Memories

I would like to end my articles about the family of Joe and Marj Schallenberger this week - they brought back many memories to me and hopefully to you readers. I will share a few statistics and information on the family and then I would like to share some of my recollections of this couple.

Marjorie Opal Powell was born 11-20-1916 in Ekalaka to James and Effie Oberlin Powell and had a brother, Harry and a sister, Maxine Lilletvedt. At an early age, Marj lost her father and her mother married Orra Strain. This may help you understand the family names.

Marj tells of her wedding: "In 1934-35, they courted and were married on 09-14-1935. They traveled to Belle Fourche, South Dakota with Marj's parents, were married, shopped, saw a movie, had dinner and returned to Ekalaka on the 15th."

It seems that times, dresses, money, transportation, etc. may have been a little different during those years.

It was reported that Joe's dad, Frank, lived with them until his death in 1964 at the age of 94 and Marj's mother, Effie, lived with them until 1989 when she was also 94 years old.

Now some of my thoughts: Joe and Marj were a very close family who did most activities together. They shared hobbies and crafts, sewing, crocheting, big gardens, lots of flowers and even shared the lawn mowing. Oh yes, they fished and hunted together through old age.

Attending church was an every Sunday activity for the family all those years. As Marj states: "They shared in all they did -love, worship, family, and work."

Phyl and I went to visit Joe and Marj quite often and were always most welcome. One of the first things Joe would ask us was: What's new in Ekalaka?" I Would tell, he would laugh.

One time when I visited the couple in their later years Phyl asked what were they doing? My answer: holding hands.

During their later, senior years, when unable to paint the house, they asked if I would do it for them. Well, you know what the color of the house was, yellow. After I had finished the job Marj made this statement to me. "I just love yellow." This made my heart sing because of her joy.

Joe and Marj had two important wishes: not to have to go into the home and to live to the end together. God granted both when Joe passed away on February 28th, 2007 and Marj on March 1st, 2007, less than twenty four hours apart.

I would like to share a poem written by Joe in his young age after he made a trip to the west coast with a couple of friends.

You know these great big cities

Aren't what they are supposed to be

And you will find without much searching

That the plains appeal to me

I don't like the cooped up cities

Where you never get fresh air

Where folks are real independent

And don't act as though they care

Everyone out there are strangers

Going here and going there,

And a Sunday down at Long Beach

Is just like our county fair

Even the little farms they have

I don't like them at all

I suppose they make a living

But it looks like it would be small

No, I'll take the open country

Where there is lots and lots of space.

That's what you'll find out in Montana

And I'm sure it's no disgrace.

Everybody has their likings

Places that they think are best

But for me it's old MONTANA

That's the best state in the West.

We can't all live in the same state

Nor love the same old girl

But if you really want to live

Give Montana a whirl.

What a wonderful couple. We miss them so very much.