The Bulletin
July 13, 2003
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A picture of four generations taken when Jazmine was about two weeks old.

Editor's Comments: The four generations are as follows: Verona Burchill -- Great Grandma; Janie Anderson -- Grandma; Brenda Hill -- Mom; and Jazmine Hill. (Jazmine's grandpa is my husband Don's brother, Dwight.)

Jazmine is The youngest baby in our relationship, at least I think so -- until I introduce the Mellons and their youngest member will take over that position. Because the Mellons will be reading this issue of The Bulletin, I will introduce all of the authors to them in turn. My introductions will be in the color I am using here.


Updates -

Grandma and Grandpa.

I'm glad to see that you got your invitation so fast. Things are coming along nicely now. The cake and flowers are ordered, Leona's dress is almost done, all the rental things have been taken care of. We're both very excited for the wedding. We would both love to have you there on our day, but only if you both feel you are able. If you decide you can't make it, please don't feel bad. We'll both understand and we'll come down to see you sometime in the early fall.

Well, I should go. I actually have to work this morning. It's going to be very slow again. I had to work yesterday as well and in an 8-hour shift I had three customers. Luckily, I had a big project I'm working on to pass the time. I'm making calendars that will be given to every student at one of the local elementary schools. We make them for free for the kids.

Oh, I can't believe I forgot to tell you this! I got a letter from the school last week. Turns out that I'm on the honor roll now. For the first time in my life I was proud of my grades.

Hope you are both doing well and enjoying the summertime.

Eric

(Our Grandson Eric is our son Donnie's son. He is being married to Leona on August 16th.)


UPDATE -- Becky's new job

I haven't heard how Becky was liking her new job working in a group home with the clients there; I was glad for this information from her mom:

Took the kids and did my Walmart and Target run, so I don't have to do them plus groceries on Tuesday night, gets too much. Plus, we thought we might run into Becky, she had Brian there, but he got sick of shopping as soon as he got his football. :-) We had fun shopping anyway. Jayce loves to shop. I let him carry his purchase around, a light switch cover with all sorts of balls on it. He loves the soccer balls the best, but is getting into all of them more.

So then I asked her if I should know Brian -- I just couldn't remember any of Becky's friends with that name. Here is her very interesting answer:

I should have made that more clear. Brian is one of her "clients." He watched us out the window after I'd taken the kids to the park, when we'd stopped and visited where she works at the home in Elbow. He does not speak, just makes some squeals, sounds and signs yes and no. She said they figure he's about a 2 year old level. Although he does make himself coffee (made a mess doing it, though) and helps set the table, etc. She said he's very easy to deal with.

They are training her in today at the other home in Elbow Lake. (4:00) In fact she had to go over to the other home and help the aide there get a client off the floor. Becky squatted down by him, had him put his hands on her shoulders, grabbed his belt and stood him right up by herself. The other gal said, "You made that look easy." She'd been trying to let him crawl up on some cushions she'd brought in. Becky told her, "Yes, it was." The other gal said, "I'm going to call you if I need help ever again!" That was a nice compliment! (She said the man was very light.) Of course, she had to bring Brian along over there. He was the only one she had yesterday.

Good work, Becky, it sounds like you are doing a great job!!

Becky is our granddaughter -- our daughter Donna is her mom. Jayce and Caity are Becky's children (Donna's grandchildren and our great grandchildren).


Memory Lane

More Farming Experiences
by Don Anderson
(Don is my husband -- on August 15 it will be 53 years since we were married.)

My early experience of farming begins in 1937. The country was still in a depression that began in 1929. Dad rented 200 acres just north of Dwight. The crop of 1937 was a failure due to rust on the wheat and grasshoppers. I was along with Dad as he ran a combine for Wallace Manikowski of Mooreton. The combine was a big steel wheeled machine pulled by a 15-30 IHC tractor. A man on the combine ran the header, so it required two men to operate it.

There was little grain to harvest and it was light weight and some elevators refused to buy it.

Dad bought a 10 foot IHC grain binder that year because the crop looked so promising until the rust took it. I.E. Lillegard, the IH dealer in Wahpeton, told Dad, "Don't worry, maybe the next crop will be OK." He said he would wait for the $350 total cost of the binder.

I recall the spring of 1940. We lived in Dwight yet and there was a 7-acre plot of land just West of Dwight that Dad planted to corn. He told me to harrow it after planting and was to do it the day of our school picnic. I wanted to go to the picnic, in viewing distance from the cornfield. I could see the kids having fun and I thought of a way to join them. I had Queen and Dol (horses) and a three section harrow. I just went up and down a few rods to make it appear the whole field was done. I took the team back to the barn, near our house, and beat it to the picnic.

All went well and I figured I had pulled it off. The next morning Dad said, "Donnie, you can go back and finish the harrowing today."

Later I cultivated the corn on that field with a team and one row cultivator.

I remember Vernon Anderson got a new 1940 "H" Farmall with a two row cultivator. Melvin Gagnum worked for Vernon and I envied Melvin running that new rig. He would go down the road in 5th gear, 18 MPH.

What a contrast, then and now. I guess if it was to do over I would choose the 40's. Maybe it is I long for my memories of my younger years.

The machinery of today is far too complicated for me. At least I could repair the machinery of that day.

GIVE ME THE OLD DAYS, I UNDERSTAND THEM BEST!


Desperately
Seeking
Stuckey's
2
The Pudding Pack
Chronicles

A Short Story
By Doug and Dorothy
Anderson

Editor's Note: The following is a story with two narrators. When the writing is in normal prose style, it is the Mother speaking. When it is written in journal entry form, it is the Son who is speaking.


Don, Marlene, Doug, Patty, Rolly, Marcella, 1976.

Chapter Eight
Little Wheels Turnin'

6/30/76: I saw the model train set to end all train sets today! It took its own separate building to contain it. There were Amtrak passenger trains with detailed passengers. He had all the lifelike scenery, the trees the hills, the dales. (Note to self: Look up "dale.") I thought Terry Haglin's race car layout was cool, but this beats all. He also had very detailed Western-type old trains, too; those were probably the coolest. What a neat guy! Wish he lived in Minnesota... More later.

2nd Entry: I almost forgot to say that Rolly let me operate the controls and everything, even though his train set must have cost at least a million dollars! I didn't have an engineer's hat, though, but it was still the best!


On the last day of June our family made a special side trip, just for us. I had made arrangements for this part of our vacation before we left home. We planned to visit my cousin Roland and his wife Marcella. Uncle Everett had given me Roland and Marcella's phone number and I had called and made arrangements for this day soon after we arrived last week. They live in Covina. I was anxious to get in a good visit! We arrived in the early afternoon and found they live in a pretty part of the city in a roomy, sunny, California rambler. Roland has it very well landscaped -- and Marcella has a beautifully decorated home, where everything seems cozy and comfortable!

I haven't seen them since they left Waverly. I remember babysitting for them one week. Roland managed Grandpa Mellon's store and when Marcella had to help him at the store I took care of Tom, who was a baby. Marcella and I had become good friends then and I considered her just as much family to me as Rolly -- who, as one of the two male first cousins that I have -- is very family.

Just as a little added importance in our family history was that he had been Bill's best man and the only one of Bill's relatives who could attend Lois and Bill's wedding. So all of that -- and the fact that they are fun people to visit -- made it very necessary to take Don and the children to meet them.

I have to record this impression -- Marcella has not aged one bit, nor has she gained one pound (I doubt she weighs a hundred pounds!) She is still as pretty as ever -- and as hospitable!

I don't think Doug will ever forget the visit. How many cousins do you know who have a collection of trains so large that it takes a special building to house it all Well, his Mother's cousin does -- pretty impressive! I think his sisters were pretty impressed, too!

And what a great afternoon dessert break, with coffee for me, (Marcella hadn't forgotten that I needed coffee with my sweets) and lemonade or iced tea for the others. While we were having our delicious snack, and before we went to view the train collection, Colleen came over and we got to meet her. She stayed for lunch and a short visit and then needed to leave for an appointment. She was so friendly we wished we could have had more time with her.

After lunch was over, we got to watch Rolly's train in action. I think that everyone felt like I did. The afternoon was a huge success!

The authors of this story are: Dorothy M. Anderson (that's me) and Douglas A. Anderson (that's my son). Doug also does the Family cookbook and lots of other Bulletin features.


Editor's Comments: Could you give us more details on Uncle Everett and his family? --DMJ

Answer: First of all I think most of you know that Uncle Everett was my mother's (Amy Mellon Dake) only sibling -- we then are cousins of his descendants. --DMA

I received this question a few weeks ago. I have been busy researching -- and now that Doug and I are running our short story about our 1976 trip, and have come to the chapter about our visit to see Rolly and Marcella Mellon, I think the time has come to answer the question. Join me as we get an introduction to these cousins of ours.


Daisy & Everett Mellon, back; Diana & Rolly Mellon, front, 1944.

My Parents: Everett and Daisy Mellon
by Diana Mellon Martin

My parents, Everett A. Mellon, and Daisy I. Williamson were married on October 18th, 1922, I believe. Anyway, I'm 64 years old, and I was born on their 16th wedding anniversary ... whatever that would make it. I am the youngest of the two children they had.

Roland would be 80 this year, would he be alive. Roland served in the Army Air Corp during the second WW as a baker, and carried those skills into private life, until he eventually started work for the California RTD ... local city bus company in LA, and retired from there. He and Marcella Grady were married in Texas, during the war, I believe.

I was born in Minneapolis on October 18, 1938. We lived in Bryn Mawr, a section of South Minneapolis until I was 11, then moved to Robbinsdale, a suburb of Minneapolis, where we all lived until I married in 1956. Dad passed away in 1983. He and mother were divorced in 1953, and she and her new husband, Neal Benon, moved to LA that year, but dad and I stayed on in Robbinsdale where he remarried a couple of years later.

He and his new wife, Adelia (Sue) Kirsch met at a dance, and dated for about a year before marrying, and they remained in the same house until dad passed away. Then Sue remained there for about a year before selling and moving to an apartment in Robbinsdale. She passed away in 1990.

Click here for a photo of Everett Mellon. There's more on Everett Mellon here.



Rolly & Marcella Mellon, 50th anniversary

The Roland and Marcella Mellon Family
Information from Colleen Scott

Rolly and Marcella had three children; if they were living today, they could count up five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and I am sure they would be very proud of them -- as they sound like the kind you could totally enjoy.

Tom is their oldest son. He was born November 7, l945. He is a licensed appraiser and works for a large mortgage company; he is a supervisor of appraisers there. He lives in Costa Mesa, California. At the present time he is single. He was married from 1966 until 1981 to Kris and has a son.

Tom's son is Timothy Thomas Mellon who was born January 22, 1969. He is married to Kim and they have two children: Wyatt Timothy, born in July of 1996; and a daughter, Kelli, born in February of 1999. They live in Canyon Lake, California.

Dan is four years younger than Tom -- his birthdate is October 18, 1949. He was married to Nancy on July 19, 1969 (the day before the first moon walk). He is pretty busy these days, what with getting settled down in his new job as general manager of a printing firm; working very hard taking accelerated night courses in his plan to finish getting a degree; and of course right now his most important interest is getting acquainted with his new grandson (the first one for him and Nancy).

Dan and Nancy have two children -- they are both married and have both attended Cal State, San Bernardino. Their son Sam is married to Holly and they live in Altadena, California. Their daughter Anne is an RN, but she is now in the administration part of the business (quite an accomplishment for someone under 30). Anne and her husband and new son, Aiden, born on June 24 of this year, live in Yucaipa, California.

Rolly and Marcella's youngest is a daughter, Colleen, (who kindly supplied all this information). She was born July 29, 1955. She has been married to Ernie Scott since March 5, 1977. Ernie has adopted Jacob Allen (whose birthdate is September 4, 1974), a son from her first marriage. Jacob is Jake to the family and he and his wife Kim have no children (but everybody is hoping they will someday). Jake owns his own business. He is a licensed process server. He and his wife live in Adelanto, California.

Colleen and Ernie also have a daughter, Jessica, born December 22, 1980. (She graduated from MIT on June 9th ... and her mom says ... whew!) She lives on the East Coast and has decided to live there for at least three years. She is a computer engineer and is working for a firm that assists health care businesses with their computer systems.

Colleen's husband, Ernie, manages two departments at a sheet metal factory. Colleen works for the San Bernardino county -- the largest in the nation. She is a district manager. in the Transitional Assistance Department. (She explains that it used to be called welfare, but that is no longer PC.) She supervises six Supervisors who supervise eligibility workers who administer their Medicaid program. She has worked for the county for 11 years. Their family lives in Rialto, California.

I was introduced to Dan by Diana -- I think it was over two years ago. We have become good e-mail pals. I have some news flashes he sent me recently to share with you all. Cousin Dorothy can now be added to my titles!

Colleen's youngest child, Jessica Scott, is graduating from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) this month.

Dan


Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 09:53:00 EDT

Subject: Aiden Charles Montford...
...came into the world at about 5:30 a.m. today. Our daughter Anne had a difficult time and they finally performed a caesarean. Aiden was 7 lbs, 11 oz., 20" long. Anne's husband, Julian, and Nancy were with her, and everyone seems healthy and happy. I'm headed to the hospital shortly. I'd better go now, I have to set up a college fund.

Dan Mellon



Photo sent by Dan Mellon
Roland Mellon, Diana Mellon Martin, Russell J. Martin
on the occasion of Roland and Marcella's 50th anniversary in 1995.

Meet Your Cousin
as reported by Diana (Mellon) Martin

I married Fred Kendall on October 19, 1956, and had three daughters by that marriage. Maralee Jo ... born April 4, 1957 ... Brenda Louise ... born May 23, 1958 ... and Julianna Joy ... born December 18, 1962. Fred and I divorced in 1972.

I married my high school sweetheart, Russell J. Martin, on August 15, 1976, after being reunited by his mother! Bless her! We have no children of our own, but Russ has six children from his first marriage, five sons and one delightful daughter. Between us, we have 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

My oldest daughter, Maralee, is the only one of my daughters to have children ... three ... Shane, age 26; Jacob, age 25; and Cristina, age 23. Shane is a Med-tech at Abbott Northwestern Hospital; Jake works for a large school bus company, as does his wife; Cris works for a manufacturing company that makes water filters. Maralee is currently unemployed, due to the effects of a car accident, but has a barber's license, and holds a degree in upholstery, and does some of that at home. She is engaged to a fellow named Greg, and they own a home in Coon Rapids, MN.

Brenda is just starting her second or third job with a banking system as a mortgage closer, and is thrilled to be getting such a good job in this economy! Her husband, John, is a Registered Nurse with the State of Minnesota medicare program. He's 10 years her senior, but acts 10 years younger! He's a gem!

Julie lives in Michigan; she is waiting for her husband, John, to end his current job contract here in Minnesota with a local construction company, to join her. She is a shift manager of a large grocery store chain in Traverse City, Michigan, and living with a close girlfriend there, and is busy looking for a house to buy. We were thrilled to see her last week while on vacation there. She and John love Michigan, and can't wait to settle down there.

Russ and I live in a tiny town called Brook Park, Minnesota, just 15 miles NE of Mora, MN ... north central Minnesota, literally out in the woods! We live in a tiny house that was originally a one room cabin that we bought in 1999, and have been renovating ever since. It's a never ending job! Russ is semi-retired, but does scissor and knife sharpening for the JoAnn Fabric stores around the state as well as Wisconsin and SD. He also sharpens at some Ben Franklin stores, as well as a couple of quilting stores. I am also retired, and only work here at home.

I previously managed the food service office at Copperfield Senior Apartments, for six years, where Russ was Food Service Director for nine. His history is actually in the food service business, being Executive Chef in several large Supper Clubs in the Twin Cities area for many years.

We met the first day of our 10th grade year at Robbinsdale High School, and dated for the next two years, when we went separate ways until 1975, when we "re-met," and haven't been apart since. Russ says he knew he'd get it right, finally! haha......

I am a credentialed and certified Chemical Dependency Councilor, but have not worked in the field for many years. I worked with court ordered kids in a locked evaluation unit at Fairview Deaconess Hospital for seven years, my area of expertise being family counseling and interventions. --Diana


The Family Cookbook
Culinary Heirlooms
by Doug Anderson

      This week we have a very special recipe from our Cousin, Diana Martin. She sends us a versatile little number that would work well as breakfast, brunch or supper. And while this dish is not technically a soufflé, that title has extended very much over the years and been applied to many different preparations. Besides, I think it sounds better than just plain "egg bake," which just doesn't seem to do this recipe justice.
      Bearing that in mind, preheat your oven to 350 and prepare yourself for:

Diana's Delicious Cheesy Sausage Mini-Soufflé

Preheat oven to 350-375
Spray a 2 to 3 qt. Casserole dish with food release spray.
Combine the following ingredients in large mixing bowl:
8 large eggs (will render 4 servings)
1 small can sliced mushrooms
1 pound bulk sausage, cooked.
1 cup milk
salt, pepper and garlic, to taste.
Pour mixture into casserole dish,
Bake, uncovered for one hour.
Top with grated Swiss and cheddar cheese,
just before removing from oven.
The Author suggests serving with a mixed fruit side dish
and toast.

Diana suggests testing the souffle with a toothpick or two forks, to check for doneness. She also adds if using a convection oven (like she does) the cooking time will be considerably shorter.

      Thanks, Diana, it sounds delicious and I imagine getting to know this recipe much better someday soon!
      See you next week, when the recipe you're reading might be yours!


LET'S GET BETTER ACQUAINTED
by Donna

I have a new question, to any of you that feel like sharing ... (If you receive this bulletin, you are an eligible contributor; please don't feel like you are just a wallflower or onlooker!)

I so enjoyed Doug's Father's day writing, it made me wonder,

What is the earliest memory you have?

This isn't necessarily my first memory, but it is one of my most vivid, and it was the first one that came to mind when I saw the question. For Weston's 6th (?) birthday, when I was 8, Mom loaded up me and all the boys in Weston's class (plus Jolene, since she was Joel's twin sister, and she didn't want Jolene to feel left out). We went out to Eagle Lake to go swimming.

I don't remember much about being out there, but all of a sudden some huge nasty looking dark clouds swelled up. Eagle Lake is about 15 minutes from Ashby, so we loaded up and started to head back to drop everyone off. As we drove through town, the clouds really started to look bad. We stopped at Grandma's house to wait it out. I believe there were some tornadoes around that day.

Kind of a funny coincidence that my mom invited Jolene along that day. Must have known that some day she'd be her daughter-in-law!!!

Wyatt

Our daughter Donna is married to a great guy we call Beaver. He has three sons that came with the package -- and we consider them our grandsons, too. Wyatt is married to Jolene and they have a sweetheart girl, whose name is Rylie.


Personals

Thanks Mom, for a super 50th Bulletin. Keep 'em coming, hot off the press! dmj


Thank you note:

To Ben, Weston & Wyatt. I appreciate so very much the help you gave your father with the cattle this past weekend. The heat and conditions were not such a wonderful experience, by the looks of your clothes! You are wonderful sons! We have been blessed with such awesome children and you all deserve big HUGS and more thanks!

Wyatt, I hope your injured ankle is mending -- sorry that you had to get stepped on and hurt!


To Barb & Russ, Wyatt, Jolene, Rylie, Chris, Becky, Caity, Jayce -- thanks for joining us the evening of the 4th, for our "picnic" by the fire ring. Was a fun evening and good visit. Thanks for tending the fire and hotdogs/ brats, Wyatt ... job well done. It was so fun watching Rylie playing outside ... a little explorer -- keeping her parents on their toes! W & J, Thanks for bringing the festive cookies and chips ... best part was watching Rylie enjoy her cookie; she seemed to enjoy each bite!


I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism. --Charles M Schwab, 1862-1939, American Industrialist, Businessman


+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on #50! You're doing a great job! --Janie
You met Janie in the 4-generation picture.


I can hardly believe you have written 50 bulletins already. You have done a very super job and I have really enjoyed getting all the family news. There truly is a lot of talent in the relationship for writing things. Doug and Beaver are doing a great job as well as the others who contribute. It is nice to get some new good recipes. Thanks and Good luck as you continue to publish the fine "BULLETIN." --Mavis
Mavis is Don's youngest sister


Enjoyed Beaver's high school escapade in the Bulletin, Dorothy. :-) Also recall some of the Hallowe'en stories that the older Anderson children got into -- maybe Don can share in the Bulletin? Kids will be kids. :-)

Time to get the day rolling!
Doris

Doris is married to Don's brother, who we call Junior -- they live in LaMirada and they were the ones we stayed with during our 1976 trip.


Letter to a Columnist
Attn: Beaver Johnson
Re: "Beaver's Chemistry Experiment"

After consulting our lawyers, we find that because of the Statute of Limitations there is no longer any danger of you being charged with a crime (nor will you suffer the loss of your diploma) -- after such a LONG TIME -- so how about coming clean? Which one were you -- the "Faucet Man" or the "Nozzle Man"????

The Editor


Interesting bulletin, again, Dorothy. Was thinking about the earliest memory when I wrote about the pilgrim boy. Donna remembered a pilgrim girl also. Guess that's when women's rights must have come into being??? Now they can't have him/her holding a Bible, I suppose. --Elaine


Dorothy,
Another very interesting newsletter! You must put a lot of time and effort into that. Isn't it fun though when various ones help you out? So good to hear what's going on in others' families. Keep it up! What a great retirement hobby for a school teacher! I took my poetry over to Leach Home again today. I take three different ones every week or 10 days; brought the 4th of July things home now. Elaine.

Elaine is the oldest of Don's sisters (but younger than he). She is our Assistant Food Editor on The Bulletin.


CHUCKLES

Hi there everybody -- hope you enjoy this feature -- and feel free to contribute your favorite smile.

RECIPE
By Elaine Wold
Assistant Food Editor

I like to look through cookbooks, and I find those from local churches and organizations have the best recipes for us non-talented cooks in the midwest!

While looking through a Mooreton Lutheran church cookbook I found they had a men's section, with recipes submitted by the men of the congregation. I thought this one was too good to pass up, so thought the guys in the Bulletin subscription listing could enjoy it also!

It is called "RESERVATION."
1 phone book
1 phone
2 fingers
Take above ingredients and let the fingers walk through the phone book and
find a good restaurant. Have fingers then dial phone number and make a
reservation. A great wife pleaser!


QUOTATION FOR THE DAY: I owe much; I have nothing; the rest I leave to the poor. --Francois Rabelais

EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com


This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.