Life History of Alma Erick Lindholm
Written by himself in January 1938
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Elmer Lindholm
Life History of Elmer Lindholm Written by Judy Huskinson
(Granddaughter)
 |
| 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
|
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
|
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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Treasure in my inbox
Great, Great, Grandma Agnes Lindholm |
| Grandma Agnes, going to a DUP event |
This beautiful lady is an ancestor that I have been researching and learning about. An ancestor that was just a name on a piece of paper. But the more I learn about her, the more I love her, admire her courage, and respect the life that she lived. Agnes Smith Lindholm, my great, great, grandma.
Thank you Craig Lindholm for sending me this photo. It will be treasured and hopefully we can honor our dear Grandma Agnes with the stories will be sharing here on the blog in the near future.
Don Charles Lindholm - Eulogy
In Loving Memory Of
Don Charles Lindholm
Born
May 17, 1919
Iona, Idaho
~
Entered Into Rest
July 3, 1997
Santa Rosa, California
Craig
Lindholm’s remarks at his father's funeral;
We
are here to give reflections of and pay tribute to Don Charles Lindholm. Our
mothers loving husband and our father and many peoples friend.
History
· Born May 17, 1919 in Iona Idaho.
· One of nine children of Alma Eric Lindholm and Agnes
Smith Lindholm.
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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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| Don and Joan 1920 |
· Married Doretha Ricks on June 14, 1939.
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| Doretha Ricks - 1938 |
· Father of six children; Judy Claire, Sherry Ann, Susan
Kay, Don Craig, Emery Jay and Sidney Ricks.
 |
| Susan, Sherry, Judy, Emery, Sidney, Craig about 1957 |
· Twenty one grand children and 6 great grandchildren.
Teacher/Learning
Don
was a self made man and had many accomplishments.
He
started his career from the ground floor in his occupations.
· His earliest career was as a helper on his father’s
farm.
o
He learned all
the duties required in the ages of farming with horses.
o
He learned and
respected the value of strong family, animals and started his strong work
ethic.
He
later went to work as an Iron worker where he learned more new trades.
· He strengthened his work ethic and learned that if he
were to fall, someone was always there to catch him and protect him, Christ,
wife, family and friends.
· He planted trees that served as both a wind break and
a bird habitat.
· He studied on his own to pass the tests that were
required to be a full time employee of the Idaho Fish and Game.
· He was promoted to Refuge Manager of Farragut Wild
Life Refuge in Northern Idaho.
· He again learned everything he could to properly
manage the wildlife and environment that he was entrusted to protect.
· He strengthened even more, his work ethic and
instilled in his children the importance of work and doing the job right the
first time.
Following
the Idaho Fish and Game, Don went into business for himself and kept his strong
respect for animals by processing grain and hay for feed, keeping his strong
tie to agriculture and farming.
· He learned everything that needed to be learned to
operate that business.
· He instilled his strong work ethic even deeper with
his children. We all participated in the work that needed to be done.
He
got more involved with animals that he cared so much about he started his own
sheep heard, which later led to being the manager of a sheep heard of over 2500
head.
After
recovering from serious health problems he returned to a job that brought him
back to the nature he so dearly loved.
· Dad and Mom, together, worked for the U.S. Forest
Service as camp ground hosts in the Northern Idaho National Forest.
· He learned his job and more, he was well respected by
all the guests and his supervisors and received many certificates of
accommodation.
Don
learned many hobbies and became through self study an expert on each; weaving,
hem stitching, tatting, engraving, raising exotic wild birds. He did his
absolute best on each of his hobbies.
All
through his career he had the devoted love, support and encouragement for his
beloved wife Doretha.
Legacy
Don
left for many to enjoy and remember a lasting legacy for generations to
appreciate.
· He loved animals so much and felt the trapping and
relocation of the deer was not humane as it was done when he started.
o
He invented a new
trapping devise that allowed the humane trapping and transportation of wildlife
that is still being used today.
· Mountain goats that were not native to the Pend O’
Releie Lake Area Mountains were trapped and relocated to the area by Don.
Presently the heard that he started is flourishing and being enjoyed by
naturalist and sportsman alike.
· The trees that he planted in Southeastern Idaho have
matured and have become habitats for wildlife and an integral part of the
agriculture industry.
· He recommended that Farragut Wildlife Refuge become a
state park, Farragut is today and has hosted many events including the World
Boy Scout Jamboree.
Nature
Dad
loved nature.
· He instilled his love for nature into all of us.
· He made us all observant by checking to see if we had
seen the wildlife.
· While on family trips or just for a drive, he made a
game of who could spot and count the deer first.
· He could identify every tree and shrub.
· He rescued fawn deer and baby mountain goats that
there mothers had died. We all shared in the bottle feed, raising and the
eventual return to their natural habitat.
· He was the first to bring home a bouquet of wild
flowers and Pussy Willows in the spring for all of us to enjoy.
· Every place he lived, he made a mini wildlife
sanctuary that attracted native birds and wildlife.
Caring
Dad
made all his events special for his entire family.
· He was the first one up on Christmas day.
· Our family vacations with six children and two adults
crammed into a station wagon were made into a fun and memorable experience.
 |
| Don Doretha 1954, Sherry, Emery, Susan, Sid, Craig, Judy |
o
We will never
forget his saying “Who’s ready for the bridge?” and to this day none of us will
eat Liverwurst and Cheese Ritz crackers.
· When any of his family hurt, he hurt probably more,
his saying of “May the togetherness of your marriage be so strong-that when one
weeps the other one will taste the salt”... He tasted the salt.
· He always brought out his harmonica to serenade us at
family gatherings.
· He stressed the importance of a strong family unit;
“your family is always there for you.”
 |
| Don Doretha 1971, Sidney, Emery, Susan and Brett, Judy and Zack, Sherry, Don, Suzie Farmer, Doretha |
· He cherished the one on ones with us and always
stressed how proud he was of us.
· He always had a story and never lost his sense of
humor, even when he was in pain.
· He was always appreciative of any visit he received or
any gift that was presented to him. He did not expect anything and appreciated
everything.
· He suffered much pain but remained strong and an
inspiration to all.
Don
gave us a long life and we are all grateful,
he came close to death on several
occasions;
· In one of his early cowboy days in May. Judy was a
baby and mom was pregnant with Sherry. Dad had to catch some horses that had escaped
in the night. He saddled up his horse to go retrieve the animals. There was a
small island in the middle of the river where he thought the horses may have
swum to. This was early spring when the river was very full with the spring
snow melt and the river current was strong. May in the high elevations was also
very cold and he was dressed in heavy clothing. The water was deeper and
swifter than he had thought and he departed company from his horse, he tried to
grab the horse’s tail but was not successful and was swept away with the rivers
current. Mother had a feeling that something was wrong and went to the river.
Miraculously, he was able to swim with the heavy clothing on and made it to
shore where mom helped pull him to safety.
· Dad had several open heart surgeries. There were
several times during the procedure that his heart stopped.
o
He told us a
story of seeing all his relatives that had passed away. He wanted to talk to
them but they all ignored him. It was not his time.
Sid
Lindholm's closing remarks;
Dad
was a story teller and always had a new story to tell.
Dad
was a real cowboy; we were always raised around horses and livestock. I was
always referred to as the cowboy of the family, when I was six years old.
Many
of dad’s slogans have stayed with me for my lifetime; never give up on your
goals, be persistent and consistent, get back in the saddle again and go for
it.
Geronimo story
As the cowboy of the family, a particular memory and
life lesson sticks in my mind when I think of Dad.
On my sixth birthday, I was asked by Dad to get
dressed in my cowboy gear and he & I were going to go for a ride.
I put on my fringed chaps, vest, boots and red cowboy
hat & went outside to find Dad holding the reins of a tan & white
painted Shetland pony all saddled up and ready to ride. I was so excited and proud. Dad helped me mount my new steed and then
said, “Here you go, Happy Birthday!”
I was grinning from ear to ear when the pony took
two steps, reared and bucked me off. I
fell flat on my back and started crying.
Not so much from aches & pains but from hurt pride, embarrassment
and being a bit scared of the pony. Dad
looked down at me and said “Sid, stop your blubbering, get up, get back in the
saddle, pull back on the reins and show the horse who is boss. If you don’t, you’ll never ride again and he
will have gotten the best of you”.
Still blubbering, I sucked it up, got back in the
saddle, pulled back on the reins, said “Getty Up”, and me and Geronimo were
best buddies the rest of our lives together.
Paragon Falcon Analogy
One
of dad’s unusual pets that we remember the most was the Paragon Falcon. He
found a wounded Falcon and cared for and nurtured it back to health. He trained
it and it would leave his arm and soar in the clouds and he would whistle and
it would return. Then, on this
particular day, the falcon left his arm to soar. It made a couple of circles,
when he whistled to call her back; another falcon flew into sight and would not
let her return. Dad whistled again and again. The other falcon would not let
her go back to her home for she was destined to be free. Dad always new that
this day would come for the falcon as he knew this day would come for him to
leave his earthly domain and soar with the falcons and be free. Finally, free
and at peace with himself and God.
Dad
was empty when the falcon left him as we are empty that he has left us. Let us
remember our dad as the falcon soaring in the sky to the Kingdom of God.
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