kate & bud: 1953 letter

G.R. Duncan
P.O. Box 6602 Stock Yd. Sta.
Denver, Colo.
Nov. 13, 1953

Dear Son Robert,
Well here goes for a few lines. Have written twice but haven’t had one from you since you wrote one to Stanley and I guess somebody gets my letters because they don’t come back.
Mom said you wrote to her like things were not going so good but don’t weaken boy. A thousand years from now everything should be O.K. and after you have been out a few years you’ll be able to look back and see where they never were bad.
I’ve been feeling fine for quite a while now but haven’t tried to find any work. My brothers, Jack and Bobbie & families are still at Sweet Home Oregon. The Kinkaids went to Washington. But didn’t like the rain and fog so came back. He is trying to get a contract with the Miller Super Markets here to steam clean, oil, grease & repair all the carts they use in the stores. If he gets the contract it looks like I may fall into another easy job. I am getting along pretty good on my two pensions so don’t care whether he does or not. I may go over to Rangeley for a couple of days with Kate, Eva, and Stanley. Mrs. Steele is sick, and mom wants to go see her. My oldest sister, May & Husband came to see me last week. Got a letter from Gus. He said that they would be here Thanksgiving day. Haven’t seen Joe and Dot for some time, but get a letter once in a while.
Had a good time last Thanksgiving at Marvin’s Place in St. Joe. But we live to far apart to get together this year. But if someone don’t talk me into going to work I may go visit my sister Ethel who lives in Fallbrook, Calif.
Well, I think this is it for now. Hope you get this. And will write now & then whether I get an answer or not.

Love,
Dad

1904-2000

Kate was born April 24, 1904 in Kirkland, New Mexico to Charles Milton Steele and Harriet Virginia Roberts a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Brothers Alvin, Milton, Don.. Sisters Jenny, Daphne, Edith, Ione.. Married to Frank Wilson, Gus Duncan and Ernie Sawyer. She had seven children, Edith (toots), Charles (john), Gus, Robert, Dorothy, Eva, Stan. She loved to ride horseback, and quilting. She was very attractive but not "prissy". She felt she got along better with men. She could fend for herself but never did anything wrong. She always remembered our birthdays with rare currency. She was sealed to our grandfather, Bud, with my dad, Stan, as proxy, in the Salt Lake Temple, 1978. She wrote her personal history here in fascinating detail. She valued the standards she was raised with and enjoyed remarkable protection through out her life that could be made into a major motion picture. She is a character. These are her stories. (note her favorite color)

1900-1954

Bud was born 1900 in Wimberly, Texas to Isaac Preston Duncan and Eva Wood. Married Katherine Steele in 1927. When a boy he ran away to join the circus, then the army, and chase Pancho Via across the border. He walked on his hands over bridges and performed acrobats on horseback. He was a very athletic racer, boxer, and a competitive worker. A quiet stregnth, he did not boast or threaten. But if he warned you he followed through. From texas he always carried a pistol that someone once grabbed in a bar fight. During the great depression he was always working and on the move. He worked for the railroad and President Rosavelts CCC to preserve many of our national parks including many Colorado trails. He loved to read to his children and carve wooden toys like his father, Preston. (note bdate, color, bro, sis, state married)

2 comments:

mollyNovember 8, 2009 at 5:10 AM
"don't weaken, boy." I see Bud reaching out to his son as it gets close to the time he will pass away. Hmm..this is the frustration I am having with Cori as he just left for college and I want him to keep in touch. "Well here goes for a few lines.. ..And will write now & then whether I get an answer or not." He talks about where family and friends have relocated.

"A thousand years from now everything should be ok. And after you have been out a few years you’ll be able to look back and see where they never were bad.
mollyNovember 8, 2009 at 5:11 AM
encouraging words from a father.

kate & bud

1953 letter

2 comments:

1904-2000

1900-1954

search

archive

task list

our people