Our house was a lovely home for it was built in 1911 and 12 . We had carbite lights - running hot and cold water, and on the second floor, it was bedrooms on both sides of the long hall and a bath room at the one end. Well, mother didn't get to enjoy it for very long when she took ill that day in the laundry. She was only sick about five days and I remember dad holding me and the other kids holding hands and standing around the bed when she passed away.

Life after that is sort of a dream. I do remember dad renting the lower part to Severest & Enger Tow and we lived in a bedroom made into a kitchen and slept on the third floor. Orville and Ellen and Dad and I. The rest of the kids were either working or had moved and were married.

One day some real estate guys got dad drunk and took him to North Dakota and sold him two sections of North Dakota dry land for his 1/4 section of good fertile Minnesota land. So, on the move for us. We did have a nice home on the one 1/4 section and Ellen and I kept house and finished the 8th grade in North Dakota. Then one day the Bederbergs needed help and Ellen went to work for them, but she decided it was too much work for me to have the home to take care of, so sent me up to take her job and she stayed home. (Frankly, I think she didn't like working out.) Well, anyway, it was a good job for me and I was the main cook and cleaner for the crew. (from 8 to 12 men to do the work and harvest the crops) Well, I took the recipe books in the pantry and did my thing. Got by with the baking and laundry and cleaning and stayed thru the season.

The main thing I remembered is it really helped me grow up. There was a 22 year old girl there that her job was peeling potatoes, prepare the vegetables, and do dishes. So much for my North Dakota work. Then Dad was about to lose his holdings in North Dakota and Harry and Pearl came from Wyoming and took over. They were great and in a year or so, had the place ready to sell. Then they went back to Wyoming and returned to the store business.

Later, dad and I went to Badger, Iowa and were in business with cousin Pete Peterson. We lived in a comfortable apartment in the back of the grocery store. I worked in the store some and we made many friends. I cut hair for my girl friends and did some hair fixing. Dad wanted me to go for training then, but I of course was too scared I wouldn't make it. We stayed in Badger a few years and of course I fell in love. But when I went to Wyoming, it also faded.

Harry put a store in Wheatland, Wyoming and I went with him. I worked for Harry in the store, as did Ellen, and we also lived with them for our stay in Wheatland, Wyoming. Harry sold his store in Wheatland and we moved to Broken Bow.

I thought I was in love with Tom Freeman and another false alarm. When I went back to visit, it was all so different and I decided no way would I marry Tom Freeman. Then, after going back to Nebraska, I had a good and fun life.

That, of course, is where I met and married my Ed. We were meant to be, I know, and after a year, on November 9th, 1930, when I was then 21 years old, we were married in the First Baptist Church, with Ed's Sunday School Class also in attendance. Harry and Pearl had the lovely reception after the service with C.E. Elkins, Fannie Bird, and Mrs. Merrill from Wheatland, Wyoming in attendance. I didn't have a big wedding like Ellen (shown at left), and have all the family come as she had been married just a year before and no one could afford to come again in a year.

We first lived in a furnished apartment up at Ray Simons, and then to the little Haywood house. It was a four room house on Broadway then up the street to a Baptist Parsonage where we had lots of room and I had a friend, Ellen Kleeb, who worked across the street at the court house rented a bedroom from us. All was well, until Ed started playing a lot of golf in the summer and going to tournaments on Sundays and bowling in the fall and winter - while I was having Ellen and friends in for meals and playing cards. I finally saw there was no married life in that and one rainy night after Ed picked me up at the store, I had made my decision to tell him I was going to Casper, Wyoming to see Ellen and Tommy. He said, O.K. and how long will you be gone. I said, I may not come back. You don't need me with your golfing and bowling, so I may just stay. Needless to say, he was so shocked, and I hadn't realized I even cared if he was gone as I always had the girls around. He said, "I'll sell my clubs and bowling ball, and not play another game. I, of course, hadn't even thought he would care or consider not playing golf. But he did, and we wound up with 62 good years together. He, however, didn't play golf or bowl again for years and when he started, he played using common sense. I also bowled later in life.

We were alone for nine years when we finally had our first son. What a thrill that was, and still is. We enjoyed those years until I was pregnant again and one night while visiting brother Orville and Zola in Burwell, I needed to use the bathroom and went out the garage door, which they were remodeling to add another bedroom, and stepped down - a deep step - and it cost me a miscarriage.

Business got slow at the shop and Ed decided to try working at the Arsonal Courts in Rock Island, Illinois. Joey and I did go to Rock Island and Margy went with us, and stayed after we came back to Broken Bow. After we got settled in our apartment, I decided to go look for a job, and got one at McCabes, where I worked until Ed's dad called a year or so later and told ed he would have to come home to take over the shop, which is what we did, and moved back into our home at 1400 Broadway.

Ed stayed in the shop for a few years and decided to sell the shop and took up a Texaco service station on West Broadway.

On April 22, 1946, we were blessed with our lovely daughter Judith Ann. Judy was a good baby and we had a good life there at 1400 Broadway.

We had a good life and when business got slow at the shop, Ed decided to go to Rock Island, Illinois and work in the Arsonal. Joe was just a six month old baby and I had just finished my place as worthy matron, so decided to go to Rock Island to live with Ed while he was working. Margy went with me and when we had to come back to Nebraska, she stayed in Illinois. Later, Ed's dad got too old to run the shop any longer and told Ed he would have to come back or else he would lose the shop, so that meant our return to Nebraska. While we were in Rock Island, Illinois, I had a good job and Margy took care of Joey. Ed wasn't too happy at the Arsnel job, so we decided to come back to Broken Bow, and Ed took over the shop.

The move to Rock Island was a good move. We retained our home in Broken Bow so when we decided to come home, we moved back into our home and we were happy to be back.

Ed continued in the shop for years and finally sold it and took on a Texaco service station on West Broadway. We finally sold our home and built out near the station where I opened a lunch counter and coffee shop for the station customers, which grew to be too much work for me. I was doing the books work for the station and cooking and bowling and playing cards and cooking late at night and into the morning. Finally one nite, when Ray and Hazel Holcomb came out, Roy said, "Mabel, I need you back at the store." I said, "When do you want me?" .....
So, I quit the lunch counter and went to work for Roy.

Visiting brother Orville and Zola in Burwell, I had to get up in the night to go to the bathroom, when I went out the wrong door of the bedroom and stepped down into the garage, which was a deep step and it cost me a miscarriage.

Then, we were without another attempt until I was pregnant with our dear daughter Judy - what a big thrill to have a daughter and seven years younger than our son. A great fmaily now and we were happy. We by now had built a home in 1400 E. Broadway where we lived for many years.

Ed sold the shop and went to work for Texaco service station and I worked at Holcomb Drug, when Brown and Denesia asked us to open the Davis Paint store and we decided we would like to do that, so we both quit our jobs and had a good business in our store, so we finally decided to buy out B&D. We continued in the store until Ed was 65 years old and I was 62. Well, it was not a good time to sell, but we had worked up a good business and had several buyers.

We wound up selling it to Gene and Lola Chapin, who have done very well, only they ahve made it into a furniture store and paint and got rid of the gifts and small articles. Gene runs the store and Lola has the kids shop in the old Penny store and they are doing well. I have left out a lot, so will try to go back to cover some important parts of our life.

When Joe was in high school and Judy in grade school, we sold our home on 1400 Broadway and moved to our new place just off the platform of the Texaco service station. Ed could sit at the breakfast table and see when anyone drove up to the pumps. I opened a little coffee counter for Ed's customers on the front room and meant to sell soft ice cream out the window. Well, it didn't work out that way. People began to come outside and sit for room to come in to the counter for a ranch burger and coffee and brownie sundaes. It was a going business before I was prepared for the extras. Of course, I didn't give up my bridge and bowling and did my cooking at night. Help was hard to find and I did have problems.

One night, Hazel and Roy Holcomb were out after I was supposed to be closed and Roy said, "Mabel, I need you at the store." I said, ok, Roy, when do you want me. I decided right then to close the doors and go back to work for Roy's Rexall Drug store. The first of the month, I did go back to work and Ed quit the Texaco station and went to work for Wenquist Auto Supply.

I told Ed that I was going to go for a visit and he said OK, when 3was I going to be back. I said, well, I didn't know if I would be back. He was shocked and didn't realize that I was unhappy, so he said he would sell his clubs and quit bowling if I was unhappy, which he did, though I really didn't want him to. That was the turning point in our lives and we did start to live as a couple for sure. It was a great reunion for us, and he didn't golf or bowl for a long time, but finally did in a moderate way, and we had a wonderful life together for 62 years.

After nine years, we had our first son. on November 23, 1939. We were both so happy, and Ed was pleased to have a son. We lost our second child two years later when we were at brother Orville's and I missed a step in the night.

Later, I got pregnant again and had our daugahter Judy. Got along fine, though I did carry her for 10 mnonths. She was born on April 22 and it was great. And home in tyime for May baskets. Our life was busy from then on and with both kids in school, I finally went back to work. By this time, Ed had sold the shop, and the shop wasn't busy enough for both he and dad Lowder, so ed took a job with the Arsnal Courts in Rock Island, ILlinoins, where we moved for only a while over a year. We took margy, the girl who helped me when Joe was born, and I was serving as Matyaron of Eastern Star.

I had just finished my work as Worthy Matron when I moved to Rock Island to be with Ed. When we had to come back to Nebraska. After coming home, I worked for Harry, and then got pregnant with Judy, so gave up working and when Judy was old enough to go to Kindergarten, I was in the Rexall one day and Roy said I need help. Why don't you come back to work, which I did on a part time basis until Judy was in school full days. Then I started working full time until Brown & Denesia wanted ed and I to open a Davis Paint store. Well, we did and had a gaood business worked up, so we decided to buy out B&D and ran it on our own for many years. Finally, when Ed turned 65 and I was 62, we decided to sell the store, and had many buyers. Lola and Gene were the first to get it and Gene quit his job at the Safeway and Lola at the bank and they took over our store. They did much to change the business and later closed out the novelty jewelry and went into furniture and paint.

Lola opened a Children's shop and they ahve both done very well. Many changes.

Ed and I went out to see our sone and new grandson Jason in 1971, when I was offered a job at Margy's Dress Shop, which I accepted.

As Ed said, don't worry about me. I'll pay golf. Well, he started to golf a lot, but son was into a lot of civic organizing and was the "honorary" Mayor of Burien, elected two times. He loved all the activities and after a little over two years, I gave up my store as manager and were back in Broken Bow for a month and when we came back, they were closing out my store. I was shocked and he said, "Well, they would come in and ask you if I had anything for them, and I would answer I did or not today. They liked that and business went flat. So Mr. Gerarhtysaid when a manager quit, he 3as going to sell the store, which he did, until he was down to one, which he sold, and I continued to work for him until I moved to Wesley Teerrace. Then I missed working so much and Deanna's had a sign on the window - experienced help needed. So, one day a gal friend called and said why didn't I go down anbd try. Well, Ed said it was fine with him, and he, by thtat time was so involved with collecting cans, he said, go ahead. So, I did and even told her how old I was, and she said come in for a couple of hours or a couple of days, then it got to be more and finally I was the manager of Jack Gerarhty had sold his interest in one store and my good friend in charge, she retained mos t of the old help. and we had a really good time. We are all still good friends and get together once in a while.

Deanna's dress Shop - which I ran until she sold her beauty shop becvause of her hands, and had to sell the dress shop too. It was a fun time and I had a good time back in business again.

Then Ed got cancer through his system, and I would havbe had to give up anyway. He fgirst had cancer in both arms, so had to give up the can business. He would stand out on the deck in our apartment and say, b"boy, I wish I could get down there and smash some more cans. He was a great patient and never once did you hear him complain. Really tyrue. Finally, after spending his days in our apartment, he did have to give up and spend time in his own room on the second floor. That was when they had a care on second floor and drs and nurses there. That's what we did like and that's what sold us on the Terrace.

Now, here I am in the health center and anxious to get back home. I had surgery on my back and don't walk well at all. Guess I can't go home until I can walk safely to and from our dining room, at least. This is December 4, and I sure don't want to spend Christmas herte in the health center. So, time alone will tell. Did go to the terrace for my thanksgiving dinner, thanks to Marion Parkhurst, but came back, and here I am.

At Wesley Terrace, one of Mabel's favorite pastimes is playing bridge with her friends. Whenever she needs more bridge score sheets, they are always ready and waiting for her here. Just click on the small image and print the larger one that follows.