Mom has been working on her life story. Below is a piece of one of Mom's chapters. What is so amazing to me, now, is that my dad, whose resume would have told of farming, milking cows, hauling milk to the creamery, being a janitor at a school, driving school bus, working at a grain elevator to name a few, was encouraged by his sister to travel to a whole new world and apply for a job as the manager of a restaurant! He knew nothing about that world. I don't think he ever managed people (maybe one or two guys at the elevator), cooked anything but a hamburger on the grill at home, did any kind of bookwork besides writing out a check. What he took on, not to mention having to answer to a whole host of big wigs, was phenomenal. He had no way of knowing what was to come for he and his family. Guess he was pretty amazing. Sure miss him!
Marland had lost his job in Walnut Grove. What to do!! My job at Johnson Furniture in Tracy paid for the groceries ($1.10/hour). Phyllis called and told us that the new restaurant, called The Big Steer, just down the road from her, was looking for a manager. She was working there just to help get it started. Marland drove up for an interview and stayed with Phyllis and Skinny. After the interview, he was offered the position immediately. The Big Steer was looking for someone to enter into a partnership. They wanted to own 51% and the partner would own 49%. We thought it would be a good idea and with nothing else on the horizon, we borrowed the $5000.00 from Marland's parents (Fred and Edna Mieska). Little did we know what would happen!! It did work out very well for a while and we were able to repay Marland's folks within 3 months. Marland moved to Northfield in February, 1969.
The kids were in school in Walnut Grove and I was working. The kids and I stayed in Walnut Grove and would drive up to Northfield every weekend. We were looking for a place to rent once school was out in May. Phyllis and Skinny offered all of us to stay with them until we could find a place. We lived with them for about 5 months until we found a place.
Phyllis and Skinny lived right next door to Alber's Park. There was a lot of vandalism there during the week. We approached the Rice County Board and volunteered to watch the place if we could move a mobile home there. The Board approved our request, and we bought a 12’ x 70’ mobile home and had it moved in there. Marland mowed the lawn, cleaned the public bathrooms and took reservations in lieu of paying rent. That was our home until 1975 when we had a house built just south of there.
Meanwhile, back in 1969, Phyllis played a big part in our lives at that point. She was there for the girls - she cooked for them. It was a REAL treat if I could sneak away from the restaurant once in awhile to have a home cooked meal with all of them. She did our laundry and was there for all of us when we were spending much of our time at the restaurant. Bonnie was married on July 3. She had done all the planning. We just had to show up for the wedding. Phyllis sewed me a beautiful suit for the wedding. It was a mint green sheath with a jacket. Very lovely.
2 comments:
Thx for posting this. I never knew the history behind gpa taking the job at the big steer. Sounds like an interesting time. - Jesse
You will all be amazed when GG finishes her book, lots of details you may have never heard!!
Post a Comment