On November 23rd 2013, our Bergstrom family came together to celebrate my great grandma Gertrude Lorraine Thomason's 92nd birthday she was surrounded by family who love her dearly.
Among those whom could make it this year, Back Row: L to R: Kathy Webster, Ashley Webster, Aletta Hixenbaugh, Ari De La Cruz, Robbie Pinqouch, Natasha Ramey & Jim Ramey. 2nd from Back: Leona Bergstrom, Russell Bergstrom, Carol Sardoncillo, Cathy De La Cruz, Matt Johnson, Marlene Clark, Michael Ramey, Colleen Loveridge, Kenneth Bergstrom, Christine Miner, David Sardoncillo, Becky Pinqouch, Debbie Jo House, Chris Bergstrom, Sammy Jo House & Lincoln, Brandon, Alex Johnson & Corbin and Brennan Johnson. Front Row: Dave, Junior Sardoncillo, Daniel Sardoncillo, Gertrude Thomason, Kimmy Ramey & Armani, and Chucky Goodfellow. Also present but not pictured: Auzha Webster, Tania Cook, Isabella & Emmie Jo House, & Ryan Vieth.
For the very special occasion i decided to make my Great Grandma Gertrude a specially crafted scrapbook with photos of her mother Barbara Lachowitzer's Liebei Family. I so enjoyed my time talking to Great Grandma about her families history and listening to her recollections of the days she spent with her aunts & cousins, i found out one of her cousins Theresa was a nun, another became a priest.
Great Grandma seemed so very happy to see these photos of her families past, i am so glad i was able to spend so much time with her during her special day. I did feel a little bad keeping Great Grandma's attention to my self for so long : )
All of the Great Aunts and Great Uncles loved seeing the photos to, i was so happy to make special little albums for all 7 of them.
I will forever be thankful for my cousin Debbie Jo House for picking me up at Jantzen Beach Mall in Portland, Oregon and taking me to spend the night at her house in Chehalis, Washington which was a good hour and half ride for her. Her husband Ron and little Emmie Jo helped with making me feel at home in the House Family home.
Ron made us a excellent lasagna dinner, and served red wine.... and that's when the family secrets started to come out!
I so enjoyed visiting with Debbie Jo, Ron & Aunt Chris!! who of course is my name sake i told her about her half sister Virginia "Ginny" Boje who from memory i believe looked allot like Aunt Chris. We also looked through photo albums and enjoyed talking about our families.
I thank cousin Kimmy for welcoming us into her home after Grandma's birthday. Staying up late and chatting, and visiting with more family at her daughter Ashley's home.
I Especially enjoyed getting to hear stories about my Grandpa George "Sonny" from his brothers Russ & Ken. Uncle Russ told me about a trip he took with my Grandpa to Billings, Montana when he was only 15 he took out a coin that they had specially made that day that said Russell Bergstrom - Sonny - Billings. Ken told me about how Aunt Kathy had washed my Grandpa's Cadillac and forgot to use soap leaving streak all over it, bet he was mad!
Here is a photo of Aunt Kathy & My Grandpa George, her brother "Sonny"
I am so thankful for Aunt Kathy letting me scan some of her great family photos, i had remembered seeing a photo from My Great Grandma Gertrude's 90th Birthday in 2011 during a slideshow and i was hopeful i'd see it again.
My Dad Tim holding my sister Jackie, My Mom Reta with my brother Tim, Aunt Marcia & Uncle George with cousins Jessica & George, My Aunt Judi with Great Aunt Kathy & cousin Jimmy. This was of course my first time meeting my Washington family as my mom was pregnant with me in this photo.
The only thing i really missed during this visit was my own very big Bergstrom Family
Me, My Mom Reta, Sister Jackie with nephew Hunter, Brother Tim, sister Taylor, dad Tim, brother Tristan, neice Mackenzee, brother Kenneth, nephew Kameron and my neice Brittney.
I of course also wish that all of my Oregon family would have made it, i so enjoyed seeing my dad with both of his siblings at Great Grandma's birthday in 2011. It makes me sad to think this was the last time all three we're together.
I enjoyed visiting so much with all of my Bergstrom family and i was so sad to leave, but i knew my mom & grandma Ellen, my siblings and neices and nephews all missed me back in Oregon. So as i sit here and remember my weekend in Washington getting to know all of my cousins, and great aunts and great uncles and of course my great grandma i look forward to our next visit whenever that may be, and i am hopeful that even more family will make it.
