Planes Overhead

 Our brother in law, Dean who died suddenly and unexpectedly last February was laid to rest this past week. 

High on the hill his final resting place is next to my parents. 

Dean was a pilot with many friends.  A number of planes did numerous fly overs singly and then during the committal service three planes flew overhead in the missing man formation.  As the graveside service continued they flew in circles just far away to be heard and then they were gone as the service ended. 

Little kids and big kids need to eat...Saki made sushi and other goodies.  Saki, Tyler and Henry did not make the trip from Japan last Winter for the funeral. 

It was hard for my sister to wait until all the family could be present....but it helps to give closure to other family members. 

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Memorial Day

On Saturday we visited the cemeteries where our parents are buried.

 

Flags lined the road to the cemetery where my parents are buried. 

Sunday I mowed  our lawn at least part of it for the first time this year. 

We went out for lunch at our usual Sunday Summer Patio place and late in the afternoon we had a good visit with cousins Leann, Jim, Clark and Mary Jo.

Sunday weather; High 80F or 27C  Low was 53F or 12C.  The high fluffy Summer clouds are back.

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A Fall Project

 I needed to cross something off my list.  My Father's Veteran flag holder.  I picked up the flag holder from the local American Legion as suggested by a very nice neighbor Phyllis!  I have had the holder all Summer we just have not gotten around to placing it until this past weekend.

Far Guy pounded it into the ground, it will be there next Memorial Day for the flag. 

I also refreshed the flowers in the vases on my parents headstone.

I tucked a flag in with the flowers on my Dads side of the headstone. 

The trees at the cemetery are beginning to show some color.

I will try to bring different flowers for the Winter...it all depends on the weather.  For now the gravesite looks great.  Luckily we have gotten some rain and I suspect my baby brother has been there with seed and fertilizer over the summer as there was a pretty bunch of clover in the area.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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