Sisters 2

The Life and Times of Betty & Margie Findahl

Here is my Aunt Betty M. Findahl right in the mid-1920s outside "Gibbs', Dixboro, MI" as written on the photo by Grandmother Martha Findahl. 

This is a companion photo to another of the both of them which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/4lg9fkf

Emmett & Nettie Gibbs ran the Dixboro General Store in Dixboro, MI. The store also served as their home. Mr. & Mrs. Gibbs were friends of our grandparents.

Wonderful portrait of Aunt Betty (mid 1920s).

A slight mystery here because we can't identify the man and child, but here is Grandma Martha holding Betty and I think she looks very 'comfy' all bundled up!

Betty at home on Cedarlawn in Detroit, MI (mid-late 1920s).

Betty with next-door neighbor Dorothy Neal (ca. late 1920s)

This photo is labeled "Betty's Birthday-Party" by Grandma Martha. It must have been very early 1930s because we recognized Betty's little sister Marjorie on the extreme left. 

Zig-zagging left-to-right I did what I could to identify from my mother Marjorie's memory: (?), (?), Shirley Ganness, an unidentified cousin of Shirley's, Dorothy Neal, Charles Heidel, Eileen Parrott, Dorothy Heidel, Orley Parrott.

(A neat story about Charles Heidel is that he became President and Chief Operating Officer of the Detroit Edison Company where my dad Robert Stoscup worked from 1947-1990. Searching the internet I found an article in the New York Times mentioning Mr. Heidel's impending retirement on April 25, 1988 at age 63.)

This looks like it was taken of sister Margie at the same time as the birthday party of Betty's.

While I'm at it, here's wishing a very Happy Birthday to Aunt Betty today!

Sister Marjorie L. Findahl from the early 1930s. Mom was born 4 years after Betty and is shown here in one of a series of portraits taken by "The Craine Babyland Studios" located in "The Stroh Building" Detroit, MI.

Betty in her backyard during the summer of 1930.

Marjorie (early 1930s)

Betty & Margie (ca. 1931)

Betty & Margie (Fall 1932). 

A reminder that so many precious photographs are fading as this was the most I could do to restore what was still visible.

Betty & Margie (mid 1930s)

Margie & Betty have a visit from the Benders, a family from Chicago that was friends of parents Gordon & Martha. These are their children but we've lost track of what their names were. 

(I did post a Christmas card from the Benders in my "Eternal Christmas" Album. You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/47bms5v)

As with so many visits, everyone wound up at favorite Belle Isle. This is a close-up of the Benders' daughter with Betty.

I'm thinking this may be mid-late 1930s.

Betty & Margie (Spring 1938).

Margie (late 1930s).

Betty (ca. 1942).

Margie (mid 1940s).

Betty (early 1940s).

We are not certain of the identity of the two folks on the left but Marjorie (right) remembers this as being her Uncle Lou's boat. Her first thought is the child may be Cousin Lou Berg Jr's son which I'm guessing would be Louis Berg III. I'd say this is early-mid 1940s.

I'm happy to have put together this following collection of photos from the fab 40s.

Here's Betty (mid 1940s?)

Mom, extreme left center row, and her confirmation class at Hope Lutheran Church, Detroit, MI (ca. 1942).

Betty (October 1939)

Margie (early 1940s)

Betty taught Sunday School at Hope Lutheran Church and I was so happy to come across this photograph of herself and her students (mid 1940s).

Margie (Autumn 1944)

Betty (mid 1940s)

Margie

Betty is in-between U.S. Navy friends. The person on the left we're not certain of his identity but on the right is cousin Paul Kenneth Findahl, youngest son of Harry & Mabel Findahl. I'd thought I did not have much of cousin Kenny as an adult and am so pleased to find this photograph.

You can read more about Kenny and his family here:http://tinyurl.com/3x3jfa3

Margie

Betty

Margie

I always loved this photo. 

Shown: Betty, Cousin Eileen, my Uncle Paul Johnson (who would marry Betty) and Uncle Willard Windom (Eileen's dad) at the wheel.

Margie

I had to look it up but, yes, this is my Uncle Paul Johnson at Crapo Park, Burlington, IA as properly labeled by my Aunt Betty. (mid 1940s)

Betty in Crapo Park, Burlington, IA (mid 1940s).

Lowell Martin (cousin Isabel Findahl's husband) holding the hand of son, Shirley Findahl, Marjorie Findahl and Paul Johnson all in Crapo Park, Burlington, IA.

Uncle Paul & Aunt Betty, Lake Huron, MI.

Companion photos can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/4ar5s9p &
http://tinyurl.com/4nbov96

Margie (Summer 1947)

Betty Johnson on her wedding day in 1946

Marjorie Findahl, Betty & Paul Johnson and his brother Bob Johnson (1946)

Marjorie (right) attending another wedding of neighbor Donald Boike with her mom Martha Findahl (left) looking on. (Late 1940s)

Margie and close friend Dorothy Bollman (1945)

This is a companion photo to another one documenting an early outing of Margie and Robert Stoscup (my dad). I'm pretty certain this was taken by Robert showing some of the members of "Luther League" which both my parents belonged to. (From ca. 1947)

Left to right: (?), Marjorie, June Elliot, (?), Deloris Moran
Walking way behind them all might be Bill Henning.

Margie

Dorothy White & Marjorie. (Dorothy & Frank White were friends of Robert Stoscup. Dad Robert knew Frank when they both were in the Navy during World War 2.)

Margie

Generations: Seated is grandmother Jessie Findahl, behind her is daughter-in-law Martha standing next to Betty and in front her daughter Joanne (early 1950s).


The companion photo can be found here:  http://tinyurl.com/2emx85a

Margie

At a picnic with Betty & daughter Joanne up front. Behind them is my dad Robert and behind him mom Marjorie. Delores is the friend behind Betty but we're not certain of the identity of the other folks. (Early 1950s).

Aunt Betty & Uncle Paul visiting our family in Detroit, MI - 1966

Margie & Betty (1983)

Aunt Betty & Uncle Paul (1979)

Uncle Paul & Aunt Betty outside Mom's home in Redford Township, MI (1990s).

Robert Stoscup & Marjorie Stoscup at home in Detroit (late 1970s).

Seated with Joanne Martinez are Betty & Paul Johnson celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1996, which Mom and I were so happy to attend in Galesburg, IL. 

Behind them are: Jesse Martinez, Paul Dokolasa, Ryan, Phil, Bill Johnson, Tim, Evan, Cheryl, Slav & Chris.