Given that it’s Memorial Day weekend, we have been to the cemeteries where our folks and our relatives are buried, and I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve always liked cemeteries — they are quiet and cool, full of history, beautifully landscaped, and seeped in stories of long lives and short ones. And even, sometimes, we find beautiful art and architecture, masterful craftsmanship and typography, and inspiring sentiment.

Although I completely understand why many people these days feel that they want to be cremated when they die — it is the norm in many cultures, and it sounds good to me — many of our elders are more “used to” the idea of being buried, especially if there are family graves in the same cemetery or if their spouse is already gone. That’s the way it was with my mom. Our dad died over 15 years earlier.

So when the time came, our mom was very pleased that Mt. Pleasant Cemetery was the first in South Dakota to “go green” and facilitate burials that are simple, eco-friendly, and less wasteful of resources. Her parents and other family members are buried there, and so is our dad. She wanted to be with them but she didn’t want “all that fuss and denial.”

Mom was an avid gardener all her life, she maintained a chemical-free zone in the back yard for some 50 years, for growing food crops and perennials, and she saw no point to the idea of “preserving” her dead body by any of the funeral practices that are still common. She didn’t want a formal funeral and I can hear her saying, at age 99, “I’m already done with this body. Why would I ever need it again after this life?”

We went through the casket-and-vault routine when our dad died — only because mom thought she had to do so — but she was relieved and pleased we would bury her in a woven wicker basket and she would be allowed to decay into the earth over time, like mulch.

Funeral practices like chemical embalming may have made sense when there was no refrigeration available — as during the Civil War — but I believe it’s time we moved on and treated the land and the groundwater in our communities with as much respect as we do our deceased loved ones.

Surprisingly, there are not many cemeteries in the Midwest listed as certified by the Green Burial Council. At least this surprised me. This is an area of the country where agriculture is familiar and widespread, where seasons are significantly different from each other, and where the “cycle of life” is well understood. It baffles me why the natural order of life, growth, death, and decay seems to work for crops and gardens, yet doesn’t extend to people. I am not being disrespectful, I am being reasonable.

So, I would encourage families who have “always done it that way” to do some research and consider the options in their area for more “eco-friendly” burials. Maybe your local cemetery would consider “going green” also, if enough families asked about it and inquired why they haven’t yet done so.

More info here: Green Burial Council

MEMORANDUM:

It has been brought to the attention of this office than many civilians in the office are dying and refusing to fall after they are dead. This must STOP!

On and after 1 September 1944, any civilian caught sitting up after he is dead, will be off of the Payroll immediately (i.e.: within 90 days), in those cases where it is clearly shown that the employee is being supported by a typewriter or other property clearly marked “U. S. Government”, additional time (90 days again) to clear the property during which civilians shall be carried from the rolls, may be granted. The following procedure will be as stated below:

If after several hours it is noted that a worker has not moved or changed his position, the supervisor will investigate in an apologetic manner, of course, considering the highly sensitive nature of civilians and close resemblance between death and their natural working habits. It is specifically directed that investigation procedures be done quietly, so as not to disturb the civilian if he is asleep. If any doubt exists, as to the civilian’s condition, it has been found that extending a government check serves as an acid test. If the civilian does not immediately reach, it may be generally concluded that he is dead. In time, you will be able to know the difference between death at work and quiet repose. Be on your guard that in a few instances that instinct to grab is a reflex, a spasmodic clutch.

If the civilian is dead, fill out Special Form No WDGRT 67593343, making 15 copies. Mail the first three copies to the office, together with the tops of three first aid kits. Copies 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be forwarded to the Messenger Boy of the office concerned. If the man serving in the capacity of Messenger Boy of the office is an Army Officer, (as is usually the case) be sure his serial number is clearly indicated. Just send copies 13, 14, and 15 somewhere. This is a must. In all cases, a sworn statement by the dead man covering his history for the past ten years must be included. If the dead man cannot write, his signature must be witnessed by two live persons (they are hard to find except on pay day) giving full names and addresses.

TO ALL OFFICERS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS::
::::::::::PUSH THE BOY ASIDE AND MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEXT CIVILIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signed,

Rigor Mortis
Captain, USA

On the way to his next Post, Thorgel is transported from sunny Miami Beach to somewhere in Missouri. No going home for Christmas, and nothing to do but wait.

Camp Crowder Mo.
Dec 13, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

I am now at Camp Crowder Mo. a hundred miles from nowhere. This is the worst I have seen since I left home. This is really what you call out in the sticks.

The nearest town is 12 miles and nothing there, it’s just a small town. I am supposed to be here 6 weeks for schooling. Started Friday a.m. taking Aircraft Warning. It’s all like greek to me but I guess I will try to make the best of it.

There was some 20 boys that went over the hill < deserted > since we got here so you can imagine what it’s like here. You will have to let me know what Christmas will be like this year cause I won’t see anything here. I guess we are all here to make up for the time we had in Florida.

I don’t know of anything more to write about for tonight so I guess I will roll over and try to dream of the past.

Don’t forget to write cause that will be more of a treat than anything here.

Love
Thorgel.

address
T. Klessen U. S. Army
Co. D. 37th Sig. Tng. Bn.
Camp Crowder, Mo.

Miami Beach Fla.
Nov 24, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

Thanks a lot for your letter. It was really a thrill to hear from home. You should see us boys go wild when we have mail call. We have one every evening before chow, like they call it in the Army.

Last Sunday we went for a 50 mile boat ride sight seeing in the largest glass bottom boat in the world. I can’t begin to tell you all we saw but it was a lot of fun. It took 2½ hours for the trip. There were around 200 of us along, we saw Al Capone’s home that was really beautiful. It lays on a little island be itself. Lots of us had cameras along but we were not allowed to use them. I wish we could of (sic). There were many things I would like to get picture of.

I met one of my old friends from Minn. shortly after getting down here. We have lots of fun together discussing the times we had together up there, we are also on guard duty together. We have every night this week from 10 p.m. till 2 a.m.

I wish you could be here and see the place at night. It looks just like some of the pictures you see with a full moon shining over the beach. I have moved to a different hotel now. It’s closer to the drill field. Today we had a real rain shower while we were out there. Everyone got soaked and mud clear to the knees. Still we had to keep on till noon. Good thing it’s nice weather here. I suppose that’s why so many are here for training. I talk to boys from all over the U.S.

You were asking what kind of school it was here. There are several of them. The Government has taken over the whole beach for soldiers. There are very few tourists left here and they are to be out of here by the 1st of the month. The school I go to is a gunnery school. Have 4 hours training on the field in the morning and 3 hours schooling in the afternoon.

I think we walk 20 miles every day and you know how well I like walking, but the only thing is to like it. I really like the afternoon, though we sometimes lay on our stomach for an hour at a time shooting at targets out in the ocean. They are all the way from 200 to 1600 yards away from us. When I get home again I ought to be a pretty good shot. These rifles get plenty heavy handling. They weigh 9½ lbs. Next week it will be machine gun practice. Them are the ones that really mow the targets down.

After next week I am due for shipping orders. You can still send mail here. If I am gone when it gets here they send it on to the next Post. When you write again would you please send Ma Parson’s street number. I am going to send out some Xmas cards. We are supposed to have our Xmas mail sent before Dec 5 if it’s to get home in time.

I haven’t got much more time to write tonight. It’s just an hour till I go on duty. I’m going across the street to get a lunch first. Meals are high here. A person can’t get a lunch for less than 45¢ and dinners are from 1.50 and up. And still it’s mostly fancy dishes and nothing to eat.

The Army food is really good here. I have gained 9 pounds since I got here. We all eat like pigs, they say. Thanks a lot for looking after the Folks. I guess they are rather lonesome. Had a letter from home today. Had some pictures taken last Sunday. They will be ready in a few days. I must close for tonight. I will write again before leaving here. Tell them all Hello! from me.

Love,
Thorgel

address.

T. K.
U. S. Army.
1145th T. S. S. — TS 1226
Miami Beach Fla.

< See the envelope image with the return address for the full name of the training location. And notice the little airplane image in the lower left with the slogan: “KEEP ‘EM FLYING” >

More from mom’s handwritten notebook…

< Below, an example of Wm. Mohr iris (1925) from Wayman’s iris catalog in 1940. >

Sunday was a beautiful day. We rode at seven — at six I was out looking at my Wm. Mohr iris, which was unfolding its first bloom. By afternoon it was clear out and it is just as lovely as the claim. I never have seen such delicate veining or such transparency on an iris before.

Mother’s Buto bloomed; also its first venture, and the flower was very large for such a small plant.

< Buto was an iris variety from H.P. Sass, introduced in the mid 1920s. >

Today my first Talisman bloomed, and I can’t describe what a lovely blend of apricot and violet it is. 

< Source of Talisman image: https://garden.org/plants/photo/290357/ >

We had a sprinkle of rain and during the night and early morning the wind whipped around so that we picked the Wm. Mohr and Talisman to save them and put them in the black vase.

I think they would win a prize at any flower show. I just wonder if any other people in Sioux Falls have such lovely iris as we have.

I can’t wait for the iris catalogs to start to come. Mother said only tonight that Schreiner’s should come pretty quick. I want to get some more iris from them this year as I had such good luck with the others they sent me.

I’m afraid the Carl Salbach iris mother got was too tender for this climate, or else we had an unusually severe winter for iris in 1937.

I believe all of our new iris have bloomed that will, this season Rialgar and Mrs. Valerie West, out by the big stones, are almost too small to bloom. I’ll have to give them some Vigaro to make them strong for next year.

Sunday I weeded in the garden a while and dug dandelions while Marion worked on the north rose hedge, but it was too hot to do much.

So far I haven’t found any leaves on my mulberry trees but they look green at the bottom and Marion says not to worry. At least our silver leaf maples are all doing fine.

Mother is delighted to find that her mountain ask tree has come up from the roots and is growing fine. She knew the honey locust was flourishing but thought the end had come for the mountain ash. The grasshoppers did kill the vitex (??) and the other two shrubs she planted by the Chinese elms, though.

We put our some arsenic grasshopper bait Saturday when the baby hoppers were hatching so thick. It’s poisonous, so Gael < their dog > had to be kept on a leash but Pop says it killed quantities of hoppers. That will give us a brief respite for things to grow strong in before the big ones start to fly here from away.

I complied a list from my mom’s notes and her mother’s notes. Between 1936 and 1942 they had planted 90 different varieties of iris in one of the gardens around their house.

I knew they had a lot — way more than mom ever had after the old family property was sold — but this diversity is incredible to me.

Here’s a list, with a few that I questioned — not sure of the handwriting. They came from several different growers/catalogs. Gradually, I hope to find pictures and documentation for these. There are quite a few old/vintage iris catalogs viewable online now. The’ve been digitized into PDF form.

1. Albatross

2. Alta California

3. Ambassadeur

4. Aphrodite

5. Apricot Glow

6. Bagdad (sic)

7. Beau Sabreur

8. Betty Nuthall

9. Black Midget

10. Blackasmoor

11. Blue Banner

12. Blue Velvet

13. Bronze Beacon

14. Buto

15. Cardinal

16. Coerulea

17. Coquette

18. Coronation

19. Crystal Beauty

20. Dauntless

21. Debonair

22. Depute Nomblot (??)

23. Dina

24. Dream

25. Duke of York

26. Edith Robson

27. Elizabeth Huntington (Mrs. ??)

28. Euphony

29. Evensong

30. Fra Angelica

31. Frieda Mohr

32. Gleam

33. Glee

34. Gobelin Red

35. Gold Imperial

36. Gold Top

37. Gorgeous

38. Grace Sturdevant

39. Harbor Lights

40. Imperator

41. Indian Chief

42. Inspiration

43. Japanesque

44. Jubilee

45. Lady Winsome

46. Lord of June

47. Magna Blanca

48. Magnifica

49. Marmora

50. Mary Elizabeth

51. Midwest

52. Mildred Presby

53. Mme. Chereau

54. Mrs. Marion Cran

55. Mrs. Valerie West

56. Morning Splendor

57. Neola

58. No-We-Ta

59. Paradise

60. Persia

61. Picador

62. Pluie d’Or

63. Pongee

64. Pres. Pilkington

65. Prospero

66. Qua (??) Zua (??)

67. Quaker Lady

68. Rameses

69. Rapture

70. Rheintraube

71. Rheingauperle

72. Rialgar

73. Rosex

74. Royal

75. Rubeo

76. Sacramento

77. San  Diego

78. Shah Jehan

79. Shirval

80. Sunol

81. Susan Bliss

82. Symphony

83. Taj Mahal

84. Talisman

85. Thais

86. The Black Douglas

87. True Charm

88. Wasaga

89. Wedgewood

90. Wm. Mohr

Mom’s sister, Marion Elizabeth Davie Serr, was six years older than she was. In 1954, when I my uncle Art was transferred from Sioux Falls to St. Paul, he and Marion relocated there. This was a hard move for her, not only leaving behind her family, but also leaving the house that they had build next door to my grandparents. Marion married Art in 1949, so they had not lived in her new house very long.

“Going Away”

And now we move away —
Reluctantly we cast many a backward glance at home and friends we leave.

Perhaps we’d grown to love our little rut too well,
Perhaps we loved out little rut too dearly and so must learn
That we move ever onward,
And that we must relinquish
Things we hold dear
To grow in new directions as the Lord wills
Who watches over all.

The day I wake to find myself in glory
The music of the spheres will sound for me;
The light that shimmers like a morn in springtime
And garden’s fragrance all about will be.

But when a shining person comes to meet me,
A gentle and a holy form I’ll see
As my dear Mother gives me loving welcome
Then Heaven truly will be home for me.

Anytime I have something lengthy to upload (especially long articles), I’m planning on making a new page. When it’s short, not over a couple of screensful, I think I’ll post.

This is where you’ll begin to see scans of old letters, photos from mid-century, magazine clippings, and more.

To our students…

“You have the conn.” As far as I know, it’s a very old expression in maritime culture. In other words, “You the one steering this ship (so stay sharp).” I most often heard it said when the captain of the Enterprise was boldly going where no one had gone before.

I have never commanded a ship, nor a boat, nor ever wanted to, either, but it’s still applicable. You are studying and learning and building skills, knowledge and abilities—all with the goal of meaningful employment in a graphics- and media-related career. We give you lessons, handy tips, resources, advice, feedback, critique, suggestions and moral support. But you are still the one at the helm of your life. And it’s a brave journey indeed. Especially when we are making the map at the same time we’re trying to follow it!