Memories from a Me-Ma: A Big Sky Collection of Stories

By Bette Sherod Hamby

I dedicate this book to my sisters, Wilma Sherod Fisher and Bobbie Sherod Gilbert, and my niece Peggy Fisher Elision. This book is dedicated in memory of my sister Carol Sherod Clark, my brother Ralph Sherod, my nephew Richard Fisher, and my son Charles D. Hamby. I honor my children, Bob, Doug, and Patti. Special thoughts for my grandchildren: Jared and Montana Hamby; Parks and Simon McIntosh; and Noah, Luke and Anna Hamby.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 6, 2009
• ISBN: 9781493177226

Book preview

Copyright © 2009 by Bette Sherod Hamby.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2009906368

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-4415-4963-1

   Softcover   978-1-4415-4962-4

   Ebook     978-1-4931-7722-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

59013

CONTENTS

FORWARD

SUMMER

GOING FISHING

AUNT EVELYN

FALL

HALLOWEEN

MY BEST CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

CHRISTMAS EVE

WINTER

A SNOW EXPERIENCE

WORLD WAR II

BOBBIE’S PIANO

REMEMBERING JOHN

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

ICKY JOBS

SPRING TIME

DRIVING LESSONS

SCHOOL DAYS

HIGH SCHOOL

MOM

DAD

EPILOUGUE

A TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my sisters, Wilma Sherod Fisher and Bobbie Sherod Gilbert, and my niece Peggy Fisher Elision. This book is dedicated in memory of my sister Carol Sherod Clark, my brother Ralph Sherod, my nephew Richard Fisher, and my son Charles D. Hamby. I honor my children, Bob, Doug, and Patti. Special thoughts for my grandchildren: Jared and Montana Hamby; Parks and Simon McIntosh; and Noah, Luke and Anna Hamby.

forward.jpg

old home place in Barber, Montana

On the cover:

Bette Sherod, 1 year old, 1940 with old dog Bum on the Crow Indian Reservation

FORWARD

The first glimpse I had into the outside world was on July 7, 1939 in Hardin, Montana. I was approximately nineteen inches long and weighed eight pounds. I suppose I had bluish eyes and dirty blonde hair. I had a big cut on my neck from being born and Mom said that I was black and blue. In those days, doctors used some kind of tool to help you with birth if your mother was having a hard time. My mother was forty-one years old, so you know that I wasn’t being very co-operative. But I was the favorite baby in the ward anyway.

My brother gave me the name Bette Florence. My Grandma’s name was Florence, and I guess he just like the name, Bette. My parents were Anna Leone Knapp Sherod and my dad was Charlie Earl Sherod. I had two sisters and on brother. Wilma Vale was already married and with child. Carol Rose was ten years older than I was and was my caretaker. Ralph Dale, the oldest of us, was nineteen to twenty years older than I was. Then thirteen months later came another big surprise. Bobbie Ann was born on August 31, 1940. She was a big surprise to all the family and friends who knew them.

At the time of my birth, the folks lived on the Crow Indian Reservation. I really do not know what Dad did for a living. I guess he farmed and ranched. I think he liked ranching more than farming because not long after Bobbie was born they bought a ranch near Ryegate, Montana, and we moved there. The ranch was bought from the Breeding family, and Mr. Hiller had the house moved in. The country was called Barber Country. In Barber, there was a post office, Francians Store, school, and a Lutheran Church. The Lutheran Church is now on the national Registers Book. At one time, I do believe Barber had a bank and a jail. We lived twenty miles from this little town and twenty-five from Ryegate.

I want this story to be a history of how we lived and what kind of work and activities that we had as a child growing up in the forty’s and fifty’s. I led such a different kind of life than any of my children or grandchildren that I want them to realize that I am a one-of-a-kind person and how exceptional my life was.

I grew up on this ranch far from civilization—except for a few neighbors several miles away. My life was full and free, with the love of the land and the greatness of the wide open space, the purity of the clear blue sky and the rushing rivers that were as clear as crystal, the fantasy of the first snow, and the overwhelming joy of Spring as the shooting stars peeped out their heads through the tail end of the last snow. There was always freedom of heart as the wind brushed through the big old willow trees as we played under them.

I just wish you could live just one day of my childhood and could leave all the worries and concerns that is on your shoulders in this day of hustle and bustle.

I love all of you.

012.jpg