Memories

V. E. Figg and crew built our present house at its location of 521 North Central Ave in the summer of 1956. We added an addition in 1984-85. The agreement was that Phyl., and I would finish all the sheet rock and paint the house inside and stain the siding outside.

The house was small but had several small rooms which made for lots of per-fa-taping and “mud” work. Material and tools were a little different at the time – a powder mixed with water for “mud” and a product called Dramax used for texture finish. Sorry no texture gun or special tools for that process. We learned with experience and did the complete house.

Now some information and memories about wonderful neighbors. I will also rely on Shifting Scenes for help.

Our neighbors to the south were Rankin and Helen Dean with their three children, Jan, Norma, and Tim. There seems to be no article about the Rankin Dean family in the Scenes but I remember that Rankin was a carpenter and did a lot of stone and rock work at the museum for Marshall Lambert. Helen was a Stitser and was born April 28, 1919 and her parents were Guy and Mary Stitser. They had a place just north of Ekalaka.

Rankin and Helen were married on August 26, 1939. Helen worked many years as a practical nurse at Dahl Memorial Hospital and later as a clerk for Murry Emerson at Emerson Pharmacy. I remember Helen’s dad had a shoe repair service on the south side of Main Street, west of the museum. Mr. Stitser put a heel on my boot one time when I was in high school.

Our close neighbors to the north were Vernon and Frances (Frannie) Parks, and their two daughters, Judy and Andrea (Andi). Their home, built by Figg and crew, was built a short time before ours. Vernon has some interesting history about himself and his family. He was born on November 22, 1920 on the south ranch, his grandparents homestead, located one mile south of Ekalaka on the Chalk Buttes Road and delivered by—you guessed it—Dr. B.B. Sandy.

His original family consisted of his dad, Jess L. Parks; mother, Marie; older sister, Helen (Harkins); younger sister, Ione (Myrvid); and younger brother, Dean. Dean now lives on the home place.

Vernon went to two country schools and graduated from Carter County High School in 1938. As the depression was still on and no jobs were available, he joined the CCC’s and spent time in Jordan and Missoula, Montana.

Vernon married Frances Bruffearts in February of 1942. In July of the same year, Uncle Sam sent him greetings for the Air Force. In December 1943, he was sent overseas to Europe, landing in Liverpool, England.

“Then in June of 1944 we invaded France, and from there up through France, Luxemberg and Germany, ending up at Nurenberg when the war ended, and coming back home in October of 1945,” he writes.

After being in the service and seeing other parts of the world, he stated he was glad to return to Ekalaka and he purchased Parks Standard Service. Other employment was driving the Standard Bulk truck and First National Bank. Others who spent time with Vernon and Frannie were Delores Yates and Bill and Dennis Kuehn.

Up the street and to the north was a home built by the Bud Heckman crew. I helped Bud lay the block for the basement and there were two or three others who worked but the only one I can remember for sure was Earl Collins. The house was built for George (Stub) and Gladys Askin.

Gladys Gross and Stub Askin were married March 12, 1946 in Baker, MT. Stub (the only name he was known by) was a graduate of Carter County High School in 1940. One side line the family had was raising running quarters horses. Stub was elected County Assessor and had that office for many years. Gladys held employment in the school lunch program.

They had three sons, Jerry, Jon, and Scott. During the Shifting Scenes times, all were working and living in Colstrip, Montana.

I trust this will bring back fond memories and we will continue next time with more precious neighbors.