This blogs sole purpose has transitioned to one of keeping in touch with each other. Over the years it has been primarily for letting everyone know what is happening and also for promotion to add more folks to our Winter Texan family. The core of things has changed and we must change along with it. We still want to know what is happening with our friends no matter where they may be located. So continue to let us know where you are and what is on your plate.
Butch's brother Don
Butch's brother Leo
Kite day on Padre. Maybe 2012?
Gary, Jason and Butch.
I was looking at Pictures on my computer and this was the result but now I simply must walk away from the computer and do something else!
Once again, I've been remiss in not posting much but as usual when we get down here in the RGV we are busy and this year I seem to be especially busy. I'm on the Trails End Board and while very interesting, it is also a lot of work but I have to say I am enjoying it. We are getting ready for our Christmas program on Sunday evening December 17. We will have a choir which I am accompanying and that is a whole lot of fun. One of our residents volunteered to direct and she is doing a great job.
Some of the Trails End residents who, like so many of us are former Magnolia residents told me I should list those who are down here and I told them I know the ones here and a few who are in some of the other parks but others I'm just not sure about and probably not everyone has yet arrived for the winter as many come after the holidays.
In our park we have Ron & Chris Pearce, Gail Lubinsky, Don, Marty, & Andy Harper, Darlene Jansen, Keith Gilbertson, Terry Froseth, Carmen and DeWayne Friesen, Darrel & Kathy Forsgren (not here yet), Mike & Pat Jordan, Natalia Poprawski, Mike Reddick, Joe & Cheryl Raleigh (not here yet), Deral Rogers, Shirley Truitt, Connie Dziuk and Beverly Lokensgard I know for sure are at Roadrunner as is Doris Nelson and I think Michael & Carolyn Murray are also there. I'm not sure about the Krafts or Steils and I believe there are a few more former Magnolia people at Roadrunner but don't know for sure. I think Don & Mary Knorr are at our sister park, Leisure World as is Joanne Olson. Don & Kathy Ferrell, DA & Kathy Baustian, Marge Soole, and George Morgan & Phyllis Branstetter are at Rio Valley Estates. Dick & Leslie Cleaveland and Ray & Leslie Droogsma are at a park I think in Donna but can't remember for sure which one it is. Last year I believe Dave & Mary Bruun were at Palm Shadows but could be wrong about that and these last few I'm not even sure if they are down here yet. Butch & Barb Brooker are at Trophy Gardens where they have bought a park model.
I would imagine I've missed a few but most of this info was off the top of my head and not really researched. I've probably even missed someone here at Trails End.
There are still a few of the original folks left at Magnolia Park and every time we drive by it we are grateful that we no longer live there as it does not appear to be very good.
My computer battery is almost completely run down so that is all the information you are going to get tonight! Safe travels to those who may still be coming down to the Rio Grand Valley.
It is with heartfelt sadness that I have to tell you that our brother-in-law Chet Johnson passed away very early this morning. Most all of you will remember Chet who was very involved in Magnolia Park for very many years, whether he was cooking steaks or shooting pool or doing any of the many other things that he did in the park. He almost always had a smile on his face as he would ride around the park in their golf cart giving their cat Chico a ride. If you would like to send Irma a card her address is 807 W 4th Street, Neillsville WI 54456
Chester Johnson, age 90, of Neillsville died November 10th, 2023 at his residence. He had been in declining health this past year and was under the care of VA Home Based Primary Care and St Croix Hospice.
Chester Leon Johnson was born June 18, 1933 in the Town of Eaton, Clark County, Wisconsin, son of Leo T. and Tressa (Roum) Johnson and brother to 9 siblings. He attended Greenwood and Loyal rural schools while working at several farms as a youngster and many years for Dan and Sylvia Boh in Willard. In his late teens, he was employed by Kurt Marg Fur Foods in Neillsville. He served in the U.S. Army, spending time in Arkansas, Colorado, Virginia and Iceland. Chet's last 37 years of employment were at Nelson Industries in Neillsville, retiring in 1994
He married Irma Spangler on October 24, 1956. They had three children, Tom (Carrie) Johnson, Neillsville, Sharee (Steve Karklins) Johnson, Winton, MN and Dan (Jandy) Johnson, Fayetteville, OH and now four grandchildren and two great grandsons
When the children were young, there were many family camping trips and vacations, visiting 46 states and Canada. After Chet and Irma's retirement, they spent 25 winter seasons at a retirement park in Texas. He enjoyed being outdoors, cooking maple syrup in the spring, making firewood, fishing, hunting, refinishing auction finds, and recycling items into yard ornaments.
He is survived by sisters: Donna Brandt, Brenda Johnson, Helen (Don) Anderson; brother Carl Noah and sister-in-law Sheila Noah. Preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, four brothers: Lloyd (Dolores), Allen (Marjorie), Lyall (Margaret) Johnson, and Keith Noah; and a sister Linda (Clarence) Krause.
At his request, there will be no services.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com
I have come to the conclusion I get triple the exercise in South Texas as I do in Iowa. Now I am well aware that it doesn't need to be that way but it comes in a way in Texas that you do not realize it until you crash!
Yesterday we went to Mexico, needing a few items such as Gingivitis mouthwash, Volfenac and a zpac. No, neither of us are sick. We try to keep one on hand. When we go to Hectors it becomes a two-mile walk. Before going, Renie and I had done our walk. And if you work in playing some pool you can see how you could rack up miles.
The main question we get from telling anyone we went to Mexico is "How is it in Mexico, specifically Nuevo Progreso Mexico?" It is fine! They have spruced things up so it looks much cleaner and they have pushed venders down the street a way so it isn't nearly as crowded getting started down the street as it used to be. Butch got his teeth cleaned ($40). As a general rule, everything costs more than it used to and that is because of the Peso/Dollar relationship. For instance, we had lunch at Jessica's and it was $5 in the past and $7 now. That shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone. It was still delicious!
We came home and took a nap!
It seems I can't think of a different title so will just talk a little bit about this and that. I was wrong, Marty Harper is in Texas and Don will be coming shortly with the motor home.
I heard from Darlene (thank goodness she's very good about keeping me informed) and she tells me that Chris has the cast off and by now the stitches most likely have been removed. She is doing therapy at home. Ron, however is in the hospital with a UTI and pneumonia. The UTIs seem to be a popular illness this summer. Jim had one in July and a worse one in late September. He landed in the hospital for a couple of days where they pumped him full of antibiotics and he seems to be fully recovered. It is nothing to fool around with that's for sure and to be on the safe side we have a filled prescription with the antibiotic that he has taken so if something should happen on the way down we are prepared. Will have to drink more (and that means more stops) along the way but it's good to get out and stretch our legs anyway.
We got our covid and flu vaccines last week and think we will get the RSV and latest pneumonia shots before we head out. We've had two pneumonia vaccines in the past and thought that was the last we'd ever need but apparently there is now another one they are recommending we get.
Our son is coming for a short visit at the end of next week and shortly after he leaves we will head south, all depending on the weather of course.
I will mention here, just in case you are not a Facebook friend that we will be bringing at least two cases of Jim's freshly extracted honey with us, most of which is already spoken for but if you are in the Valley and would like a jar, please let me know. A two pound jar is $10, and this is raw, filtered but not heated honey. Pretty tasty!!
This will be a short post but just want to mention that I talked with Chris Pearce briefly yesterday and her wrist surgery went very well. She said it felt much better than last time and we are hoping to see them in the RGV by mid-November or thereabouts.
I heard from Marty Harper and she and Don are already in Texas. I'm guessing some of the rest of you are already down there too or getting ready to head that way. We still have some fall work to take care of, namely we are waiting for the maples to drop their leaves so they can be raked up and then mowing the lawn one last time. We have not had a killing frost yet here in central Wisconsin so it's taking a long time for the leaves to fall. A memory from last year on this date showed up on Facebook and our big maple right in the front of the house had no leaves so things are quite different from a year ago.
Yesterday we had rain, lots of rain and also lots of wind and still the leaves are hanging on, darn it! Today we had our yearly "fall fling" with Chet & Irma and also the Morehouses who at one time lived at 11 lime in Magnolia. It's always nice to get together for a meal and conversation together before winter sets in.
If you are or will be on the road, safe travels and if you have news to share, please let me know.
Here it is October and it is finally feeling like it. I wore my heavier jacket today on my morning walk plus a headband, gloves and hood up. It had been really warm but this is much more fall-like and we are enjoying it. A lot of the trees in our area have reached their peak color and heading downward. We have two maples with tons of leaves and I really wish they would all fall down so we can get them raked up and carted down to the woods. We mowed a week ago and it looks like we will probably have to mow one more time. It did finally rain quite a bit so the grass grew a bit.
We will be heading south at the end of the month and I'm already making piles of the stuff that goes. Most likely I'll forget something. It's quite different from when we had the RV when all the essential "stuff" stayed in it and all we had to load was our clothes, food and "toys" which in our case are computers and for me, yarn, music books, quilting supplies etc. I think our load down this year should be less than last year but what I already have piled up seems to be quite a bit. We'll see how it all works out.
I have been told via the grapevine that Chris Pearce will be having surgery on her wrist again on October 9 and even though I haven't asked her if I can post that information which is what I usually do I am telling all you Magnolia people so you can keep her and Ron in your thoughts, hoping for a better outcome this time around. You may recall, she fell last year and broke her wrist. It was taken care of at Knapp and just like our brother-in-law Mort Morehouse, it did not turn out well. Mort also had to have his redone back here in Wisconsin. His turned out just fine the second time around.
If you have news you'd like to share, please do let me know. Safe travels to everyone as they make their way south for a new season in South Texas and for those of you who don't make that trip anymore just remember, you are missed and it is surprising how many times our former Magnolia Park friends are mentioned in our conversations. Trails End has a large contingent of Magnolia people and we are all still a pretty close knit group.
I almost forgot, we do still have honey and we will be bringing at least two cases of honey with us when we head out. Most of that is spoken for but if you'd like a jar and have not contacted me before, let me know. A two pound jar is $10 and this is raw, filtered honey fresh from Jim's bees.
It's been a while since I've posted anything but I heard from Marty Harper and she told me Don is much better and he attributes his sepsis from a very small bite from a cat. Who knows, anything is possible and we are glad he is better. We are looking forward to seeing them in south Texas in just a couple of months.
I also somehow saw a post or communication from Tuffy Wolfrom that he has been fighting A-Fib which is nothing to fool around with. I hope he is on the mend.
We have had our usual busy summer and right now Jim is busy extracting honey. He is too good a beekeeper and he has only 3 colonies but we have lots of honey to get rid of. We intend to bring 2 cases to the Valley with us and one of those is almost completely spoken for.
He planted several yellow cherry tomato plants and now we are inundated with these little tomatoes. They are much better than the red ones, at least in my opinion and the plants are hanging with them.
It has been extremely hot here in Central Wisconsin, 100 degrees yesterday and 96 today. Wednesday is supposed to be much cooler. We need rain badly but in spite of that there are some fields of beautiful corn and soybeans around the countryside. I don't know how they have even survived much less thrived without rain but they have. The morning dew has been very heavy so perhaps that has helped the crops. I for one am ready for fall, it's been a long, warm/hot, dry summer all around the area.
We are looking forward to another season in the RGV and I am eager to go birding down there where the wonderful birding areas are very plentiful.
If anyone has news they would like to share please do let me know and I'll be happy to post it.
A funeral service for Verla Mae (Hetle) Enestvedt was held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart, MN beginning at 11:00a.m. A public visitation was held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at Opdal Church in rural Sacred Heart from 3:00-6:30p.m. Visitation continued Saturday morning at Our Saviors Lutheran Church from 10:00-11:00a.m. Burial took place at Opdal cemetery Saturday morning following the funeral service. A funeral luncheon was held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church following the graveside service.
Verla Mae (Hetle) Enestvedt was born on February 16, 1939 to Earl and Idelle (Volstad) Hetle in Echo, MN. Verla was raised in the river valley north of Echo, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Rock Valle Lutheran Church. She graduated from Echo High School in the spring of 1957. She met Alan Enestvedt at a local dance. The couple fell in love and were married on June 29, 1957 at Rock Valle Lutheran Church. Together they raised four children on their farm south of Sacred Heart, MN. Being a farmer’s wife, Verla always kept everyone well fed with hotdishes like her famous scalloped potatoes.
Verla was a lover of all kinds of music. She regularly attended dances with Alan and their friends and played the guitar with her dad every chance she got. She shared her love of music with her children and grandchildren and could always be found with a tape recorder in the front row at musical competitions and events. Verla loved to travel. Whether it was traveling the river-bottom road with Verne, spending time on Norway Lake with family, traveling to Texas with Alan for the winter or taking her bucket list trip to Norway with Alan; she loved to be on the move. Verla kept active by participating in WELCA and her favorite social group, which started in the late 50’s as “The Charming Chicks,” still meets today. Verla never met a stranger and gave a piece of herself to everyone she knew.
After living at Meadows on Main in Renville, MN for a number of years, Verla moved to Bethesda Grand, Willmar, MN where she died on August 6, 2023.
She is survived by her children, Steve (Fiance Rita Andre-Thomas) Enestvedt and his children Melanie (Mike) Gordon, Stephanie (John) Zetah, Carrie (Juan) Leal; Dean (Deb) Enestvedt and their children Stacy Knott, Chris (Whitney) Enestvedt and Cory (Emily) Enestvedt; Kathy (Mike) Knutson and their children Tom (Kristi) Knutson and Ben (and friend Myrna) Knutson; Lynn Enestvedt and her son Austin (Fiance Evonne Womack) Enestvedt; thirteen great grandchildren; nephew Bill (Stephanie) Schulte; niece Brenda Vazquez; nephew Darian Schulte.
Verla is preceded in death by her husband Alan Enestvedt; her parents Earl and Idelle (Volstad) Hetle; mother and father-in-law Alfred and Edna (Samuelson) Enestvedt; sister and brother-in-law Linda and Doug Schulte; brother-in-law Dennis Enestvedt.
I heard from Marty today and she told me Don has been home for about a week but he has sepsis. He is very weak, needs to drink more and eat more plus rest. Sepsis is very serious and I certainly hope the doctors are able to speed him on the road to a full recovery soon. They don't know how he got it but sepsis is a bacterial infection. Please keep Don, and Marty too, in your thoughts and prayers.
I had a text from Marty today and as she said, what a difference a day makes. They threw all kinds of antibiotics at Don and he is very much improved today. He most likely will be able to go home in a day or so but it doesn't hurt to keep him in your thoughts and prayers!
If anyone has other news to share, remember, just let me know and I would be happy to put it on the blog. There are lots of folks we haven't heard from or about, for several years and we do wonder about them.
Beautiful weather today here in Central Wisconsin but the heat is coming back for the weekend, nothing like Texas though right now where it has been exceedingly hot for quite a while now.
Hope all is well with all who still follow the blog!
I received a text from Marty Harper this morning asking me to let you know that Don was airlifted to a hospital in Waterloo Iowa. His blood pressure had dropped dangerously low and they are asking for your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. They aren't quite sure why it's so low and are thinking perhaps an infection somewhere but at this time haven't figured it out. Please do keep Don and Marty in your thoughts and send some prayers their way.
Ramona Weeks, 90, of Creston, died Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at Creston Specialty Care in Creston. A Celebration of life memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. July 27, 2023, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. The family requests casual dress for the service. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Creston. Pastor Rick Titus will officiate. Visitation, with family receiving friends will be from 10- 11 a.m. prior to services on July 27, 2023. Memorials can be directed to the St. John’s United Church of Christ or the Creston Meal Site. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.
Ramona Pearl Weeks, daughter of Ray E. Clark and Laura Maxine (Rockwell) Clark Goltry, was born May 22, 1933, in Griswold, Ia. Ramona attended Reese #9 country school east of Griswold, later graduating from Griswold High School in 1950. Following graduation Ramona began working as a Nurses-Aid in the Shenandoah Hospital and worked there until 1953.
On November 9, 1953, Ramona was united in marriage to Max L. Weeks in Afton, Ia. at the Afton Methodist Church Parsonage. They settled in Red Oak, Ia., where she began working as a nurse’s-aid at Murphy Memorial Hospital, until 1957. They moved to Creston, and she continued her education at Southwestern Community College in Creston, graduating with an L.P.N. nursing degree in 1976. Following graduation Ramona began working at Greater Regional Medical Center for the next 20 years, retiring in 1996.
Ramona was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ Church in Creston, Women’s Fellowship, Franklin School Study Club and PTA. She volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels, the Reads Program at Creston Community Schools, the Creston Blood Mobile, Greater Regional Hospice and spent many hours as a Greater Regional Medical Center Guide. Ramona was very active while spending winters in Texas with Max, attending many music jams and she loved being involved with the Rusted Relics car club and enjoyed many camping trips with her family.
Ramona is survived by her three sons, Barry (wife Carole) Weeks of Ryan, Ia., Joel Weeks of Ft. Dodge, Ia. and Jeff Weeks of Creston; seven grandchildren, Cashton Weeks, Colton Weeks of Creston and Charley Weeks of Des Moines, Trevor Weeks of Keota, Ia., Cooper Weeks of Ryan, Ia. and Gracie Weeks of Iowa City, Ia. and Kaylee (husband Alex) Cleveland of Wesley Chapel, Fla.; a great granddaughter Josie Cleveland and a sister Darlene (Goltry) Von Weihe (husband Marlyn) of Carson, Ia. Ramona is preceded in death by her parents, step-father Darwin Goltry, husband Max in 2010, a son Clark Weeks in 2012, and two brothers Gilbert Clark and George Clark.
The date on this one is March 2012. I was going through old photos looking for one of my sis. You do know how easy it is to get off track but this one caught my eye.
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