Find My Ancestry

Is Our Last Name Really Frederikson?

2013-08-30T12:13:00.001-07:00

Department of the Interior
United States Land Office
Blackfoot, Idaho

Frederik Frederikson, being first duly sworn, on oath deposes and says that his address is Kilgore, Idaho; that he is the same person who made DLE 4612 at the Blackfoot, Idaho land office, on May 20 1908; that in preparing his entry papers and in writing his receivers receipt evidently the officers made an error in his name spelling same Frederick Fredricksen, instead of correctly spelling same Frederik Frederikson; that he is one and the same person who made said entry and who has this day submitted final proof in support there of.

Affiant further says that he is the same person to whom Water License No. 3681 dated June 15, 1909 issued by the State Engineer, and who was described therein as Frederik Frederiksen, and the same person intended to be described in Certificate of Completion of Works, under permit No. 3681, wherein he was described as Fredrick Frederiksen; that these errors were clerical ones made by the persons who prepared the papers above mentioned, he being the same person intended to be described in each of said papers.

Signed: Frederik Frederikson

National Archives and Record Administration, Bureau of Land Mangement, General Land Entry File, Serial Patent Number 304131,

Remembering Svea Astrid Ollson

2013-04-09T11:26:00.001-07:00

Sometimes people appear in your family tree and you don't know much about them. Sometimes they are just a face in a picture. And then sometimes you get lucky and stumble upon an amazing, incredible story about a person - a story that needs to be shared so others can find it more easily.

Svea is one of those people. To me she was the wife of my first cousin once removed. She stood out in the family pictures.

One of my cousins asked me what I knew about Svea and in doing my research I found this story, lovingly written by her daughter who gave me permission to share it. This is the story of an amazing life and a wonderful person. We need to remember her.

Svea Astrid Ollson

When Svea entered this world on January 6th, 1927 in Peking, China she was the 5th child born to her Korean mother, Pong Nai (Pauline) and her Swedish father, Axel. Svea was named by her father as a tribute to “Sverige/Sweden” his homeland and “Astrid” after a beautiful Scandinavian princess. Throughout her life, Svea’s name was pronounced (incorrectly) any numbers of ways, and whenever she was asked the origin of her unusual name, she would laughingly reply “It’s Swedish. Don’t I look Swedish?” (For the record Svea is simply pronounced “Swee-ah”).In point of fact, like her siblings she was a beautiful blend of two races and two cultures but not one of the eight Olsson children looked Swedish!

The Olsson marriage in 1912 was highly unusual. When her parents met Pong Nai was a 14 year old tomboy who spoke only Korean. Axel “Ole” Olsson was a 31 year old gold miner from Sweden who was known for his outgoing and colorful personality. The Pak family was less than pleased when a “foreign devil” took an interest in one of their daughters but with great tenacity and stubbornness Axel learned to speak Korean and he patiently courted Pong Nai (and her mother) for 5 long years. Considering his restless nature it was a testament to his love for Pong Nai that he stayed in Korea for so long. Eventually when she was 19 her parents gave their consent for the marriage. Papa Olsson spoke only Korean to his wife, but when their 1st son Einar was born, he decided that the children should be raised speaking English. In the years to follow Einar was joined by Axel, Mary, Erik, Svea, Ellen, Hilda and Charlie. (With Svea’s passing only Hilda remains.)

While English was their first language, the children also grew up speaking Chinese, French, Korean and a smattering of Japanese and Russian. The children’s formal education was scant but they were clever and eager to learn and they grew up to be well-read and articulate. Mama Olsson despite a quick ear for languages and an excellent memory never learned to read and the only thing she could write was “Mrs. A.F. Olsson”.

At the time of Svea’s arrival in Peking the Olsson family had already lived in Korea, Manchuria and Mongolia. In Peking they owned 2 small restaurants and they became famous for their fine home-cooked meals and for their generosity. Their habit of giving too much credit left them broke, and they headed for Shanghai to look for work. Life in Shanghai was difficult but both of Svea’s parents worked hard to support their family. While their parents worked the older children cared for the younger ones until their parents decided that the 4 girls should go to Nagasaki, Japan to attend school at a French convent. The children were terribly homesick and the nuns were strict and intimidating, so Svea and her sisters were very glad when their parents brought them home to Shanghai just before the war began.

In 1937, Japan began a war with China and foreign nationals were evacuated from Shanghai. The Olsson family stayed amidst the bombing and looting, taking refuge in the quarters of the Swedish consulate. In the end it became too dangerous and the family left Shanghai with several hundred other Swedes, Norwegians and Danes, crowded and huddled together on the top deck of the “Tai Shang”. They arrived in Hong Kong as refugees with only a handful of possessions and for several months the family lived in huts in a refugee camp.

Svea’s father found it hard to find work in Hong Kong so he left his wife and eight children to find better prospects in the Philippines. The 3 oldest children found jobs, and with the money Ole sent home, life for the Olsson’s improved. When tensions in Asia escalated Svea’s father came back to Hong Kong but in early 1941, at the age of 60, Papa Olsson left to help the U.S. military in Burma. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Hong Kong in December 1941 they never heard from him again. Svea was 14 years old.

Hong Kong and Singapore were bombed the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Everyone was caught off guard, but thanks to Mama Olsson’s foresight, the Olsson family stayed together in their own apartment for the first few days. The British authorities then told them they had to pack up and leave and since Svea’s 2 older brothers had found jobs working for the Hong Kong government they were allowed to move their mother and younger siblings to an Italian convent for refuge. The family lived in a dark and crowded school auditorium with hundreds of other women and children. Rations were meager and there were daily air raids and aerial bombings taking place. Hong Kong fell to the Japanese 18 days later. Life became more difficult under military rule and being Eurasian made their situation even more dangerous.

For four years they lived without electricity or running water. All of them became ill with malaria, diphtheria and malnutrition. Brother Einar lost a leg when an air raid shelter collapsed and brother Axel was arrested by the Japanese as a spy, imprisoned and tortured. While he was held, Svea would go each week to the prison to take him small bits of food and news from home. It would take Svea half a day to walk to the prison and a half a day to walk home again and only rarely was she allowed to see her brother.( In 1950, his health broken by the war, Axel was to be the first of the Olsson children to die. The family was heartbroken.)

By the time the Japanese surrendered on August 11th, 1945, the Olsson family was in poor health, with few material possessions. The Salvation Army helped the family with shelter and food and the British and American military gave them the medical and dental care they needed to begin their recovery. For the rest of her life Svea always spoke of the help they received with deep gratitude and emotion.

As the family rebuilt their lives, they learned that they were considered “state less” meaning they belonged to no country. During the war the family had been considered by the Japanese to be Swedish nationals but when the family asked the Swedish government for passports their request was denied. Eventually they were granted British passports and they were allowed to remain in Hong Kong.

Svea was 18 years old when the war ended. During the war she had worked as a waitress with payment made in a meal and tips. After the war until she was nearly 21 years old, she worked in a dress shop earning no salary, but she did get a small meal each day and a chance to get a few dresses that the Olsson girls all shared.

In 1948, Svea applied for a job as airline stewardess with a local airline, Hong Kong Airways, which was a subsidiary to British Overseas Airways [now British Airways]. There were only three positions open, and Svea was chosen because of her fluency in Chinese and her outgoing personality. Svea became one of the first stewardesses ever to work in the Far East. Svea loved her job and she traveled throughout Asia to places like Shanghai, Macao, Manila and Tokyo. After so many years of hardship and sadness, this was a wonderful time for Svea. The work was hard but she loved the smart uniforms she wore and the people she met were often the elite of their time. Svea danced in nightclubs throughout the Far East and she dated several British and American pilots, which is how she met her future husband, Dallas Cederberg.

One night while on a double date, Dallas asked Svea to dance and for her phone number. Svea thought he was good looking and charming but she also thought he was a big flirt. Around the same time, Svea met another American pilot named Dale Cramer and 2 months after they met they became engaged. A few weeks before their wedding fate intervened and on a flight to Macao the plane Dale was piloting was hijacked. During the hijacking, there was shooting and the plane blew up, killing the passengers and crew. Dale’s body was never recovered. Svea was heartbroken, but she continued to work for the airline. One day she was surprised to receive a telephone call from Dallas who told her he was sorry to hear about Dale and he asked her if they could start over and meet for dinner. They dated for over a year and after meeting Mama Olsson and getting her approval, Dallas and Svea were married on May 13th, 1950.

Over the next nineteen years, Svea and Dallas became the parents of five children: Bill, Mary, Carla, Christine and Lisa. Bill was born in Hong Kong and moved with his parents to Thailand, where Dallas was a partner in Trans-Asiatic Airlines. In 1954, when Mary was born, the family had moved to Idaho, back to the farm where Dallas grew up. Svea brought with her to Idaho her exotic good looks and unique style, wearing Chinese silk dresses with silts up her thigh to the local bar, much to the appreciation of the local men and the consternation of their wives and girlfriends. Svea also became a U.S. citizen.

By 1957, when Carla was born, the family was living in Wichita, Kansas, having first spent some time living in Las Vegas, where Dallas was a partner in a sand and gravel business. They had also lived for several months in California where Dallas tried to find work that would take them back to the Far East.

While Dallas worked in Wichita for Cessna Aircraft as a pilot and salesman, Svea cared for her young family and made many lifelong friends. Life was hard in Wichita with Dallas making little money and traveling all over the world with Cessna. Svea was often alone with 3 small children and financially it was always a struggle. In 1960, Dallas was hired by Lockheed Aircraft to start an office in Hong Kong and Dallas made good on his promise to Svea that he would get her home again. Daughter Christine was born in 1961 and for the next 4 years the family thrived.

Svea loved being back with her mother and sisters in Hong Kong. The Cederberg children grew close to their Olsson family especially Granny Pauline, their aunts and cousins. Family gatherings were loud and joyful occasions, and the years spent in Hong Kong were among the happiest of their lives. Dallas was a great success in his new job and they enjoyed a busy social life with the diplomatic and business community. Svea learned Chinese brush painting and her inherent sense of style and artistry kept her busy designing clothes and furniture for herself and her family. In those days, Hong Kong was a glamorous hot spot for the rich and famous and Svea had the opportunity to meet many famous movie stars and singers of the day. Svea loved every minute of it!

In 1964 Lockheed transferred Dallas to Atlanta, Georgia. Leaving Hong Kong was very hard for both Svea and Dallas but as always they put the security of their family first. Leaving her mother and sisters was heartbreaking for Svea and going to a new place without any family support was not easy. Still, Svea adjusted and adapted as she always had and she made a happy and secure home for her family. For the first (and only time) they bought a house. Amidst the traditional brick houses of Atlanta, Svea managed to find the only Chinese style house in the area! While Dallas traveled for weeks at a time, Svea looked after things at home. With her outgoing and generous personality and her unique sense of style she quickly made friends. Svea was a regular contributor to “Show-and Tell” at the children’s school and a soccer mom to son Bill long before the term was even coined. Svea developed a passion for vegetable gardening and she also continued to paint, sometimes she even gave lessons. In 1969, Lisa was born and the Cederberg family was complete.

In 1970, Dallas was transferred to Australia. As he had done each time they moved, Dallas went ahead to find the family a home. With her children’s help Svea packed up their household and drove cross-country to Idaho to see Dallas’s family before leaving the U.S. The family also stopped in Hong Kong before arriving in their new home in Canberra, Australia.

The next nine years in Australia were busy and happy ones for Svea. Dallas’s job with Lockheed kept her very involved with the diplomatic community and she was a favorite guest at many functions. People always asked about her background and once at a luncheon she met a woman who seemed strangely familiar. They soon realized that they had played together as children on the refugee ship from Shanghai in 1937. While living in Australia Svea became an avid tennis player and much to Dallas’s dismay she also discovered off-track betting!

In 1979, when Dallas was transferred back to the United States the Cederberg family was smaller as the three oldest children were no longer living at home. Dallas went ahead to Glendale, California and in mid-year having once again packed up their household, Svea and Lisa arrived. Christine arrived in December 1979. On January 4th, 1980, while living in their new home in Glendale, California, Dallas died in his sleep of a heart attack at the age of 55.

The family was devastated and Svea was heartbroken to lose her partner of 30 years, but she held her family together and she devoted herself to raising 10 year old Lisa. Svea’s other 2 daughters moved to the area permanently while son Bill moved to North Carolina where he married Beth and in 1981 they gave Svea her first grandchild, Sara Astrid. In the years to follow, as Mary and Carla and Christine all married, more grandchildren followed: Erica, Alex, Chris, Lizzy, Lauren, Dallas, Mia and Ali. Svea’s much loved son-in-law’s Richard, Mike and Peter completed her family.

Svea looked after four of her grandchildren full-time for many years and she proved to be as wonderful a grandmother as she was a mother to her own children. Despite her ever youthful appearance and energetic approach to life, in November 1993, Svea suffered a near fatal heart attack. The doctors gave her less than a five percent chance of survival but a quadruple bypass saved her life and Svea made a full recovery. There were other health concerns over the next few years, but Svea always battled back with great courage and determination. The doctors were amazed by her resilience and her family treasured her all the more. Svea continued to stay busy with her grandchildren and family. She became an active parent volunteer at her granddaughter’s elementary school and she was always the center of attention when her family gathered.

In 2004, Svea was once again faced with a life-threatening illness. When Svea was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, her family was devastated. The prognosis was poor and only extensive surgery could save her life. Svea made the decision that she would do whatever was necessary to stay alive and the family’s prayers were answered when her cancer was treated surgically. By Christmas she had regained much of her strength and spirit but this time there was a price exacted and Svea’s short-term memory was damaged. Old memories remained strong, but new memories found a slippery footing.

Despite the fear and frustration she must have felt over her growing loss of independence, Svea never complained or felt sorry for her self. Svea’s natural optimism and her sense of humor helped her family to cope with the changes they saw in their mother and grandmother and she remained an integral part of her family’s daily life. When Svea’s memory worsened, it seemed as though she simply stored more and more memories in her heart instead of in her head and while she was no longer the feisty and self-sufficient woman she had been all of her life, her essential personality remained intact.

On the evening of August 24th, 2006, while returning from dinner with her family, Svea fell ill. At first, it looked as if she would be alright. In the ER she comforted her daughter and joked to ease the worry. Then with little warning, her heart suddenly stopped and then restarted. Twice more her heart stopped and started on its own. Shortly after midnight and in accordance with her wishes, with her family at her bedside she quietly and painlessly slipped away. Words of love and gratitude were the last that she heard while her hands were gently held by her daughters and granddaughter.

In death, as in life Svea showed her children that when we confront fear, sadness and loss with a brave and gallant spirit, strength and great comfort can be found even among the tears. They say that to love, and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides and if that is true then Svea’s life and was golden from beginning to end.

Cards for Anna Christine & Frederik

2013-02-06T09:37:00.002-08:00

These two cards are the last of the postcards and letters written to Anna Christine and Frederik Frederiksen, my great grandparents.

This Father's Day card was signed by son Fred. It is undated and blank on the reverse.

The birthday greetings card above was undated and from Ebba Frederiksen Cederberg, the daughter of Anna Christine and Frederik. The message on the back read:

"Best Wishes and loving greetings from us all. Hope you get the old hens. We are sending under separate cover. I am in a hurry to get these mailed and on the early train.

Bushels of love

Ebba & All"

~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed this small collection of cards and letters written to Anna Christine and Frederik Frederiksen. They tell small but important stories and give us a view in the their lives. I consider it an honor to be able to share them with others interested in the family history.

Fred's College Graduation

2013-02-06T09:28:00.001-08:00

Fred Frederiksen graduated from the University of California, Southern Branch (later UCLA), in 1925. His graduation program was shared with and saved by family.

To put this in sequence, Fred and Elda moved to Bell, California in 1923 to teach school. Fred must have worked hard to both teach and complete the work for his degree.

His graduation was Friday, June 12, 1925.

The Last of the Fred Frederiksen Correspondence

2013-01-29T18:07:00.002-08:00

Netherland Plaza Hotel, Cincinnati

Postmarked: Jul 8, 1940, Cincinnati, Ohio

To: Mr. & Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

Dear Folks,

Guess you wonder what I'm doing here. Well we have been to N.E.A. at Milwaukee and are down here visiting some friends. Got a new car in South Bend, Ind. and are on way to N.Y. Fair. Will see you before end of month.

Love, Fred and Elda

Comments: Fred and Elda are doing well. There were back east just two years ago and here they are at a convention and going to South Bend, Indiana to buy a car and then going to the N.Y. The car was probably a Studebaker. In the 1940 U.S. Census Fred and Elda live in Los Angeles with Elda's brother Paul and a housekeeper. This is the last of the letters and cards in this collection that Fred sent to his parents.

A Summer Trip 1938

2013-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

New Union Station, Chicago

Postmarked: Jun 26, 1938 - Chicago, Ill

Dearest Folks,

Just arrived on the Streamliner from L.A. Had a swell trip. Went like hell all the way. Both feeling fine. Leave for N.Y. in 230 minutes. Chicago is quite some city itself - Love, Fred

The Statue of Liberty

Postmarked: July 2, 1938

To: Mr. & Mrs. F. Frederiksen

July 1

Dearest Folks,

We visited this place today. Do you remember it? We've certainly had a swell time here since last Monday. Will tell you more about it later. Are starting home tomorrow (Sat.) by way of Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Texas, etc. Will write when we get home.

Love

Fred and Elda

Comment: Fred and Elda are doing well even as the depression wears on and using their summer vacation from their teaching jobs to travel. It would be interesting to know if his parents responded about seeing the Statue of Liberty when they arrived in America in 1890.

Fred & Elda Visit New York City

2013-01-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

Postcard labeled:

Aerial View of Empire State Building

New York City

Postmarked July 5, 1937, New York, N.Y.

To: Mr. & Mrs. F. Frederiksen,

Lewisville Idaho

Sunday, July 5

Dear Folks,

We are here in New York today. I am writing this up in the top of the tallest of all buildings. What a thrill to see the city from up here. Wish you were here to see it with me. Elda wouldn't come up here she doesn't like high places. Weather is quite cloudy today so not so good for moving pictures. Having a fine trip.

Love Fred

This is another correspondence from Fred Frederiksen to his mother and father. In it we can see that by 1937, well into the Great Depression, that Fred and Elda are doing quite well. Because they are both working as school teachers and do not have children it enables them to travel extensively in the summer.

Fred & Elda Take A Trip!

2013-01-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Vista House, Columbia River Highway

Postmarked: July 16, 1927, Corbett, Oreg.

July 3, 7:00 PM

Dear Folks,

Here we are this far out of Portland on the eastward piece of our journey. Our trip has been fine so far. Stopped a day and two nights in Eugene visiting with Foster S. and family. Ought to reach Ida. Thurs. or Friday.

Fred

A Card From An Old Friend

2013-01-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

This postcard is out of date order sequence that the balance of these cards and letters are. This is because of problems dating the card and the additional research that was necessary.

To: Mrs. Fredrickson, Kilgore Idaho, Fremont Co.

Postmarked: Wells, ?, Dec 10, 19?

"Now you better answer this card without talks through the phone. Now will wish all a happy Christmas and new year. Good bye old friend. Halo you old I don't believe I will say that. How are you anyway. I haven't forgot you if I haven't wrote. Well, it is soon Xmas again & hope you will all have a good time. I think I will spend Christmas with Ma if all is well. Tell all the boys and girls hello. From, Emma Zollig, your old friend."

Comments:

I had some trouble dating this card and figuring out who this person was. Here is my thinking:

The card has a copyright date on the front of 1909.

Her reference to the "phone" might suggest that the phone is a fairly new thing. What year the phone got to Kilgore is unknown.

I researched Emma Zollig in the "History of Clark County", in the findagrave.com website and finally in Ancestry.com. I found only a single Emma Zollig on Ancestry.com and she was born in Richfield, Utah. Her parents were born in Denmark. She was enumerated Richfield in the 1900 and the 1910 US Census.

My conculusion: Emma is a friend of Anna Christine Frederiksen from her days in Richfield, Utah between 1890 and 1895. They have maintained contact by mail over the years. The date of the card is after 1909 and before 1917 when the Frederiksens moved to Lewisville.

Fred and Elda Are In California

2012-12-29T21:26:00.002-08:00

A typed letter

No Envelope

Bell, Cal.

Aug. 1, 1923

Dearest Mother and ALL,

We just received your dear letter and were indeed glad to hear from you once more. It was such a newsy and interesting one too. You will notice how promptly we are answering it too, about fifteen minutes I guess since we got it.

Everything is going along about the same as usual; the weather hasn't even changed enough to notice. Elda is still going to school in the city but she will be through a week from next Friday. She says she will sure be glad as it gets to be quite a chore chasing back and forth every day to the city. I am still working in the store but expect to quit as soon as her school is out and we intend to take a trip up to San Jose where Elda has an aunt living. We want to pay them a visit before my school starts in the fall. Gosh it seems everything in this life depends on school. No wonder we have that old saying about "whether school keeps or not:. It seems to be our chief business anyway.

We were glad to see by your letter that you had been able to get to Kilgore again and see the dear ones up there. We are surely sorry we could not get to see them before we left. I certainly wish that you and they could get a glimpse of this wonderful country. I don't suppose though that they would ever be satisfied here as they would be so much more apt to get a just compensation for their labors. I am afraid they have been too long used to the slave life of Kilgore to brave the change. I know it is hard to pull up stakes and hit for a new country, especially when you haven't much capital to start with, but gee any of you have as much as we have and we are not worrying very much. After you get to the new country and you find it a good one it doesn't take long to settle down again. Of course we don't know all about this country yet by any means so I wouldn't want you to come for a while that is a year or so until we see what the whole year is like here but at present it looks like a wonderful place to make your home.

We sure hope everything goes well with you all up there this year and you have a spell of real prosperity again; that country surely needs it if any ever did. Judging from the automobile traffic and also the railroad traffic it seems that the whole populations of the United States is on the move. Every train is loaded both coming and going and one the roads the automobiles are as thick as they can stick, so there must be a lot of people on the go. They all seem to be dissatisfied and are changing their location.

Last Sunday we went into the city and had dinner with an old school friend of ours and while visiting with them another old friend and her husband walked in so we all had a dandy good visit together. We also went to the motion picture exposition in the evening and saw quite a show, including the most wonderful fireworks I ever witnessed. they certainly know how to do things in this place when they take a notion.

We are going to write to the kids in Kilgore one of these days and tell them all our recent experiences. Sure wish you and they were all here so we could see you once in a while.

Not a great deal has happened to us since last I wrote so there isn't a lot of news to tell this time. We had been sort of hoping that we would get to see President Harding when he arrived; he took sick in San Francisco and has cancelled all the rest of his trip so I guess we won't get to see him this time. This city is quite keenly disappointed about it but I guess it couldn't be helped as he is only human like the rest of us and has not more control his destiny than we would have.

No, we haven't seen Lloyd P. yet. Did you tell us his address? I don't know where he lives. Would like to see him. We haven't seen Martin's wife either, although we go through Huntington Park every time we go to the city. You know Marie only gave me her post box number and it is pretty hard to find anyone here from that. In fact it is hard enough when you have their complete street address and every thing. So if she can give me that maybe I can find her.

Well, dear ones, it is bed time and elda is already there, scolding me for sitting up so late, (although it is only a little after nine.) You see we go to bed earlier than we use ter because we have to get up earlier and besides this is the darnest place to sleep I ever saw. So g o o d n i g h t I a m g ett ing s l e e p y.

Write soon to your kids Loads of love to you all.

Fred and Elda

Comments:

Fred's note about seeing the family at Kilgore before they left suggests that Fred and Elda left for California sometime earlier in that year. Given school year cycles and assuming that Elda was teaching the previous year in Idaho, they would have left after school was out.

Fred's references to going into the city are interesting. Bell is immediately south of downtown Los Angeles, only three or four miles.

His spacing on the getting sleepy in the last paragraph is funny.

Letters From Elda & Fred

2012-12-23T11:40:00.000-08:00

Envelope with Hostess House scratched out and Fred's return address inserted.

To: Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

Postmarked: December 8, 1918

Two Letters: the first from Elda, the second from Fred

DuPont, Wash.

Dec. 7, 1918

Dearest Folks,

We read the letter you wrote us and it did make me ashamed for not writing but I always think you would rather hear from the boys.

My, how glad I will be when we get out of the army. Every day we hear a new rumor about when we will be sent home but the latest is that we will be here until spring. We can hardly stand the idea. It seems now that we are needed here no longer we ought to be sent home.

Ole and Fred and I have been together all day today and it is about eight o'clock. We've just had supper and the boys are playing checkers so I decided to spend my evening writing to you. It seems mighty nice to have Ole here even if we don't see him real often.

Fred stays at home every night now. It seems a little better than it was, an awful lot I mean. But I'll be mighty glad when we get out of it.

We went to Seattle the week before Thanksgiving and I caught an awful cold and was sick as the devil for about one week but feel fine now.

We are glad to hear that you have escaped the flu so far and that Chris is a lot better.

We would certainly like to be home for Christmas but that is impossible. It will be a pretty lonely old time for us Christmas but we must be thankful our boys didn't have to go to France. I'll tell you that takes an awful load off our shoulders doesn't it.

If you can get head or tail to this you're going some - the boys are singing and talking so I suppose I've written half what they've said.

You will certainly be surprised to see what a marked improvement army had done for the boys. They are so straight and fat and well.

Well, dears, I guess I've rattled long enough. Fred will write in this letter too. Write to us real soon. Lots of love to you all.

Elda

DuPont, Wn.

December 8, 1918

Dearest Folks, -

In spite of the fact that I haven't yet received an answer to my last letter I thought I'd better insert a few lines in Elda's letter anyway, to show you I'm not quite dead yet anyway. We sure enjoyed the letter you sent to Ole and also his company for most of the day and evening.

This old life sure is getting monotonous now that we can see nothing to stay here for. It first seems like a frightful waste of fruitful time and energy. Nothing new has happened to change my prospects for the better. I have been transferred to the 26th Co. 166 P.B> and have been definitely assigned to the permanent personnel of that company. Just how soon we will get out no one seems to know. It sure is tough to see the rest of my company discharged and I have to stay here indefinitely.

I wouldn't care so much if I knew was Elda was better provided for. I think I mentioned in my last letter about her being sick as a result of our Seattle trip. She is alright now, but she no longer has a job owing to a slowing in business of the place where she was working. It has been impossible for her to get another job since because they don't want to hire solder's wives around here anymore owing to the uncertainty of how long they will stay. We can't for the life of us see how we can make ends meet on what Uncle Sam provides when we have to pay six dollars a week for rent and the other expenses so high too. the thing that eats on me is that I am tied up here and can't get out and earn anything on the side. It sure makes a hard row of stumps staring at us in the face now. We have gotten along fine, tho, up until now and have surely been happier than if we hadn't been married. But just now it begins to look like we'll have to call for a little help from the outside until we can get out where we'll have a chance to really do something for ourselves. Do you understand the situation? What would you do in our place? It sure makes a fellow desperate when he's tied down like this. Elda has written to Miss Hargis, Co. Supt. at St. Anthony for a school and if she can get one, she will probably be home right after Xmas. But there is also a possibility of me getting discharged by that time. Can you tell us what to do under the circumstances, or can you help us out is some way? We would surely appreciate it right now.

Well this letter looks more like a hard luck story than anything else so I guess I'd better cut it out. The regular Washington winter has set in here and it rains about every other day now.

Ole is pretty disgusted with the life too but this is a job a fellow can't quit of his own free will so will have to tough it out I guess. Hope it doesn't last long tho.

Hope you are all well and happy. Write soon again and tell us what we'd better do.

Your homesick kids -

Fred and Elda

Oceans of love to you all.

Comment:

This is the last of Fred's letters from Camp Lewis. The exact date of Fred's release from the Army is unknown. (Ole, in an interview in 1973 about his war experiences said he (Ole) was discharged in February of 1919.)

You can see the outline of their plan and the fact that Elda is a qualified teacher in Idaho.

In April of 1920 at the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, Fred is farming and Elda is teaching at Heman, Fremont County, Idaho.

In August of 1923 they live in Bell, California and are both teaching school.

Elda Has A Job

2012-12-17T14:21:00.003-08:00

Letter in an envelope "The Salvation Army, Greene Park, Camp Lewis, Washington"

To: Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

Postmarked October 15, 1918

Camp Lewis

Oct. 13, 1918

Dearest Mother & All,

Your dear letter came today and am attempting to answer it immediately, for if I put it off at all I am apt to put it off too long.

I am sure getting anxious to see you all again. Seems like ten years since I was home. The news these days sure looks good tho doesn't it and if they keep up the good work I think we will soon all be home again. But one thing is sure we don't want to come home to stay until old Kaiser Bill & his infamous brood are sizzling on the coals in the hottest corner of Hell. Gosh but won't that be a joyful day! I'll be so darn glad to get back to civil life that I don't believe I'll have sense enough to wait for a train. Elda says she feels the same way. We are sure enjoying fine health and she likes her work better all the time. I am writing this at one of the Salvation Army Headquarters while waiting for her to come off work.

How is the weather back there now? It has been raining here for about a week now but yesterday and today have been pretty good.

We did not have the regular Saturday morning inspection yesterday morning but instead went out and listened to a program in celebration of Columbus Day. To the lusty playing of two brass bands, the whole Depot Brigade assembled on the baseball field, marching in long columns from all sided, in perfect order keeping step to the music. It was sure a grand sight. The program consisted of the reading of President Wilson's 4th Liberty Loan speech followed by a quartetto song furnished by the Field Artillery.

Then a very distinguished minister addressed us by the name of Reverend Freeman of Minnesota, and when he had finished I believe every man in that audience felt a deeper thrill of the true American spirit and was prouder than before that he was living under that beautiful starry banner of ours.

Elda and I are saving our nickels these days for that said trip home which we hope we shall be able to make not later than Thanksgiving.

I am afraid you won't know me as I am again wearing a hideous pompadour haircut as an order has come out stating that the hair must not be worn more than an inch long on any part of the head. I suppose when cold weather comes we will have to have it all cut off. I look like a monkey for sure now.

Glad to see that you have so much nice fruit this year. Wish we were there to enjoy some of it. Perhaps we will be soon.

Saw Ole and Roy yesterday. They are getting along fine and dandy. There is talk of them going to Siberia. Gee, I hope not.

Well dear ones it is about time for Elda to get thru work so I'll stop for this time.

Write soon again to your loving kids.

Elda & Fred

Tell some of the kids to write to us if they have time.

Fred Gets Promoted!

2012-12-10T13:30:00.001-08:00

Letter on stationary

Hostess House

National Young Women's Christian Associations

Headquarters: 600 Lexington Ave., New York

Camp Lewis Branch

Camp Lewis Wash.

Sept 10, 1918

Dear Folks,

I haven't yet received an answer to my last letter but am writing anyway. How are you all by this time?

The old life goes on very much the same as usual. New men are coming in so thick and fast that we can hardly take care of them in the depot Brigade.

They are filling up the new Division of the Northwest and it sure takes some men.

I am a real honest to gosh corporal now and am wearing two chevrons or stripes on my sleeve, it means six dollars a month more pay and the enjoyment of a good many special privileges that the ordinary private doesn't have. They tell me I am in line for the Officer's Training School but I probably won't get in on that for some time yet.

Elda is still working here at the Hostess House and is getting along fine.

Saw Ole the other night. He has been transferred to 37th Machine Gun Battalion, Co. A. I read your letter and enjoyed it very much. This is sure some mix up about old car. I'm afraid it will be the death of you yet.

I have found several old Albion students here this time. Three of them came to the same company.

Comments:

This letter had no envelope and ended here with no signature. Probably there was another page that is missing.

His brother Ole is now also at Camp Lewis.

Elda is working at the Hostess House - where he got the stationary.

His father has a car of some sort - the first family mention of such a vehicle.

Roy McGovern Writes to the Family

2012-12-03T17:13:00.003-08:00

Picture Postcard

"One of the Barracks, Camp Lewis, American Lake, Washington"

Postcard from R.H. McGovern to Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

July 30, 1918

Arrived here all O.K. Sunday morning at 4:30. Sure had some trip. We are under quarantine for three weeks so won't get to see Freddie for some time. We haven't been examined yet but had had some drilling. Tell everybody hello for me.

R.H. McGovern

41 Co. 11 Bn, 166 D.B.
Camp Lewis, Washington

Comments:

Roy Henry McGovern was the brother of Leah "Virginia" McGovern Frederiksen, wife of Hans Edward Frederiksen. Since the card is addressed to the mother of his brother-in-law it says a great deal about the family relationships.

The Freddie he refers to is Fred Frederiksen.

Fred and Elda Marry!

2012-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

In an envelope and stationary with a return address of:

Hostess House

National Young Women's Christian Associations

Camp Lewis Branch

Tacoma, Washington

July 19, 1918

Dear Mother & all -

Your dear letter came the other day but I have been too busy to answer it before.

Tuesday morning I received a telegram from Elda telling me to meet her in Tacoma Wednesday as they (she and her mother) were on their way there. It was impossible for me to get a ten day's furlough as I had expected. For I have to be here two months first. I had to talk like a good fellow to get even a three day's pass but I finally got it and went to Tacoma Wednesday but had an awful time finding Elda and Mrs. Steele. They had arrived in the morning and had sent me a message that I didn't get so of course I didn't know where to find them. I hunted this city over and finally decided they hadn't arrived yet and I planned to meet every train. In the meantime they had made a trip out here to camp to look for me. Finally about five o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Steele accidentally ran across me in the depot and believe me we were all tickled.

I was sure sorry you could not come. We had a beautiful little quiet wedding yesterday forenoon (July 18) in the First Presbyterian Church.

After dinner we went out to a beautiful park and spent most of the afternoon, then we came out here to the little place called DuPont where I rented a pretty little room to stay at. There is no use trying to tell you how good it seems to have her here and happy we are Mrs. Steele came out and stayed with us also last night. I sure hate to see her have to go back there alone but we would have to give her up some day anyway. But I can see it is certainly is hard for her.

Well, it is about noon and if we haven't had any breakfast yet so I'm nearly starved, will write more next time.

Have to go back to work again in the morning.

Oceans of love to all, hope to hear from you soon.

From your son & new daughter

Fred & Elda

Comments:

On July 18, 1918 Fred married Elda Elaine Steele, daughter of Lemuel and Sarah E. Thorne Steele.

Fred is in the hospital!

2012-11-19T16:59:00.001-08:00

On an envelope with a return imprint of Knights of Columbus War Activities, and stationary headed:

War Work Council

Army and Navy Young Men's Christian Association

"With the Colors"

Base Hospital

July 6, 1918

Dear Folks,

I have received all your letters O.K. The one from Dad with the money order came several days ago and I was sure some tickled. Had almost given up hope of getting it. I received Ole's and Mother's letters the same day. It sure made me wish I was home to enjoy some of those big celebrations you have been having. Was quite surprised to hear of the visit from the Steeles. Have had a couple of letters from Elda in Utah. I guess they are having quite a visit down there.

I am still in the hospital and never felt better in my life. In fact I'm getting fat eating all I can and not working to amount to anything. It is dreadfully monotonous tho being penned up like this.

We can go out on the back porch, tho, and watch the automobiles and trains go by, for our back porch looks right on the main road to Tacoma.

About all we do here is sweep, wash dishes, make beds, eat, sleep and wait for the mail, which doesn't come half often enough these days. Yes we have quite a few magazines and newspapers to read too so we can manage to pass the time away somehow.

That was the way we spent the glorious Fourth. What kind of a time did you all have? How are Ed and Virginia and rest of the Kilgorites? I would like to hear from some of them. We saw some splendid fireworks here in the evening tho. The best I've ever seen.

Elda said in her letter that you (mother) might come along when she comes out here. Please do, if you possibly can. You will certainly see some beautiful country if you do. I believe that I can get a ten day furlough if I certify that I am going to get married. Gee I can hardly wait for the happy time which I hope will be real soon.

You wanted to know about my insurance and Bonds. My bonds are in safe keeping at the Commercial National Bank in St. Anthony. My insurance policy with the Inter Mountain Co. must be somewhere in the house and the one in Beneficial Co. is somewhere in my trunk among the letters in the top till.

About the socks, if you send any of them, send only those that have not been too badly worn out for they won't allow a fellow to wear socks that are darned. Let Ole or someone else have them or do as you please with them. I have had three pair issued to me so I really don't need any just now.

You didn't say whether or not you received the picture. They won't let a fellow wear his uniform here in the hospital but they furnish him a suit of pajamas and a bath robe.

This has been the longest two weeks I ever spent in my life but I expect to get out about next Tues. (the 9th) so maybe you better address my next letter to the old address (16th Co. 4th Bn. 166 DB)

I hope every one of you is feeling as good as I am.

Please write soon again and tell me all the news.

Oceans of love to you all.

Fred

(Note on the side of the page)

Am sending herewith the Liberty Bond receipt which I think will entitle you to the Bond when you present it to the bank.

Fred Frederiksen Has a Plan!

2012-11-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

Camp Lewis

June 9, 1918

Dearest Mother & the rest

This is Sunday once more and this sure is a dreary old place on Sunday. We are beginning to get used to the routine of it by this time but one thing is certain, my mother, how much a fellow appreciates home before he came here, he will certainly appreciate it more than that when he gets back; not that this is such a terribly disagreeable place to stay but it gets so monotonous seeing the same things day after day, week in and week out. But we are all in good health and are picking up the drill work quite rapidly and they say that we are doing fine.

We are still in quarantine & will be for a couple of weeks yet. All new men are kept in quarantine for 21 days, until they have been thoroughly vaccinated. We are vaccinated once for smallpox in the left arm (and mine has grown to be some looking sore by this time too) and three times in the right arm for typhoid coming a week apart and they sure make you feel sick for a while as well as stiffening your right arm up until you can hardly put on your coat.

Although we are quarantined we still have considerable liberty. That is we can go anyplace within the Depot Brigade, and there are several YMCA's as well as a picture show to go to so it isn't so bad as it might be.

They didn't drill us much last week but gave us several lectures on contagious diseases and how to prevent them. They certainly make the fellows keep clean here, and it's a fine thing for some of them.

I received your dear letter yesterday and was sure tickled to get it and to know everything is alright at home. About that song, if it isn't too much trouble I wish you would please send it to me as soon as possible, but don't register it as I can't get it then until I get out of quarantine but be sure to write the address very plainly and also write your return address on it.

If you looked at that statement from the bank I suppose you noticed that my balance there was rather low.

Now as far as I am concerned myself I can get along fine, but I have a little plan in mind and I don't know how to explain it so you will see it as I do. You have been aware for a long time that Elda and I are engaged and were to have been married this spring but this beastly war upset our plans as it has done for so many other young people as well as old ones.

You know how hard it is to be separated from those who are so dear to you and I think the world of her as I know she does of me.

A good many of the soldiers have their wives here near the camp so that can go home nearly every night and on Saturdays can go home at noon and stay until Sunday night.

I got a letter from Elda the other day and she said she simply couldn't stand it at home and wanted to come down here so badly and I sure hope I can have her come. She said that her mother would furnish her all the clothes she needs and that her Dad would pay her ticket down here.

Her mother intends to come with her as far as Portland and I am to meet them there as soon as I can get out of quarantine.

Now that would all be very fine but I don't like the idea of letting them sacrifice so much and so little. I am sorry that I have been unable to save any more than I did last winter but I have a hundred and fifty dollars in Liberty Bonds which would be very handy at this time. I wondered if it would be possible for you to help me out a little in this matter. I would like to have about a hundred ($100) if possible. If you don't feel that you could give it to me outright I can let you have my $100 Liberty bond for security for I think I shall be able to pay it back before so very long. I hope you can do this for me for you know a fellow doesn't get any too much happiness out of this military life anyway and it means so much to Elda and me. Please send it by money order as soon as possible, but if you can't let me know so I can make other arrangements. Do not send a check as it is almost impossible to get them cashed here.

Well I suppose you think I am a pretty good beggar by this time, but I have spoken the truth and I have spoken as plainly as I could and I hope I am not asking anything foolish or unreasonable and that I may hear from you very soon. I am with a world of love to you all.

Your faithful son,

Fred

P.S. Please send the song as soon as you can for I am very anxious to see it.

Saw Martin Peterson and Joe Riley and Lester Riley the other day. Old Martin looks as ornery as ever.

16th Co. 4 Bn. 166 Depot Brigade

Camp Lewis Washinton

Comments:

His "Dear Mother & the rest" is an interesting salutation.

I don't know what the "song" is that he refers to. The handwriting seems very clear in both places it is mentioned.

Like young people of every generation, they beg parents for funds to start their lives.

Postcard from Camp Lewis

2012-11-05T16:42:00.002-08:00

Postcard with a picture "Looking East on California Ave. Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.", Dated June 5, 1918 to Mrs. F. Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho

Dear Mother,

We received our uniforms today so am sending my useless clothes back. Am feeling fine. Haven't heard a word from home yet. Hope you are all well. Will send you a picture as soon as I can get one.

Love, Fred

Lessons:

It is interesting at this point how all the envelopes and cards are addressed to his mother.

Card From Marie Haskell

2012-10-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

One of the cards in the collection of Fred Frederiksen is this card to my Great Grandmother, Anna Christine Christiansen Frederiksen, from her sister, Elena Marie Christiansen Haskell. The card is written on the back of an Easter greeting card and is not addressed or signed. It must have been personally delivered or mailed in some other envelope or package. The card is a great reflection on life on the farm in 1911.

The card is written in Danish and is hard to read in some places. My neighbor, Bill, took it to a Norwegian club and they got part of it. He then found a woman who was born in Iceland, learned Danish and who had lived in Denmark and she gave me a better version. Lastly he sent it to a cousin of his in Denmark and he sent a translation also. The translation below is a compilation of the three attempts.

"Dear sister and family. I got your long expected letter only yesterday and was very pleased to read so much. I thought you had forgotten me. We have almost no snow here but the drift in front of the hill. We have the chicken house on the side of the hill so it has sun all day. Last week I collected 28-32 eggs every day and the eggs here are about 10 cents. I choose for mine and the families stomach before I select them for the store. All the children are willing to eat eggs but Eddie, he plays with them, I put them in his drink as we have not cow who gives any milk."

Written April 8, 1911

The First Letter in the Fred Frederiksen Collection

2012-10-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

A letter, postmarked June 3, 1918, Tacoma Wash, Lewis Branch, addressed to Mrs. Fred Frederiksen, Lewisville, Idaho with a return address of F. Frederiksen, 16 Co, 4th Bn 166 D.B., Camp Lewis, Washington.

Camp Lewis -

June 2, 1918

Dear Folks

Gee it seems ten years since I saw you. Hare you all anyway? Am I every going to hear from you? I hope so soon.

This is Sunday and it is terribly lonesome around her even if there men, men, men, everywhere on all sides. A soldier certainly isn't any curiosity around here, in fact that's all you can see. It sure is some life. Everything is done by clockwork and the alphabet around here. We drilled nearly all day Friday.

Yesterday forenoon was inspection to see that everyone's bunk and uniform were in proper order. If not, one gets what is known as K.P. which means acting as one of the "kitchen police", whose duty it is to serve the hungry bunch in the mess hall.

There are about 300 men in our barracks, so you know it is quite a job feeding the bunch of them.

Say it isn't any too warm out here, even if it is nearly sea level. The cold, damp winds blow over here from Pacific.

They gave us each a spring bunk, three blankets and a mattress to sleep with. They also keep all the windows open so we won't suffocate. But I guess we will get used to this airing out process after while and become as tough as a hard boiled owl.

We are in what is known as the Depot Brigade which is under quarantine for th first two or three weeks. We have been examined and vaccinated a couple of times. I have passed fine and dandy so far.

I have signed up for the same branch of service that I applied for to Washington but don't know whether or not I'll get it.

We have fine grub here and plenty of it. But you have to forget all about your table manners and dive in or you'll starve. I'm afraid I'll be a full-fledged hog when I get back, for its every man for himself.

We are all feeling fine and enjoying the new work.

Don't forget that I am very lonesome and want to hear from home. So please write as soon as you can.

Love to all and best regards to Aunt Nell and the other folks.

Tell Ole I'm sorry that I didn't get to see him.

Your son & brother

Fred

Lessons:

His parents have relocated to Lewisville.

Fred is now in the military.

Ole is not yet in the Army

I don't know who Aunt Nelle is.

The Letters & Postcards of Fred Frederiksen No. 2

2012-10-15T16:09:00.002-07:00

Postcard - picturing the main building at Albion State Normal School, Albion, Idaho with a penant with the initials A.S.N.S. The cancellation date looks like April 191(3?). Addressed to Mrs. F. Frederiksen, Kilgore, Idaho

"Dear Folks, Your welcome letter came about a week ago. I am out of writing paper but will write a letter as soon as I get some. Everything is going fine. The weather has been stormy the last week, but it is better now. The Juniors gave a grand program Friday night. We entertain the girls next Friday night at Miller Hall. Love to all. Fred"

Lessons:

He sounds like a typical college student - out of writing paper and writing about the "grand" programs they are presenting the opposite sex. No word about academic progress.

He sounds fully engaged in college life.

It is interesting that he addresses many of his cards and letters to his mother but begins them with "Dear Folks".

The Postcards and Letters of Fred Frederiksen

2012-10-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

In August of 2012, Glenn Cederberg, at a gathering of Frederiksen cousins and their descendents, asked me if I would like a collection of postcards and letters that had belonged to my grandmother Harriet. She had given them to Glenn sometime after the death of her husband (Chris) in 1944 saying that they belonged in the family and that she didn't know what to do with them. Glenn didn't know, at this stage in his life, where they should go to be preserved.

Glenn sent them to me and I received them in late September 2012. There were 24 different items, most of them written by Fred Frederiksen (my grandfather's brother) to his mother and father, Christine and Frederik Frederiksen. Several were written by Fred's wife, Elda and there are two other miscellaneous items. They cover the time period from 1912 to 1938 with a heavy emphasis on the World War I time period.

How these letters got from Christine and Fred to my grandmother is not known. Glenn thought that they could have been given to Chris and Harriet at the time of Christine's death in June of 1943.

My intention is to transcribe these cards and letters at the rate of about one per week and post them to this blog. I am also going to take the liberty of pointing out some of the family history lessons learned from each item. I will also post the link to Facebook so that other family may find them. I welcome their comments.

Postcard - picturing the "Boy's Dormitory, Albion State Normal School, Albion, Idaho". Postmarked January, 29, 1912. Addressed to Mrs. F. Frederiksen, Kilgore, Idaho

Jan. 28, 1912

Dear Mother, - I forgot to tell you in my letter that it is soon time to pay board again. So I am sending this to remind you. I am feeling fine and enjoying school life. How is the snow by this time? Not a bit here. Love to all, XXXXXXX Fritz

Lessons:

Fred is away at school in January of 1912, perhaps starting in the fall of 1911.

Mom and Dad are paying the board.

Fred is using the nickname of "Fritz" which is not seen in other letters or historical letters.

My Mother's Mother's Mother's.......

2012-10-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Another blogger that I read gave us the challenge of writing about our Mother's line and after thinking about it for a week or so and then actually looking at this line, I decided that it was an interesting subject.

My Mother starts it:

Nada Evelyn Lannigan, born in 1923 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She died at age 83 in 2010.

Myrtle Edith Jackson, born in 1902 in Osborne, Smith, Kansas. She died at age 87 in 1989.

Hattie Eleta Lammey, born in Smith County, Kansas. She died at age 82 in 1968.

Sarah Elizabeth Glenn, born in 1856 in Knoxville, Marion, Iowa. She died at age 80 in 1936.

Rachael Cassiday, born in 1831 in Plain City, Young, Ohio. She died at age 42 in 1873.

Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Wilson, born in Monroe, Butler, Ohio. She died at age 79 in 1893.

There are interesting stories about each of these women and I encourage my Lannigan friends to do more research on each of them.

Gary Fredericksen

Some Comments on Larry Dean Lannigan

2012-03-07T15:19:00.005-08:00

Obituaries, by their nature, focus on the overall life of the person and in the interest of time leave out many interesting stories. In Larry's case it leaves out hundreds of stories. Here are some of mine.

My early memories of Larry involve his tremendous sense of humor. I remember his trying to convince my sister Karen and me to eat cat food, and when we didn't he crunched on a couple of Friskies and laughed his cackling laugh. This was at his parent's home down by the Southside Grade School.

Somewhere he learned to play the piano and I remember him banging out ragtime music while standing at the piano - this was in the farm house north of Bonners Ferry.

His parents moved back to Caldwell in 1951 while Larry was a sophomore. But Larry emembered the pictures that hung in the hall of the school showing the pictures of each graduating class and he liked the fact that all of his brothers and sisters pictures were there. He decided that he wanted his picture there too. He completed his junior year in Caldwell, then went back to Bonners Ferry. He lived with his sister Donna and her husband Lee - at least on paper. Most of the time he stayed with Lee's brother Pete Robinson, who was his best friend, and Pete's mother, Violet. Larry then returned to Caldwell.

The story was that my grandmother, Myrtle, despaired of Larry ever finding a mate and moving out of her house. I suspect that she and Larry had several heated discussions/arguments over his life and lifestyle. My grandmother never really liked the spouses of any of her children (a characteristic she passed on to my mother) but she made an exception when Larry met and married Leonna.

I heard the story that when Larry graduated from college he told Leonna that it was her turn to go to school, that she had supported him while he went and that she needed to go. Leonna also graduated from college.

My cousin, Dan, remembers being at an Native American education conference and meeting several Native Americans who had taken auto mechanic classes from Larry. They said that Larry was one of the first white men who really made an effort to know them and their culture and to sincerely want them to learn. Larry would push them hard in class and then take them out and buy beers for them while they talked. They wouldn't let Dan buy a drink during the entire conference.

Another Larry story from Cousin Dan --- So Uncle Larry is on National Guard duty at Farragut, Idaho. He realizes that the MP's jeep runs faster than the one that he has and that they are hard to tell apart. So……Larry switches jeeps…..and gets caught and given duty changing tires on big earth movers that are picking up all kinds of nails as they take apart the WWII barracks that were there. Changing these tires doesn't amuse Larry……So…..Larry gets the bright idea of picking up the nails with a magnet……so how to make the magnet? Well you cut a piece out of the railroad track that runs by and you wrap some wire around it and attach it to a couple of truck batteries, then you hang the battery off the front of your jeep and drive around picking up nails…..fortunately, the train track was an abandoned one. (Dan can tell you the long version of this story sometime and it is so funny and so Larry.)

Sometime Larry came to my folk's house for a visit and he came through the gate dressed as a gunslinger complete with holster, pistol and a beat up hat. Many thought that my mother would have a stroke and heard her say "Larry Lannigan what are you doing?" My father was highly amused and laughed and laughed. Larry, as usual for him, had a story filled with blarney about how he had come to have such a getup.

When Grandmother Lannigan got towards the end of her life, Larry took the money that she had (probably from the sale of the farm) and invested it well and wisely and it supported her until the end of her life. He got out of the investment just in time because he was an early investor in Three Mile Island but Grandmother's life was better for it.

Larry was a story teller - a master really - who could make you laugh so hard - harder than you had ever laughed and you could never be sure of what was true and what was his story. And he always had these crazy schemes going to accomplish something.

While I know it was difficult physically for him, Larry came to Bonners Ferry for the funerals of my Dad in 2005, for his brother-in-law, Lee Robinson (sister Donna's husband) in 2008 and for my mother, Nada, in 2010. Larry said that my mother was more of a mother to him when he was small than his own mother was and he loved her so much for it.

Larry was a regular guy but he was a giant regular guy and we all loved him for it.

I hope these rembrances add a little to Larry's story and that if you didn't know him, you would wish that you did.

Gary Fredericksen, Son of Larry's sister Nada

The Obituary of Larry Dean Lannigan

2012-03-07T15:09:00.004-08:00

Larry Dean Lannigan of Caldwell, Idaho passed away peacefully at home from complications associated with Parkinsons disease on January 25, 2012. He was born September 20, 1935 to Ralph and Myrtle Lannigan on a "stump ranch" North of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, the youngest of 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He was raised in a log cabin by his family who had left the dustbowl of Kansas during the Great Depression for a better life in Idaho.

Larry learned to hunt, fish and be self-sufficient from an early age. He also learned a strong work ethic. As he matured, he farmed and logged for his family and others, as well as developing a keen interest in all things mechanical.

He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1953 after attending his Junior year in Caldwell where his parents had moved in 1951. Larry then went to work at various jobs including fighting forest fires, working in a seed processing plant, roofing for a contractor, and working at a lumber
yard.

Receiving his diploma in Auto Mechanics from Boise Junior College in 1957, as well as attending numerous short service schools for automotive repair and welding, Larry went to work as a mechanic at a car dealership, but graduated to repairing gas and diesel farm equipment and trucks for local repair shops in the Marsing- Caldwell area.

Around this time he met the love of his life, Leonna Zittel from Homedale and they were married on July 19, 1957. The following year they bought their first home in Caldwell.

In October 1958, Uncle Sam came calling and Larry was drafted into the Army, going to Fort Carson, Colorado for basic training. He then went to Fort Benning, Georgia as a member of the 2nd Combat engineers where he used his mechanical and supervisory skills to run a motor pool on a battalion scale. Coming back to Idaho in October 1960, Larry resumed his mechanical career and also joined the Idaho National Guard. In October 1961, he was once again called up by the US Army during the Berlin Crisis. He supervised maintenance and repair of track and wheeled vehicles on a company level at Fort Lewis, Washington while acting as Motor Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant. Larry returned to Idaho after 1 year, resuming his mechanical career and continued with the Idaho National Guard until July 1965, holding the rank of E6 SFC.

That same year, Larry also taught Automotive Service and acted as Co-op Coordinator at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon. He did this all while attending more classes at Boise Junior college.

In the meantime, Larry and Leonna had started their family, having 2 sons, Brad and Daren.

An opportunity to teach and run vocational education programs at Lewis-Clark State College had him move the family to Lewiston from 1966-1972.

During this time, Larry really began his academic education in earnest using his GI benefits to achieve his Bachelor of Science degree in Trade and Industrial Education at Oregon State University in 1968, a Master of Education degree from the University of Idaho in 1972, and a specialist degree from University of Idaho.

When another opportunity arose to work for the State Vocational Education Department in Boise, he moved the family back to Caldwell in 1972. He worked in various capacities running and funding multiple post-secondary programs for the entire state of Idaho until his retirement in the spring of 1995.

Throughout his life, Larry had many interests, talents, and hobbies including hotrods, rock hunting, cutting and polishing, yard-work, fishing, shooting, gold-mining & prospecting, western and military history, reading, brewing beer, baking bread, cross-country skiing, white-water rafting and working on his rental houses. He became an expert on Winchester 1906 " boys model" pump rifles, and also became a very astute and savvy investor in stocks, bonds and real estate (self taught). In later years, Larry really enjoyed his cabin at Lake Cascade and family trips to Mexico and Ireland.

Larry was extremely supportive of his grandchildren and went to their sporting and musical events every chance he could. If there's anything he would like to be remembered for, it's that he could fix or build anything out of metal, wood or plastic. Oh, and he had a great sense of humor.

Larry is survived by Leonna, his loving wife of 54 years, sister Donna Robinson, sons Brad (Lori) Lannigan and Daren Lannigan, grandchildren Kelsey, Kelly, Kristina and Mick, great granddaughter Sunnie, step-grandson Jeffrey (Sheila) Roberts, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by parents Ralph and Myrtle, sister Nada and brothers Darrell and Arden.