Sunday, February 19, 2017

Family History - Life Sketch of my Uncle Warren Albertson and Aunt Vida Ricks Albertson and their daughter, Georgia Deane Albertson

Family History

I couldn't get this to copy anyplace else from my old computer to my new computer...so I've put this on here.  I am putting Life Stories on familysearch.org for my family history work this year.

This will probably only be of interest to my side of the Albertson family.  Warren is my Dad's brother.
Other than his obituary, what I've written about him is mostly during the time Warren worked at the Guggenheim Gold Mine in Jarbidge, Nevada.  My Dad also worked there for six months in 1940--March to September or October.

Warren DeVon Albertson 1916-1973
and Vida Ricks Green Albertson
This is Warren’s life sketch up to 1989 which I researched and typed for the Gooding County “Roots and Branches” for the 1990 Idaho Centennial Year.

Warren DeVon Albertson was born May 10, 1916, in Albion, Cassia County, Idaho [His obituary says he was born in Rupert, Idaho, which is possible because the family lived in Jackson, Idaho, which is a farming area north and east of Rupert. Jackson is in “Cassia County” because it is on the south side of Snake River, but it is closer to Rupert than to Burley.]

He is the son of Clarence and Blanche Ilene Hartwell Albertson. His dad had homesteaded a farm in Jackson. His paternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Ann Hepworth Albertson lived in Albion.

At about the age of 7, Warren helped his 11-year-old brother Arnold, and his dad move their household goods and cattle on a freight train to Malta, Montana Because of a serious threshing machine accident of his father, they moved from Montana in 1925 [his obituary says 1927 but I think the 1925 date is the correct one] to Hagerman.

[See Life Sketch in Memories of Arnold Albertson his brother for more details about this move and their life in Montana and his father’s accident.]

Warren attended the Hagerman schools, and on December 14, 1940 married Vida Ricks, the daughter of David Lester and Irma Deane Ross Ricks, who had been born in Rexburg, Madison County, Idaho, February 3, 1921.

Warren adopted Vida’s two children by her first marriage, Barbara Dawn Green, born October 31, 1938, in Pocatello, and Wayne Evan Green, born February 28, 1940. Warren and Vida then had a daughter, Georgia Dean, born September 27,1941, in Pocatello, and David Warren, born March 30, 1943 in Hailey, Blaine County, Idaho. David drowned at age 2 in a canal or ditch in Hagerman, June 9, 1945, and is buried in Hagerman.

Warren had several occupations—from sheepherding before he was married, to working in mines and farming in Hagerman and Wendell.
In 1950 they moved to Pocatello where he was a hod carrier for bricklaying with Guy M. Nielsen Construction, then drove truck for them, working there for 23 years from 1950 until his death on December 12, 1973.

He had joined the LDS Church two years after moving to Pocatello,
January 27, 1952.

Barbara is a nurse in Salt Lake City and was able to help her uncle Arnold Albertson at the LDS hospital in Salt Lake in his battle with colon cancer in January 1982. She has 7 children and 7 grandchildren.
[Barbara died 21 Jun 2016 at age 77.]

Wayne currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has 6 children and 6 grandchildren. 
[Wayne died 3 Jul 1997 at age 57 in New Mexico.]

Georgia Dean married Keith Christensen of Pocatello, and their three children are Larry, Patty, and Phillip. They have 6 grandchildren, including a set of twins.
[Georgia Dean died January 27, 2017, buried Feb. 3, 2017 in the Cemetery in American Falls, Idaho.]

Georgia had her father’s temple work done on June 30, 1975 at the Idaho Falls Temple.

Warren always kept a couple of horses at a rented pasture, and loved to ride, to hunt and to fish with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed rodeos, and had lambs for his grandkids.

After Warren’s death, Vida married Ralph Labee and they currently reside in Pocatello. They recently returned from being with Wayne in New Mexico, where he underwent surgery for a brain tumor, diagnosed by the neurologist there as a “syndrome tumor.” [Wayne lived 8 more
years.]

Obituary
– found on line 2017 Jan 27 – typed here by Eileen Albertson Petersen
Warren DeVon Albertson
Warren DeVon Alberson, 57, of 949 Meadowbrook Lane, died Monday, December 10, 1973, at Bannock Memorial Hospital after an extended heart condition.  He was born May 10, 1916 at Rupert to Clarence and Blanche Hartwell Albertson.

As a young boy, he lived in Montana two years, moving to Hagerman with his parents in 1924 where he attended school and farmed until 1940. He married Vida Ricks, Dec. 14, 1940 at Elko, Nevada. He worked in the mines in Nevada [Guggenheim Gold Mine in Jarbidge, Neavada], later moving to Vancouver, Washington, working in the shipyards. He returned to the Hagerman-Wendell area where he farmed until moving to Pocatello in 1950. He had been employed as a hod carrier for the Guy M. Nielson Company.

Mr. Albertson’s hobbies were hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his widow; Vida; a son, Wayne Evan Albertson, Pocatello; two daughters, Mrs. Barbara Reese, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Mrs. Georgia Deane [?“Dean”] Christenson, Idaho Falls; three brothers, Arnold Albertson, Gooding, Tom Albertson, Burley, and Jack Albertson, Salt Lake City; three sisters, June (Deral) Haycock, Rigby [Eileen’s note: I think
it was actually Terreton, Idaho], Lorene Howard, Pocatello, and Edna (Floyd) Steel, Twin Falls; and 14 grandchildren. A son, David, preceded him in death. [David drowned at age two in a ditch in Hagerman when they were moving to a house in the field just before you turn north to go
past the Caddy Ranch into Hagerman.]

Warren was an elder in the Eighth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 15, 1973, at 11 a.m. in the LDS Eighth Ward Chapel with Bishop Errol Phippen, officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Hagerman Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday from 7-08 p.m. at the Henderson Funeral Home, 431N. 15th

Eileen Albertson Petersen note: I found the above obituary on familysearch.org 27Jan2017.

I remember my Dad’s brother, my Uncle Warren, as a happy person who liked to tell a good, clean, fun story and then laugh heartily. He liked to tease his kids and nieces and nephews.

He looked a lot like my Dad, Arnold. I hope we can find a good photo of him to put with this life sketch.
* * * * * * * *

Vida Ricks Green Albertson Labbee
1921-2011

Obituary
Vida Ricks Green Albertson Labbee

POCATELLO - Vida Ricks Labbee, 90, passed away peacefully with her granddaughter by her side at a local care facility Wednesday, September 27, 2011.

Vida was born February 3, 1921, to David Lester and Irma Dean (Ross) Ricks in Rexburg, Idaho.

[Vida married Don Evan Green in 1937, they divorced
in early 1940.]

She married Warren Albertson Dec. 14, 1940 in Elko, Nevada, and was his faithful companion until his death.  She later married Ralph Labbee and was
equally endeared to him until he also passed away.

Vida worked for Guy Nielsen Company for over 30 years. During the early years, she attended night school in bookkeeping, where she excelled in mathematics.

Her greatest accomplishments in life were her four children, Barbara, Wayne, Georgia, and David.

Vida had and cherished many life experiences. She was an avid bowler. She was also actively involved with American Business Women, and served as president for a time.

Vida was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many callings, including Relief Society president, Young Women's president, and always loved serving in the nursery.

Vida is survived by her daughters, Barbara Martin of Pocatello, and Georgia Christensen of Kuna; as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Vida was preceded in death by her husbands, Warren Albertson, and Ralph Labbee, and sons, Wayne Albertson, and David Albertson.

A viewing and gathering for Vida will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, September 30, 2011, at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road, Pocatello, Idaho.

A brief graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 1, 2011, at the Hagerman Cemetery in Hagerman, Idaho.
Her funeral arrangements are under the direction of Wilks Funeral Home, 238-8000. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.wilksfuneralhome.com.
See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatejournal/obituary.aspx?n=vida-labbee&pid=153880161&fhid=8077#sthash.dpQ8rnrc.dpuf

Vida Labbee (born Ricks), 1921 - 2011
Her father:David L. Ricks was born on August 25 1887, in Rexburg, Fremont, Idaho, USA.
Her mother: Irma was born on January 11 1892, in Lehi, Utah, Utah Territory, United States.
Vida had 7 siblings: Arlene Ricks, Gene Elwood Ricks and 5 other siblings.
Vida married Warren Devon Albertson on Dec. 14, 1940, at age 19 at Elko, Nevada.
Warren was born on May 10 1916, in Albion, Idaho USA.
They had one son: Wayne Evan Albertson.
Vida married Ralph Harold Labbee. Ralph was born June 10, 1916, in Mountain Home, Elmore, Idaho, USA.
Vida married Don Evan Green in 1937, at age 16.
Don was born on December 20 1916, in Saint Anthony, Fremont, Idaho

More about Vida
Information Vida gave Eileen Albertson Petersen
via telephone on 26 Aug 2002
Eileen called her Aunt Vida  to ask about the time she lived in Jarbidge, Nevada, because Eileen and her parents lived there for six months.

Vida said she first lived there when she was 10 years old, in 1931.
Vida had seven siblings—Arlene, Evan, and 5 others.
Her father David Lester Ricks was born August 25, 1887, in Rexburg, Fremont County, Idaho.
Her mother Irma Dean Ross Ricks was born January 11, 1892, in Lehi, Utah County, Utah Territory, U.S.A.

Vida’s Dad went to Jarbidge, Nevada, to work in the Guggenheim Gold Mine. Then her parents moved from there but she went back when she was 15 [1936] and lived with her sister. She had two sisters there whose husbands worked in the mine.

In 1940, Vida was still living there, working in the boarding house, earning money so she could move to Salt Lake to find a job. She was in the process of divorcing her husband Don Evan Green whom she had married in 1937. [Don was born December 20, 1916 in Saint Anthony, Fremont, Idaho. So he would have been age 20 when he married Vida, who would have been age
16.]

When Vida was going through the divorce, she had two children, Barbara [born 31Oct1938] age 2, and Wayne [born 27Feb1940] a few months old.

Warren Albertson was on his way to California to look for a job. On the way he saw the sign to "Jarbidge" and decided to drive over and tell his friend from Hagerman, Clifford Drake, "goodbye" who was working in the mine in Jarbidge. When he got there, he went into the boarding house to ask if anyone knew where Clifford Drake was. He met Vida and they both said: "Haven't we met before?" But they had never met before.

A romance developed between them. They went to Twin Falls together in December 1940 and Warren spent all his money on Vida's two little children for Christmas gifts.  Twin Falls was 94 miles from Jarbidge, and took over 3 hours to drive there on the narrow, mountain winding roads, via 3 Creek Road and U.S. Highway 93.

On the way back to Jarbidge Warren said: "Let's get married so I can have Christmas with you and the kids." So they drove to Elko, Nevada, and were married December 14, 1940.  Elko was 105 miles south of Jarbidge via Nevada highway 225 and took over 3 hours to drive there.

During 1941, Edna, Warren’s sister, came to Jarbidge and lived with Warren and Vida while she worked at a cafe there.  They drove Edna out in August to go back to Hagerman to school.

From there they went on to Pocatello for Vida to go to a doctor in Pocatello for her pregnancy with Georgia. Vida said she had not been to a doctor yet and the baby was due in September.  The doctor found that Vida had low blood pressure so it was decided Vida would stay in Pocatello with her parents until Georgia was born the end of September.

Another reason for Vida staying in Pocatello also was that the mine was in the process of being shut down, so there was no reason for Vida making that long trip back and forth when she was so close to her due date. Warren moved from Jarbidge in September and was with Vida on September 27th when Georgia was born.

From there Warren and his brother Tom went to Patterson, Idaho to work in another mine. From Patterson they went to Hailey, Idaho to work in the mine there from 1942-44. In 1944 they moved to Vancouver, Washington, where Barbara started school, but in a month they moved back to Hagerman in April 1945 just before President Franklin D. Roosevelt died.

Warren worked for Dale Caddy on his ranch for two years, then they moved to Wendell where Warren farmed for 3 years, and from there to Pocatello, Idaho, in 1950, where he started working for the bricklayer Guy M. Nielson, and they lived there from then on.

Vida said "I didn't know each day when Warren went to work if we'd be moving when he got home from work. It was an exciting life as I look back on it."


More notes from Vida in that same telephone call:
Notes typed August 26, 2002, after a telephone call to Vida by Eileen.
As I remember the road out of Jarbidge it was treacherous. We figured it was 70 miles to Three Creek and another 30 miles on in to Twin Falls. [As of 2017 it is listed as 93 miles from Jarbidge to Twin Falls—2 hours and 45 minutes on the 2017 roads. Probably took longer on the old roads in the 1940s.]

Murphy Hot Springs was called the "Hot Hole" in those days. The road south of Jarbidge to Elko was only opened a few months out of the year. Most of the time in the winter it was snowed in.

Vida said: My oldest sister went to work in Jarbidge and then the rest of the family came in.

I can remember Bob and Lorene were there in Jarbidge too because of an incident between Wayne and Bobby Lee. Bobby Lee was about 6 months younger than Wayne. When he was learning to walk, Wayne brushed up against him and Bobby Lee fell down.  Lorene always thought Wayne pushed him down on purpose and she never did like Wayne after that.

Wayne was always nervous when he was around her because he thought he was going to get into trouble.

My oldest sister had the nicest log cabin in Jarbidge. It was the only place that had a lawn. When the Mormon crickets invaded, she put tin around her lawn to protect it from the crickets, but they went through it anyway and razed it. They were like an army and not a blade of grass was left.
Warren and I rented the house next to hers. At one time I had three sisters living there.

In a book about the LDS Church presidents I read about the money panic of 1892-93 and always wondered what caused it. Interest rates went to 1/2 percent per day. But President Heber J. Grant was able to borrow money for the Church at only 6% a year at this time.

Then when I read about the mine in Vale, Colorado, I learned the money panic was caused when the U.S. went off the silver standard to the gold standard for the value of money.
* * * * * * * *

Georgia Deane Albertson Christensen
1941-2017


Georgia Deane (Albertson) Christensen lost her courageous battle with dementia on the evening of January 30th, 2017 at the Mini-Cassia Care Center in Burley Idaho.

She was born on September 27th, 1941 in Pocatello, Idaho to father Warren Devon Albertson and mother Vida Ricks. She had 3 siblings Barbara, Wayne, and David. She married Norman Keith Christensen on September 10,1960 and they had 3 children.

She is most remembered for running a daycare for almost 20 years in Pocatello. She was very involved in this business. She worked hard to ensure that all the children in her care received the best experience possible. The parents loved her and the staff loved her. She was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held multiple positions within the church and was always willing to serve. Her faith and desire encouraged her children to continue serving the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her Mother, Father, and her 3 Siblings; Barbara, Wayne, and David. She is survived by her husband and 3 children; Norman Larry (wife Susan) Patricia (husband Troy) and Phillip (wife Terri), 2 stepchildren; Cindy and David (wife Rosalinda), 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Her Legacy continues.

Viewing and visitation will begin at 1:00 pm Friday February 3, 2017. The funeral service will follow at 1:30 pm. The  dedication of the grave will follow in the Neeley Cemetery in American Falls, Idaho. All who wish to attend are welcome. 

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