PAPA'S FINAL WORD, PART 1:

The Stadems' Trip of 1951 in 14 States and Old Mexico

Our Dear Loved Ones All Over:

As the year of Nineteen Hundred and Fifty One is fast drawing to a close, it is possible you have been expecting to see somthing scrib about the impressions and experiences that were made on the so-called vacation trip this past summer. After leaving home June 12th, traveling in 14 states of the Union and 176 miles into interior of Old Mexico, amounting to 9,000 miles, we must exclaim: Where shall we begin and what shall we say? Truly, we agree with Carlyle when he says, "Whosoever looks upon this universe without wonder, without humble admiration and faith, is like a pair of spectacles without eyes to see through them." I'm sure he agrees with the Bible where it says: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." At the outset we must briefly state this: We did not see everything, neither did we properly observe many things we did see!

THE DEPARTURE

Our send off was really thrilling as the Rangens of Eau Claire, Svanoes of Minneapolis, Spildes of Sioux Falls and Leroy with a big smile and no envy, came home and sent us on the way. Also our many Christian friends wishing us God's protection and blessed trip, not to forget William Mathison who drove 120 miles to loan his movie camera for the occasion.

At the end of the first day's journey we unexpectedly dropped in on Rasmus Rangens near Maddock, N.D., where we were royally received and cared for and sent on our way happy--hoping for a longer visit next time. For the sake of some who might read this we hasten to say we were five persons traveling west: Darrell and Lorin homeward bound, then Ruth and us two continuing on.

Going by way of Minot, N.D. we stopped to say hello to the Hofstads. He is President of Dakota Lutheran High School. We got in on much more than we knew of or had hoped for. President Hofstad with unbounded enthusiasm took time to show us all over the place; and with his fervor for the cause of the Kingdom established in the hearts of the High School teenagers and the cooperation of the many like-minded we see a bright future for the school and far reaching blessings upon church and state. We transacted some business at Jamestown this day, hence it got a little late when we rolled into ay, N.D. that night where we visited dear Brother Andrew and Connie until about noon the next day. We also had the privilege to go withthem out to see the famous oilwell in N.D. Sorry, but now it had to be goodbye and off again. Into Montana, down Highway 10 along Yellowstone river until we parked at a cabin camp at Custer, Montana that night. Then up and going into Wyoming and into Yellowstone Park by way of Cody. By this time the country has taken on a noticeable change from that of the lush farming areas of eastern S.D. and much of N.D. where Amighty God sends showers of water to produce crops and vegetation everywhere--spreading a carpet of green both high and low all summer long. Coming down across this corner of Montana we see nothing of the well-built farm homes, and the country looks weird and rugged, yet the Apiary industry seemed to predominate--and we like to mention a cloud of dust in the distance in spite of the calm that drew our attention, which wen we came up close proved to be caused by the largest herd of sheep we ever saw on a march herded on their way by one lonely sheperd and his dog. This was a backward look from Cody, the town made famous by "Buffalo Bill" and here we see him in a supersize effigy on his pony--which our grandson Lorin will remember as when he went to go underneath cut a gash in his yead by the spurs so the blood ran. In passing we must mention the Shoshone River Dam. This was man made, but surely it was no plaything. And now as we look around and learn names like Cody Peak, 10, 618, Avalanche Peak, Grizzly Peak, Mt. Chittenden, we know it's ot around Plain View Farm. But we are rather reminded of 14 years earlier when we went with Bob and Pearl on the Rocky Mountain trip.

PLEASE RETURN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS EXCITING ACCOUNT. IT WILL ONLY GET BETTER AND BETTER AS PAPA STRAINS THE SOMEWHAT RUSTICATED VOCABULARY OF A SELF-EDUCATED FARMER TO DESCRIBE THE WONDERS OF AMERICA AND ALSO MEXICO.

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