My Dad had a lot of ideas. He was always creating and making things for us from the time we were small. he used to take pictures from old magazines of food, glue them onto hardboard then cut them out on his jigsaw. We used them in our play kitchen when we played house. Then he even built us a playhouse that had a dutch door, windows and could be taken apart and moved.

One Christmas he wanted to make some puzzle games for my sisters and cousins. He designed the shapes, cut them out, sanded, finished and cut little pegs of plastic doweling. He let me help through the whole process. Wherever we lived my Dad had a wood shop.  I was glad he showed me how to use some of the tools. If I had an idea or project I wanted to try made of wood he was ready to help.  He helped me make a model Viking ship for a school project in 6th grade.

When we moved to Vernonia he helped build us a tree fort.  It had a rope ladder and a trap door.  We could take a picnic lunch up and sit in it and watch the cars go by. Later he helped Scott and I design some wooden toy trucks that we started selling at the Portland Saturday Market.

My Dad had a quiet personality. He was thoughtful and kind. He taught us to love God, read the Bible, follow the golden rule, to be honest and to pray. 

When I got my drivers license he bought a 1953 GMC pick up truck. he built some side rails on the bed out of rustic wood. I got to drive it to school. The truck got a lot of attention in the small town. When I got married he gave it to Scott and I as part of our wedding gift.

Over the years my Dad helped Scott and I with some of our building ventures. He would come to help, pound some nails and do some framing. He also helped us a couple times when we needed a loan to finish up a house we had started and didn't have the funds to complete. 

My Dad always took an interest in what I was doing. He would listen and help me anytime I needed him. I will certainly miss him very much.