Life History of Elmer Lindholm Written by Judy Huskinson
(Granddaughter)
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| Elmer Lindholm |
Elmer
Lindholm was born September 2, 1905 to Alma Eric and Agnes Smith Lindholm. He
was the fourth child of nine children to be born to this humble family.
Grandpa
decided to make his appearance in the world during a very busy season. His mom
and Dad worked hard in those days with their small family and so much to be
done on a farm. They were raising sugar beets and very busy in the harvest
season when grandpa was born.
Grandpa
learned early in life how to work hard, especially living on a farm. His family
was involved with raising sugar beets, honeybees, feeding, fattening, and
selling lambs. Eventually his dad changed from raising lambs to cattle.
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(back row) Vella, Agnes, Alma, Edna Mae
(front row) Alma Grant, Franklin (on lap), Elmer
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When Grandpa was 5 years his father homesteaded a dry farm. They cleared and farmed this land raising good grain. Grandpa was taught the gospel and was instructed in the ways of a good Christian life. When he was 9 years old his father was called on a mission to the Northern States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This was a very difficult time for Grandpa's family; his brothers, sisters, especially his mother. With Grandpa's father leaving on a mission, this left the ones at home the hard job of keeping the fan: and all the responsibilities of the farm going while he was away. The lord blessed the family abundantly. The crops were extra good and the young family was able to pay their debts. The children were getting old enough to be very helpful and Grandpa was one of the children who worked very hard to support his father at this time.
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Children of Alma and Agnes Lindholm
(back row) Vella, Alma Grant, Edna Mae
(front row) Franklin, Ross, Elmer
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Grandpa
grew up like all boys do. He ran, laughed, played and had lots of fun. One of
his favorite games was playing tag on horseback down in the willows by their
home. Grandpa always liked to go first and he would hit the hornet nests with a
stick so the bees would be mad and sting the kids chasing behind him. He was
always thinking and a real practical joker.
Grandpa
loved to tell stories and relate experiences he had done as a youth and
throughout his life. Many of them he told over and over but this was a way you
could get to know him and love him for what and who he was. One of his stories
was about the time he and a bunch of his friends tied a long string of baling
wire to the Iona school bell late one night. Grandpa would laugh and relate how
funny it was so see the lig‘ts in he houses come on one by one when they rang
it. Of course he and his friends knew nothing about the whole thing.
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Lindholm Family Photo
(back row) Edna Mae, Elmer, Franklin, Vella, Ross
(Front row) Alma Eric, Don Charles, Agnes, Joan
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Grandma
always said that Grandpa was a good hard worker. He always gave a good days
work for a good days pay. Grandpa was handy at many things. He enjoyed welding
and repairing cars. He was a very creative person. He was also a very social
person. He made friends easy and always had lots of friends around him. Grandma
and Grandpa was later divorced on February 2, 1912.
After
the divorce Grandpa moved to Lovell Wyoming and worked for Schniders on a sheep
and cattle ranch. His job was to pack in and supply the line camps. Schniders
eventually sold the ranch to Hy Bishoff. Grandpa continued to work here for
several years.
When
Grandpa returned to the Idaho Falls area he was introduced to Merl Gardner by his
brother Frank. They were later married in 1952. With this marriage came the
responsibility of raising Merl's 12 year old son Marlon. Marlon relates with
fond memories a great love for my Grandpa.
When
the Palisades Dam was being built, Grandpa, Merl, and Marlon lived in a small
trailer along Palisades Creek. Grandpa worked on the construction crew as a
powder monkey. He would pack dynamite to the peak of Calamity and help blast
out the rocks so they wouldn't fall on the road being built below.
During
the winter Grandpa worked feeding cattle, using bobsled and horses. Grandpa's
stepson Marlon recalls how he would break and train some of the horses he used
to feed with.
Grandpa
always loved the timber. He worked for the Highway Dept. cutting trees and
clearing way for the new highway being built up over the Ashton Hill. It was during this time he
was investigating the possibility of moving to the Macks Inn area.
During
the summer shortly after Mothers Day Grandpa and Merl moved to their small
cabin at Macks. Grandpa worked hard hauling wood and filling orders for the
"people owning summer homes. This is where I became aquainted with my
Grandpa. I remember going up to Island Park and staying with Grandpa and Merl.
I remember him laughing about his "special pancakes", and I remember
the bed that folded up behind the curtains 0n the wall. He joked, he laughed,
and he talked real loud. I sometimes as a child was frightened by his loud
voice. He was a very special person.
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| Elmer, at the end of a perfect day |
Grandpa
loved the timber. No matter where he went he always found the timber. He
enjoyed cutting wood. He built wood splitters and buzz saws. He was a happy
person. He had a heart of gold. He loved to tell stories and pull practical
jokes on people.
Grandpa
worked for the State Dept. of Highway on building fences along the Interstate
between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot. When this job was finished he transferred
and moved with the company to Oregon where he helped built fences along their
interstate.
Grandpa
also worked on the John Day Dam. During its construction he continued to work
with wood. He would gather up old wood and timber that people didn't want, out
it up and resale it back to people for firewood. He would often laugh and tell
us that it was the same people who brought it to him in the first place and
then they'd buy it back for firewood. He always had a way of wheeling and
dealing with people.
Uncle
Don, Grandpa‘s brother told me how Grandpa became a tree topper. He would go
out and trim trees and cut the tops out of them. People had great confidence in
him because he could cut a tree and lower it to the ground with ropes without
doing damage to the holes around.
One of Grandpa's favorite hobbies was making and wrapping fishing
poles. He also loved to fish and smoke the fish he and his
friend Bill Tanner caught. Grandpa was good about supplying all the family,
especially the grandkids with fishing poles. He used to say, "Don't trade
or sell it. When you get tired of it bring it back and I‘ll give you a better
one." He did have a heart of gold. All the kids around his neighborhood
called him Uncle Elmer.
When
Grandpa got older his eye site dimmed greatly. He used to say that Merl was his
eyes. I don't understand how he drove his little pickup the great distances he
did without an accident. Merl used to read the road signs and even tell grandpa
when to start and stop. He really enjoyed his yearly trips to see _the family
especially Aunt Edna and Uncle Don. When his eyes got so bad he couldn't drive
his pickup truck he drove a little tractor with a slow roving sign on it. When
he hit a Greyhound Bus he decided that was enough driving for him.
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| Elmer Lindholm |
He was
preceded in death by his parents, brothers, and sisters. He is survived by his
wife, one brother, 5 sisters, 3 daughters, 1 son, 1 stepson, 22 grand children, 35 great-grandchildren, and 2
great-great grandchildren.
We all
will miss Grandpa very much. In closing I've found a few thoughts I think
grandpa would have said to all of' us.
No sad
tears for me, please. . . You see, I lived a goodly span of years--and enjoyed
them all. I've laughed a lot, cried a
little. . . I've seen a thousand sunsets and a few fresh dawns, walked in April
rain. . . and watched an ocean roll. Life was good. . . I saw robins in the
spring. . . watched a shooting star or two. . . enjoyed the snows of winter,
walked under a harvest moon. and stood
on a top of a high hill and watched the flickering lights of a town below. No
sad tears
for me, please. . .
I
believe a man really never dies while there are those on earth who loved him. A
man is never gone as long as there are those who remember him with fondness and
as long as his memory brings back a wistful smile. I think Grandpa would want
us to remember him with a smile.
