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Here, gathered in our beloved South Dakota, are a few members of our Williamson / Mattson Clan. Charles and Luella are to be blamed (be kind, they didn't know what they were doing). We're generally a happy bunch and somewhat intelligent (notwithstanding our tenuous grasp on reality). I'm also proud to say that most of us still have our teeth.

Monday, September 13, 2010

September on the Montana Mattson Ranch

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

The colors are changing on the mountainsides above the Fortress. The various shades of green
have surrendered to bright oranges and reds. It is the best time of year.

Today I have a treat for all. Two weeks ago Luella discovered Grandma Ida's (Walter Mattson's mother) photo album amongst her positions. I've decided to post its pictures for the next several days. Today we begin with family pictures on the first page.
This is Great Grandpa Albert (Walter's father) and Great Grandmother Ida (Walter's mother) sitting on a cot outside the ranch house. Three year old Luella is sitting between them. These two pictures were taken in September 1942.
Notice that Great Grandmother Ida is wearing an apron. Luella said that Ida always wore an apron and tan stockings. She always wore a dress. Luella never remembers Ida wearing a pair of pants. They were a loving couple. Albert was an outstanding worker with huge hands. Ida was an excellent housekeeper.

Grandpa Walter in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp). This picture was taken in the late 1930's. He left the CCC's and married Violet in 1938.

Another picture of Grandpa Walter while in the CCC's. On the back of this picture he wrote:
I'm just as fat as I look. Do you see green grass? Is it pretty? Your Son Walter.

Luella at about 18 months standing by the barn. The posts are holding up the barn wall. Luella's knees are dirty. She'd been out playing. Notice that Luella had blond hair. Luella says that she prayed her blond hair would turn dark like her mother's. It did and she believed her prayer had been answered.

This is a picture of Luella at 2 or 3 years old (1941). It's Easter and she's holding her Easter present. She's sitting on the chair Great Grandmother Ida gave her. She's sitting under a cherry tree.

This is Helen Lidman Rosencranz. Her father was Grandpa Albert's nephew. Albert's sister Josephine Mattson Lidman was Helen's sister. She loved to come visit the ranch. Helen is alive today living on a ranch between Alzada and Ekalaka Montana.

Simply,
Victor