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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.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Williamson Photos. South Dakota. Jilane (1965 - Present)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
This photo album I'm posting from has no organization whatsoever. I was going to be lazy and post the pictures just as randomly as they appeared in the book. Now I've changed my mind. I'll try to put some organization to them. I've decided to post to a theme. Today's theme is 'Jilane Through the Ages (The Dark Ages in South Dakota to today's Age of Enlightenment)'. I'm not showing favorites, her baby picture was next up in the album.

26 year old Luella holding Jilane, her sixth child.
"
Jilane's features were like a china doll" according to Luella.
Spring 1965.

Jilane and Mother. A Close Up of the China Doll Face

This picture was taken in the Spring of 1965 while the Williamson family lived at 39 East Signal Drive, Rapid City, SD. At that time we lived in a double duplex connected by a removable door.
We had access to both homes at that time. It was fun. We had two kitchens, two bathrooms, four bedrooms and two living rooms. This picture is taken in the second duplex.

I remember the day Jilane was brought home. We sat on the sofa you see in the picture organized oldest, Kim, to Jon, youngest. I remember Charles coming in first, then Luella holding this tiny little thing wrapped tightly in a blanket. Kim held her first, and it was only for a minute or so, then my turn. I don't remember if that is when she started to cry, but it wouldn't have surprised me. I have that effect on babies.

There were six of us. Luella was 26. Charles was 29. Lisa came seven years later and then later still, Annette. Luella looks pretty good for having six kids under foot - an 8, 7, 4, two 2 year olds and a new baby! How she survived it I don't know. If there's a place in heaven for heroic, haggard mothers, Luella's will get there.


This is our next stop along Jilane's time line. We can see that Jilane has lost her 'china doll' preciousness by the time this photo was taken in 1970 :) You'd think this photo was taken in the mid 1950's if you based your judgement on the style of her glasses. Jilane has a lazy eye that required surgery to correct. She was Tipsy Tooty in those days - always a bit shell shocked from walking into walls and furniture.

Jilane is a fighter. With the surgery came a more natural appearance thus giving her the confidence to fight and claw her way from being 'runt' of the litter (coming in as number 6 in the family) into a somewhat intelligent girl with a seasonably fun personality.

She transitioned from 'Tooty" to "Jilane".

Lisa, Annette and Jilane, around 1977

Our next picture takes us forward a few years. We were living at 2214 38th Street in Rapid City. Jilane is around 12. She's being a good older sister in this picture. According to some - a rare event :)

Lisa and Jilane had their spats. Annette was too young to be able to defend herself so she was left out of much of it. They get along well today. Living 800 miles from each other helps :) although you'd never know it consider what they call each other when they answer the phone!
They are both spokeswomen for "Stubborn to a Fault Anonymous". It can be a real challenge to those of us who are Pliable to a Fault and always willing to sacrifice what he wants to do for the common good....... (and there will be no editing of this no matter how I may be threaten).

Jilane Graduating from Steven's High School in 1983

A happy day for the Williamsons to have another high school graduate. I don't see a golden tassel dangling from her cap. I'd mention that someone in the family had one on his graduation cap but that would be bragging, and some of us are modest to a fault.

Jilane retained much of what she learned at Stevens despite the time she spent at Ricks College in Rexburg Idaho, where she met the love of her life. She and Kevin transferred to BYU in Utah having discovered their time in Idaho was taking a toll on both their IQ's.

"Them winters was bad in Idaho," I remember her saying a week after moving to Utah. Thankfully after a few remedial classes, she was back to normal without any lasting damage.

Jilane married Kevin

This was the next big step in her life. From this wedding we have the following........

Jilane and Brayden. October 2011

The marriage of her second eldest son Brayden was the latest milestone in Jilane's life in October 2011. Its hard to believe she could be a year or two away from becoming Grandmother Jilane. I think Granny Tooty would be a better name.
I'm feeling quite old.

The Bodily family with daughter in law Jessica.

This is Jilane today.

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