Memorial Day 2025

 We remember those who died while fighting for our freedom.

My Dad's brother Arthur died on May 20, 1944 and is buried overseas in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery.   

I wonder when my Grandparents received the news...was it before or after Decoration Day in 1944?

My Grandmother is a Gold Star Mother.   She had 12 sons and 2 daughters.  Five of her sons would serve in the military...one died and two carried wounds for the rest of their lives. 

We visited the cemetery where my grandmother is buried.  Someone moved her Gold Star Mother marker over onto my grandfathers grave.  Well you can bet I moved it right back when it belongs. 

My Dad does still not have a Veteran's flag holder but someone left him a flag. 

Far Side

Cemetery, pain and cards

Saturday I took some red silk poinsettias to the cemetery where my parents are buried.  It was a nice day about 40 F or 5 C and the snow was melting fast.  I had been wanting to get there before it snowed...I didn't make that deadline...but finally got er done!

The flowers look nice against the snow.  I am glad that the headstone has vases on each side...it makes flower taking easier.  Needless to say we were the only people there...but a bunch of Wild Turkeys were in the area. 

Not much snow for this time of year.  Even less now as it began to rain early Sunday morning...it will be a skating rink out there with the dreaded black ice.  36 F or 3 C was our high yesterday with those rain showers.

Pain Report: Small improvement...not enough to cheer about...yet.

Christmas card report: 14 added to the previous 65 makes 79 total...I am making progress.  A rainy day helped and I skipped my nap. 

Far Side

Marker

 My Dad's Veteran's grave marker is in place.  He still needs a flag holder.  

Good to see that it was in place. 

Far Side

Flags for Veterans

 Last week we witnessed flag delivery high on the hill where my parents are buried. 

A few vehicles parked at the bottom of the hill and children emerged with flags. 

My brother asked one of the little girls for a flag since Dad's flag holder is not at the grave yet. 

My Grandmother's Gold Star flag holder on the left and my Dad's flag on the right. 

Since we were there last week my Mother's day of death has been inscribed on the headstone. 

Far Side

Family History

 I have to back up a bit in our recent family history.  Back to February 24, 2024 the day of my Mother's funeral and interment.  ( Just in case someone a long time from now wonders...or wants to know because they were not there)

Mom's urn at the church was carried out by her granddaughter Rachael (aka Toots), followed by all of Mom's granddaughters...except for one who was unable to attend.

Luckily because of the warmer than normal Minnesota Winter weather we were able to go to the cemetery for the interment of ashes.  My other baby brother, Nephew Josh and a few others not sure who...dug down to the double vault that contained my Father's urn. 

The Granddaughters bringing the Urn up the hill. 

Mom's urn joins Dad's  ( he has a prayer book that he had with him in Korea on top of his urn)

Our daughter Jen dropping her flower and her sister's flower into the urn vault. 

We visited the grave this week. 

May 22, 2024 the spot that was dug up was reseeded by my baby brother.  New grass will grow there eventually.  The cemetery high on the hill is beautiful in the Spring, the green so intense this year that it almost hurts your eyes. 

Dad's Veterans foot marker is not in place yet nor is his flag holder.  Mom's date of death has not been engraved into the headstone as of yet.

It all takes time.  I for one was very thankful that we could inter Mom's ashes in February, after Dad died in December of 2022  his ashes were not interred until the end of July in 2023...it was a very long seven months for me...it was like the grieving process was halted.  I know we all grieve differently but that waiting was difficult.

Far Side

Heavenly Birthday

 My Father gets to spend his first birthday in heaven today!  I am certain he is thrilled to be with all his loved ones who died before him.  He was 96 when he died last December on his Father's birthday.  My Father was the remnant.  

The headstone is not in place yet...but the spot is marked.  Dad's final resting place is between his sister and one of his brothers.  ( The spot where the fresh dirt has been placed) Nearby are his parents and his other sister and two brothers in law.

The Maple trees put on quite a show in the Fall.  We hope that the grass seed that we planted has taken root in the rainy weather we have had in the last week. 

It is a beautiful country cemetery, high on a hill. 

My Father had a good long life which I am so thankful for. 

Far Side

Fall color and a mission

 Yesterday we went for a trail ride.  We had a purpose.  Far Guy gathered together some black dirt a small shovel and a hoe.  We thought we had grass seed, but looked high and low for it.  Fortunately my baby brother had some.   My Father's grave site needed a bit of grass seed and since the weather is now rainy it is a good time to plant some seed.  We can travel to the cemetery using forest trails. 

The road work that started in June is now finished and the road is open.  We can now go to Detroit Lakes or Fargo without going on the detour.  The vehicles you see all have trailers that have ATV's or UTV's for riding the trails.

The leaves are peak and in some places past peak. 

The trail up to the cemetery.

We accomplished our mission. We met twenty ATV/UTV's along the way enjoying the colorful leaves. 

 Far Side

All here

 The grandchildren and great grandchildren that could not attend my Dad's funeral last December are here now. 

Last December...

Friday we had a graveside service...

 

My Nephews carrying my Dad's ashes.

The headstone is not in place yet.  The white markers are up for its placement.

It was a very nice committal service.  I am glad it is finally accomplished.

Far Side

Leaves

 The leaves are almost peak...we have just a few more days to enjoy them.  

Our yard.  As you can see I will be mulching leaves this week. 

The driveway.

The Burr Oaks are turning golden this year...they usually don't have the best color. 

We went for a Ranger Blue ride....some of the color out there is just fantastic! 

We visited several cemeteries along with my baby brother, his bride and Baxter.  Checking to see what needs tending before it snows. 

Far Side

Cemeteries and a Church

 My baby brother picked me up on Wednesday morning and we did some cemetery work...trimmed around headstones and cleaned them up.  Other helpers were my baby brothers bride and their friends from Wyoming Mark and Cindy.   Lots of help scrubbing lichens away.

Our Paternal Grandparents and a bit further away our Great Grandparents and some Uncles and Aunts. 

One of the Maple trees was still somewhat in leaf. 

Then we went to our Maternal Grandparents and Great Grandparents graves. 

It was a beautiful day to be out and about.

Today is my parents 71st Wedding Anniversary they were married in this church.  Their birthdays are coming up soon.  Dad will be 95 and Mom 92. 

The Church is next to the cemetery, they no longer have services there but the church is used for special occasions. 

Far Side

Cemetery Visits

 Far Guy and I did errands on Saturday morning, garbage to the transfer station and a trip to town for special orders....a new/old car part and a lawn mower part.   Town was busy and were so sorry we missed a visit by cousins Jack and Pat.

In the afternoon my baby brother called... so off we went to clean up some headstones...we got a number of them done...using plain water and a soft brush.  

I managed to do a few photos for Find A Grave while he was finishing up. 

On the way there something caught my eye...in one bend in the road...

The early blooming Yellow Lady Slippers. 

Far Guy started supper for me and I made it home in time to eat with him.

Far Side

Afternoon Out

 While Far Guy was woodcarving and then napping I took off and went to a couple of cemeteries.  

I take photos in two sometimes three cemeteries for Find A Grave.  I also transcribe obituaries if I have them.  I have a backlog of obits to enter ...a good winter project. 

My Aunt Anna's funeral was live streamed on Monday.  I wanted to visit her grave...so I did.   It was a chilly day.

I worked over in the shady snowy spots last summer.  Yesterday I just walked in the non snowy parts. 

Pickerel Lake Cemetery

This is a very familiar spot for me....high on the hill...I have come to this spot since I was a little girl.  The fence used to be right where I was standing to take this photo....now that area has been cleared for a road and more graves. 

I visited a few more graves and then went to a different cemetery close to home.  I made yet another list for that cemetery.  In my leaving no stone un turned I discovered that an old friend's obit was missing ...so I transcribed that for approval. 

The stone gate at Linnell Cemetery

It sounds like the weather is going to be great the rest of the week...I may be able to get a few more photos before winter snows settle in. 

One cemetery they say is 94 % photographed but no one is entering new info...so I just wander around until I find new graves or new headstones...people drive by and honk.:)  The cemetery on the hill is only 47 % photographed...so it is a real work in progress..it is so far out of the way that no one ever shows up while I am there. 

Far Side

Quiet Fall Day

We had a quiet Fall day yesterday, it was a bit cooler 45F or 7C eh!

We walked in the old cemetery on the hill.  We found my Uncle Hugo’s friends grave. It was on the south side of the hill near the top.

 

The flag holder was there and the marker that Veterans get to mark their grave. Mission accomplished!

Perhaps one winter day I will head for the Becker County Historical Museum and search their records so that an obituary can accompany the photos.

Anyone that is looking for a volunteer “job” …let me tell you a cemetery is a good place, it is quiet, no one complains and the graves just keep filling up.  One thing I have noticed is that many of the markers are getting overgrown around the edges. I could spend a day or three at this cemetery just trimming around markers.  In the spring we carry a couple of old butcher knives and a bucket in the car just for that purpose, the knife cuts the sod away and we toss it in the bucket to be disposed of or to fill in a hole here and there.

I started a list of what I don’t have, which obits I need and who I should ask for photos.

My husband who is great support and a good searcher said yesterday “Maybe someday someone will appreciate the effort you put into the cemeteries.”

I wandered alone for a little while yesterday, until I smelled a skunk.  I hurried back to the car, when you smell one you know one is near.  When I opened the car door Far Guy said “Uffda you didn’t get sprayed did ya?”  Thankfully I didn’t and we headed home.