Pop, I feel a bit foolish about the $5.00. You've certainly paid for the paper and typewriter dozens of times and it doesn't amount to anything. You couldn't by any chance have though it would come in handy about Christmas time? It was mighty sweet of you and thanks so much...I'll see that Junior gets the pink bootees. This is the weight of paper I'm using. It's 16 lb. and not the best of paper. I didn't think you would want it too heavy. Be sure and tell me if it will do or if you would like it on something else. Don't' worry about me over-doing... I'm much too lazy for that. Sorry to hear you must have the teeth out after all. I'll bet it was that ten-day holiday that made you finally decide to. Be sure you get some rest and don't work all the time.

Mom, I'm sorry to have you doing so many little chores for me but would you do one more? I'd like to send Ruth Belnap a Xmas card and don't have her address. Would you mind calling her mother and asking her for it. I think they live on G Street somewhere.

Well, must close before Robert comes home. He reads my mail. We haven't done much the last week. They are doing a lot of night shifts at the office trying to clean everything up before the New year. I've been browsing a lot in the stores. The town is really very pretty. It's elaborately decorated and the weather is beautiful. It is just like spring. but they can't fool me--it ain't the usual thing.

I am enclosing a little book on skiing that I have been meaning to send to Tom since last Xmas and just ran across it in last year's cards. Guess I shouldn't encourage the skiing since he is working so hard at school but he will probably enjoy reading thru it. He could probably write a better one himself by now.

See you soon again. Write often. Love, Louise

December 16, 1940

2009-07-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Just a shorty tonight. I don't know where the time goes but I never seem to get ahead of it. I received your letter this morning, Mom, telling me a package was on the way and not to open it. Well, that is just what I have been in such a sweat about getting a letter to you. I mailed a package to you and tis for Xmas and not to be opened before. you could open the big box cause the presents are wrapped separately inside and I have included Bobby and Gary's and fruit cake for Dick and Ellen. you can give it to them on Xmas or before whichever works out best for you. I sent it all in one package because I imagine they will be spending the day with you. Tell them they mustn't send anything to us cause all I sent was the cake and it may not be fit to eat. Pop's present was too big and had to be wrapped separately and I am putting it in the mail tomorrow. I couldn't get it in time to send with the others and I slipped a little card in from the outside wrapping and it may slip out and be lost so if it is gone you put a not on for us. They had it all wrapped for shipping at the store so I didn't unwrap it. I sent hose to Tom which may not be the color and size but the clerk here told me that he could exchange them at some store where the same brand was sold down there. If he can't, please return them and I'll exchange them. The giftees aren't much but carry a lot of good wishes for A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for all of you. Wish we could mail ourselves down.

yesterday we had dinner with Elams and spent the evening playing cards. This afternoon I had a session with my dentist and happy surprise--only two cavities and a cleaning job and they will be in good shape again.

Must go now. Bob has gone to bed and this typewriter is sure noisy. They are going to bring me a noiseless tomorrow. Thanks for doing all the little chores for me. Mom. Don't bother about Makoff's. I'll pick up something here I didn't disrupt your day having you scurrying around mailing me telephone directories.

The package hasn't arrived yet and when it does that is going to be a brand new kind of temptation---not opening till Xmas. But I promise not to. Will write again in a day or two. Keep me posted on what's doing for the holidays and thanks for everything. Much Love, Louise

December 3, 1940

2009-05-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Well, I'm just trying out my new typewriter--at home. (oh, oh!) Not doing so well, am I? They sent me an Underwood instead of a Royal, which they can't let me have until the 9th. So I think I'll start out on Sophie with this one and change later--they type should look the same.

Where does the time go? The weeks surely slip along fast. I spent the afternoon making fruit cake. After a few days wrapped in wine cloths I'll taste it and if it is as good as last years, will send you a taste. It smells as good if I remember right. Tomorrow I am going out to Blanche Leonard's to spend the afternoon. A neighbor of theirs has some little red Cocker Spaniel pups and Bob wants one. I'm not sure whether I want to undertake the care of one of the little things so I am going to tell Robert that they have all been promised and then decide whether or not I want one. If I decide on it I am going to wrap it up in bows and give it to him for Xmas. I am going to look at them tomorrow and you know what happens once I've seen some of these cute little pets--just can't resist keeping it. We are certainly going to be a large family if we keep this up.

I must tell you about nearly losing my husband. I still feel queer when I think about it. One day last week they had a big explosion over in Toppenish, killing eight people and injuring a number of others. It was an old warehouse with a number of small stores on its mail floor. That morning Bob and the new FHA man went over to see some dealers. One man they wanted to see in particular was at home ill. They phoned from his office and he told them to wait and he would be down in about fifteen minutes. So they went into a cafe--in this building--to have a cup of coffee and wait. He finally came and they finished their business and left the town about 11:15--at 11:30 the warehouse, including cafe, blew sky high. Bob says he can relax now--after that he feels that he's safe for the winter.

That's about the only thrilling news from Yakima this week. I'm surely sorry to hear of Mrs. Clowes. She's such a lovely woman. Hope she manages to live a long time in spite of the doctors. I can imagine how they all feel. Getting along without her would be really hard on her family.

I wish we could have spent Thanksgiving visiting with you all. I don't think I'd know Fent if I were to see him. How many chilluns does he have now? We have been taking it easy since the big dinner. We have seen a couple of shows and Saturday night we played Tripoli with the Elams and another couple here in the apartment and what we do with the rest of our time I don't know. Speaking of Elams, thanks so much for sending a Makoff catalog. It hasn't arrived as yet but I'm anxiously waiting for it. I surely hate to sit up here for Xmas. I hope next year we are a lot closer. A person must be born and raised here to like this town. But if you happen to be a native...well, they think it's the only spot on earth. I'd like to shake some of them it sounds so silly to hear them praising this Indian Village but I suppose a lot of people may have felt the same way about me when I talk of S.L. Bob is thinking of joining the Junior Chamber but Jim Elam is trying to get him into Senior Chamber of Commerce, Rotary or Lions. He tells him that all Junior members are second or third in command in their companies and Bob should join a more important group. But I want him in the Junior organization so that we will know a few people our own age. Seems that everyone we meet are people along in their thirties. Well, I guess we are destined to grow old before our time.

My, my what alot of complaints for one evening. What's that? You have all decided to have a second glass of wine before you go on with this? Well, Loganberry should do the trick. Did you tell me once that it keeps you awake or puts you to sleep? I must stop now and get this in a sealed envelope before Robert comes home and finds out what his Xmas present is going to be. He's at the office. I was going to walk down and write there but I got lazy and stayed home.

Tell everybody hello and tell Tom I've missed his weekly letter for the last three weeks. I spend all day Sundays wondering if he is diving off Ecker's "A" jump. Write often. Much Love, Louise

November 26, 1940

2009-05-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Here I am, late again but I have been honestly busy. We got through Thanksgiving nicely. Our turkey was perfect and so were his trimmings. The dressing rated comment--it was tasty, so maybe all I need is a little coaching and I could cook. The Mitchell's had dinner with us. Did I tell you that we bought an 89 cent roaster that just holds a 12 pound turk beautifully and it surely does a lovely job of self-basting. Blanche Leonard told me about it and it saves a lot of fussing with the bird. Course we basted it every now and then just cause we couldn't keep our heads out of the oven. It is one of Kress specials but works. Blanch now used aluminum and says it doesn't do a better job and I don't know how anything could be nicer than our turkey turned out. Friday night two of the FHA boys from Portland came over and had cold turnkey dinner with us and Saturday I relaxed and went to bed about 8:00. One of the FHA fellows from Portland is going to be in this branch and make his home here. He is married and has a two-year old but is leaving his family in Portland until the first of the year. He's a nice young fellow around thirty and I am just hoping his wife is as nice. We'll enjoy having them here. Anyway, he is pretty lonesome just now and spent Sunday at our place. He took us for a ride and we fixed a bite to eat after. I'm going to send CIT an expense account and list dinners for all their employees we have stop with us. Sounds nasty but it gets a bit tiresome there are so many of them coming through constantly. Guess it's my fault, I should never have started it. I intended to write last night and the Elams came up...so that accounts for late letter this week.

Heavens what will happen in S.L. next. I was shocked to hear of Anne Finch. I saw a little of this trouble they had when I was at Mack's but had no idea it was so serious. I guess Paul and Billie feel terrible. There seems to be trouble everywhere. Do you remember me talking about little Betty Mitchell? She is the credit man's daughter and has just been put in a sanitarium for Tuberculosis. She is such a nice little girl...very pretty a smart. I surely feel sorry about it. Every now and then Bob and I quit feeling sorry for ourselves. I was surely sorry to hear about Mrs. Clowes. She is a very nice person and I always liked her. I hope she gets along without any more trouble. And poor Dave Coursey it's going to be hard on him in the hospital with no beers. All joking aside I do hope it isn't anything serious. If you see Mom Coursey you might tell her hello for me and wish a speedy recovery for her husband.

Well, Pop. I haven't had a moment for Sophie but now the holiday is over I have big plans for her. I think I'll get along without any difficulty following it. I shouldn't be too much out of practice so don't worry and do your worst. I'll be showing you what I can do with it one of these first days.

Mom, I'm anxious to hear about your thanksgiving...and who all was there...or would you rather I didn't bring it up. I'll bet it was good and we hated to be amoung the missing. Now Xmas is upon us. Would you do something for me in your wanderings around town. I would like to give Thelma Elam some little thing like the little bottle of Devon Violets we bought at Makoff's for Emma Flandro one year. Do you remember? But...I can't give her that exact gift cause I gave her a little bottle of violet perfume on her birthday. I thought perhaps they might have some other novelty just as pretty and as inexpensive and I would like to have it come from Makoff's done up in one of their extra special wrappings. So if you would browse around and tell me what you find I may have you send me something from there. Don't worry about it but some day when you are down just take a quick look. It isn't important and I can always pick up something here. The only trouble is she spends all her time shopping the stores and knows where everything is and what it cost.

We must be leaving now this office is getting chilly. And you haven't got all the winter down your way. It snowed the day before Thanksgiving and is darned cold. Bob tells everybody that I think an apple and a mile a day keeps the doctor away. I've been pretty good about walking that mile so far, but a quick sprint around the block keeps my figure beautiful these days. Tell everybody hello and write often. Love Louise

November 9, 1940

2009-05-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Mother, Dad & Tom:

Thanks so much for the very sweet anniversary gift. You are not among the first--but the first--to give the little stranger a gift. He can't miss being awfully nice wearing such pretty things. It is the first little chenille blanket I have ever seen. Should be nice and warm and soft. I can't decide whether to leave it done up so nicely and keep it clean or take it all out and handle it and look at it. It will probably be worn out before he ever arrives...the temptation is too much.

I'm sorry I'm so slow writing. Have been trying to get at it since the gift arrived but have been kept busy every minute it seems. It came on Wednesday and that night Elams came in. Thursday I washed and that evening Mr. Baker--district manager--and his wife took us to dinner. Then Friday I invited her over to spend the afternoon rather than sit in a hotel room and had them for dinner. If this dinner business keeps up I'll be ready to cook for the King of Denmark. They still worry me but usually turn out pretty well. I was proud of myself last night. Mrs. Baker said anyone who could make muffins as delicious as mine shouldn't have to worry about cooking anything. I didn't tell her that that was one thing I learned to cook at home a long time ago.

We had an enjoyable little anniversary party all by ourselves. Bobby sent me a dozen beautiful red roses. We both startled the town by dressing up and having dinner at the hotel. Then we went to a picture show. By 10:30 it was all over and there we were all dressed up and no where to go and didn't want to go home so we spent another hour over a couple of ice cream sodas. But it was fun. Wish you could all have been along we would have really had a time. Bob told me to go ahead and buy the rugs I wanted and we would call it an anniversary gift for both of us but I can't find just what I want. I thought I had my mind made up. I let one clerk tell me a certain throw rug was alright for a hall. I liked it but was afraid it looked like a bedroom rug so I waited. This afternoon I took Bob in to see it and another clerk told us they were bedroom rugs. Ho Hum..I think I'll leave the hall bare just to be on the safe side.

It surely seemed good to talk to you. I guess I should pay half the bill, though. Bob asked me after how long I insisted on talking. Said that was the way I used to be with him, just refused to hang up. Pop, did you hear me say hello and then tell the operator to wait a minute while I called Mrs. Armstrong. Thought I'd better explain. I had just crawled out of the tub and didn't have a thing on--remember? Just as I said hello I hear Thelma Elam come out of her apartment and most of the time she just gives a couple of little raps on my door and walks on in and I was afraid she might be on her way up to see me so that's why I had the operator wait while I ran for a cover. And this all reminds me that we owe Dr. Sugden a bill which I suppose you got. We would like to pay it. After a grand vacation then to come down and run up doctor bills and have you paying for my prescriptions is just too much. So please let me know what it was.

Where's Sophie? I've been expecting her every day but she hasn't arrived. Hope you haven't changed your mind again. Shall I let Bob read it? or wait till it goes to print. He asks me quite often when it will be here. I'm still looking for it.

Well, Monday is a holiday. I don't know what we'll do. We thought of driving a CIT car to Boise but decided against it when we thought of the bus trip back. It would be fun to go over and see everybody but I suppose this was the last chance, I expect winter here any day. It rains most of the time now and is getting pretty cold. My fur coat arrived and it surely feels good.

Must go now and do a little job for Bob. About the election, I have to smile, too. People in this town were really mad too. I'm beginning to wonder who voted for Roosevelt. This town was so gloomy you expected to see the flags at half mast. I think I'm the only Democrat in town.

Maybe I'll send you a fruit cake to go with that wine, Mom. I'm really thinking about trying it by myself. So if thy are good you'll have one.

Thanks, Tom, for the nice long letter. Seemed swell to hear from you and I'm going to answer it one day next week. A whole letter just to you. And don't forget that promise you made in a weak moment---a letter once a week. So long. Love Louise

November 16, 1940

2009-05-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Meant to write earlier in the week but have been pretty busy. This afternoon I am doing a little job for Bob and thought I'd dash off a letter and then try to do a better one early next week. They took my screens down and thus forced me to do a little housecleaning. And I am trying to get my kitchen in better shape for Thanksgiving as we are going to really have that turkey dinner with trimmings. Armstrongs wrote awhile back that they would like to drive up for Thanksgiving but they haven't let us know definitely yet so I imagine they are probably still considering it. If they don't come then we are going to have Bob's credit man and family--the Mitchells--in. They invited us out to their place but we have had dinner with them a couple of times and have never had them back so thought it would be a good time to do it. And Bob is determined that we are going to do a turkey of our own if we have to stay home and eat it alone. He came home yesterday to lunch as proud as could be and announced that he had just had our "turk" put away so we would be sure to have a good one. You'd have thought he had just been out and killed it himself. I saw it later and it is a beauty--12 pounds--hope I can do justice by him. I am going to have the good old dinner we always have at home with my favorite fruit salad and I hope the dressing is half as good as yours and I'll be happy, Mom.

Well Sophie arrived Tuesday, Pop, in fine shape. It must be good. I haven't had time to any more than look through it but Bob settled down that night and read most of it and finished it the next evening. He says it is a very interesting story and to hurry up with some more of it. He can't bear to get hold of a good story and read it serially. He said some very flattering things about it. Said you did something he had wanted and tried to do all his life but couldn't--you seem to be able to put into words what you feel. Guess that is the secret of successful writing come to think of it. I will get on it shortly after Thanksgiving and make it look beautiful, too. I'll work on it a little each day and should have it done in no time. I mean to ask each time I write--shall I use the larger or elite type? Would you like me to send it to you as I finish it--I mean several chapters at a time. How would it be if I sent you the seconds and did not put the page numbers on until it is complete. That way you could make any corrections you might want to and I could do it over where you want it and then finish up the headings when you are finally satisfied with it.

Got your letter this morning, Mom, and am happy to hear you are all well. Sounds like they are busy at the office--working on a holiday--that's swell but I guess the girls don't think so. We'd surely like to spend Thanksgiving with your but that and Christmas are definitely out this year. But I have big thinks planned for next year about this time. I am going and spend a few weeks if I have to leave Bob and junior home. I saw my doctor yesterday and everything seems to be coming along in perfect shape. My heart's perfect, blood pressure always normal and weight creeping up a little at a time. I weigh 125 lbs now. Mom, you'd say I look just right. I like my doctor and am constantly hearing good reports on him. So I feel just swell--have a big appetite and an unusual amount of energy for me. I'm to expect him around March 27 which is earlier than I planned. ( Bob Jr. was born March 5) So tell the boys to plan on batching it about a week or so ahead of that time and a long time after, Mom.

Robert is piling my desk up with work so I must go. Looks like I might work here. Must tell you about something that happened. Bob hired a girl named Katheryn Armstrong and San Francisco went crazy--thought it was me. Had Mr. Baker, district manager, look into it. So I had a lot of fun kidding Mr. Baker last time he was here. I ask him if he thought San Francisco would kick up much of a fuss if they heard about me working Saturday afternoons and evenings--for nothing.

Hope you have a pleasant Thanksgiving and tell everyone there hello for us. Would like to see the boys. Gary has a birthday soon now. Tell Tom I'm still thinking about that letter. Write often. Love, Louise

November 4, 1940

2009-05-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Just a shorty tonight. I'm going to write to Aunt Hazel and thank her for that lovely blanket. I had every good intention of telling you to keep it there and use it if S. L. gets any colder cause I have the big trunk full of blankets and the other down quilt now. It is pretty cold here nights but I think one quilt and blanket will be all we'll use again this winter. I'm just hoping the moths don't hear about the rest of the bedding in the basement. Goodness what has happened to the weather down there. Was just reading that you have snow already--also about the airplane crash. seems they just have to have one every year. It is surely too bad. Speaking of planes, what are Tom's aviator friends all doing this winter. Did they automatically join the army or do they go to school?

Tomorrow is an awfully important day...our anniversary and the election. Time certainly flits along. Wonder where we'll be this time next year. Green--the New Business Man I wrote about--says Bob should be in the selling division. So maybe if he talks enough Bobby will get another promotion sometime in the future. Hope they move us in that general direction. I guess Bob and I won't need to ever bother about voting since he is strictly Republican and I suppose I'm Democrat. At any rate I had made up my mind to vote for Roosevelt again. We automatically cancel the Armstrong votes so we don't feel so bad. But I think I'm going to win a dollar from him, anyway. We plan to get all dolled up and have dinner and then see a show or maybe play Bingo. Anyway, it will be a big evening. That's about all the splurging you can do in Yakima. I'm still trying to think of something for my husband to give me. Can't decide whether to get rugs for my hall or clothes for myself. Guess I'll pull a fasty and get rugs. I'm going to have to get clothes soon anyway. Don't tell Bob. (She's 5 months pregnant)

Pop. I can't wait to get those chapters of Sophie. I'm as anxious to read them as I am to type them, so hurry them along. Time is gone thing I have too much of. I'll be looking for it. So send them along as fast as you get them ready.

Mom, you are too ambitious. Makes me feel guilty. My place is getting pretty dirty and I think every day I'll start doing a little cleaning but I always think of something more fun. I did get one job done but I didn't do it. I talked Pokey Grover into kalsomining my dirty closets and then I straightened them up. We bought a little chest of drawers and had them painted and I planned to use it for little clothes as I buy them. Well, all the drawers are full right now and I haven't bought a single thing yet. I would certainly appreciate something like your linen closet. I guess a woman never has enough drawer space.

Sorry we couldn't drop in for duck dinner. We had two ducks given to us but I'm afraid I'm not that advance in my cooking--they weren't so good. Maybe it was because we didn't have wine with them...you old toppers.

Well, I'd better stop or Aunt Hazel will get slighted on her letter. Sorry there isn't much news this time...but maybe something will happen worth writing about in this town some day.

Tell everyone hello and write often. Tell Tom not to write and tell me he has been too busy studying to write. He's got to have a better excuse for me than that. Would like to hear from him. Goodnight. Love Louise

October 29, 1940

2009-05-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

What has happened to all of you? Haven't had a letter for ages. Don't need to think that you can let this correspondence business dwindle down to a letter now and then. What are you all doing to keep you so busy? There should be a lot to tell me next time. Up here we aren't doing much of anything to write home about. We have a new business man for this branch and he is one of those super--super salesman who--I hope--wears himself out this first visit over here. He works out of Seattle and comes in here every few weeks. If he wears the dealers down as fast as he has me they well probably be giving him their business to get rid of him. He took Bob and me to dinner with the Studebaker dealer and his wife one night, then the Elams another. Then Saturday afternoon he bounced up to our place and spent the afternoon listening to the football game on our radio and spent another evening. Sunday we had him to dinner and yesterday he sent me a two pound box of Whitman's chocolates. I think he is a little confused on who he is to sell in this territory. He stays until Friday and I will more than likely be taking a rest-cure by that time.

We invited the Elam's to have dinner with us on our anniversary but since it is election night they had already made other arrangements. So I guess we'll get all dolled up in our wedding clothes--if it kills me--and go out to dinner and see what Yakima does on such a night. Every time a really hot election rolls around I can't vote. But I'm not sure who I want to vote for anyway so it is just as well. I can always say it wasn't any of my doings. I just hope the right man wins this time. I guess Bob won't have to join the army for awhile. Today is conscription day but we heard that the state of Washington had enough volunteers that they wouldn't have to draft anyone at present. Speaking of our anniversary, Mom, I have written to Hudson Bay to have my coat shipped up. If they are doubtful as to whom the coat belongs and call you, will you tell them to ship it and explain my change of address and name. They should have it all straight as I talked with one of their girls when I was there last.

Well, there isn't much more to say tonight. I feel fine and my only trouble is not being about to get all the sleep I'd like. Write often and tell me all the scandal. Tell Tom to write and let me in on his latest love affair. Goodnight. Love, Louise

P.S. Just thought...has Tom read Children of God. If Fisher's description of Joseph Smith is correct then I know where Tom inherited his looks. Hope our Smith connection is along that line so it won't spoil my fun.

The United States presidential election of 1940 was fought in the shadow of World War II as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression. Incumbent President Franklin Roosevelt (FDR), a Democrat, broke with tradition and ran for a third term, which became a major issue. The surprise Republican candidate was maverick businessman Wendell Willkie, a dark horse who crusaded against Roosevelt's failure to end the Depression and eagerness for war. Roosevelt, aware of strong isolationist sentiment in the U.S., promised there would be no foreign wars if he were reelected. Willkie conducted an energetic campaign and managed to revive Republican strength in areas of the Midwest and Northeast. However, Roosevelt won a comfortable victory by building strong support from labor unions, big-city political machines, ethnic voters, and the traditionally Democratic Solid South.
The subsequent passing of the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution in 1947 renders this election the only occasion in American history in which a candidate has served three terms as president (Roosevelt was elected and would have served for a fourth term, but he died only a few months into that term).

October 21, 1940

2009-05-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Here is another week slipped by. Where does time go? The weather is lovely still, the days are almost too hot for a coat. Yesterday was the opening of pheasant season and Bobby, Sidney and another friend of the Leonards got six birds. They cleaned all of them and Blanche Leonard cooked them and a lot of other delicious things and we had that pheasant dinner I have been secretly hoping I would get in on. The boys went out at seven in the morning and about ten Blanche picked me up and we tried to find them. We thought we would do a little tramping through the fields with them but we missed them and had a nice long ride. Sidney has a bird dog which he claims to have trained by himself and is very proud of. They have kept him chained up for a week now waiting for opening of the season. last year someone stole him a few days before and he came home after it was all over. So just as the boys were ready to leave at break of dawn, they untied Pat the dog and he made a dash out of the yard and up the street. Blanche said she has never heard so much shouting and cussing and coaxing in all her life. But they lured him back and everything else went along nicely. We topped the whole dinner off with pumpkin pie with cream and I've been uncomfortable ever since. Wish you could all have been here.

Speaking of good dinners and nice butchers, Mom, mine is not so bad. Saturday Bob wished all afternoon he had a piece of venison. He went shopping with me and was kidding the butcher about selling him a piece from somebodies deer. He showed us steaks and lamb chops until his counter had cleared then brought out a big part of a deer and cut us a beautiful steak...and gave it to us. So we are doing pretty well this hunting season. Is suppose Aunt Hazel brought you some deer meat as usual.

Pop, we finally got Children of God from the library. I read it in the day and Bob at night. I hate to criticise a book rated so high but so far--I have read about a fourth of it--it's a bit dull. Joseph Smith and his visions get too monotonous. Seems he should either have made a history of it or put a little color of his own in and made it a real novel. I imagine the last half is much better. At least the part the Readers Digest used was interesting.

Last Thursday night we went to the opening of the ice arena. Bob and one of the office crew skated and I watched. Wish I were such a good skater I could be sure I wouldn't fall and I'd try it. Looks like wonderful exercise. Then we drove out to the opening of a new gambling place. It's called Bingo and is ten cents a game. It is just like keno only the players take part. They take turns tossing a ball onto a table to find each number. They were paying $4 each game that night and Bob won $6...He won once and the next game two cards won and they split the pay. I think Yakima is going to be more interesting int he winter. I'm not so mad at Bob about the Reno episode now.

Well, Bob is ready to call it a day so will close. His credit man has been charging him overtime about every other night for the last month and every time we drop in there is no one here. So Bob swears he's going to spend every evening at the office for awhile and either make the guy put in the time or at least find out if he comes down. So I'll probably write again in a few days---I don't mean to sit home.

Hope you are all well. What is Tom doing? Tell him to write and tell the kids hello. Goodnight. Love, Louise.

October 15, 1940

2009-05-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:
Well, I have a typewriter this time and no news. Glad to hear you are all busy and happy. We are just loafing along enjoying the lovely fall and not doing anything much. I get ambition now and then and try something new in baking. I'm all set to try an apple sauce cake tomorrow. If things get too dull, I think I'll make more fruit cakes this year around Thanksgiving time. Thelma Elam keeps me busy with something new to try all the time. Every time she and Bob get their heads together it means work for me. They are swell neighbors and we enjoy them a lot. She bobs in and out every day and we spend an occasional evening with them. Next Saturday night we are going out to Leonard's again to make plans for pheasant hunting. Sidney is going to take Bob out early Sunday morning--it's the opening day. I plan to spend the day with Mrs. Leonard. Hope they get a bird. Incidentally, speaking of birds, Mom, I want to know exactly how to cook a turkey. Bob is determined to have one cooked just like your Xmas bird for our Thanksgiving. We plan to buy a small one--about six or seven pounds. Also want to know how you make the white sauce I like so well for plum pudding. If I could only be sure of my dinner I'd invite someone to have dinner with us...but I'd hate to ruin someones Thanksgiving. Wish you could all come up.

Pop, it's too bad you haven't got that novel ready yet cause I certainly have a lot of time on my hands just now. Are you sure you are going to let me do it? Course I want it to be it's best when it's finished. So whenever that time is, don't forget you promised me the job. Wish we were in Salt Lake for the winter, Bob would like to take your business English class if possible. Don't suppose he would come under the heading of bank employee, though. He was wondering about the extension divisions correspondence courses in letter writing or business English. Do they do anything in that field? The Credit Men's Association here ask him to give a speech at one of their meetings on C.I.T. policy. I laughed and he swore he could do it with ease and I think he's planning on it only he doesn't let me know. I suppose all men have to start making speeches sooner or later.

Well, I guess that's all for tonight. I guess I'd better start doing something now and then so my letters won't be so dull. But there main purpose, anyway, is to put you all on the spot where you owe me one. Hope Tom is enjoying his school. Tell him to work hard so he won't have to join the army. But he misses conscription by a couple of years and maybe the war will be over by then. Write often and send all the news. Love to all, Louise

In World War II following the German defeat of France, Congress in 1940 adopted the nation's first prewar conscription act, the result of a campaign headed by “Preparedness” leaders. The draft system was set to operate through 1945, but because of intense opposition from isolationists, Congress obligated the 1940 draftees to serve only one year, for training purposes. A year later, the lawmakers voted (203–202 in the House) to retain the 600,000 draftees. After Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Congress extended the draft to men aged eighteen to thirty‐eight, and prolonged military duty for the duration of the war. (Tom was almost 21) Headed by Gen. Lewis Hershey, Selective Service drafted a total of 10.1 million men in World War II, the majority for the army. Nearly 6 million other men and women joined voluntarily, primarily in the Army Air Corps, the navy, and the Marines. Deferments were limited primarily to war industries (Lockheed), hardship cases, and agriculture.

Letter tacked onto the end of this letter: I can't imagine anything worse than having a son-in-law who never wrote, or thanked me for a swell trip costing plenty of $. I'm all broken up noting a month has passed since we had a trip in "heaven" and for all my best intentions of writing I can't imagine where the time went.

Anyway we're swell---wish we were in Salt Lake where we could drop in on you---but the powers that be won't allow that at this time---So thanks again for a wonderful vacation and keep your fingers crossed for an opportunity closer to home! Love, Bob

October 9, 1940

2009-05-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Here I am scribbling again. Mr. Baker district manager is in town this time. Whenever one of them is here I can't go down to the office with Bob and use a typewriter. Funny thing, when I write long hand I can't think of anything to tell you.

Received Mom's letter this morning and wish we could have gone riding with you Sunday, or you with us. We took one of the company cars and went up Naches Pass on a collection trip. It happened to be a little Inn up Whithlin Jack's way. We had dinner first-to make sure the food wasn't poisoned-then tackled the manager for a payment. It was a lovely, balmy day but things don't turn a brilliant color here. I guess it's because the nights don't get cold enough.

Saturday night we spent the evening at Blanch Lemond's You remember me talking about Sidney the railroad mom. We just sat and visited around a nice warm fire in the fireplace. Sidney is going to take Bob pheasant hunting. I'm not so sure it's safe after the experience we had with him, but Bob doesn't seem to be afraid. They have a big hunting dog and usually get what they go after. Wish I could go--Blanche goes occasionally. Well, anyway, I'll probably get in on a pheasant dinner or two and Blanche is a good, old fashioned cook. We had chicken dinner there once when Woody and Ted were still here.

Mom, about the sewing--I went out with Thelma Clam and let myself be talked into a cute, little Mother Goose quilt. It's cute but not hard to do and she has promised to help. I have started on it and it's kinda fun. Not only that, I darn Bob's socks now. She caught me one day sewing up big holes like I do runs. She said she's show me how to darn. But I had an ace in the hole and told here I had no yarn. But she had plenty and dashed out and back with it and now you might get to see my beautiful darns. Pop had better send the novel along soon before typing is beneath my feminine dignity. Seriously, I was beginning to worried about it. I've been all set to get started on it for a while now and was beginning to wonder if it had been lost int he mail. Don't worry about it being too much for me. I feel fine and am anxious to do it. Not only that but, I have lots of time on my hands.

The picture of Elaine is surely swell. I thought that one in the plaid coat was a different girl. The other I recognized without readying. It looks just like the mischievous little rascal. Going back to school seems to be quite a fad this year. As Whitty reminded: It's probably where they all belong". I'm enclosing a Washington State beer tax stamp for Tom. I think this is what he was trying to get hold of when he was here. I'm sorry it's torn. If it won't do we can probably get another where that one came from---at Sidney's

Glad you are all well. I'll send a letter you can read as soon as I can go to the office. Tell everyone hello---and write. Love. Louise.

September 30, 1940

2009-05-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Hear I am at last. Have been trying for days to get a letter off but hate to write long hand--always leave much out--and I haven't been able to get down to the office. We are both fine and enjoying Yakima's nice fall weather. Hope the natives aren't lying when they say it lasts till Thanksgiving or Christmas. Saturday afternoon Bob and I went to the Fair. Then Sunday afternoon we had dinner at the Elam's--our neighbors downstairs--and they wanted to see the exhibits so we went out again. Guess and hope we'll never grow up. This is only the Central Washington Fair but the fairgrounds are quite beautiful and large. At one time the State Fair was held here but they haven't had one for sometime. They have lots of lawn and some beautiful big buildings. I suppose the Utah Fair is in full swing or over by now. Would like to see the countryside down that way just now. Things either don't get colorful here or it turns much alter in the season.

Well, Mom, I'm glad to hear you are feeling better now. I told you to lie down and go to sleep over at Tahoe but you wouldn't mind and you know what always happens to girls who don't mind. I hope you now have your winter case of the flu over with. Was not surprised to hear that Carol Snow has decided to take on a mission. She has tried just about everything from a chorus line in N. Y. to a mission. John Ireland--her troublesome boy friend--told Bob he was going to Los Angeles the first of this month on a vacation and intended to look around for a new position down there. So Carol may not get up in this country at all but will likely be wherever he is. Well, well, I guess that's pretty catty and Carol has always been very friendly. It would be sorta nice to have someone like her here provided they didn't move in. I am having a terrible time trying to plan menus. It's bad enough when you can eat everything but when you have to have certain foods every day it's impossible. One thing it does for you...makes you lose any appetite you have. I can't for the life of me remember the two or three dishes you told me about when you were up, so will you please write them down for me. I think one of them was one of your own--something not too hard and absolutely necessary. I don't expect to make any clothes but suppose I should make some one thing or people will think I'm not interested.

Pop, I'm glad you are sending the novel along soon. I'm really anxious to get started on it. Are you sure you don't want it in delicate? It doesn't take any more time and I thought I could keep the originals--so they wouldn't get messed up--and send the duplicates back to you from time to time. Then if there are any corrections you could make them and send them back to me. Bob is anxious to read it. He's not going to like having to tart with the middle of the book and reading the first chapter later. I'm only kidding. Send it anytime it is ready and any part of it. I'll leave the paging until it's finished. We are reading "Think and Grow Rich." The Elams were raving about the book. Insisted Bob take it and read it. So I offended them when we left. I told them I'd read it, too, just to make sure we got rich. They both blushed and said they guessed they should read it again, they must have missed its message after all. Tell Tom I am really enjoying "Inside Europe." Things begin to look really bad for us just now. I think the German's must make the English feel the same way the Japs make me feel...not scared but just plain mad.

Bob is still pouring the heat on his credit man and since I'm out of news for tonight, I think I'll go now and put a stop to it. I'm beginning to feel sorry for him, too. I still have my sights set on S.L. sometime in the not too far away future and am carrying on a steady and, I think, convincing campaign to get Bob Salt lake conscious, too. So perhaps one of these days we can do our visiting in person instead of by mail. I guess you are getting weary of my running on when i haven't anything much to tell you. Tell everyone hello and write often. I think I should get more letters with three of you down there. Goodnight. Love Louise

September 23, 1940

2009-05-01T12:26:00.001-07:00

Dear Folks:

Haven't much to tell tonight but thought if I kept writing anyway, I would keep letters coming this way. We checked the telephone company last night. We hadn't heart from you since Tuesday and were wondering how Mom was so we called you about 8:00 O'clock. No one was home so we decided Mom was better and cancelled the call. I wonder how much free information the Tel & Tell Co. Gives out all the time. Pop's letter came today and I'm glad to find you are feeling better, Mom.

News of Clyde Epperson was quite a shock. He is another person you'll really miss around the office. I didn't know Joe Mansfield so well, but liked him a lot.

We have had a few visitors the last few days and I'm beginning to settle back into Yakima again. Yesterday we had the auditor who is still here, to dinner. He's a nice looking San Franciscan and a very nice person. He is taking us to dinner Wednesday night. Looks as though we still have a job. This branch was first in operations in the Pacific Coast district last month. It doesn't mean the largest volume of business by any means but cost of running the branch, size of lists and such. Bob told Al I didn't like it here, so if and when any branches see openings around S.L. perhaps we can put in a bid for one of them. Although it is out of this territory, Bob has two or three friends in positions to help him--so maybe we'll sneak back that way. Just the same, Pop, whistle if you see a good spot.

It is hard to settle back into the same old routine after a swell vacation. We were lucky to miss storms all along the way. They had the most violent storm they have had in 50 years in Yakima. It tore down all their poles and they closed the high schools to get enough pickers out to get the crop before it mildewed. They still lost a big part of it. It seemed to be pretty much in the Northwest so maybe it was a good thing we didn't go to British Columbia. The Central Washington State Fair opens here Thursday. Wish you could see it. The apples are coming in and they will show some beautiful fruit displays. I'd send you a box of apples if I thought they were any better than the Utah variety. Dick could probably pop up with a bigger and better apple than any they can produce here.

I'm getting writer's cramp and trying to read this is probably causing you some distress so I'll stop for now. Pop, hurry the novel up. I can't wait to get started on it. When I get a typewriter I'll write longer and better letters. Goodnight. Love, Louise

August 18, 1940

2009-05-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Guess you think I have forgotten you all but I am in the midst of moving and it's hot and since I'm my Mother's child, I guess I'm getting slow, too. Glad to hear you are all putting in full time to be ready for that vacation in time. Pop, I bet you are going to be happy when you finally get your work all done and find you have another week before vacation and won't have a thing to do. Guess you wonder what I'm talking about but you apparently wrote your last note on the 15th and dated it the 21st. It gave me quite a start cause I hadn't been paying much attention to the date lately...don't know which day of the week it is most of the time so I grabbed a calendar in a hurry and found it was your mistake. But we are just about in shape now and waiting to relax with you for a couple of weeks. If you leave the 31st and arrive here on Sunday the 1st that will be swell. I take it you plan to stop for the night and that will probably be Boise. Be sure and leave there early Sunday so you will get in here early evening and I am going to put you to bed early and Monday--Labor Day---I plan to drag you up the valley about 37 miles to Ellensburg where they are holding a famous rodeo. It's the last day and it isn't far and I know you'll enjoy it. Next to Pendelton it's the biggest rodeo in this country--is really quite a famous one. Then we'll do anything we can think of after that. Don't know whether you are even considering going to British Columbia and don't want to urge you but just in case you are it would probably be a smart idea to bring along some means of identification for you all--including me if you can think of anything. I don't even know what to suggest. A birth certificate would probably cinch it for everybody but I don't suppose you have them lying around down there in a trunk, do you? Don't go to any special trouble, it may be that your car license or such will do the trick.

Bob says birth certificates are necessary. He could probably get mine and Bob's at Country Building and write for the rest, if your interested.

Mom, did you see what I found for you? Maybe you have already run across the picture in Life of your great-great-grandpappy Hendricks or whatever he was. But I remembered you mentioning one night that one of your ancestors was vice-president, so it must be this man. Find him? He's sure a Hendricks if I have ever seen one. Wonder if his middle name is Alma by chance? Mrs. Armstrong will probably get a few things of Bob's together that you might bring, don't know just what it might be so if you will just call by they will have it ready--if anything. Had a letter from Mrs. Armstrong and she mentioned your visit, said she enjoyed it so much and also said you looked just like a young girl. What's the big idea?

I wish we could have gone to the Hendricks reunion. Sometime when we drive home I plan to go round by Cache Valley and have Bob meet everybody. How are they all? And every time I think of the roast chicken my mouth waters.

Tom, thanks for the swell letter. After vacation I'm going to write once a week to you if you promise to answer. Glad to hear you are going back to the U next quarter. Might study a Little journalism yourself. With Pop's help, a little study and your gift of gab and sense of humor you could probably do something for yourself. You know, let them send you all over the world to the hot spots to do a little hot reporting. Imagine that would be a natural for a person who enjoys jumping off mountain tops.

Well, must go. We are going out to Mitchell's for stew and relax in their back yard. Will write again and may think some more things to annoy you about. Let me know before you leave exactly how you intend to drive it, so I'll know just when to look for you.

Oh, nearly forgot. Please send me my social security number. No wisecracks. I clerked one day at Barnes-Woodin Department store. Mrs. Elam does it occasionally and I told her I though it would be fun so she called one day and said they could use me on Dollar Day. Boy what a job. I told them I had had some experience years ago and thy have probably made up there own minds on that point since then. Anyway, they won't pay me my $2.50 until I have my number and ever time I write, I forget to ask for it. Even meant to tell you about it long ago and forgot to.

Write and come whenever you are ready and drive carefully. So Long. Love, Louise.

August 5, 1940

2009-04-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Well, here I am at last. Every time I plan to write something comes up... Someone pops in or we go out and then a couple of times at home when I did get around to it, I found I was out of stationery. Letters may be shorter and fewer from now until the vacation cause I'm getting all in shape to move. I've been trying to get Grover to wax some floors and do a couple of little things done but besides being slow as time, he hasn't been feeling well, but he's going to get at it soon. So we'll be already to play by September 1.

The wife of the Seattle New Business man came in this afternoon and spent a couple of hours with me. They found out from Bob that I was from Cache Valley and she is an Alvord from Logan. She also has a cabin up at Pond's--close to Mack's, you know---and she is just on her way home to Seattle from there now. She is a woman around fifty and is married to a man by the name of Tommy Thompson--a second marriage. Who she was married to before and what her first name is, I don't know. She said she didn't know either of you but she talked about a lot of Logan names familiar to me. She knows the Stuarts at Mack's very well and thougth she would probably know Paul and Billie if she saw them. She spends a lot of time at her cabin and knows lots of people up on the river whose names she doesn't know. Paul would probably know her if he saw her. While I am on this subject, Bob and I were invited to one of the dealer picnics and the owner of the company is a man named Kershaw. I danced with him and was on the verge of asking him if this was his home town, but didn't because I couldn't remember where I had heard the name. Wasn't one of your aunt's married to a Doctor by that name? I wasn't sure, so I minded my own business.

About all we do for entertainment these days is picnic. A week ago Sunday, Bob went out to look at a farm down the valley to see if it could be refinance or taken over--want a farm cheap?--and I went with him. We couldn't see the man till evening so while we had a car we decided to take a trip. So we drove way down on the Columbia River. We could see the road on the Oregon side--do you remember that road across the river with so much traffic on and we wondered where it went and how they got across? It's the Washington side of the Columbia River and also goes to Portland. It's only about 80 miles from Portland. Down there right on a cliff overlooking the river is a place everyone calls the Castle. A famous old railroad character, name of Sam Hill, built the place with the intention of living in it, then came the world war#1 and they stopped work on it. He died before it was ever finished and gave it to the Sate to use as a Museum. So it was finally completed and Queen Marie of Romania stopped there when she visited this country and dedicated it. The place is full of gifts from Marie and lot of Europe's old royalty. It's an interesting place and maybe we can drive down and see it. About a mile from the Castle is a place called Stonehenge--which some of you may know about but I didn't. It is an exact copy of an old temple used for sacrifices in Old England by the Druids. It is supposed to be the oldest structure in England. Sam Hill had it built as the original structure was supposed to look.

So much for that. Are you getting in shape for that vacation? I'd better tell you about this crazy climate. I have been doing some inquiring. Fall comes to Seattle about the first of September but not to Yakima. So you'd better bring dark clothes which you will probably be able to wear most of the time--but, Mom, better throw in something lighter weight you can wear on the street here in the daytime without a coat just in case Yakima is still hot. This may be confusing but Yakima weather is so different from Seattle and I suppose you want to spend some time over there. Also bring slacks or old pants, skirt and blouse, old shoes, etc. to go on a picnic or two. We have to get out and see some of this country's scenery. Tom had better throw in his swim suit, he'll probably get some new kind of swimming around Settle. Well, I can't think of anything else just now except maybe a toothbrush--oh yeah, and yourselves.

Today is our nine month anniversary and Bobby is going to buy me an ice cream cone and take me to see Bette Davis in "All This and Heaven Too." So must go. Se you soon, I'll probably get in a letter or two also. Goodnight. Love to all, Louise

July 22, 1940

2009-04-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Glad to receive that letter at last. Will forgive you for going so long this time but not again. Sounds like it would be fun to be in Salt Lake just now with the 24th in full swing. That fallish smell and crickets in the vines sounds good too. Where has the summer gone so fast. Well, it means vacations soon and I can't wait. Bob can get his vacation the first two weeks in September. So if you left home on Friday, August 30, and drove to Boise one day and Yakima the next, Saturday night you would be here and we would start that gallivanting' on Sunday. I'll let you rest here for a few days and then we could do anything you'd like--stop a day at Rainier, a day or two in Seattle and then to British Columbia. We will do a little studying of the map and do some serious planning between now and then. We'll also find the best and shortest route for you to take to San Francisco if you decide to go that way. I divided your trip to Yakima into a two-day jaunt on account of I hate to see you drive so far so fast and you could see the country if you take it in day-time jumps. Bob says you could make it in eighteen hours but I think it would be a hard trip. but you suit yourselves, just so you come. And make Tom come along. Bob has an office full of cuties and we'll have a lot of fun. We'll be moved into our other apartment by then. Thelma Elam tells me that they are very nice in the apartment to let tenants use the vacant...furnished apartments when they have company. There is a little apartment that has been vacant for sometime right across the hall from our new one and I am going to coax Grover the Janitor to move in a bed and cot and we can use it while you are here, then there will be no floor sleeping. It will work out beautifully. We can use the closet space and the bath. There are just the two apartments on the second floor and we'll just take it all over. It isn't furnished but I know they will fix up a place to sleep. And you'll sleep like you have never slept before. This climate is as good as a drug. You want to plan on light wraps, the evenings are always cool.

The newspaper clipping was a shock. I don't know how Mrs. Van Cott stands up under it. It has certainly been a tragic little family. A friend of Bob's who visited us in Boise, helped with the funeral arrangements of Dee Van Cott and he said Cleo came through like a trouper. It's a shame, I've never known anyone more interested in her children. The Newman girl is surely pretty. This must be pretty upsetting to Tom. Tell him not to take any chances in cars.

A trip to Yellowstone will be a nice vacation for Dick and Ellen and, Oh boy, what fun for Bob and Gary. I'm sorry I have been so slow about returning the camera but will get it to them immediately. I caught a good lecture from my husband for not returning it sooner. Every time he sees it, he asks me when I intend--if ever--to return it. I'm going to write and tell them about some little metal gadgets the Pearsons use on their back doors of their sedan to keep them from coming open when the baby is in the back. They are little clamps that hold the back doors shut and can only be opened when the front doors are opened. They are slick and solve that falling out business. They should have a nice time. I'm sorry we moved so far away they can't include us, I'd surely like to see them all. Maybe they can make the Northwest another year.

The Pearsons are leaving in a day or two now. We spent practically all of the week-end with them. Yesterday we drove up Naches Pass a few miles and had a chicken dinner at a little farm house along the way. Two women run the place and serve old fashioned family style dinners and the world's best chicken. Tastes like one of Aunt Meda's dinners. How are they all...do you ever hear?

Mom, you sound pretty busy, what with fruit and canary bird season coming on all at once. I'd like one of the birds. I know right now where I'll put it. So I'm being nice and I hope you have good luck with them. Mrs. Elam is going on a vacation to Chicago soon and wants me to water her plants. If she had left a child with me I wouldn't be any more nervous. Just hope she doesn't think too much of her little plants. If I have any luck I think I'll start some of my own. When she wants a fern she goes to Seattle and buys the biggest they have for a dollar. Wish there were some way you could take one back with you.

Well, we'll see you right around the first of September if this fits into your plans. Bob says hello...the vacation sounds perfect. Everybody write. Goodnight. Love, Louise

P.S. Did I sign my last letter? Bob snatched it away from me and scribbled a note and put it in the envelope and I wondered afterward if I had my cross on it.

July 14, 1940

2009-04-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Sorry I have been so slow writing but I just haven't had a minute to myself for the last week. Pearsons-the people whose transfer I wrote about--are still here waiting to hear where they are to go. They have either sold or stored everything they own and haven't even a chair to sit on. So they are sleeping at a friends house and have quite a number of their meals with us and also spend a lot of their time with us. We don't mind, they are good company, but you can imagine what a constant sweat I'm in, planning and preparing meals. It looks as though they will be moved to Portland now, which is what we would all like to have happen. We could spend an occasional week-end there and they could visit here. They are just very swell people and we are going to be lonesome when they are gone. They had to take the company car they have been using to Seattle, so we all went over the Fourth of July. Bob and I drove their own car over and we came back together. It was a lovely trip but much too short. We left early and had breakfast on the road. We drove over Naches Pass going over and came back another way. Mt. Rainier is on the Naches Pass road and is certainly all you expect of it. you mus see it sometime. When you come up we'll all go over and spend a weed-end. There are two or three Inns on the mountainside and some nice hikes to take. It would be a lovely place to just relax for a day or two. Seattle is an interesting looking big town. The business district looks to be much larger than Portland but all in all I don't thing it is as beautiful. Of course, they depend entirely on rain to keep up their lawns and gardens and this has been an unusually dry season and everything looked parched. We had a seafood dinner down on the docks at a little restaurant and spent the rest of the time driving around the city. We hope to get over and spend a few days and see everything we missed. We'll do that, too, when you come up. About that vacation to San Francisco...it's about the most tempting vacation I have ever considered and we have done some serious figuring and talking on it and are not sure that we should do. We figured $100 probably would be under-estimating the cost of the trip. Now we could probably manage it okay except we are really making an effort to get in a position to buy a new car. Then we can run down and see you occasionally. But, then, we might change our minds. So when you get around to seriously planning on it, you might give some thought to coming up here and we could all visit Rainier, Seattle and British Columbia. So far Americans can get into Canada and back without any trouble. About all you need is some identification. Then perhaps you could go home via San Francisco. Make Tom come along and help with the driving. Here I am trying to change your plans again. It's just a suggestion. I just want you to know that we'd love to have you any old time you can manage to come.

Speaking of hot weather, Yakima is just trotting out some mid-summer heat and I apologize for everything I have said about it. I have my new furniture over in the other apartment but we plan to stay here for the summer. I really appreciate my apartment now. It's just like walking into a basement, it is so cool. Along with the dining room set I have two beautiful commodes and a pair of $50 Italian pottery lamps which all still belong to Ted Pearson. She wants me to keep them for her rather than store them. I have no appreciation for the lamps and just hope she never wants to sell them to me cheap. I wouldn't own them at any price. They are big clumsy looking things. They'd sell for about $5 if they had been made in this country.

Last night we spent the evening visiting with a couple who will probably list us as entertainment on their expense account. But they turned out to be very nice. Both are from San Francisco and they have done a bit of traveling and are very interesting. I think we will probably see quite a bit of them. This job is fun. I'm certainly meeting a lot of interesting people. Everybody has a story to tell and it's amazing how much most couples have knocked around the country and are apparently getting nowhere. Most of them seem to have seen better times.

This morning Bob and I went horseback riding and decided to go in the evening hereafter. The sun spoils riding in the daytime, even early in the morning. I'd like to take lessons at the academy here. After one gets good enough, they put you in a drill team and show you off at the State Fair which is held here in September sometime and at any other horsey functions that come along. You may see me in the Pendelton Roundup before I get through--who knows. I'm not serious--just in case some of these wild stories of mine worry you.

Must go home an change clothes. We are going to a show with Pearson's a little later. Bu the way, how did you get along with Dick's new fence? Tell Tom to finish that letter. Write...even when I don't. Love, Louise

At the end of this letter:
Dear Mom and Pop:

Thought I'd better say hello to remind you that you still have a son-in-law. Come on up---were really serious. Love, Bob

July 2, 1940

2009-04-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Pop:

Thought I had better drop a line before the 4th and another week-end is upon us or it will be another week before I get around to it. We have been busy with the Pearson's for the last few days. Just when we find someone we really enjoy, they have orders to move. They don't know just yet where they will be--either Seattle or San Francisco. I feel sorry for them. They want to stay here. They are buying a home and have it beautifully furnished, then over night--as always with C.I.T.--they are transferred. It's a sort of take it or leave it job and they have to move themselves so they are selling most of their furniture. They spend a lot of time with us, they can't bear to stay in their place while it is being moved out piece by piece. She has a small dining room set of Chinese Chippendale she paid $175.00 for and she sold it to us for $50.00. It is beautiful and in perfect condition. Bob has had the itch to buy a car but I beat him to it and bought furniture. So now as soon as the hot weather is over we are going to move into another apartment in the Naches Court. It has a dinette and I think will be even prettier than the one we have and they will let us have it for the same rent. They are looking for something here and if they find something, as soon as they get on their feet Mr. Pearson is going to set Ted (the Mrs.) up in a ready-to-wear shop of her own. They have been considering it for sometime. She ask me how I would like to go in with her. Isn't that funny, after wanting a dress shop of my own all my life I run into someone who has been planning it seriously for quite awhile. Well, I'll stop, I'm probably worrying you to death with my wild ideas. Bob will see that I never bankrupt us. We have also been with a big Corp. long enough to profit by others mistakes--or bad luck. We never intend to get caught stranded a million miles from home like several other people we know. Of course, you can't blame them for expecting their employees to produce. Poor Ted can't even go home to see her family in British Columbia. She can't get back without papers of some kind or another and has to go through a lot of red tape to get them. It never rains but it pours. Ted and Woody want us to go over to Seattle with them tomorrow but Bob has to go to Wenatchee--about 125 miles from here and I am going with him. Peggy Chilcott is in Seattle and her husband wants us to ride over with him this week-end to bring her back. So it looks like one of these days we'll have to go over to the big city in spite of all our excuses. If you ever meet any of these people, you'll feel that you know them after all the talking I do about them.

Today is Dick's birthday and I'll bet that's where you are tonight. How is everything with them? Mrs. Armstrong writes that it is terribly hot just now. They think it's hot here but I'm afraid they don't know what hot weather is. Tenants in the Court ask me if it's hot enough now and I say it's just comfortable. They think I'm being obstinate. When S.L. really turns on the heat come up and try this ice box of mine. Nothing much happens. We see a lot of shows, go on an occasional picnic or house party. But time passes fast. I meant to tell you, Pop, that Jack Murdock--branch manager in Boise--quite and went with J. B. Burnham. The whole branch blew up about a week ago. Ken and Betty More insisted on a transfer to Los Angeles. Maybe if things had popped sooner over there, we could have stayed. Oh well, we'll never see the world that way.

Ted and Woody just walked in and want to see a show, so must close. How do you like this little snap? I'll bet you are getting weary of looking at Bob and me posing all over the Northwest. I had to send this one, though, I think it's pretty good of both of us and I don't think we have ever had one of both of us before.

Tell everyone hello and write. What have you decided about that vacation? Tell Tom I haven't received that letter yet--must have gone to the wrong address. Love Louise

June 25, 1940

2009-04-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Here I am at last. Something always comes up to keep me from writing when I plan to. I expected to go to the office with Bob tonight and use a typewriter, but it is so hot he said he couldn't work if he went--so here I am scribbling again. We didn't get to Seattle as I had hoped but are going to visit in a few weeks. Peggy Chikett's home is here and she is coming over shortly for a visit and her husband, Bob and I are going to drive over for a week-end. We had a car over the week-end and it seemed good to get off our feet for a couple of days. Bob has a new collector that has a car of his own--kind of a company car, so we have decided to take the company car away from him this week-end. He can't drive too cars at once, anyway. I met the "New Business" men's wife recently. Pearson is their name and they are buying a home here in spite of the fact that he is gone most of the time. I think she gets quite lonesome. She can't travel with him because of a 3 year old young-un they adopted. We have been seeing a great deal of them. Bob brought them home to dinner-unexpectedly-one night. Next night they invited us up the canyon on a picnic dinner. Saturday night we went dancing together and Sunday went on another picnic. Mr. Pearson left town yesterday and last night the Mrs (named Ted) Bob and I went to a show. She's swell company and a person with a swell sense of humor. We make congenial company for each other-were both just crazy enough. She is a French Canadian but calls San Francisco "home". She's dark, with olive skin and big black eyes and a constant smile. I'll send a picture of her sometime. I really know some swell people by now. Everyone is so nice with us. Incidentally, this man "Woody" Pearson is originally from Ogden. He knows Uncle Ruben. He was a bookkeeper for some livestock company in Ogden when Uncle Rub was there. Well, more about the Pearson's later.

We have just herd that the Boise Office blew completely up. Jack Murdock, branch manager quit and went to work for J.A. Burnham. I don't know whether he stayed in Boise or went to Salt Lake. Ken Moore, new business manager over there insisted on and got transferred to Los Angeles. Things certainly pop fast and often in D.I.T. Never know what's going on so hang on tight there are changes everywhere.

I wish I had something interesting to write about, but life is slow and easy here. You may be interested to know that I have just about decided (all by myself, too) to vote Republican, come this election and if I can vote. Have you got a good argument against it? I just listened to Norma talk and unless politicians are liars, I think maybe they will keep us out of the war for awhile...if there is a war by that time. Looks bad for mighty England doesn't it?

News of JoAnn was interesting. If you see her, give my best wished for a happy married life. She deserves it. Tell her to write.

Glad you are feeling better, Pop. Why not take that trip to San Francisco--via Yakima. There is a road from here to there. I don't think it's necessary to go to Portland. Want to drag you off in this general direction every time you get a vacation and this may be the last year of the Fair so you do exactly what you want. Maybe you could go to San Francisco now and steal a few days later to come to Yakima. But we are always happy to have you come whenever you can. There is still nothing definite about when Bob can take a vacation. Course I'm always free and we could have a glorious time if you came to Yakima. I hope you can manage to see both of us--the Fair and me.

Hope something of interest happens soon so I can write about it next letter. Write often. tell everyone Hello. Love, Louise

June 15, 1940

2009-04-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom & Pop:

Here I am a widow again. Bob left this morning for Portland for a meeting but will be back tomorrow night. I'm going to stay with Peggy Chiloott, whose husband also went. I was mad this time and raised considerable hell, so I got a trip to Seattle next week-end promised to me. I still have a vacation in Salt lake coming from the last meeting Bob went to and he stills says I can come on a visit whenever I want, I may find out if he means it. I think it would be fun to bum around Salt lake for a week or so with nothing to do but visit. Pop, I was just wondering if you need some help in the office while you take a vacation with your dentist. I probable couldn't do much good but might be able to keep people busy. You didn't tell me whether you could leave town then and when you plan to have it done. I guess I had better forget Kay for awhile since a baby is still in the running. I wouldn't dare try to get them both in. It sounds as though Baby has changed her realm at last. She has certainly been trying. All the hocus-pokus about wanting to be like me is flattering, but it would be a shame for her to change very much she's so cute as she is.

Well, Mom, sounds like things are humming down that way with relatives and friends raising everything from lilies to roses. It's fun to get the clippings. I am surprised at LaNor. So far as I know she didn't have a serious love affair in the line when I was getting married. It must have been a second Larsen-Armstrong affair. I guess the gals in A.I. are all so old they can't afford long engagements. Don't tell anyone what I said. LaNor's picture is very natural and very pretty. i like her a lot and if either of you see her give her my love and best wishes.

Haven't much to tell you, as usual. Mrs. Clam and I are quite the buddies and I like it. She is an unusually nice person./ She brings me cookies every day or so and we run back and forth for tea every day and go to town and shop. I enjoy her a lot. Tell Tom if the gal situation gets too tough to come up here. Yakima has some beautiful gals and that's the truth. I'd like to have him spend some time with me, we could have fun. Try to sell him on the idea when he gets back.

Excuse this hurried letter but I am trying to get out to Peggy's by 6:00--she's having a chicken dinner just for the two of us and her 3 year old boy. So now I know you'll forgive the rush, I have almost an hour to go send and have to dress yet.

I hope my signature was in the right place on the stock, Pop...and also that my name was all that was missing. Most of all I hope you get a good deal from Kaysor. Personally I don't see how he can possible succeed unless someone undertakes to run both him and the business and he's a bit touch on that point. Thanks again for buying me out. I hope you don't lose on it.

I'm sending you pictures of the fish in the next letter. I guess that will prove somebody caught one. I still say it was me. Or did you mean the salmon jumping? If so, you don't get me on that---you gotta come an see for yourself. Write. Love, Louise

June 3, 1940

2009-04-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Folks:

Sorry to be so slow writing but I have been busy getting my house in order and I wrote one letter last week-my limit-to Bobby since it was his birthday. We are pretty well settled now and love our place. We have been taking pictures of it and ourselves and will send you some in the next letter-(it's a promise.) We have also been working in a little fun. We expected to spend a quiet Decoration Day. Thought we would take a street car to the end of the line and maybe walk back and take pictures along the way. But the Chrysler Dealer here lives in our apartment and he and his wife invited us to go riding in this big Chrysler and they really showed us the valley. They said the Salmon were running and took us up the canyon gorge to Rosa Dam where we could watch them swimming up over the dam via a ladder affair built for them. Quite an accommodation for fish. We have a swell picture of it and will send it next time. This is a beautiful valley with real rugged country surrounding it. Later in the day we took them to dinner and then spent the evening at their apartment. They seemed to enjoy our company and took me with them yesterday to a gorgeous spot to fish. It's a big dam on a road being built straight through from here to Portland. The road won't be finished, however, for two years. The dam is called Rim Rock and is surrounded by high elegant mountains. It's only about an hours drive from Yakima. They have a perfectly swell cabin boat that does about 20 miles an hour. We went cruising around the lake, then anchored and did a little trolling. Mrs Clam is an old hand at fishing. Bob and I didn't have licenses but we used their poles and you won't believe it but I caught the first fish. They weren't biting and we only got six. I have a picture of us-me and the fish-Which is forthcoming. I'm going to enjoy them-the clams. She is in her thirties but has no children and is very nice-an old school teacher. Bob's going to buy me a pole and she and I are going fishing in the river in the afternoon. It takes only a few minutes to get to some good fishing on the river.

Well, so much for us. That's about all we've done since we moved in. Glad to hear you are enjoying your car so much but that's not hard to understand. We will probably end up with a Chrysler if we don't watch out. I think we've convinced them we're just struggling along and now drive exactly the kind of car we should have with our present income. It would be swell if you could manage another trip in this direction. you'd love this country and you can roll over to Seattle in 3 1/2 hours on the countries most scenic highways--and see Rainier on the way--and there are some beautiful spots close around Yakima. the city itself is interesting...all kinds of people with the Indians well represented. There is a big reservation just north of here and a big part of the population roam Yakima's streets. Right smack in the center of our fair city streets a ten story structure which started to be a hotel. They got all the steel and cement work done and then ran out of funds. So the owner of the biggest hotel in the city bought controlling interest and instead of putting up the funds to complete the building he built a board fence around it and said he figured he was still ahead. It has weathered so much it has been condemned---and so it stands--the worst eye sore the city ever had. But it's different and quite a story. We could have a great time. Our apartment is a swell spot to live. It's old but it's lovely and the rooms are big and darn cold-so it promises to be swell for the hot weather they claim we'll have. It can be a beautiful, warm day outside and I am chilly inside. So I go out to get warm and our landlord-a big, fat man goes out to cool off. He things I'm crazy, but his apartment gets more light. But it's nice. It has a big fireplace and when it gets to chilly we have a fire. We're getting along just right. Bob had a raise when his last check came in and our living expenses are less than in Boise. It doesn't sound right but it's so. You'll just have to come up and see this place. We have gas refrigeration and store. We pay $40.00 a month--$5 less than Boise--and they pay the gas bill and heat in the winter. All we have are the lights and juice is cheap here. the only worry I have is that they'll go bankrupt they're so gorgeous and I'll have to find another place to live. Gavin is the janitor and if I can't turn a knob all I do is ring him on the house phone and he'll commit murder for you if the rent is paid. All deliveries mare made at a back entrance and Gavin puts them on your dumb waiter and sends them up. I wanted to take my laundry, but nothing doing. Gavin came up and explained the different ways to send your washing, Mom, I don't mean to make apartment living sound to glamours but I'm being spoiled fast. But I have never herd of or seen anything quite like this. The man who runs the office is a retired auto dealer and apparently 4runs the place for fun. Some of the apartments aren't too attractive and they have several that aren't rented and it does tend to worry them. Clam's the only people who have lived in the north wing for months and they are the only apartment in it. Well, come and see it soon.

It's bad they didn't catch the thief. If Tom even sees your neighbor on the West in his hats or watch, he's apt to wish the cops had caught him. Tom should be a perfect young man with the kind of training you can give him, Pop, and his energy and square chin. Maybe you could keep him out in the service unless Hitler has us out on a branch-I guess I mean limb. The war scares me. I guess there is no particular reason why the allies couldn't lose. I wish something would stop it all quick.

If I quit now maybe I can get this off tonight. I listen every day for Dave Scudder-it sounds swell. I hope it goes big-it should. I'll be looking for Scudder and wife in person one day soon. I hope to pay S.L. a visit sometime during the summer-maybe ride out with you or something.

Bob says "Hello" and to come up and see some country you've never seen before.
Love to all, Louise

P.S. mom, speaking of flowers-Mrs Chandler, the landlord's wife-brought me a big bouquet of white peonies a few days ago. They are very nice people. he spends all day keeping up the lot-he's very proud of it. Will you all come and see it? Goodnight

March 12, 1940

2009-04-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Family:

I haven't really forgotten you all. Have really been busy with one thing and another but can't remember just what at the moment. Pop, I'm sorry to neglect you on the income tax reports after my offer to help but I'm glad to hear that it is all straightened out and on it's way. Kay probably knows as much or more about it as I do. As for my own 1% I think I'll forget it. My conscience won't bother me but do you think I can get away with it? Tell me what you think.

It seemed good to see Tom. I tried my best to get him to stay with me for awhile but I think he wanted to hurry home and start work on that new pair of skis. It was too bad but, as you say, probably good experience. I guess there is no stopping him now, so more power to him. How is everyone else doing down there? Noone ever writes. I did get a letter from Melba, though. Sorry to hear about Dale and hope he fells better by now. How are all the other little boys? I'm dying to see them.

Mom, you'll have to come up and stay for awhile and teach me how to sew on something. I go to Mary Merrill Enders' sewing bee every Thursday afternoon and quite enjoy it but they insist after lunch that I sew on something. I tore out the hem in the legs of that cute bargain bathing suit for a few weeks and now I'm putting them back and I'll soon be through and have to start a new "piece." So bring your crocheting needles and come on up and teach me to do something to make them all envious. I think I could learn now I'm really getting domesticated. "Gone With The Wind" was here and all evening seats were reserved so we had Bernice and Owen Sproat over to dinner and ll went last Thursday. What a dinner. Corn cold...potatoes burned...biscuits a bit leaded. Well I tried. At least I'll never do any worse and they swore it was good. My little girl reserves are pretty cute young-uns but hart to keep busy. But I'm learning all about Boise running around looking up entertainment for them. I can see I'll have to write more often so I can remember something I've done to write about. Pop, I wish you'd hurry and come up and I'll let you help me start a new business. And it's not an Agency. It's a brand new kind of Business. A brain child of my own and so far as I know has never been done and can be a tremendous thing! It's a secret and you'll have to come up and find out what it is. Maybe this will at least be the means of getting you to Boise and this business won't be a total failure. I guess this sounds funny and you'll probably be right up to see if I'm all right. Whatever brings you I wish it would hurry I'd really like to see you all. And spring is here and is something to write home about. Come up and loaf for awhile. It will do you a world of good.

Bob is through and waiting to go to a show so will have to stop. I'll write soon again and hope you are all well. Bob says hello. Tell Dick and Ellen hello and we're expecting you this month without fail. Don't forget the golf clubs. Plan to stay for awhile there is a lot to do and see here. And write. Love, Louise

Letters

2009-04-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start something new on this blog. I have a lot of letters that Louise and Robert Armstrong wrote home when they were first married. They lived in Washington state and wrote home to Tom and Grandma and Grandpa Larsen. The letters span the time when Tom was killed, so they should be interesting and give us some insight into them as people and into the family. It should be fun, so check back often.

2009-04-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Robert Francis Armstrong

1912 - 1949

Benediction, Gene Livingston

2009-04-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. At the close of this beautiful service we present ourselves before Thee in reverence to Thee, Heavenly Father, and in memory of our friend and brother, Robert Frances Armstrong. We thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for these beautiful services, for the peace that has been present here with Thy spirit. We ask that Thou wilt comfort Aunt Em and bob’s wife and the family and that they might gain some comfort in knowing that Bob has gone to his father. That his father is probably rejoicing with Bob as much as we are now mouring. Heavenly Father, take us to the cemetery in safety. Be with us at all times. Help us retain the beautiful things that have been said and put them into practice through the rest of our lives, we ask in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Remarks by D.H. Livingston

2009-03-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Remarks, D.H. Livingston:

My brothers and sisters and friends, I consider it a great honor to be asked to speak to you on this occasion. It is going to be difficult for me to do so because Bob, you k now, is just like my own child. I helped raise him and I became very much attached to him in his youth and I have loved him in his young manhood.

I think we have had a beautiful service so far. The music and the remarks that we have listened to have been inspired and encouraging and I trust that I will not say anything that will detract from the good things that you have already heard.

I couldn’t help but feel that there are some things I might like to say on this occasion in supplement of what our previous speaker has just said. The great, wise Solomon said, on one occasion, that it was better to go to the house of mourning that the house of feasting. And my brothers and sisters, I believe that is true. And it would only be true if gong to the house of mourning could make us more mellow, more kind and more charitable and will bind us together in bonds of friendship to an extent that wouldn’t be possible under any other circumstances. And not only that, but it is on occasions of this kind, when we are called to part with our loved ones, that we can’t help but think of the purpose of life and what it all means to us, who we are, where we come from, where we are going. These things can’t possible help but come to our minds in these serious moments. After all, death is no more mysterious than birth. Birth is just as mysterious as death. We see before us today everything we have ever known of Bob. Everything is still here that we have known, except that which loved and that which we loved and that which talked. That has left, but that is all that is gone, the rest of it is all here. And the wise men throughout the ages have tried to solve this mystery of life. The greatest scientists and thinkers of the world all failed in the answer to this great mystery, what is life and what is death. And we are wholly dependent, my fiends, on what the lord has told us through his servants He has had here on the earth and what He Himself has said when He was here upon this earth in respect to this mystery that we call life, this mystery that we call death. From Adam down the great prophets of the Lord have repeatedly declared and tried to make the people that they were associated with understand that we are dual personalities; that we have a spiritual body as well as this physical body. And one is just as distinct as the other. The poets have sung of this. All the prophets of the Lord have spoken of the spirit that is within man and declared that it is eternal, that this immortal sprit that is within man is an eternal substance. The great, wise man, Solomon, said, “The dust will return to the dust as it was but the spirit will return to God who gave it.” And that has been the teachings of the holy en of old and it wasn’t thoroughly understood until the Savior came, and He exemplified that in His life. He taught us very distinctly that this spirit body of ours was in the spirit world before we ever came here. That we are children of God and that God had a purpose in sending us down here to this earth and that purpose was to learn the ways of the lord and carry out His program here in this life. The Savior tells us definitely, he said, “IO came from the Father and I came unto the world. Again I leave the world and I go back to my Father”. The Savior’s life was just like yours and just like mine. He was born of the virgin Mary; He lived the life of a normal child and He grew into manhood entirely surrounded by the power and influence of almighty God; He died on the cross; He lay in the ground two or three days and then He came forth and He said, “I’m the resurrection and the life. He that believeth on me, through he were dead, yet shall he live.” Now, my brothers sand sisters there are some that may be here that do not believe that, but it doesn’t make it untrue if they don’t. That is a fundamental truth that those who believe on our Savior, though they were dead, yet shall they live. This boy believed on our Savior and he has gone unto h is reward. There isn’t anything mysterious about it. It is so simple and so real if we well only accept the word of the Lord. Why, even before the Savoir came, Job, the great prophet of God, though he was humiliated and tried beyond almost human power to endure, he cried out on one occasion and he said, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” And I believe that. You can’t destroy that moral spirit. It is eternal. It existed before it came here and it goes on and exists after it leaves here.
There isn’t anything we can say that will change what Bob has done or failed to do. He has gone to his reward. And those of us who knew him at all are not concerned about his welfare. I know as well as I am speaking to you today that his reward will be grand and glorious. We are told that “Eyes have not seen nor ear heard nor yet entered into the heart of man the joys that await the faithful sons and daughters of God.” I believe this and I m satisfied that his father and those of his family who have gone before, his grandfather and his grandmother, they will all be there and they will welcome him. This isn’t any dream, this is reality. The hereafter is just as real as this life, just as our life here, just as real as it was before we came here. And this boy now has gone home. It is sad to lose him, yes, it seems untimely, as the speaker said, but probably it isn’t. In the mercy and wisdom of Go, probably everything was just what it ought to be. And we have to learn to say, as the Savior said at the time of His crucifixion, “Not my will but thine be done”.

May the lord bless this family. May the sweet influence of His spirit that is here today go with them to their homes to comfort and build them up. And may they look forward to the time of reuniting with their loved ones again in my prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.

2009-03-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

Remarks, Thornley Swan----fraternity brother of Bob

I hope I may have composure to speak for a few minutes of our friend, Bob. It is with the greatest humility that I occupy this position, knowing how keenly, how deeply we feel the loss of this husband, father, son, brother and friend.

I first became acquainted with bob when I went to the University. At that time he had been on the campus a little more than a year and I had only been there a short time when he became quite influential in persuading me to join the Sigma Chi Fraternity. For that I am very grateful, because it was through that, that I got to know Bob better and I acquire many friend that he had chosen to call his friends. I had just been in the fraternity a short time when I learned the meaning of the name Armstrong in that fraternity. His brother, Bill, was on the campus at the time and I got to know him.

Bob or “Army” as he was most frequently called had a large circle of friends. They gathered around him because of his strong, affable and loving personality. He seemed to treasure their companionship and they his. I don’t every remember Bob coming into the fraternity house without displaying that well-known smile, the same smile that was portrayed in the pictures that appeared in the Deseret News. Bob always saw the bright side of things, and it was that fun-loving disposition that attracted friends to him and then a serious side that kept them. I am sure Bob carried this companionship into his home.

It is only natural that the paths of these friends would lead in different directions. Many of his close school friends have gone to other states and to other cities, some places quite distant, to pursue their different forms of endeavor. I see that some of these friends have returned for this occasion. How shocked they all must be to hear of Bob’s passing.

Bob himself left the state and spent several years in Boise and Yakama, Washington. He and Louise then returned to make Salt Lake City their home, to raise their boys here. I am sure he was influenced by his love for his family, his love for his many friends that he had here, in making the decision to return to Salt Lake City to make this his home. It may be that Bob realized more than anyone else that his stay here was uncertain. Only a few knew that since he was sixteen years old he had had a heart ailment that, for him, increased the uncertainties of life. But he chose to lead a normal life while he was here. He chose to lead an enjoyable life. He chose to find happiness. He enjoyed life and in doing so he enjoyed his work, enjoyed sports, enjoyed his friends and loves his family. The eloquent prose of Robert Ingersoll, uttered at the graveside of his own brother, might well again be spoken here:

The loved and loving brother, husband, friend,
Died when manhood’s morning almost touches noon.
And while the shadows still were falling toward the West,
He didn’t pass, on life’s highway, the stone that marks the highest point.
But, being weary for a moment, he lay down by the wayside
And using his burdens for a pillow fell into that dreamless sleep
That kisses down the eyelids still.
While yet in love with life, enraptured with the world,
He passed aside for some pathetic dust.
Yet, after all, it may be best for us,
In the happiest, sunniest hour of all the voyage,
While eager winds are catching every sail,
To dash against the unseen rock and in an instant
Hear the bellows roar over the sunken ship
For whether in mid-sea or among the breakers of the farthest shore,
A wreck at last must mark the end of one and all.

I know that Bob’s death seems untimely. I know what Bob’s passing means to Louise, to his children, to his mother, to Bill and the sisters. But we must be reconciled at these times. I would like to read some remarks made at the funeral of one whom I loved dearly and who seemed to pass before his time, they are these: “I never say that death is untimely because I never know. I know that partings are sad. I know that a continuation of the good works of man seems desirable. I know that such losses seem irreparable, but I do not know that death is untimely. I believe that is known only to Him who knows all things and who has power over life and death. I do not dare to say a person’s life was not complete and that he had not filled his mission here. It is true that he was not old in years, but even if a man were old in years when would you say his life was complete? I think, on reflection, you will say there are other factors of infinitely more import than old age. I believe with one who said that God is a Father, man is a brother, life is a mission and not a career. Life, then, is complete when life’s mission has been filled.”

May we find comfort in these words and in our memories of bob, in the joy which he gave to us. May we find comfort and hope in our abiding faith in God and in our fellow man I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Welcome and Invocation

2009-02-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Bishop Ted G. Jacobsen

Friends and members of the family, Bob Armstrong passed away last Thursday, very suddenly, in a manner in which he himself had hoped someday he might go. He is survived by his wife, two lovely boys, his mother, a brother and four sisters. These services today are being carried out at the request of the family by the Bishopric of Bonneville Ward. The program has been arranged by members of the family and will now go forward.

Invocation: Joseph B. Wirthlin of Bishopric of Bonneville Ward and fraternity brother of Bob

Our kind Heavenly Father, we thy children come before thee this day in gratitude for the life of Robert Francis Armstrong whom Thou hast called home. And, Heavenly Father, we are indeed grateful unto Thee for the life of this fine young man. We are grateful unto Thee for all the qualities that he has emulated which Thou hast set down as a pattern during Thy life upon this earth. We are grateful for his kindness to others, for his honesty and integrity and all the things he stood for while serving upon this earth. We know that he loved the good things of life and tried to carry out the things that he thought would be best to do in the service of Thee. And we pray this day, Heavenly Father, for a special blessing upon those who mourn for him. Wilt Thou touch them with Thy Holy Spirit. Wilt Thou give to them an increased testimony of Thee and of the plan of salvation. We pray for those who will participate during the service. Wilt Thou inspire them to say the things tat will comfort us and buoy us up and give us an increased testimony of Thee. We pray for these blessings and all others that we stand in need of and we do it humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Robert Francis Armstrong Funeral

2009-02-27T14:25:00.001-08:00

Robert Francis Armstrong Funeral

Organ Prelude-------------------------Harry Clarke
Opening Remarks---------------------Bishop Ted C. Jacobsen
Vocal Solo------- Oh My Father-------Harry Clarke
Invocation----------------------------Joseph B. Wirthlin
Violin------------Solo Brahms---------Lullaby Mary Ann Glade
Speaker-------------------------------Thornley Swan
Tenor Solo------ Danny Boy-----------Ervine Petersen
Speaker-------------------------------D. H. Livingston
Remarks------------------------------Bishop Ted C. Jacobsen
Vocal Solo-------Elegy---------------- Harry Clarke
Benediction---------------------------Gene Livingston

Dedication of grave-------------------Louise Callister

Pallbearers
-------Frank Barton,
-------Robert Brainard
-------Louis Smith
-------Everett D. Lybbert
-------Paul Castleton
-------Milton halton

Louise Larsen Armstrong History

2009-02-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

Louise Larsen Armstrong September 15, 1912 to October 22, 2005

Louise Larsen was born on September 15, 1912 in Richmond, Cache County Utah. I was the daughter of Louis William Larsen and Ada Vilate Hendricks Larsen. I had two brothers, Richard Hendricks Larsen was older born July 2, 1908 and Thomas William was younger, born February 21, 1921. My father was the principal of Lewiston High School in Lewiston Utah. When I was two years old my family moved to Salt Lake City where my father taught English and History at Granite High School. Later he taught at the University of Utah.

My father wanted to name me Claudia, but they named me Louise instead. As I got older, I preferred the name Claudia and often went by that name, though it was not my given name.

I attended East High School. After graduation I studied music at the McCune School of Music, located just north of the new LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. I studied piano and voice. My voice teacher was Anthony C. Lunt. He was Conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He had a group of 20 or 30 women that were his students. He felt I needed to gain volume and experience, and so he let me sing with them. We were performing at Salt Air, and I was petrified. I was younger than the rest of the women. Someone sitting out in front was laughing at me and I didn’t want to perform. Professor Lunt told me “Yes! You can do it. Now stand at the end and don’t make any mistakes.” Someone in front laughed at me because I was scared and was just mouthing the words.
Age 17
My father, Louis William Larsen ran an ad company called Ad Craftsman. I had been working in his office for several years. We placed ads with newspapers all over the North West United States. I knew about Robert Francis Armstrong through a couple who worked in my father’s office but we didn’t meet until Francis Barton introduced us. She was Robert’s cousin on his mother Emma’s side of the family.

Robert and I were married on November 5, 1939, during the depression. Our ceremony was held at the Hotel Utah. I can’t remember the name of the room, but it was on the West Wing off of the mezzanine. We didn’t’ have a reception but my parents invite about 50 people to the wedding breakfast and ceremony.

In 1941 our fist son, Robert Francis Armstrong Jr. was born. We called him Bob. He was born in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakama Washington where we were living at the time. The hospital was run by Catholic Nuns. They weren’t the nurses but took care of administrating the hospital. They gave me ether because I was in so much pain. At that time they made you stay in bed for 2 weeks after delivery of a baby. Ten days in the hospital was an absolute necessity! A lady that shared a room with me had a baby just a few days before I did. She asked one day why the nun’s were in my room so much. One of them called Mother Terese spent all of her spare time talking to me. I told her it was just out of curiosity. It seems they were very curious about us “Mormons”.

We were not active in the Mormon Church when we were in the North West as we really didn’t have a ward house to attend. Our ward used to rent a room in a Hotel. It was so remote to even get to church that only 30 or 40 people would attend.

Our second son Thomas Gregg Armstrong was born July 29, 1946 at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, on a Monday morning at 2:00 AM. We had just returned to Salt Lake to make our home, after spending six years in the Northwest. We were living in a duplex on the corner of Eleventh East and Eight South. We had purchased an acre of land in the Holladay area and had plans for building a home. However, all this changed abruptly when my brother Tom was killed in Italy during World War II. My parents wanted the rest of their family close by to help sooth the hurt. To make a long story short, my father bought twenty acres of land on 78th South and about 20th East. It was then known as Butlerville. My parents built a new home there and we moved into their home on Laird Avenue, until we could build on the Cottonwood Heights property.

Louise, Robert Jr, Grampa Larsen, Gary Larsen, Bobby Dick Larsen, Grama Larsen, Robert holding Gregg

Robert Sr. had a damaged heart from having rheumatic fever when he was a child. He suddenly died of a coronary heart attack and that changed everything again. At 37, years old, I was a widow with two little boys to raise. I sold the Laird Avenue house and moved into my parent’s home. Gregg was 3 and Bob was 8 years old. My brother Richard and his family built a house next door to my parents. We were all together with 2 new homes, beautifully landscaped and we had 20 acres with 8 acres planted in fruit trees behind the houses.

I wanted my boys to attend church so I became active in the Mormon Church again and became a Sunday School teacher. I also got involved in the local PTA (parent teacher’s association). I was the Secretary. I also volunteered to be secretary of the Big Willow Irrigation Company that my parents had bought stock in. I also became a member of The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and was active in that organization for many years.

The boys had horses, and the back section of land was planted in hay. Tango was a beautiful sorrel quarter horse that had a tail and mane of gold. He pranced when someone was on him. There was a very large pond where the boys and their friends went ice skating in the winter and swimming in the summer. The boys were also allowed to drive a huge old-fashioned tractor that we used for work on the farm. A cistern as large as a small house was built underground between the two homes. To fill the pond and cisterns I would drive Gregg about two blocks away and sit in the car while he slipped thru a barbed wire fence and disappeared down a small slope to turn the water in our ditch. The man who owned this property had about two hundred turkeys he raised for commercial use. They would come gobbling and surround Gregg while he took care of this chore. I had no idea how dangerous turkeys could be but nothing bad ever happened. They probably thought it was feeding time. My boys learned to irrigate plough the ground, spray and harvest the fruit. Gregg had five friends who practically grew up at out place. My mother said one time that we seldom sat down to a meal that one of his friends was not there. Their mother’s told me how grateful they were that their boys were welcome at our home. Their mothers all worked. This little group of like-time friends were Lynn Garner, Rick Dougdale, Rick Perkins, Dennis Jones and David Asay. At that time we couldn’t see our closest neighbor. It was rural and the developers had not yet discovered this beautiful area nestled between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. It was a great place to grow up. The name changed from Butlerville to Butler and finally to cottonwood Heights. It seemed that every time I backed out of the garage I had a car full of boys with me going to school, sports, or ward activities.

My boys went to Butler Elementary School, Union Jr. High school and Jordon High School. Gregg changed to Hillcrest High School when he was a senior and graduated from there. Gregg attended classes at LDS Business College in the summers. After graduation he attended the University of Utah. Bob didn’t attend college but went into the Marine Corps and later the Marine reserves.

Gregg married Priscilla Anne Kay on August 11, 1967. Over the years they have lived in Sugar House, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Bountiful and Kaysville. They have 4 children---my grandchildren--- Lisa, Robert Louis, Nicole and James Gregg.

My parents were getting older and my dad had retired. I took care of them until there death. Dad died on my birthday, September 15, 1975. Mom died March 30, 1975 on Easter Sunday. They both died at Cottonwood Hospital after very short illnesses. Mom was 87 years old and Dad was 88 years old.

When my parents died I moved to Woodstock Village on Rainsbough Road, a development just east of 13th East at about 62nd South. It was a new house in a new area of homes.

I am now 88 years old and have been a widow for fifty years. I live with my son Gregg and his wife Priscilla in an apartment in their home in Kaysville. An Aunt of mine asked me once why I had never remarried. I just replied, nobody ever asked me! She got a chuckle out of that. When I die I will be buried by my husband, and I will be the last member of the whole family to be buried there.

In Louise’s last few years she moved into an assisted living center called Apple Village in Layton Utah. She lived there until she had a stroke on her birthday, September 15, 2005. She then moved into a Care Center in Ogden where she died peacefully in her sleep a little over a month later on October 22, 2005 at the age of 93 years of age.

Soozle Snout by Louise Larsen Armstrong

2009-02-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

SNOOZLE SNOUT
by Louise L. Armstrong
Written while living in Kaysville house
Dedicated to her grandchildren

SNOOZLE SNOUT is a peeping Tom
There's no way on earth you can keep him from
PEEKING in your window.

His unkempt whiskers filter his breath.
If you open your blinds,
He would scare you to death.

But I opened my blind and just peeked out,
And there was a tree limb
That looked like a snout.

I looked again, and what did I see?
Old Snoozle face smiled and gently swayed,
As though he knew I had been afraid.

And then I saw others
And realized, they were gentle friends
In this grove outside.

When I settled in my chair and looked around
I could conjure a face in most any place
And then never see it again.

I knew if I just sat in my chair
Others would be there,
To shelter me from sunshine and rain.

This beautiful grove
Was my grove and theirs.
And we cared for each other
Thru foul weather and fair.
All I have to do is sit in my chair.

Snoozle Snout is a Peeping Tom,
There's no way on earth you can keep him from
PEEKING in your window.

His unkempt whiskers filter his breath.
If you open your blinds,
He would scare you to death.

But I opened my bland and just peeked out,
And there was a tree limb
That looked like a snout.

I looked again and then---
Old Snoozle face smiled and gently swayed,
As though he knew I had been afraid.

And then I saw others
And realized they were gentle friends
In this grove outside.
Gentle friends that would come again and again.

Robert Francis Armstrong History

2009-02-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

Robert Francis Armstrong ---July 11, 1912 To March 31, 1949

Robert Francis Armstrong was the second son and fifth child born to William Armstrong and Emma Louise Armstrong. He was born on July 11, 1912 in Salt Lake City. He was raised in Salt Lake and attended area schools. He went to Unita grade School, Roosevelt Jr. High and East High School. His family lived on Laird Avenue in Salt Lake City.
He had 1 brother and 4 brothers:

Helen Isabelle (Taufer)--------November 24, 1902
Marion (Pollock)---------------July 4, 1905
William Melbourne------------July 19, 1907
Louise Carolyn (Wirthlin)------February 21, 1910
Kathryn (Murray)-------------December 3, 1914

My husband went by the name of Robert. He studied 2 or 3 years at the University of Utah. Right after we were married on November 5, 1939 we left and drove up to Idaho Falls where my husband was to start a new job. He was going to manage the CIT office in Boise. This was a loan office that, at that time was handling automobile loans. When we were there it was mainly for automobile financing. There were not too many cars then, so it was a new thing. We had a little Buick car. Robert worked in the CIT office for two or three years, but then the banks closed and everything changed.

Three years later we came home to Salt Lake to help Robert’s family. His father, William Armstrong, was ill and dying. At this time Robert’s former employer requested him to return to Boise. We hardly got settled in Boise a second time when this company sent him to Yakima, Washington. The FHA had its own rules for giving loans. Some offices in Yakima were giving loans on anything people wanted to buy. Robert worked on the problem for some time. While in Yakima we made some friends who were moving and so Robert left CIT and took over our friend’s job and started working for Seattle First National Bank.

Robert had a leakage of his heart as a result of having rheumatic fever as a child. After we married he let me know in a hurry that I wasn’t to tell anyone. The doctors explained to him that any time his heart pumped it didn’t pump all of the blood out. I will never forget the evening of March 31, 1949. Robert had come home from work and I was at the stove in the kitchen. Robert had brought some Yo Yos home for the children to play with. Gregg was 2 and Bob was 6. They were truing to do the Yo Yos and were laughing. I went to the sink and looked in on them and just smiled. All of a sudden the children were running around squealing. I turned to look and found Robert on the floor on his hands and knees. The kids thought he was playing with them, but in truth he had collapsed and died on the living room floor. He was only 36 years and 9 months old when he died.

We had the funeral in the Joseph William Taylor Memorial Mortuary in Salt Lake City on April 4, 1949. He was buried in the William Armstrong Sr. and Caroline Carr Family plot in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

1940 1st Home in Yakima

1939 Boise Idaho-------------------------1938 Yakima

Yakima Washington

Ada Vilate Hendricks History

2009-01-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

Ada Vilate Hendricks
February 27, 1888 to March 30, 1975

Ada Vilate Hendricks was born February 27, 1888, in Richmond, Utah, to Alma Hendricks and Julia Vilate Petty Hendricks. Ada was the oldest child and only daughter, she was to become sister to five younger brothers:

Thomas Alma born November 17, 1889
Joseph Vernon born January 25, 1892
Wren Petty born November 8, 1894
William Fenton born December 17, 1896
Lewis James born July 4, 1899.

Left to Right
Ada, Thomas, Wren, Fenton, Lewis

Ada’s parents with their first two children Ada and Thomas made their first move to Rexburg, Idaho, along with a brother, Joseph Smith Hendricks and Vilate’s sister Margaret Emma Petty, and two of their children. James Funk, then a teenage boy from Richmond, went with the Hendricks families to help drive the cattle. They farmed for about two years. They lived on the same block and worked their farms together. Another son, Vernon, was born during their stay in Rexburg. During this time a terrible epidemic of diphtheria broke out. Nearly every family in the town was stricken and most of them lost children. Ada recalls that her father rode horse back through blizzards to administer and sit up nights with the sick and dying. Upon returning home he would remove his clothes and leave them hanging on an open screened porch, hurray into the house where a tin tub of warm water with a little carbonic acid poured in for a disincentive, had been prepared by his wife Vilate. None of his family contracted the disease. Alma and Joe’s father, William Dorris Hendricks of Richmond, Utah, insisted that his sons move closer to home. Alma moved his family to Lewiston, Utah, where he farmed for a short time and then the family returned to Richmond where the fourth child, Wren, was born.

Alma Hendricks Julia Vilate Petty Hendricks

While the family lived in Richmond, the baby Wren became ill with spinal meningitis. It was winter and there was no doctor in Richmond. Two mid-wives Sarah Ann Lewis and Melinda Funk cared for him. He was ill for about six weeks. Vilate’s sister Margaret practically lived with the family to help nurse the baby who needed care around the clock. They took turns holding him on a pillow. Alma, Joe, Vilate and Margaret changed off sitting in a rocking chair holding the feverish baby. Ada’s parents lived in a one-room house with a shanty built on the back. They would go out of the shanty back door and reach icicles hanging from the sloping roof, bring them in and place in a large bowl kept on a table by the side of the baby. At times the restless baby rolled his head from side to side. Each time he put out his feverish tongue, whoever was holding him would put a drop of water in his mouth from the bowl. They wet and wrung cloths from the cold water and placed them on his head. The baby was struggling to survive.
A young doctor from Canada, Herbert Adamson, moved to Richmond to establish a practice. Dr. Adamson came to visit the baby daily after getting settled in Richmond. He advised Vilate not to “cling” to the child because if he lived, he would be affected in some way. Ada remembers her mother kneeling by the side of her bed and praying aloud for the baby boy. She would ask the Lord that if it was to be that her baby should live, that he would be perfect in mind and body. Wren lived to be a perfectly normal person mentally and physically. He and his wife Emma Blair raised two boys and four daughters. At the time of his death in 1974, at age seventy two, he had twenty three grandchildren and forty nine great-grandchildren.

The next move was to Logan where the fifth child Fenton was born. Ada’s father went to work for the Central Milling Company. They lived a short time in the Seventh Ward, where my paternal great-grandfather Chistian John Larsen, a Danish Convert, was bishop. Most of his congregation was Danish converts. They were either sent or congregated here when they arrived in Utah. One Sunday afternoon Alma encouraged Vilate to attend Sacrament Meeting while he stayed at home whit the children. The entire service was conducted in Danish and when Vilate returned home, Alma asked if she enjoyed the meeting. She said she had, but she hadn’t understood one word that was spoken.

They later lived in a house that the Central Mill Company owned. It was located on the east side of Main Street about two blocks south of the business district. Ada attended first a one-room school house in the Seventh Ward where only beginners studied. Late she went to the Woodruff School. Ada remembers the day President Lorenzo Snow visited in Logan and her father took her to town to watch the parade in his honor. She remembers him vividly as a handsome, elderly man with a beautiful white beard, riding in a splendid carriage.

When Ada was ten years of age, in 1898, her parents moved the family to Coveville, later called Cove. They lived in the house by the side of the flour mill and Alma became miller of the High Creek Mill for the next eleven or twelve years. They also farmed and knew all the hardships of the pioneering days. They hauled firewood from the canyons so they could heat their homes and cooked with wood stoves. They used coal oil lamps to light their humble homes. Their water was dipped from the creek about half a block away and hauled in creamery cans to the house, usually by the children in their little red play wagon. Water was heated in a reservoir on the side of the kitchen stove. Visualize a farming community that started with one home high in the mountains at the head of High Creek, a wide shallow and in some places a swift stream. About every mile down the narrow, winding road was a farmhouse. The High Creek flour mill and Hendricks home stood on flat-land at the mouth of the canyon. This was the perfect location for the mill race. It was atypical Currier-Ives setting, sheds, barn and corral, chicken coops, picket fence and tall poplar trees surrounded the house. Ada wrote, “Our life in Cove, naturally, is the part of the family history that I know best. There were happy and sad times. My father struggled to keep the High Creek Mill going. He undertook the job of bringing the water down through a ditch higher on the hill. This mill race provided more power and worked well until the ditch broke and the entire hillside came down. Repairing this was a heart-breaking job for my father, but somehow he got it done. He also had troubles with water rights and the lawsuits to protect the historic mill rights. Our social life in Cove centered at the old meeting house about two miles further down the winding road. Here we worshipped, went to school and held all social functions. My parents were both always active in ward affairs. My mother was president of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association for eight years, a position she held at the time of her death January 26, 1906.”

Mill Homestead

Lewis, the sixth and last child, was born at Cove. When Ada was seventeen, her mother died. At the time of a death, it was customary to have the deceased laid out at home. A man was summoned to make the coffin and the women gathered to sew burial clothes. It snowed the night before her mother’s funeral and it was a sparkling, sunshiny day when they drove to the Richmond Cemetery from Cove. The coffin was transported on an open flat bed sleigh drawn by a team of horses. Until Ada’s father re-married two years later, she had full charge of her five younger brothers and the house. Ada’s father Alma Hendricks married Almeda Larsen June 26, 1907. She was the daughter of Cove’s first bishop John C. Larsen.

Alma Hendricks Almeda Larsen Hendricks

September 11, 1907 Ada married Louis William Larsen, son of Bishop John C. Larsen, and half-brother to Almeda. In five years Ada and Louis moved eleven times. Her husband was a teacher and taught at the Ricks Academy, Rexburg, Idaho, for one year when he was called on a mission to the New England States. Ada and her infant son Richard Hendricks Larsen lived for two years with her mother-in-law in Logan. Upon returning, the couple moved to Lewiston, Utah, where he became principal of the first Lewiston High School. The following year he became the first principal of the Richmond High School. In 1912, a daughter, Louise, was born in Richmond. One year later, in 1913, they moved to Salt Lake City where Louis taught at the Granite High School and finally in the English Department at the University of Utah. Sometime in the early 1920’s he left teaching to engage in a career of advertising. Ada was a devoted homemaker, keeping it immaculate and inviting. Her hobby was flowers which she raised in abundance inside and out. She had three children, one daughter and two sons. The youngest, Thomas William, was killed during World War II at Mt. Belvedere, Italy. After her children were married she turned to genealogy. For years she went every Thursday to the Society to work with a researcher. Her home was bulging with records and she has placed many names in the Salt Lake, Logan, Idaho Falls and St. George Temples. She also aided in the publishing of a Hendricks genealogy book. When her husband passed away September 15, 1972, they had been married sixty five years. At the time of her death March 30, 1975 at age 87 years she was the oldest member of Brighton Camp of the Druthers of the Utah Pioneers. She was not a native of Butler, but moved there to make her home in May of 1948 and reside there for twenty seven years. The year they moved to their new house at 3120 E. 7800 South, was a heavy snow storm. They felt so isolated in their home that they locked their doors for two or three weeks and went to Salt Lake to stay with children.

Ada and Louis Larsen

Ada’s husband was a professional writer and naturally wrote for a hobby. Much of his writing was poetry. Ada Vilate Hendricks Larsen as the inspiration for many of his poems. This is one of those poems.

Mother
Her gentle presence filled a home
With comfort and delight
That radiated from her soul
Like soft celestial light.
If fell round us like a glow
Of sunshine from above
And filled our hearts with solace
From a sweet transcendent love.

Her magic kiss dispelled the cares
That crowded thick and fast;
Lo, ere we knew it, unawares,
Our sorrows all had passed.
A word, a touch, the deed was wrought,
She healed a bleeding heart;
The saddening things were all forgot,
So wondrous was her art.

She realized her noblest call
In toiling for her own;
A benediction fell on all
Within that hallowed home.
She moved about; her gentle voice
Like music’s softest strain
Went out to make a world rejoice,
An infinite refrain.

Ah, greater love hath none than this---
For every life she gave,
Her own she put upon the rack,
Serenely faced the grave.
Her cup of sorrow oft ran o’er;
The days filled up with cares;
She lived to bless the lives she bore,
With love and tears and prayers.
Louis W. Larsen

Following are some of the stories from Ada’s life that she told to her daughter Louise Larsen Armstrong.

Ada’s mother taught school in Richmond when she was a girl of only fifteen. Some of the boys she taught were taller than she and were sometimes difficult. One of the fathers provided her with a willow to insure discipline. At age fourteen, she was secretary of the first Primary organization in Richmond. In her early womanhood Ada’s mother had typhoid fever which weakened her heart and now doubt resulted in her early death at the age of thirty eight.

Alma, Ada’s father, got experience in flour milling. During the busiest seasons, Alma would go to Cove and help his half-brother William Dorris Hendricks, Ada’s grandfather, and Gowdy Hogan, in 1862-63, in the mouth of High Creek Canyon. A word more about William Dorris Hendricks-----At age seventeen, he was one of the youngest members of the Mormon Battalion, serving as a bugler. His parents James Hendricks and Drucilla Dorris Hendricks built the first adobe building and operated a lunch counter at the Warm Springs in North Salt Lake. James Hendricks was also first bishop of the Nineteenth ward, one of the nineteen wards first organized by Brigham Young after arriving in Salt Lake.

While operating the flour mill the flour was sacked in bags marked Remus Omaha Bag Company. A certain weight, or measure, was remove4d from each bag of flour to pay for the bag. Sixty pounds of wheat was exchanged for forty pounds of flour. This was the way they made a profit.

Her mother Vilate had a doctor book and consulted it frequently. Dr. Adamson, who had become a close friend of the family, would stop by when visiting someone in the area. Having been called to attend a sick baby of another family living up High Creek, he stopped to say “hello.” Vilate inquired of the condition of the baby and Dr. Adamson said he didn’t expect the child to live. As soon as he had left, Vilate took Ada and her doctor book and went to see the child. Ada didn’t remember what she did for the baby recovered, but he recovered. On his next visit, Dr. Adamson stopped again to ask Vilate where she had received her license to practice medicine. He remarked that the child had improved and he wanted Vilate to know that she had hurt his reputation as a doctor. This was all in fun. Many humorous stories were told of the good doctor. Ada’s brother Fenton after attending a dance to Richmond walked out to drive his young lady home only to find his horse and buggy gone. Everyone knew everyone else’s outfit and stealing was unheard of in that day. Suddenly Dr. Adamson came driving up with it. He also had attended the dance but had a call to make and rather than walk across the street to his home and harness his own horse and buggy, he said he knew Fenton’s rig so be borrowed it.

Ada’s grandfather had five wives and forty three children. The year Ada was born there were seventeen other grandchildren born. Ada remembers an interesting story involving her grandfather. Richmond at that time had hard dirt sidewalks. During wet weather mud puddles in the road would be covered with board planks for crossing. It was necessary at times for persons crossing on the planks to wait their turn or walk in the mud. One day Ada met her grandfather waiting for her to cross. She happily said “hello grandpa,” and he patted her on the head and said, “Whose little girl are you?” Ada replied, “I’m Alma’s little girl.” He said, “run on home to your Mother and tell your daddy hello”

Ada in her teen years spent many days with her grandmother, William Dorris Hendricks second wife Alvira Lavona, and cherished the memory of a close relationship which she did not share with her grandfather, whom she always admired but did not know well. Each of the five wives had a lovely home of her own built by W. D. Hendricks. She relates helping Grandma Hendricks carry a mattress home down the street, having just filled it with fresh straw from a neighboring stack which had just been opened. This was in preparation for the coming winter. This was usually done once a year.

Alvira Lavona in front of her home

Whenever there was a funeral in town, Grandma Hendricks, who lived alone, without a phone of course, would get dressed and sit on her front porch until someone noticed her or remembered to stop by for her. Every woman had a good black dress and was thus ready for a wedding or a funeral.

Ada’s maternal grandmother Julia Ann Petty having turned her home into a hotel needed all the willing hands she could find, and Ada helped in this home often with the table and other chores. Her favorite memory was of the traveling theatrical troupes who stayed with her grandmother and performed in all the neighboring towns. They slept during the day, performed in the evening and Grandma Petty had a dinner prepared for them after each show and they then played cards late into the night. A popular game of the time was Fan Tan. Women never traveled with a company which necessitated men playing the part of women. She was startled one day to see a side door open from one of the rooms and the most beautifully dressed woman she had every seen emerge and stroll downtown. It was, of course a man in costume shocking the townspeople.

When the first post office was opened, the United States government sent their own person out to run it. The people felt that the government did not trust a Mormon in this position to handle their own mail.

Peddlers roamed the countryside selling post and pans, fabric, ribbon, laces and thread. This was as exciting to the women on the farm as a day shopping nowadays. Fabric was also purchased in mercantile stores in Richmond and Logan. Ada in her middle teens clerked in the Richmond Mercantile for a Mr. Monson, of whom she was very fond. Ada and her mother would take their fabric and pattern and frequently drove the horse and buggy to Smithfield to have a dress made or fitted.

Louis William Larsen History

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Louis William Larsen (Oct 27, 1884 to Sept. 15, 1972)
I, Louis William Larsen, was born in the early morning hours of October 27, 1884. On that same night, they say, there was a jolting earthquake. I must have been shaken, for I have been "shook" ever since.

My parents were an English girl, Susannah Tittensor, and my father a Dane, John Christian Larsen. She was born in Manchester, England. He was born of immigrant parents in Plain City, Utah. The vast system of Mormonism brought them together in Cache Valley---two towns within courting distance: he in Logan, she in Richmond.
My nativity was Cove, Utah--a sprawling village that skirted a five-mile lane, beginning high in a canyon, looping a great mountain promontory and winding back into a picturesque cove.

My first memory--and now my oldest memory--was a childhood on a sage brush mesa, past which roared the turbulent waters of High Creek in the spring, receding to a mere trickle in the late summer and autumn. That was the stream whose man-made tributaries stirred the parched desert to life and made this place--just barely--habitable.
My mother's house was a two-room frame shack with an attic that was a bedroom for her four sons. I speak of it as my mother's house for the reason that my father had two houses on this rock-strewn lap of the great mountain. He was a polygamist--married to two sisters. My mother was known as the "first wife." The children born of Ella, the "second wife," we called our "half brothers and sisters."

All of our religious and other social life centered around the ward's meeting house. This drab barn-like structure was chapel, school and dance hall. You will have to imagine the varied and colorful memories that hark back to that frontier mecca of all the commingling of forty-odd families drawn from places across the sea and across the land of America. Seven of the heads of families were polygamists.

When I had outgrown the school--there was no such thing as graduation--I attended the Brigham Young College in Logan for seven years--was graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908.

In 1907, the most eventful of all things had happened: I was married to Ada Vilate Hendricks in the Logan Temple. Ours had been a courtship with the romantic background of "the old mill stream!" Her father was the miller, deep in the entrance to the rugged High Creek canyon. Her mother Vilate, a lovely and unforgettable woman, died in her early womanhood, leaving the teenage Ada in charge of five brothers.

After my graduation, I moved with my wife back to the old homestead in Cove, where I spent the summer working on the farm with my father. On July 2, of that year, 1908, our first child Richard was born.
In the fall of that same year we moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where I taught for one year in the Ricks Academy. The subjects that I taught were Theology, History and German. Near the end of the school year, 1909, I was called to serve in the Eastern States as a Missionary in the Mormon Church. I was assigned to the state of Vermont. The first year of my mission, I lived in Montpelier, capital of the state. From this center, I walked to the borders of the state in just about every direction. My second year in Vermont was spent at Burlington on Lake Champlain. During the winter months of my second year in Vermont, I attended the State University, where I studied advanced French and History of the Novel. My teachers were Dr. Tupper and Dr. Myrick.

I was released to return home in May of 1911. I was reunited with my family at Logan, where my wife and son had been living with my mother. We then moved to the old home in Cove, where we spent the summer.

In September of 1911, we moved to Lewiston, Utah, where I served as principal of their new High School for one year. In September of 1912, we moved to Richmond, Utah, where I was principal of their new High School for on year. Throughout these two years spent in Cache Valley, I organized and lead the local dance band. I was also active in various church activities.
Louise was born September 15, 1912, in Richmond, Utah. At the end of the summer of 1913, we moved to Salt Lake City, where I had signed to serve on the faculty of Granite High School. I taught at this school for three years. I was an instructor in History, Political Science and Citizenship. During these years I attended summer school sessions and extension classes at the University of Utah. I specialized in literature. I received a Mater's Degree October 15, 1916.

For three years, 1916 to 1919, I taught Freshman English and Journalism as a faculty member of the University of Utah. At the end of the school year of 1919, I resigned from this position to accept work as a copywriter on the staff of Stevens & Wallis, Advertising Agency. I continued in their service for eight years.
In September of 1927, I founded the Ad Craftsmen. Associated with me in this venture were Paul S. Clowes, Fielding K. Smith and Joseph Havertz. After several years of struggling to get established, Paul and I bought out the interests of Smith and Havertz. This partnership continued until Paul entered the service and was stationed in England for the duration of World War II.

Louis W.Larsen--- Paul S. Clowes--- Fielding Kimball Smith

At this point I will digress to summarize a few of the side activities that I engaged in, in the period of transition from teaching to advertising. In the summer of 1919, I went with my wife and daughter to Berkeley, California, to attend the summer school at the University of California. Here I studied journalism under the direction of Professor Diamond of the University of Missouri. On our return to Salt Lake City, I resumed teaching at the University of Utah. Also in this period I collaborated with Wesley King in the writing of a brief history of the University of Utah, covering the institution’s first fifty years. In 1921, I was the winner of the Deseret News Christmas Story Contest. In 1930 I won the contest again, setting a record of being the only writer to win the conte4st twice up to that time. During my teaching period at the University of Utah, I conducted off-campus extension division classes in Business Letter Writing and Advertising. Besides downtown assignments, I conducted classes in Ogden and Bountiful.

Before I left the campus to enter the field of business, I was assigned to write a small booklet of brief biographies of wealthy pioneers who had made endowments to the University. In 1931, I assisted Mrs. Alta Jenson in the capacity of co-founder of the first writing group at the famous Art Barn, located at the edge of the University Campus. Also in this general era of my life, I was ghost writer of a book titled THE MAN OF TOMORROW. This work was done for Claude Richards, who took credit for full authorship, paying the real author a very small stipend.

Throughout my three years at the University, I was director of the school’s publicity. This brought me in close contact with the local newspapers. I contributed some of my earliest poems to the Salt lake Tribune at about this time.

In 1921, I served as first counselor to Bishop Frank Higginbotham in the Wells Ward. It was in this same year, February 21, 1921, that our son Thomas was born.

In my life in advertising as owner and manager of my own business, dating from 1927 to 1952, I handled the accounts of a wide range of businesses and other institutions. For eleven years the Ad Craftsman conducted all phases of State Fair Advertising. Our final year of this activity was the conduct of the vast publicity campaigns incident to the great Utah Centenial in 1947.

In July and August of 1933, two of my long articles on polygamy were published in H.L. Mencken’s American Mercury---the belles-letter of magazines. I was for many years a member of the Utah State Poetry Society and in 1969-1970 was listed in WHO’S WHO IN THE WEST.

An eventful date in our family history was our move from the home at 1589 Laird Avenue to the Butler area—later Cottonwood Heights---fifteen miles to the southward. In this year 1948, I acquired, with my son Richard and son-in-law, Robert Armstrong, a twenty-acre tract of orchard land. My wife and I moved into a newly constructed home on historic 7800 South, in May, 1448. Richard and his family moved into their new home near ours one year later.

Our oldest son Richard was married to Ellen Louise Jensen, September 17, 1927. Their oldest son Robert Richard Larsen was born June 2, 1932 and Roger Gary, December 2, 1937. Richard attended Granite and East High School and studied art at the University of Utah. He first engaged in a career of advertising as a commercial artist. Later he was associated with the Salt Lake Tribune and in 1946 joined the staff of The Ad Craftsmen. In 1952, I merged the accounts of the Ad Craftsmen with Adamson & Buchman, later changed to W.S. Adamson & Associates, where I served as account executive and copy writer and Richard as production manager.

A sad chapter in our family life concerns our son Tom. He enlisted in the armed services, Mountain Infantry, in 1941. His first training was at fort Lewis, Washington. Later he had training at Fort Ord, California. In the summer of 1943, he went with his Regiment to Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands, where he was encamped for several months. Fortunately, there was no engagement with the Japanese, who had vacated the island before the arrival of the Americans. Returning from Kiska in late 1943, he was stationed for a few months at Camp Hale, Colorado. During his stay at this Fort, he made several visits with us to Salt Lake. In late 1944, he was encamped in Texas. Near the end of the year he was shipped with the 2nd Army to Italy. He was killed in action on Mt. Belvedere on the date of February 20, 1945. (One day before his 24th birthday) He was buried in Italy until his remains were sent home and interred in Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in March of 1949. While stationed in Texas, Tom married Juana Marie Broussard of Austin. After he went overseas, she came to reside with us for about twenty three months, at the end of which time she was married to Claudius A. Banks of Vernal, Utah. Tom was a sergeant in the 85th Mountain Infantry, 10th Division.

Louise married Robert Francis Armstrong November 5, 1939. They resided in Boise, Idaho, for several months, and then moved to Yakima, Washington, where their son Robert Francis Armstrong, Jr., was born March 5, 1941, the family moved to Salt Lake, where Bob became associated with me in advertising. He and his family purchased our home on Laird Avenue. Thomas Gregg was born July 29, 1946. Robert, Sr., died suddenly of a heart attach March 31, 1949 at the home on Laird Avenue. Louise and her two sons came to live with us at 3120 E. 7800 South at the time and have resided here ever since.

Through the years, dating from the early ‘twenties, my hobby was writing verse, which was published in the Salt Lake Tribune over the pen name Betsy Bangs. In the early ‘forties,’ Ham Park started his column, “Senator from Sanpit,” in the tribune. I continued my contributions from that time until 1963, using a new pen name, Mademoiselle X. All in all, I had hundreds of poems published over the four decades. Early in 1963, I contracted with Pageant Press in New York for a 2500-edition of about 75 selected poems under the title ALONG THE LANE. It reached the market in June of 1963 and the sales in this locality have been satisfactory. Since publication, I contributed verse to Park’s column, but used my own name.

Soon after the death of President Kennedy, I had a poem in Ham Park’s Tribune column titled ETERNAL FLAME which was read by Senator Moss into the Congressional record and later included in a Commemorative Anthology, a book of the poems of more than one hundred American poets.

Louis W. Larsen Family

John Christian Larsen & Susannah Tittensor---Father and Mother

Brothers and sisters:

John Christian Jr. Born November 22, 1877

Oliver Thomas born June 4, 1880

Ida Born June 5, 1882

Louis William born October 27, 1884

Joseph Reuben born May 22, 1887

Hazen and Hazel (twins) born April 25, 1891

Second Family

John Christian Larsen & Barbara Jensine Dortha Olsen Father & Mother

Half brothers and sisters:

John Christian born January 13, 1855

Maria born April 11, 1857

Brigham Louis born January 2, 1859

Jacob Peter born October 26, 1860

Julia Christina born October 16, 1862

Joseph Abraham born December 15, 1864

Erastus Snow born January 14, 1867

Anna Margreta born July 30, 1870

Hyrum Christopher born May 28, 1872

Barbara Dorthea born October 17, 1875

Family---So much to be THANKFUL for

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Josh Groban has a Christmas song called "Thankful" with these words:

Even with our differences----

There is a place we're all connected------

Each of us can find each other's light------

So for tonight we pray for---

What we know can be----

And on this day we hope for---

What we still can't see-----

It's up to us to be the change-----

And even though this world needs so much more-----

There's so much to be thankful for.

As I have been reading letters and histories from our family it came to me that we are all connected by our past and our future. We ALL have so much to be thankful for. The one thing I am learning through these stories of or family is that they all loved their family and just because we have never met someone, doesn't change our connection with them. The beauty of this site will be that we will be able to see the light in these people if we just take the time--or do more. That is what I hope we all get out of this "gift" or undertaking this year. I have decided to start with Grandpa and Grandma Larsen (Louis and Ada Larsen) and Robert and Louise Armstrong---hence the title of this blog. From there we will see where it takes us.