Wisdom & Grace: The neighborhood sure isn't what it used to be

One of my mother's favorite things to do was to "take a ride around the block." By "the block", she meant the three miles by two-mile rectangle that we live in. As a child growing up just east of the Amos Trail, we would take that ride on Sunday afternoons or warm summer evenings. Often, we would stop at the neighbors to greet them and just check up on them.

Well, I started thinking and remembering the neighbors that once lived in our area. Most are gone and their houses are in shambles or no longer exist. Mainly for the benefit of myself, I thought I would write down what I remember of them as a child. Here goes ...

Our closest neighbors were Gid and Stella Johnson, just about half of a mile to the east. My parents had wonderful memories of their hospitality and playing cards. We kids loved it when their daughter Vera Kuenzel and granddaughter Darla would move out to the farm for the summer. Oh, it was so much fun to have someone so near to play with. Great memories!

Ole Horpedahl was a Norwegian bachelor who lived straight north of us two miles. Every Saturday evening, we would hear his red and white Nash Rambler coming down the section line and then it would appear over the hill just north of our house. "Here comes Ole," Dad would say to Mom, "Get the eggs ready." Ole would buy a dozen eggs, maybe two, every week from my mom.

Ole's niece Lena came from Norway and lived with him for a while. I remember she was so beautiful and kind. One 4th of July we went up there and she so enjoyed watching my brother and I light our firecrackers. Her happiness made us happy.

To the west of Ole's was the Johnny Romain place. There was always a hired man there and often his wife. I remember having a dessert made of chocolate graham crackers layered in whipped cream. It was the most delicious dessert I've ever had! This is where Hilldale Colony is now.

Down the road lived the Leonard and Mildred England family. Dick, Jim, Sis and Bobbi had already left home but Art, Dolly, Pat and Nancy were still there. Mildred and my mom gave each other Home Permanents while we girls enviously watched. Mildred was a great cook and I still make her "Fudge Squares." Mmmm.

A half mile down the road was Staton Coulee School and the Teacherage. Breta Gordon and Esther Naber lived in the Teacherage during the week. Mrs. Naber didn't drive so she caught a ride to town on weekends.

East of the school lived Florian and Monica Mosbrucker. I was always in awe of what I considered their beautiful names: Florian and Monica. Years later I was thrilled to meet their granddaughter Monica Coleman who also worked at the hospital. (I love it when family names are passed on from generation to generation.)

Father south Milton and Georgia Johnson lived. Milton Jr., Mervin and Barbara had left home but Sharon and Marcia attended Staton Coulee School when we did. Sometimes Sharon would meet us at the corner while riding her black horse "Midnight" and then we would ride the last mile together. I still have a special bond with Sharon Johnson Stinson and Marcia Johnson Durward.

To the south a couple of miles lived Hans and Onnie Hanson. Hans died near his tractor while farming and Onnie came racing to my parents for help. My mother shared the grief and remembered it all of the rest of her life. My sister, my brother and I loved going to visit Onnie. She made the best, and I mean the very best, Sugar Cookies ever!

On the other side of Red Rock Coulee was the Claude and Blanche Springer family. We would stop on the way home from town sometimes. They had a beautiful location for their house and were always very hospitable.

And south of them on the Amos Trail lived Alfred and Lavearn Draeger and their four daughters Marilyn, Betty, Patty and Rita. Mom and Lavearn were members of the Home Demonstration Club and good friends. Rita and I are just a few weeks a part in age.

Jalmer and Anna Rismon lived west of the Amos. Anna was also a member of the Home Demonstration Club and so we often visited them. I remember Linda and Murdy.

Wanke's lived farther to the west and I remember visiting them often, also. Esther always had a gallon of ice cream in the freezer in a cardboard carton. Usually, it was chocolate ice cream ... my favorite!

Going north on the north side of Red Rock Coulee is the Weyh Place. Jim and Marge Harden lived there with their children Nancy and Howard. They attended Staton Coulee School and were great friends for many years, even after they moved to town.

George and Lillian Campbell lived west of us. One time I ran into them at the Woolworth Lunch Counter and they visited and visited with me. Their son Bud and his wife Sis (Louise England) lived there, also.

Two miles west and one and a half miles north were Percy and Ethel Couch and their children Keith, Phyllis, Cnthia and Calvin. I have the best and fondest memories of them since we attended the same church (6th Avenue Christian Church) and same school (Staton Coulee School). We often rode horseback cross county back and forth. My dad made a "let down" so we could let the three-wire fence down and tuck it under a spike nailed to the bottom of the fence post.

Many years later my daughters and I rode horseback over to Couch's. It was dark when we started home cross country. One of my daughters said, "How will we know how to get home?" "Girls, I've traveled this path many, many times as a child and it hasn't changed. Just follow me."

In re-reading this I noticed how many times food was mentioned, especially dessert. The neighborly thing to do was to always have something prepared in case a neighbor was stopped by. So, I couldn't quit before adding a few treasured recipes.

Onnie Hanson's Sour Cream Cookies

2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Shortening

2 Eggs

4 Cups Flour

1 tsp. Soda

Pinch of Salt

1 tsp. Vanilla

Cream the sugar and shortening before adding the rest of the ingredients. Mix. Let the dough cool slightly in the refrigerator. Roll. Sprinkle sugar on top.

Mildred England and Gertrude Whaley's Fudge Squares

2 Cubes of Margarine

2 Cups Sugar

6 Tablespoons Cocoa

1 Cup Milk

2 Cups Flour

3 Eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

½ Cup Chopped Nuts

Frosting:

6 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

3 Tablespoons Cocoa

4 Tablespoons Butter or Margarine

4 Tablespoons Milk

Mix the softened margarine, sugar and cocoa very well. Then add eggs and beat. Add milk and four alternately. Beat well. Add vanilla and nuts. Bake at 375 degrees oven until done, usually about 25 minutes. Frosting: Boil two minutes. Cool slightly and add enough powdered sugar to spread over the squares.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, of all the commandments, which is the most important? "The most important one," answered Jesus "is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second one is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 11: 28 - 31.

Our neighbors "around the block" and a little farther have certainly been a blessing. I will forever be grateful for their grace, hospitality and love through the years. God bless you, dear neighbors. Even those gone but certainly not forgotten.

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Ila McClenahan is a retired Chaplain and Activity Director living in the Amos community north of Havre. She spends her time volunteering, writing, speaking at various events and trying to be a good wife, mother and grandmother to her oodles of grandchildren.