24 May 1927, Wellington, Colorado. U.S.A. Written across the top of this letter - Thanks ever so much for the book, I sure love to read them. D. My Dear Mother,    It is two weeks since I received your very welcome letter but I have been exceptionally busy.    It was Walt's thirty-fifth (35) birthday on the eigth (8) of this month and that was on a Sunday.  The following Monday I was busy cleaning up the house and making a birthday cake as I had arranged a surprise party for Walt that night.  He did not know the least thing about it and was surprised when he saw four car - loads of people drive in.  All the home folks were here, Rose and Ray and three children,  Dorothy and Carl and baby and Mr and Mrs Deines, seventeen without counting ourselves.    We had a swell time, playing games and indulging in music, singing and gossip until midnight, then we had refreshments. X Ma and Rose brought sandwiches, Dorothy a sunshine Cake and Mrs Deines an angel food cake.  I made a butterscotch cake and we also served hot chocolate.    Wednesday of the same week Rose and I went to the Ladies Aid and I took Mary to the doctor to have the stitches taken out of her leg.  The sore is all healed up now but looks kinda blue. X    On the Friday we went to a grade program at the school house.  Of course in between times I had to bake, churn, wash, iron etc;    On Monday May 16th Florrie was taken very ill she had a sinking spell and the Dr said she could only live a few more days.  Liza stayed with her in the day times as we all took turns at night.  I stayed with mother as well, on Tuesday and Friday night. X    Florrie was so weak we had to move her around and lift her in and out of bed.  She was nothing but skin and bone and her eyes were so big and stary.  I guess she had'nt eaten anything for three weeks.  She was sore all over and the stuff that came off her lungs almost choked her for she was too weak to cough it up.  Saturday afternoon we all had a call to go down there as she was worse.  The Dr injected Strychnine to keep her heart going.  She sure did breathe hard and was choking quite a bit.  Walt and I were down there on Sunday morning at about 9 a.m., she waved her hand and said goodbye when we left.  At 10.30 we got word that she had passed away.  They took her to the mortuary right away and yesterday Gudjer and the folks chose her casket and the clothes to bury her in. (The coffins here are made of paper and made and bought by the wholesale. X The bodies are always all dressed up, and anyone can go in and see them. They are on view during the services). Florrie is to be buried at 2 p.m. tomorrow, (Wednesday) afternoon.  The services will be held at the undertaking parlors and the burial will take place here at Wellington.  The grave yard is not very far from here. X    I suppose you'll wonder what all the crosses mean, well, every time I have to pay off writing I make a cross so that you can see what a time I'm having to get through.    Well, I'll look your letter over and give the rest of my news afterwards. X    You must have all your house-cleaning done by now, mother, have'nt you?  I bet the house looks nice.  I have not started on my cleaning yet.  I'm waiting for warmer and nice weather!.  We get so very much wind and the dust drifts in all over the house    Marjorie and Edith must have some very nice coats.  I like the material so well, especially Edith's.    Where does Joyce N live? and what does she do? She seems to visit you pretty often.    Talk about my "chicken luck mother" I've sure been having it, as usual.  You know I bought those hundred baby chicks and now I have only twenty-eight of them left.  I have fifty other little chickens too, some are nearly as big as pigeons.  I have ten hens setting, will set another in the morning and have two more broody.  I have'nt got any more boxes to set them in and it takes me quite a while to save up a setting of eggs.     About a week ago we had a letter from Dick to say that Carrie had a ten pound baby daughter.  It was sure a surprise to every body.    There are several cases of scarlet fever around here now.  The schools, churches and picture house and all public buildings are closed.  Tomorrow night was to have been graduation night, but that is cancelled.    For a graduation present we gave Nida a toilet set consisting of hair-brush, comb and mirror made of white ivorette.    We are having quite a time with our beets this year.  Two weeks ago we had a bad storm and our beets were all frozen.  Walt replanted fifteen acres and left the others, thinking they might turn out alright.  Now the weather has about spoiled them so he re-planted some more today.  It's getting late for beets now.  Our hired man started in to work this morning, we've got a different one this time.    I went to Collins with the folks this afternoon and ordered my flowers for the funeral.  I got half a dozen pink carnations and half of pink snap-dragons.  They cost $1.50, so pretty high I think.    Well mother, I really must quit, tell Marg, I'll write her as soon as possible.  I hope you are all well as it leaves us at present.  Give my love to all and accept lots yourself.        Your loving daughter            XXXXX XXXXX    Dolly Enclosed is a newspaper clipping of Florrie's funeral. 'Death of Mrs. G. D. Rice, After a lingering illness' Mrs Florence Bertha Rice, wife of G. D. Rice, passed away Sunday morning about 11 o'clcok at her home south-east of Wellington after an illness of two years. Tuberculosis was the cause of her death. Mrs Rice was born in Wales on November 11 1900. She was united in marriage to G. D.Rice in February, 1919. Four children were the result of this marriage, two passing away in infancy. The husband and two sons survive her. Other surviving relatives are her Parents, Mr and Mrs Walter Wood, who reside north of Wellington, seven sisters and two brothers. Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternnon, May 25 at 2 o'clock, at the Balmer mortuary in Fort Collins, Rev. Oscar Huddleston pastor of the Wellington Community church, officiating. Interment was made in Highland cemetery northeast of town.

 So sad about Florence dying so young and leaving two small sons behind - my mum-in-law's mother died about the same time also from TB, she left 2 small children and a new baby - sadly the baby died a few weeks later as well. Makes you realise how difficult life was then. Dot On 30 January 2012 15:24, Pat Cook <paver207@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > 24 May 1927, Wellington, Colorado. U.S.A. > Written across the top of this letter - Thanks ever so much for the book, I sure love to read them. D. > My Dear Mother, >    It is two weeks since I received your very welcome letter but I have been exceptionally busy. > > Enclosed is a newspaper clipping of Florrie's funeral. > 'Death of Mrs. G. D. Rice, After a lingering illness' >   Mrs Florence Bertha Rice, wife of G. D. Rice, passed away Sunday morning about 11 o'clcok at her home south-east of Wellington after an illness of two years. Tuberculosis was the cause of her death. >   Mrs Rice was born in Wales on November 11 1900.  She was united in marriage to G. D.Rice in February, 1919.  Four children were the result of this marriage, two passing away in infancy.  The husband and two sons survive her.  Other surviving relatives are her Parents, Mr and Mrs Walter Wood, who reside north of Wellington, seven sisters and two brothers. >   Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternnon, May 25 at 2 o'clock, at the Balmer mortuary in Fort Collins, Rev. Oscar Huddleston pastor of the Wellington Community church, officiating.  Interment was made in Highland  cemetery northeast of town. -- Dot Holden Dover Kent UK There are three things that can never be retrieved, the spoken word, time past and the neglected opportunity