Averie DelGrosso Weds Chaunce Bird. Daxton Bodily is Born. The Dynasty Grows

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

If you're anything like me, you find your allowable interest in certain subjects webs and flows depending on the season and spare time available; so it has been with the time I've had for family history. 

I will officially be retiring from the Alpine School District on June 1st.  It has been a wonderfully rewarding 30 year career, all at one school - Central Elementary in Pleasant Grove.  There is a part of me that will miss working at Central.  There is a bigger part of me excited for what's coming next - a new career working Renaissance Academy in Lehi Utah.  

I'm a life long member of Workaholics Anonymous.  We Workaholics are drawn to work like flies to honey.  Our very reason for existence springs from the value of our work.  So, even though I'm retiring, I'm actually just switching jobs - teaching 6th grade and building a brand new, next generation space education center in a new junior high building set for construction at Renaissance ( a charter school) during this upcoming school year.   I'll be back to 60 hours per week, but I'm good with that for two reasons.

1.  A change is as good as a rest. It will be great to get back into the saddle at a new school. 
2.  I'll be getting two paychecks every month; a Utah State pension and Renaissance Academy
     teacher's wages and benefits. 

I plan on continuing this family history blog, the updates won't be as frequent as they originally were, but more than the zero I was doing for the past several months.  

Simply,
Victor  

Averie DelGrosso marries Chaunce Bird

April 5, 2013

Averie DelGrosso married Chaunce Bird in Salt Lake City on April 5, 2013. Averie is the daughter of Kim and John DelGrosso.   Kim is the eldest daughter of Charles and Luella Williamson.  Chaunce will be attending law school.  Averie teaches dance and preschool for her Aunt Jilane.  

Relationship Chart    

 

Daxton Bodily 

born April 18, 2013 at the American Fork, Utah Hospital

weighing in at 6lbs 2oz and 18 and 1/2 inches long.

Daxton is the first born of Brayden and Jessica Bodily.  Brayden is the second eldest of Jilane and Kevin Bodily.  Jilane is the 6th child of Charles and Luella Williamson.  

 

 Relationship Chart

 

Evelyn Configliacco's Obituary and an Easter Greeting

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I begin my passing along the sad news of a death in our extended family.  Evelyn K. Confligliacco passed away on March 22, 2013 after a short illness.  

Evelyn was our 2nd cousin, once removed.  There is an error in the chart.  Giovanni John Vercellino and Maria Viano were our Great Grandparents.  

My parents enjoyed Evelyn very much, and made it a point to visit her whenever they had the opportunity. 

The following is her obituary

 
Evelyn K. Configliacco
(January 10, 1916 - March 22, 2013)

Evelyn K. Configliacco, 97 years young, lifetime resident of Lead, SD passed away March 22, 2013 in Rapid City, SD after a short illness. Vigil services will be at 7p.m., Monday, March 25, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lead with visitation one hour prior at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the church with Father Kerry Prendiville as Celebrant, burial will follow at Mountain Lawn Cemetery. 

Evelyn was born January 10, 1916 to Venere and Mary (Vidano) Configliacco. She attended school in Lead and graduated from Lead High School. Evelyn worked as a chief telephone operator at the telephone office in Lead. She enjoyed the young girls and always was a mother figure and they always looked up to her and came to her for advice. She always had a positive attitude, and made the best of everything. She transferred to the Deadwood office for the last years of her career. 

Evelyn is survived by her brother, Leslie Configliacco of Lead, nephew, Michael Configliacco (Barbara) of Ohio and their daughter, Leslie Ann Silva of Ohio, niece, Connie Holso (Thomas) of Lead, and their sons, Anthony Holso (Debra) of Rapid City and Timothy Holso of Spearfish and daughter, Tamara Kintz (Randy) of Pierre, nephew, William Configliacco, (Darla) of Utah and their sons; Tony Configliacco (Becky) of Alaska, Bruce McConville (Wendy) of Idaho and Bryan McConville (Jill) of Utah and numerous great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Theodore, Russel, Fred, and Raymond. 

Evelyn was the matriarch of the family, she was very generous, spoke well of everyone, she was a positive influence on family and friends, and touched everybody’s heart that she met. Evelyn had faith in God, family, and friends, Evelyn with all our love, “Salute`.”

 

My Appreciation for Easter Peeps

Today is a special day for members of the Peeps Appreciation Society (PAS) like me.  The PAS works diligently to foster the celebration of Easter and to insure its place in our society.  While many of us are Christians, and understand the religious significance of Easter, the PAS is a way for all people, religious or not, Christian or not, to celebrate the day when the Peeps make their yearly appearance on grocery shelves to warm the hearts of both children and adults.  

The PAS is divided into two camps.  Stage 1 members enjoy their Peeps fresh off the production line, when the marshmallow is gooey and sticky.  Stage 2 aficionados enjoy their Peeps after confection rigamortis has partially sent in and the marshmallow is gummy and somewhat mucilaginous.  You'll find more boys and men in the Stage 2 group, where the act of biting into the Peep and then pulling and tearing away its marshmallow flesh reminds us of our carnivore heritage.
  
Digging in the Battlestar

I stopped by the new Discovery Space Center in Pleasant Grove on Saturday morning to visit with center director, Casey Voeks.  The Discovery Space Center is the newest Space Center using my curriculum and experience / simulation based methodology.  I'm working with them as their Director of Education.  I wanted to see how things went on their Friday Overnight Camp.  Casey seemed confused.  The dark pouches under his eyes told a story of many late nights and early mornings.  His hair was unkempt and his glasses slightly askew, which is all normal for Casey;  but if his glasses were a ship at sea, the Captain would be closing the water tight doors and preparing the passengers and crew to abandon ship if the list got any steeper.

I found Mark Daymont and his brother Dave and suggested we take Casey out for an hour or so for lunch, fresh air and great company.

"Casey, do you want to go out for lunch with us?" I asked.

"Lunch?" Casey questioned.

"Yes, lunch - that meal many people eat at or around Noon," I explained. I noticed the concept of lunch was taking hold.  The vacant expression which had previously squatted on his face, was being pushed aside by the look of someone experiencing a conscious enlightenment.

"Sure," he vocalized.

We settled on Chick-fil-a.  Casey realized he'd forgotten his wallet when the nice lady at the window asked for his order.

"I can help you Sir?"

"Hummmm, aaaaaaa, I'll have a water," Casey mumbled.

It being Easter and all, I decided to do the Christian thing and rescue this poor soul, drowning in his own confusion.   We got him a nice box of Chick-fil-a's version of McNuggets, sat him down, and let him work on getting the box open while the three of us talked about this, that and the other.

Our lunch was successful.  We enjoyed a reasonable fast food meal and color was restored to Casey's face.

I noticed a large vacant lot with a dirt road next to Chick-fil-a as we left.   I cranked the steering wheel and turned the Battlestar heavy to port.  The lumbering Lincoln answered the helm and began a slow, titanic turn toward uncharted waters.

The Dirt Road

"What are you DOING?" Dave shouted from the back seat.  I could see him reaching for the door handle in a vain attempt to throw himself from the car in the event it left the pavement.  Mark grasped the seat belt with both hands and closed his eyes.  Casey simply asked, "Where are going?"

The car left the parking lot.  It was like going off planet.  We were on a real dirt road.  We were digging!   "Put your phone away and enjoy this," I shouted to Dave.  Dave was trying to call his wife but found it difficult as the car lurched one way, then the other as it navigated the bumps and rocks.

"Where are we?" Casey was trying to get his bearings.   "Are we still in Utah?"

"Chick-fil-a was my last meal on Earth," Mark lamented.

Making the tough decision

I stomped on the brake.  The car leaned forward - then settled into a gentle rocking motion.  The dirt road rose sharply ahead, up and out of the field and back onto pavement.  Part of me wanted to take it on.  The more sensible part of me urged caution.  Mark, Dave and I are on the large side and I feared high centering the car.  It reminded me of a scene from the film The Perfect Storm, where the captain of the boat steered straight toward an oncoming mammoth wave.  He knew the boat would roll if he took the wave at any angle other than straight on.  Taking the sharp incline at an angle might have put us upside down.  Taking the angle head on would high center the car.   A decision had to be made, and being captain of the ship, it was me who had to make it.  After a moment's deliberation, I ashamedly backed away.  The passengers were happy, but I felt I'd let myself down for retreating in face of a real American challenge.

It was a three minute adventure none of us will forget.  It made us a Band of Brothers.

Simply,
Victor
     

A Collection of Photos from our Life at Canyon Lake. 1970's 80's.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
It's been a while since our last digital reunion.  I blame the weather.  The dark and dismal days of winter were not conducive to family history research.  I got home from school and immediately faced a dilemma.  On the left of my easy chair was my 65 inch window on the world, and to my right - that corner of the great hall stacked with boxes of old family photos and papers and documents by the ream.  It would have taken the will power of a Saint to make that right turn.

Today's weather was mild and sunny, so I decided to post a few pictures from the boxes and reduce the overall total in the eternal holding pattern over the document scanner.  Before doing so, I had to go to City Creek Mall in Salt Lake to purchase a long promised and seriously late and nearly forgotten Christmas present.  Mom called and asked if I was doing anything so I decided to take her along.  It would be an adventure.  Instead of driving, I thought of taking the train.  Mom had that prison pallor, gaunt expression about her when she got into the Battlestar.  I could see why she wanted to get out.  She needed a bit of sun and some fresh air.

The trip was uneventful.  The Frontrunner offers a nice, smooth ride for a great price.  I was impressed and think I'll make the train my official mode of transport whenever I go to downtown Salt Lake. 

Mom handled the train well, except for the loading and unloading.  My challenge was getting  her across the threshold and into a seat before the carriage lurched forward.  Stepping from the platform and into the train was 'one small step for man, and one GIANT leap for an old lady'.  Mom acted like she was about to long jump across the Grand Canyon as she nervous kicked out her leg to span the 3 inches or so seperating the train from the platform.  I wanted to shout, "Old Lady, Clear the Way!" as she kicked out and lunged forward while grasping for anything semi stable, like my arm, shirt and belt.  I had this fear the automatic doors would close on her leg and arm so I kept pushing the wheelchair door button hoping that would buy us a bit more time.  "I should have brought my cane," she repeated more than once.  All in all, it was a good day out.

Family Photos from Our Days at 

Canyon Lake.  1970's and 80's

 The Kevin Williamson Collection.

I believe this is Kevin's 6th Grade photo from Canyon Lake Elementary 1972.

I posted it because of the hair.  Is it me, or does it look like Mom 

had some trouble cutting his bangs?

 Kevin's baseball team.  I wondered why their team photo was taken in front of the McDonald's 

where I made my small fortune (and I mean small) during my high school years.  Then I read the name of the team and it all became clear.  Kevin is on the back row, middle.

Kevin gave up baseball when he got older and took up snake charming instead.

After several trips to the emergency room, he gave up that career path for 

another form of snake charming - managing newly discovered bands.

 

Kevin, I believe taken during his senior year at Steven's High School in Rapid City.  He looks like he could use a few dozen of those Big Macs from his earlier years playing baseball for McDonalds.

The Janice Williamson Collection

Janice's 5th (?) grade photo, taken at Canyon Lake Elementary in the early 1970's.

Janice's 6th Grade photo, taken at Canyon Lake Elementary.  

She blossomed early.  She took after her mother, who was nearly

7 feet tall by the time she entered the 7th Grade back in the day :)

 

Janice again.  I'm wondering why the photographer blurred the photo.  Regardless, 

I'm sure she gave many a junior high boy something to stare at  :) 

The Jilane Williamson Collection

I thought of leaving Jilane out of this post.  She gets so much attention as it is.  I changed my mind when I saw this photo and decided to include it for history's sake. Besides,  I knew her kids would get a kick out of seeing their mother in the fashions of the day.  

The Jon Williamson Collection

Jon Williamson.  I'm thinking 6th Grade, but he might be older.  Jon is Janice's twin.

Jon with his baseball team.  Jon is standing next to the kid his hat.

Jon with his prom(?) date.

Jon had no problem getting women.  

Getting the grades was an entirely different matter altogether!

The Lisa Williamson Collection

Little Yellow Lisa

A little older Lisa. 

I scanned this photo and noticed that little something on Lisa's nose.

"No, it couldn't be.  Could it?"  I thought.

So I zoomed in to take a look...

Well, it could be a spot on the photo.  Or.....

I decide to spare Lisa the embarrasement, so I decided to use my master skills as a Photoshop

expert and fix the problem.  What do you think?

Lisa liked to play softball

 Lisa is the second from the left on the middle row.     

The Search for Williamsons Continues. Newton Scott Williamson

 Newton Scott Williamson and Wife Ellen

Do you see a Williamson resemblance?

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
The 1940 Federal Census was recently released.  It has a treasure trove of family names and links that I'm beginning to explore.  My goal is to expand our knowledge of our Williamson family in America.

We descend from William Jonathan Williamson and Effie Helen Victor.  William Jonathan Williamson had several brothers and sisters whose descendants have spread from coast to coast.  I'm searching for those descendants of our Great Great Williamson Uncles and Aunts.

I found information on our Great Grand Uncle Samuel Williamson.  Samuel was born in 1866 and died on January 27, 1929 in Texas.  He married Celia Dora DeWeese.  Together they had four children

• Clara G. Williamson 1895 – 
• Newton Scott Williamson 1897 – 1975
• Lemuel Hobart "Red" Williamson 1900 – 1981
• Edith Marie Williamson 1903 – 1973
• Goldie Mabel Williamson 1906 – 

I found the following information on Newton Scott Williamson.  First, the Relationship Chart.

I contacted a member of Newton's family through Ancestry.com and am waiting for a response.  It would be good to learn more about our Williamson cousins.  

The following is the only other information I have on cousin Newton taken from the 1940 census.

It is interesting to see that Newton's formal education ended with the 8th grade.  

More information to follow.

Victor

  

1940 United States Federal Census

Name: Newton Scott Williamson Age: 42 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Missouri Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Russell, Russell, Kansas Street: East Fifth House Number: 925 Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas Residence in 1935: Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas Resident on farm in 1935: No Sheet Number: 5B Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 153 Occupation: Pumper House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 300 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40 Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 1450 Income Other Sources: No Neighbors: Household Members: Name Age Scott N Williamson 42 P Ellen Williamson 36 Floyd M Williamson 17 Eula M Williamson 13 Norma J Williamson 10 Newton S Williamson 5

Jacob George and Martha Cantwell. Our 4th Great Grandparents

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Above is a new picture I found of our 4th Great Grandparents,  Jacob George and Martha Cantwell.
The Relationship Chart is given below.  Jacob George was born on November 4, 1800.  He died on the 22nd of November 1869.  Martha Cantwell was born on September 8, 1802 and died on February 27, 1879. 

Our 4th Great Grandparents

 Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Francis George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Fiddler and Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Dennis
to
Violet Pierce and Walter Mattson
to
Luella, John, Linda and Marvin
to
Us.

I've posted information on our Cantwell relatives in many previous posts.  You may search for those posts by using the blog's search feature on the right side bar.   A brief summary of their lives is given below.

In his boyhood Jacob George went to Baltimore and learned masonry. He helped lay the foundation for the Washington Monument at Mr. Vernon Place, Baltimore (see photo above) with Sater Stevenson as Master Mason. Later he learned shoe making with his brother at Harrisburg, PA. He came to Ohio about 1820.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. George lived on a farm near Spring Mills, just across the road from Wm. Cantwell's place. In the fall of 1853 they moved wth all of their family in covered wagons to Iowa, spending the winter at Crawfordsville. In the spring of 1854 they settled on a large farm near Iowa Falls.

Mr. and Mrs. George and their family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When they came to Iowa Falls there were no Methodists and no church building of any kind. Mr. George organized his own family into a class, and with the help of his boys and his son-in-law, Henry Fiddler (who married his daughter Francis), built a church at Iowa Falls and gave it to the Methodists. Martha and Jacob had 11 children.

Victor

Luke and Ashley Mattson Welcome a New Baby Boy

An Addition to the Extended Family

Luke and Ashley Mattson with daughter Lydie.

Alaska

Hello All,
Ashley Trump Mattson gave birth to Adam Luke Mattson on January 2.  Adam is a healthy, wonderful baby boy with two proud parents and one very proud big sister.

Luke and Ashley live in Alaska where Luke works as a civil engineer.  They enjoy living in America's last great frontier, although their families would like to see more of them - or perhaps that's the reason they life in Alaska! :)   

 Lydie with new baby brother, Adam Luke  Mattson

Adam's Relationship Chart

Welcome to our family Adam!
 
 
Our mega inversion has made the air barely breathable and highly visible.  From the Fortress' vantage point on the east bench, Utah Valley resembles an alien landscape in Pollution's canvas of red, brown, yellow and orange hues illuminated by the rays of a dying late afternoon sun.

I saw the funniest thing at Walmart this weekend. Mom asked me to take her to Lindon's Walmart to fill a prescription and pick up a few things in what she labeled a ' I'll only be a minute' half hour shopping trip.

It was just after 9:00 A.M. I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for her to come out. A gray haired grandma and her middle aged daughter exited the store. The grandma was pushing a half full shopping cart. An adult child helping her mother with her shopping wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I was there doing the same.

What happened next was the extraordinary part of this story. The grandma started running
toward her car with the cart. The daughter looked surprised. The grandmother was laughing as the distance between her and her daughter increased. She had released the little girl locked up inside her.

Then to my surprise, grandma jumped up on the back of the shopping cart and rode it like a Roman chariot down the parking lot's long decline.

"Stop. Stop!" the Daughter shouted as she ran behind trying to catch up to steady the cart. It was obvious grandma wasn't going to stop.

"Be Careful!" the daughter shouted, realizing her mother was committed to the adventure. I could tell she was aware people were watching. She seemed embarrassed.

I learned a lesson from watching Gladiator Grandma. We each have an inner child who needs to be released once in awhile. Now Its my turn to take a chariot ride down Walmart's parking lot just to remember what it was like to be young.

Simply,
Victor

Great Uncle Ed's 5th Avenue Market. Vercellino Line.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today I'm posting an article on the closing of our Great Uncle's Ed's 5th Ave. Market from The Daily Post - Belle Fourche, South Dakota's local paper.  The article was published on December 11, 1980.  Uncle Ed was the youngest child of John Vercellino and Maria Viano.  He was born in 1907 and died in 2002.  Our Grandmother Elda (Charles Williamson's mother) was his only sister. 

Relationship Chart

John Vercellino and Maria Viano

to

 Raymond Domenic,  Elda Kay,   Edward Daniel

Elda Vercellino married Charles Williamson

to 

Charles Ray Williamson

Charles Williamson married Luella Mattson
to

Kim, Victor, Kevin, Janice, Jon, Jilane, Lisa, Annette

I remember visiting Uncle Ed's 5th Avenue Grocery when I was a child.  Uncle Ed and Aunt Iris lived above the grocery in a small apartment.  A long metal staircase on the outside south side of the store let up to the apartment.  I could see how climbing up and down those stairs several times a day would become a challenge as Ed and Iris got older.  

I remember thinking how awesome it would be to live above your very own grocery store;  all that candy, cake and ice cream at your fingertips anytime of the day!  A child's dream come true. 

I remember Uncle Ed as a kind, gentle, and quiet gentleman with a warm infectious smile.      

 

Our Gypsie Grandmother (Mattson Line). A Short Word on Our Christmas.

A Swedish Gypsie in Traditional Clothing

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tis a gloomy late afternoon at the Fortress.  A patient winter storm is carefully considering its way across Utah, blessing the mountains and valleys with much needed precipitation.

These storms are an irritant to Dad.  They cast doubt on his prediction of another 1930's, once in a century drought.  His drought predictions include savage dust storms scouring the western United States and the return to long lines at soup kitchens.   

"Food prices are going to double, even triple," he predicted yesterday at the family holiday gathering. The family was together at the new home of Ashley and Mike Costa (Ashley is Kim Williamson DelGrosso's daughter) for supper and gift giving.  Charles "BahHumbug" Williamson, well known champion of depression, is an expert at taking the joy out of any holiday gathering and replacing it with dust bowl predictions of mass starvation, disease and pestilence.

Happy Valley (the local's term for Utah County) needs people like Charles Williamson to remind us that things aren't always so Happy out in the real world where adulthood is legal and bad things happen to good people.  So, we've all decided to keep Dad just the way he is.   He is well read.  He knows investments.   He radar on the nation's economy is generally spot on.  He is a good judge of character.  He is a gentleman, a scholar and knows how to assemble a Walmart barbecue in ten minutes!

We had a great time at Ashley and Mike's new home in Highland yesterday.  JD made his famous DelGrosso Spaghetti Sauce (I knew I'd have several helpings so I left a note to remind myself to take my Nexium - the purple pill to control heartburn).   In addition to the DelGrosso Spaghetti main course, there was an assortment of salads, jellos, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes, turkey, etc.  Several pies and chocolate were served for dessert.   I'm glad I wore my expando brand pants.  Expando pants expand at the waistband, providing the wearing the needed room to handle a Roman feast without unbuttoning his top pant's button.

Averie DelGrosso and Chauncey Bird announced their engagement.   It will be a Spring wedding - the date is still to be announced.  I sat opposite the happy couple and was amazed at how they were able to eat their holiday meal while holding hands!  I suggested they get married over Spring vacation.  I pointed out that more people would be able to attend over Spring break, and more people meant more presents.

"People will usually send presents if they can't come," Monica pointed out what is true for most families.

"Not our family."  I reminded everyone that our family is not like most families.  For many of us, spending a dollar is more painful than passing a kidney stone.  There was a chorus of nodding heads all around the table at my observation.

Chauncey will be a lawyer when he finishes school.   That is a good thing.  Our family is seriously short when it comes to the needed professions like law.   Our family is missing a doctor, nurse, lawyer, accountant, plumber, electrician, mechanic, undertaker, dentist, contractor and a forgiving priest.  I call them 'the needed professions'.  We can scratch lawyer from the list by marrying Averie off to Chauncey.  She has been given clear instructions not to mess it up :) 

It was decided by a unanimous, around the table vote, to issue a family wide directive to all those searching for a spouse.  The directive asks eligible family members to narrow their search of  candidates to those in the professions listed in the paragraph above.   The directive further states that no one in the family is allowed to date dancers or teachers.  We have an over abundant supply of them at the moment :) 

All of the little ones at the holiday feast were either sick, getting over a sickness or being exposed to a sickness.   Shared sickness holds a family together.  It teaches you to rely on one another in good times and bad.

Our Gypsy Grandmother

The topic of today's genelogy post is "Our Gypsy Grandmother".  We don't know a lot about our Gypsy Grandmother, except to say that she was adopted as a girl.  I found a letter in a box of Luella's things with a sentence or two about her.  The letter was written by one of our distant Mattson cousins
in 1964.
 

 Notice in the letter he refers to her as Grandpa Walter's Grandmother.  Grandpa Walter's Grandmother was Helena Beata Carlsdotter.  This is the relationship chart.

Relationship Chart

Helena Beata Carlsdotter (1836 - 1911)

is your 2nd great grandmother

to
Johan Albert Mattsson (Mathiasson?) (1872 - 1955)

Son of Helena Beata

to
Walter Albert Mattson (1912 - 1973)

Son of Johan Albert

to
Luella Mattson (1939 - )

Daughter of Walter Albert

to
Victor Williamson

               

He mentions her shoebox of charms and curses.  We know from family lore, that Great Great Grandmother Helena was adopted as an older child into the Mattson family.  She married one of the sons in her new adopted family (Emanuel Mattsson).

According to tradition, she was a good dancer.  Luella also remembers a family story about Helena's brother.  He was a tightrope walker.  He died during a performance by falling into a fire.  

Helena's family would have been part of the first Romanies (Gypsies) that arrived in Scandinavia during the 16th century.  Because of her family name, I'm assuming her Romanie family came from Denmark.    

Luella Nearly Meets her Maker and More from the Montana Mattson Ranch. 1939 to 1944

On the Montana ranch. 1942

Little Luella. Behind her left to right.  Her Grandmother Ida Tornberg Mattson, her mother Violet and her Grandfather John Albert Mattson.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I took Mom out early this morning to finish up her last minute Christmas shopping.  The weather report forecast snow for much of the day. The Battlestar (my Lincoln Town Car) doesn't do well in the snow, rear wheel drive cars seldom do unless you have studded snow tires or chains,  so we left at 7:00 A.M. in hopes of doing our shopping and getting home before the heavy snow hit.

Walmart's parking lot was surprisingly full.  I found that odd for 7:00 A.M., but considering today is Christmas Eve, I shouldn't have been surprised.  Luella wanted me to 'skidaddle' so she could shop for me.  I took a cart and set a course for Foods.  She shuffled away toward the gift certificates display.

My fellow customers looked shell shocked.  Their expressions spoke volumns.  I saw panic in many of the men's eyes.  One gentleman stood looking completely gobsmacked at a display of necklaces in the jewelry department.  I felt sorry for him, as I did the poor woman who's cart I past at least three times in the hour we were there.  Her face was white and expressionless.  I had a feeling she was trying to pull off a Christmas on a budget and it just wasn't coming together.

All of us in that store this morning tried to avoid eye contact.  It was embarrasing to be a member of the Last Minute Shoppers Brigade.  Our motto is "Christmas Christmas Go Away, Come Again Another Day."

The employees looked browbeat.  One of my former students who works in Walmart's bakery passed me as I was entering the store.

"Merry Christmas Mr. Williamson," he mumbled.

"Are you just getting off work?" I asked.

"Been here since 10:00 P.M. last night," he answered.  "I'm going home to sleep off Christmas."

"You're a good man Charlie Brown," I said as I patted him on the back and wished him a Merry Christmas.

Twenty minutes into my shopping and I still had an empty cart.  I'd lapped the store two times.  I think I struggle with Christmas shopping because of my attitude toward gifts.  Before buying anything, I ask myself if the object I'm considering to buy would be something I'd want to receive as a gift.  If the answer is no, it is put back on the shelve.  You can see why my cart was empty after 20 minutes with that kind of a BahHumbug attitude.

Forty minutes into the ordeal I bumped into Luella near the paper cups.

"Should I buy more of these?" she asked.  She was pointing to several boxes of the some cheap off brand Chocolates.  The chocolates are so full of wax many people use them for candles.  Insert a wick and you're good to go.

"Who are you giving those to?" I asked.

"I thought may Kim, JD, Kim's girls....." I stopped her right then and there.

"Everyone in this family is on some kind of a diet. Do you really think they are going to use a few hundred of their precious daily caloric intake on off brand Chocolates?   Would you?"

"You're right.  Here take them back."  I took the boxes out of her cart and re shelved them appropriately near the shortening.  "Let's get some chips then," Luella said, and she was off.

We drove away from Walmart several dollars poorer but happy to be done.  We stopped for a soda to fuel us for the drive home.

"Make mine a caffeine free with lime," she ordered as we pulled into the Walkers Gas Station across from Walmart.  Luella claims the soda concoctions I prepare for her are the best.  What she doesn't know is that 25% of her drink is the normal sugar loaded, caffeinated soda.  It's the only way to make the decaff, diet soda taste like anything from this planet.  Besides, I knew she had two packages of M&M's in her shopping bag for a mid morning treat.   A little sugar in her diet cola wasn't going to make any difference.

It was snowing heavily when we left Walkers.  The Battlestar was slipping and sliding as we climbed the hill toward the Fortress.

"We're slipping, we're slipping!" Luella exclaimed every time she felt the back of the car sway.  We got to the top of the hill, then had to drive DOWN a rather steep road and into the driveway.

"It's too steep," Luella pointed out the obvious.

"Well, its the only way home so there is no choice.  I've got the car in a low gear.  We should be OK."

We started down the hill.  Half way down I felt the snow take over the steering.  We were in the first stage of a 360 degree donut.

"TURN INTO IT.  TURN INTO IT!"  Luella shouted.  She was seeing all 73 years of her life pass before her eyes.  There wasn't anything I could do but sit back and enjoy the ride.  I knew the car would spin around and bump into the curb.  Then I would back down the last 100 feet or so into the driveway and all would be well.  Luella didn't see it quite that way.

"OH VICTOR, VICTOR!!" she shouted.  She tried to disengage her seat belt (impossible if you knew how long it takes her to put it on) and climb over the arm rest and into my lap.  She could see the curb coming closer and closer.  She felt death's icy grip on her shoulder.

I should have shouted "WE'RE GOING IN.  BAIL OUT BAIL OUT!" just to see what she would have done.  Its one of those missed opportunities in life you wish you could relive. 

We made it home in one piece.  Two good things came from that experience;
1.  Luella had her shock of the decade and will tell and retell the story in detail for the next year or so with many embellishments.  I'm waiting for the version where she jumps out of the car and muscles it back into alignment just before we slam into incoming traffic. 
2.  I've made up my mind to get the studded snow tires I was considering a month ago but didn't.

Pictures from the Montana Ranch

 Baby Luella with her mother Violet.

1939

Baby Luella with her Grandmother Vesta.  

1939

Baby Luella with her Father Walter.  1939

Baby Luella with her mother Violet.  1939

Young Luella with baby Linda and Grandmother Vesta

1942 (?)

 The family at home in the wheat fields.

Grandpa John Albert, Violet, Luella and Grandma Ida.

 Grandma Vesta holding Linda.  With Luella.

1942.

 The Mattson Homestead. 

Luella is standing at the gate.  Grandma Vesta and baby Lina are next to the house.

 Young Luella on her father's lap (Walter Mattson).

 Young Luella on the Montana Ranch