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Show The Ogden Valley news Volume XXV Issue IX Page 9 June 1, 2019 Lois Maxine Berlin Shepherd: Part I Jan. 26, 1926 ~ April 21, 2014 Note: I got a phone call from my mom in early 2014. She recounted a visit she’d just had with Grandma Lois Shepherd where Grandma told her how appreciative she was that I was writing her life sketch. This was a surprise to my mom, and even more so to me! But how could I not do absolutely anything my sweet grandma asked of me? Since that date, I’ve been overwhelmed at the thought of summing up the life of the most angelic woman I’ve ever known. Thankfully, Grandma did an incredible job documenting much of her own life, as well as the lives of many, many other family members. Below, I’ve simply tried to categorize and organize information—most of which comes from The Grandparent Book she and Grandpa completed in 1991. Many of the words are her own, only changed to a third-person account for consistency throughout. Granddaughter Heidi Shepherd Lois Maxine Berlin was born Jan. 16, 1926, a cold and snowy Saturday, to Agnes Allen and David Andrew Berlin—the eleventh of 12 children. As there were no nearby hospitals or doctors, Lois was born in the family home located at 7300 E. 1st St. in Huntsville, Utah (one block west and one block north of the Huntsville town square, park, church, school and store). A kind midwife named Kate Nielsen helped with the delivery and afterward. Agnes picked the name of “Lois” (as did Agnes’ brother John Allen, who also had a daughter named Lois). Agnes Allen Berlin was a housewife and took care of the 12 children who were born to her, although six of them died before they reached maturity. She stayed busy with many washings, much cleaning, cooking, ironing and baking. She died when Lois was only 2 years and 10 months old (Dec. 3, 1928). Lois remembers having to eat her dish of oatmeal before she could go in to see her in her casket with tiny baby Dee at her side, who had died at the same time. Many people spoke well of Agnes and told Lois how wonderful she was. Her death was really hard on David Berlin and all six children left behind—Jean (21), Barbara (14), Klee (11), Ken (7), Lorna (5), and Lois (2). Childhood & Family - After her mother died, Lois went to stay with Aunt Ada and Uncle Birt Nelson on the road to Eden. She remembered Aunt Ada boiled dozens of eggs for Easter and invited their whole family over for breakfast. Brother Ken, age 7, won the prize for eating the most boiled Easter eggs. Aunt Ada died a year and 5 months after Agnes, but Uncle Birt was always good to Lois. He always said he was going to be an airplane pilot and Lois could be the stewardess. Following Ada’s passing, Lois went to stay with Aunt Margaret and Uncle Arnold Berlin, one block east of her family home. Their son Dale couldn’t say his “L’s” so he would always call her “O-ee,” and the rest called her “Lo-ee” (Loie) all the time she was growing up. (Except for brother Ken who would call her “Pokey” when he was in a hurry to get somewhere and Lois was slow getting ready.) At age 6 she started school and was able to go back home since sister Jean was her first-grade teacher at Huntsville Grade School, only two blocks from their home. Jean taught them music and involved them in singing practice, programs, etc. This was during the depression when money, jobs and food were scarce. David A. Berlin worked on the Thomas E. & David O. McKay Farm at Dry Hollow in Eden, Utah and the George Hill farm to earn any money he could. He also worked for the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) for $25 a month, and then as a guard at Pine View Dam when it was built. David struggled earning enough money to support his family and worried about losing their home in Huntsville after the banks went broke, but was very good to his children. He always raised a garden, kept chickens for eggs, cows for milk, and a few pigs and lambs for meat. He dug a big root cellar to keep fruit and vegetables in during winter and summer. Lois remembered taking an egg from the chicken coup once in a while when she was really hungry for something sweet; she’d take it to Ed Jesperson’s store where he would exchange it for a piece of candy. They only had hamburger about once a week, but grew raspberries, pole beans, potatoes, and vegetables, so they managed. Lois’ older sisters, Klee and Jean, sewed their clothes. Lois and Lorna took turns washing and drying dishes. They also made the beds, washed and ironed clothes, swept the floors and fixed meals. Lois remembered having to wash the dirty handkerchiefs by hand before they could go into the washing machine. When summer came, Lois preferred to do the inside work and Lorna chose to mow the lawn and do other outside work. To earn spending money, they would babysit and pick raspberries in the summer. Lois begged her father for piano and dancing lessons, but he just had to say no. Finally, for one year, she was able to take dancing lessons from Edris Jesperson. Tragedy struck again April 21, 1930 when beautiful sister Barbara Worth Berlin died after a serious illness hospitalized her in the Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. She was just 16 years old and it was a great loss to all. Lois also recalls her father telling how he loved his little son Allen David, who was 3 years and 4 months old when he asked his mother, who was peeling potatoes, for a piece of raw potato. She gave it to him but he choked on it, and try as they may, they could not dislodge it from his windpipe. He died in the wagon on the way down the canyon from Huntsville to Ogden, trying to get to a doctor on Dec. 30, 1913, 13 years before Lois was born. David worked hard during the days, and in the evenings, would play games and cards with his children. He loved to play Solitaire. Lois said he always reminded them to get their dishes and homework done, and also taught her how to clean a chicken. He told everyone he spanked them every day to make them be good, but he really never did. He was an artist. When he was young, he loved to act in plays and in the theater. He was also a handy man around the house, could fix shoes with a shoe last and was good at gardening and raising beautiful dahlias. His parents came from Sweden so they both spoke Swedish. David could speak it very well when he was little, but he soon stopped using it and spoke only English. (He was thrilled when Lois’ son Bruce was later called on a mission to Sweden and learned to speak Swedish there.) They lived on the main highway in Huntsville, where people would often drop off unwanted pets, so many stray animals would end up at the Berlin house. Ken especially loved the dogs and Lois was always thrilled when her Dad would bring home a “bum lamb” that was left behind when the big sheep herds passed their place. They would nipple feed and raise them. They also had a pet horse named “Old Nellie.” Each Christmas, David made sure Lorna and Lois got one doll if they took good care of last year’s doll and sat all the old ones out for Santa to see. He made them each a wooden cradle which they loved to play with. In summer, they would make “hollyhock dolls” to play with. Their favorite games were Red Rover, Kick the Can, and “Annie I Over” which was played by throwing a tennis ball over the house to players on the other side. If caught, they could run around and touch the throwers. Their father never owned a car, so they didn’t take family trips that Lois could remember All four sisters (Lois, Lorna, Klee, Jean) loved to sing together. They loved each other and were very close. As a child, Lois learned to cook, bake bread, bottle fruit, sew and make homemade root beer from her sister Klee. Lois loved to be with her as she created paintings, handicrafts, artwork, etc. One of the happy times in her young life was when Klee and a boyfriend took her to a real circus in Ogden. After she was married, Klee and her husband, Rich Finlinson (who was in the C.C. Camp) took Lois on a fun trip to Kaler Hollow, outside Vernal, Utah. They stayed in the mountains in a big house tent with a wooden floor for a week or two. They kept milk and food in the river to keep it cold. After Jean married Harold Wangsgard, Lois spent a lot of time living with them since her dad worked nights as a watchman. While there, she learned more about sewing, cleaning, and cooking meals: hamburger with onions, or a can of tuna from the case Harold bought always tasted so good to her! He also taught her to like yogurt and liverwurst and all “good food.” Lois’ father David married Myra Avis Cagle in 1939. During WWII, they would stay in Ogden at 265 28th Street all winter while he worked at the Utah Supply Depot at 2nd Street, as a carpenter. He did this until 1950 when he fell and injured his arm and elbow and took a medical retirement. From The Past . . . Before he was married, and for a while after, Valley resident John Howard Jorgensen (right) worked as a sheepherder and a camp Jack (someone who moved and supplied sheep camps) for some of the sheep ranchers in the area. This picture was taken somewhere in the late 1920’s early 1930’s. The sheep rancher that was mostly mentioned was the Byrams, and Jim Perry of Perry Land and Livestock. They owned what became Basin Land and Livestock, which is situated east of Huntsville. Photo courtesy of Neal Jorgensen. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you are willing to share. ... Because life is too short to hate your hair. June Special 50% OFF one styling product Limit one per customer. Expires 6/30/2019 5522 East 2200 North in Eden Saturday Night 4:30 p.m. Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Night 6:00 p.m. Fr. Charles Cummins 801-399-9531 StFlorenceHuntsville.org Before and after any Mass or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! 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