The guardian was the man to see

Lincoln, Nebr.

August 3, 1953

Dear Marie -

I thought that I would write again and remind you that it is your turn to write to me. I hope that you received my last letter.

Your father was here for a short visit a few weeks ago.

I don't suppose you intend to come to Nebraska this summer. I have written about suggestion in coming here you know.

When your father was here he said that they had been up to Blair about a month or 6 weeks before they were here. My brother expressed the same views as those which he had written to me. And that is that my children should help me and if you don't believe me why don't you write and ask my brother. I do my very best in explaining about why I am staying here because some one from my family has not come for me.

I have written to Elin also and she wrote and said "Perhaps one of the other children could look into this. Have you wrote and asked any of them? I haven't heard from any of the girls for a long time." Un-Quote. This letter as dated July 22nd 1953. Marie please cooperate in helping me to be released from the hospital. Elin wrote that she guessed that Marilyn would graduate in September. I would like to be out there then in Washington state then. So please write at once to Elin and Ray.

Now when your father was here I said that I would like to see my guardian. For as you perhaps know a guardian was appointed for me. Now you said that when you were here that the Dr. told you that somebody from Nebraska needs to sign for me. Your father said the guardian was the man to see.

It is necessary for me to have a place to go to when leaving the hospital. If Elin can not come here I wish that Martin would. I haven't written to him since you send me his address, which I wish to thank you for Marie.

I hope Lottie has written to you about Martin because Martin had been to visit Betty. Lottie's letter was dated July 20, 1953.

Marie I was thinking I would ask you to write to the office from where Martin is in service or rather where you got his address. To ask if they would talk to Marin and ask him if he would come back here and take me out to Washington. So please write to Elin and ask her to please say I may come or call her by long distance or send a telegram and have an answer from her. May-be I could go out there along if I don't find any other way. Please write by the 10th of August for it is important to me.

From, Mother.

P.S. If I should her from anyone of the family I will let you know the next writing day.

upcoming Winter Break

Laurie Lane

1-26-86

Dear Lottie & Bob,

Got your nice great-grandparents card. Already put it in Collyn's own book - better system than I had for any of my own kids or grandkids. Where did you ever find such an appropriate, specialized card?

About the dud of a phone. I dug up the sales slip, called the Federated Group at 5220 Indian School - 245-1900 - explained the problem and whereabouts of the phone. No problem (so the young man said) just take the sales slip and the phone to any Federated Group and everything will be taken care of. So - enclosed find sales slip. Transaction must be done prior to Feb. 16.

The Feb. 20 to Mar. 7 dates for your "winter break" are fine - a little bit skimpy but better by far than nothing. We'll just use the time optimally. It was 79 degrees yesterday and just as lovely today - hope the weather is as fine for you - be sure to tell Bob.

Now about the check. You returned the one for $130, dated 12-2-85, and kept the one for $25 dated 12-17-85. NO FAIR! Besides you crossed out the check in INK so I haf'ta wite a whole new check - FOR SHAME!

Betty called yesterday. She seems very happy and is planning a trip to Michigan in Feb. Will get to stop-over in Detroit to see Ken's school play hockey and on to his home for a special dinner for 8 (Betty cooking) and a reception on Feb. 14 with 50 or 60 invitations sent out. She's using up her vacation time - GOOD!

Gave Elin a call yesterday. Jan. 16, 1932 was their wedding date. I asked her to write down her early recollections and send them to us. She sounded obliging and same as always. Ray is making a special plow to use in the garden.

We're going along as usual. Sorted and stored Christmas decorations - making some serious moves to corral the garage. Made arrangements to take Joel for a balloon ride on his real birthday, Jan. 31 - also fulfills a promise to Frank for last year's birthday gift from me.

Lots more to chit-chat about but about out of paper.

Love - to both of you

Marie & Frank

Elin's Christmas Card, 1965

note Ray and Elin's names on the front of the card

Martin M. Jensen, Seaman Unit

June 11, 1955

Dear Marie and Frank.

I have received your letter. When you get this letter I will be on a ship. But for 3 weks Only (3/12/55 to 7/2/55). IF POP is comeing to see you I might come to Phoenex to see you and Pop. That is if you want me to come and if pop is comeing to see you and if he is still ther when I come back. Plese sent me a letter and tell what the problem is? got a letter from "L". she tell me that he is going to Betty and then to Rays. But L Did not tell me if Pop is comeing to see you too. I will be back in San Franciso by 3rd or 4th for shure. Plese the send letter to

Martin M. Jensen
Seaman Unit
Rincon Annex
San Francisco, Calif.

P.S. I know what I told Betty But will have money when I come back.

love to All,
Martin

I have been here now over 11 1/2 years

Lincoln, Nebr.
May 31, 1965
1149 South 17th Street

Dear Marie -

Well first I should write that I returned safely from Omaha. I left Lincoln on a Saturday morning. When I arrived in Omaha I took a taxi out to your father's place and I think it cost $1.35 for the fare. After dinner we all went up to Blair to see my brother at the nursing home. He seemed pleased to see us.

The next day being Sunday I went out to Hilda's in the forenoon and had dinner. I had not seen her for some times and it was like old times and it was like old times to visit. Remember that picture which was in a colored photograph who was her grand-daughter? Well Hilda's grand-daughter is now 23 years of age and an R.N. out in San Francisco, California, when the earth quake happened. And that same evening he granddaughter called Hilda over long distance telephone to say how scared she was. Hilda's granddaughter is keeping company with a Doctor but don't intend to marry for quite a long time.

Well to get back to my trip I returned Sunday evening about 7 o'clock. Dora sent some green onions from the garden for Mrs. Schultz.

The other evening when I called over the telephone and Johnny answered - well it was a good thing that I payed for the call before I began talking.

You know I said that I wrote to Stanley about asking Elin to come this summer for a visit. Well I received a letter from Stanley's wife. And this is what she wrote - Quote "Stan received your letter, and we spoke to his mother and urged her to make the trip to Omaha. She didn't sem to have made any plans as yet. We offered her severeal suggestions concerning ways to make the trip, and she is now thinking about it. Stan's dad would like her to go to see you, too, so maybe we can all convince her to do it." Un-quote

Now Marie I was thinking of an idea and how would this sound? If Ray wasn't coming also why then couldn't Ray go with her as far as your place. And then come with Becky. I don't know how Becky intends to travel coming here. That is something I had intended to ask you over the telephone. The reason is that perhaps Elin wouldn't like to travel by her-self is the reason I mentioned this. If Elin could come with Becky.

Marie I hope I can talk to Dr. Palmer real soon and that I can be released from the State Hospital.

I wish I could be sort of organized at Randolph and visit with Elin and Becky and her family there.

Marie my friend Edna has been waiting for me for over 2 years now. I am hoping that what Lottie wrote and also your letter will be satisfactory. But I have to find out. Now in case I need more evidence I hope I can call on you and Frank. The social worker at the hospital said "I should stay close to my family." Well this is the nearest because I have known Edna since I was a child. Also the social worker said that the hospital would co-operate with Dr. Palmer. Now I wish to take all my belongings with me and Edna and a relative will come for me when I get permission. I am writing all this so there isn't any guessing about my plans.

Please keep this letter in a safe place so you can read it over later.

I wish to leave here just as soon as possible. I have been here now over 11 1/2 years and I am 75 years of age.

I wish you were coming vacation time so I could talk to you in person.

Hope you got the calendar with the clippings. When Becky comes I could show her what it is I intend to give her.

I will try to call you over the telephone next Friday evening., June 4th, 1965.

As ever,
Mother.

Friday Photo: Elin & Ray

Elin Jensen Johnson & Ray Johnson

1962

Colville, Washington

"When you hear from your relitives and friends"

Northport Wash

Dec 17th 1956

Dear Mother:

Well I guess its been my turn to write for a long time. Now that its Xmas a letter in a Xmas card always is welcome with the Xmas greeting card.

We are all O.K.

I have enjoyed the Oakland paper very much. There is a lot of news of different ones I used to know years back.

Thanks a million for sending it.

The town must of changed a lot in recent yrs according to the paper.

The weather is quite nice here for the time of the year. Last year was such a hard winter.

I am thankful we have plenty of good wood to burn. Ray got a lot of wood this fall so we were prepared for winter.

I got a nice letter and Xmas card from Elizabeth. I was so happy to get it. Two of her boys are in the service. One is in the Air Force and one in the Coast Guards. Her girl lives in Calif.

She has 4 children 3 boys and one girl. The youngest one is home. He must be about 15. They live at Grand View Wash. I guess its close to the coast.

I think Xmas is the most wonderful time of the year when you hear from your relitives and friends.

I guess Stanley and Marilyn will be home for Xmas.

Stanley goes to college here in Wash & Marilyn is nursing in Spokane. This is Stanley's 2nd year in college. He wants to be a doctor. I really think he's got it in him. He says the studies are getting awful hard but I know he's putting all he's got into it. How is the weather in Nebr.?

It usually is pretty cold this time of the year.

I hope you hear from all the family this Holiday season. Here's wishing you a very Merry Merry Xmas & may the New Yr hold a lot happiness for you.

By Now & Again

Merry Merry Xmas

Love Elin and Family

Question: Is Elizabeth a friend or a relative?

"It seems so much like home here."

Northport, Wash

Dec. 17th 1957

Dear Mother:

Well here we are at the Xmas season again remembering our relitives and friends.

It doesn't hardly seem possible we will be in the year 1958.

The weather here is nice for this time of the year just about freezing, but then it can change as we get closer to January. Instead of snow we have had rain which is very unusual for this country.

I have gotten the Oakland papers for the whole year of 1957 and really have enjoyed the Home Town paper. A lot of the old times have passed on in this paper. I suppose you get the paper too. I know you enjoy reading what goes on in the Town just like I do.

We are all fine here. Stanley is home from school for the Xmas season.

Merrilyn Jean won't be home as this is a busy time for her. She is air line stewtress now. She enjoys her work very much. Meets all kinds of people.

Ray and I are both fine. We have been around Northport quite a while now. It seems so much like home here.

We are right next to the Canadian line. Hope you hear from the rest of your children this Xmas season. Hope you had a nice visit with Lottie this summer when she was in Neb.

Well I guess I'd better make this short so I can get in the mail. I'm just getting started on writing my cards & letters.

Here's hoping you will have a Merry Merry Xmas and a bright New Year.

Love Elin and Family

The Arizona Christmas Letter & 55th Anniversary Announcement

(click to enlarge)

We're looking forward to your Christmas letter. Ours was hard to write this year because so many wonderful people (like you) were involved that we just couldn't name them all.

We're planning on your visit. Just say when. Please bring any family writing, etc. you want. We have spent a couple of weeks here with Bill and Maurine completing Durand records. Jensens and Norbys need a turn. By the way, I can't find my copy of "The Cemetery Run" or "David." Could I beg for another?

We'll talk lots more later. All of yuo have a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Marie

~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Bob - Looking forward to your coming down to SUNLAND this winter. Hop you are still looking forward to travelling "down under". We will keep you informed of details as they develop.

Dominoe Padre,

Frank

Elin & Ray's 55th Wedding Anniversary!

"It is my birthday Jan. 5th"

Cousin Stan emailed me last week with a question about when Ruth was born. As I transcribed this letter this evening I was shocked (or really should I be?) that I had an answer. Still missing a year, but I found the month and day. I truly just pulled this letter out of a stack without reading it.

Ask and ye shall receive...

Oakland, Nebr.

Jan. 1945.

Marie -

I received the Christmas card and the box of cookies that you sent and thank you very much. Also the $2.00 enclosed and I can assure you that it will help me here during this cold weather. I am still here and I didn't know my-self that I would be here this long.

I sent Elin's card with the last letter and hope you received it all right. Elin has moved again you know. I received a nice box of candy from her and $1.00 with a Christmas card. I was glad to hear from her and I hope she wrote a letter to you and answered your letters. Please answer the above question.

So far I haven't heard from my cousins. I would appreciate it if you would send them my address. You could send them a Happy New Year card at the same time if you don't mind. Thank you in advance.

I suppose there was a lot of noise in Chicago when the New Year came in. Were you up as the old year went out? I was in bed when the church bell rang at mid-night and the New Year came in.

I had dinner at the lady's house where I stay part of the time on Christmas. Also at New Year's Eve and yesterday being New Year's day. It was the first Christmas for me with-out my parents.

Did you receive any Christmas card from Garfield? Did you send him any greeting at Christmas time?

Please let me know if Lottie has written you that she received that plaid jacket for Martin. And if you wish you may remind her to write and let me know. I do get tired of waiting to hear if some-thing has been received that I sent. I think it is impolite not to let one know and to keep one in doubt about whether or not the person to whom an article was sent received it or not.

I am glad you received the rug because I think you should have rugs or carpets on your floors as much as possible where you walk. Don't you?

Does the young lady come to see you someimtes who stayed with you last summer? I think her first name was Katherine. I suppose that you heard from her lately?

When you write to Elin please ask her to write Martin instead of Marty. You know how your father could not stand nick names.

Please Marie excuse this pencil. There isn't much ink here and I don't want to buy any. Also please write soon. Do you mind reading over my letter to answer any questions I have asked?

It is my birthday Jan. 5th 1945. You may send your next letter to me here at Oakland. With best New Year's wishes.

Good-by,

I am, As ever,

Your Mother

And Elin's postcard attached:

Dec. 5th, '44

Dear Mother,

I received your telegram about the Dresser. Yes I received it O.K. & have it home so don't worry about it. We have moved to Colville Wash. The plant where Ray was working shut down. He has another job now at a mine. This town is about the size of Fremont.

The kiddies started the new school yesterday. I'll write you a letter in a few days. I've been busy getting things straightened around again.

Hope this finds you O.K. Please don't worry about the dresser because it all arrived O.K.

Love Elin & Family

News from Oregon

Dec. 17, 1956

Dear Mother,

I didn’t mean for my letter writing to become an annual affair, but I guess that is just about what its degenerated to.

I think of all the family often, but there never comes time to get a note off. Maybe I just hate to write.

We have had a busy fall & summer, though we took a trip to Canada on my vacation in August. We drove to Tacoma & left Royce with Lottie while Morgan, Randy, Robin, & myself went on North. We had a lovely trip around the Island, through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in Vancouver, B.C.

Later on in August Melody came & spent a week with us. She’s getting to be a big girl & we certainly enjoyed having her. She’s awfully good with the little girls.

In September Jeanne Johnson, Elin’s oldest, called up & said she was in town. She came out & stayed three weeks. She had been in Hawaii for almost two years and was on her way home. She’s a very nice, intelligent & good-looking girl. Elin can be very proud of her. After she left here, she went home for a while and then back to Spokane where she’s now nursing in a hospital.

Jeanne said that Stanley is in his second year of college and is studying pre-med. Apparently he’s a very capable fellow and should do very well for himself. Jeanne said that Elin is the same as ever but Ray still isn’t able to do much. He receives compensation for injuries he received several years ago and still has trouble with his back.

In October things were settling down a bit when Morgan’s mother had a stroke. She was moved to a hospital and seemed to be recovering when she suddenly had a second stroke and passed away. Since her other son lives in California and her daughter in Arizona, we were responsible for all the funeral arrangements and details that go with this sort of thing. It was my first experience of this nature.

To keep things in a state of confusion we had another turn of excitement last month. Morgan was in a automobile accident and suffered a broken arm and cut on the forehead. He and two other fellows made a trip to Eugene, Oregon and on the way home the fellow that was driving missed a turn and the car went out of control and rolled down a bank. Morgan was thrown out of the car or he might have even been hurt more seriously. The driver wasn’t hurt at all but the third fellow has a broken back. He’ll be laid up quite some time. Morgan is feeling quite perky now. He still has his arm in a sling but probably he can do away with that before long. The accident was had enough but he could so easily have been killed that we feel pretty lucky.

I’m still working but have received a promotion. My duties are now confined exclusively to burying and managing the notions and soft goods departments in the three stores. It’s a big job but I enjoy it.

The children are growing by leaps and bounds. Randy now comes above my shoulder and weighs over 70 lbs. He’s in the fourth grade and does well. He started wearing glasses last month because he was having trouble focusing his eyes for reading.

Robin is almost three and looking forward to Christmas. She wants a “pepano” (piano) and a dolly. She’s definitely a little girl rather than a baby. She says “Royce is little, but I’m big!”

Royce is a fat happy little butterball. She’s walking now and talks quite a bit. She’s shorter than Robin but weighs almost as much. They are very good companions.

We plan to go to Tacoma for Christmas. We won’t be able to say very long but at least we’ll have a little time to visit. I haven’t seen Lottie since last summer.

Guess that just about takes care of the news at this end. Hope this letter finds you well & that you have a Merry Christmas.

Thanks for the papers you send a while back. I enjoyed reading them. Thanks also for the other package.

B.