Freedom-Fighters Forum

By William J. Dell – May 1995

Even though I know that Thou knowest what is in my heart, I thought that I would take keyboard in hand and express my graditude to Thee for my wonderful family. It is the time of year when we remember those who have returned to Thee. We call it Memorial Day. It was started to remember those who gave their lives in defense of liberty but now it has expanded somewhat to include all those we love.

First of all, I think of Great-grandma Clara Gennete Piper Dell and her daughter Mary Ethel who live up Maple Hollow Road outside of Duncansville, PA. on the Piper Homestead. I remember very little about her but the old Victorola in her parlor and the quarter inch thick records that it played. I know that I would walk up and visit when I was a small lad and I loved to play the records. She had one called “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”. I found out many years later that it was my father’s favorite hymn. I also remember gathering eggs from Aunt Ethel’s chicken coop. I was so eager in those days to help, I even gathered the glass eggs put there to help the chickens lay. I will ever have graditude in my heart for these two choice daughters of Thine who preserved so much of our Family History for me and my posterity in the form of countless newspaper articles.

Then of course, there are Harvey and Pearl, my paternal grandparents, who also lived in Duncansville. He was a machinist for the Pennsylvania Railroad and he would bring us the imperfect ball bearings to use as “ironies” when we shot marbles. Boys don’t seem to shoot marbles much any more. He also had a pocket watch that he would hold up to my ears to hear it tick. Grandma Dell would make buckwheat cakes for breakfast and pineapple fluff. She also chocheted many things and had an attic full of picture puzzles which we would put together. I also remember the Bible stories she told me while rocking in her rocking chair. They both were so good. Up the street from them lived Uncle Wess and Aunt Kate. I remember joining the 4-H Club and asking if I could use part of their garden space to plant vegetables. They were so happy to let me, but I wasn’t allowed to plant any corn. Uncle Wess had a hardware store on Third Avenue and I remember buying some seed there. What happy times to feel of their love and to grow.

To catch up a little I need to mention Great-grandpa Sandrus. He live with his daughter Sarah Elizabeth Miller and Ira Clair, her husband in Lakemont. Their house was right above the amusement park and we had so much fun playing in the woods on the hill that separated the home from the park. I don’t remember much about him either other than he would pour his coffee into his sauser, sitting the sauser on top of the cup, to let it cool. He would then drink it from the sauser. Grandmother Miller used to cook and cook and cook. Everything was so good. I still remember everyone eating until they were stuffed and hearing her say, “If you go away from my table hungry, it’s your own fault.” Granddad Miller worked for the railraod also. In my early years the trolly ran between Hollidaysburg and Altoona and we would ride it to town. There were one uncle and two aunts on my mother’s side of the family tree. We had a round robin gift exchange at Christmas time. Again many happy memories and love like a blanket surrounding me.

I didn’t recognize it them but I know it now and I am grateful to Thee for providing this extended family as a support and as teachers to help me find the path back to Thee. How truly blessed my life has been because of all of them and their care and concern.

Then there is Mom and Dad. Mother has been with us eleven years now. There have been several times that I have been grateful for her presence in our home as she has been a needed blessing to the family. This has been particularly true when she has helped when Johanne’ has been disabled for whatever reason. I am most grateful for her expressions of love to all of us as we have travel together along this journey we call life. How infrequently Dad’s and my paths crossed. Yet, I know that he loved me. Heavenly Father, Thou knowest that I loved him and longed for a greater relationship with him if only circumstances could have been different. How I longed to be with my brothers and he as they walked the path of life together in Thy beautiful creation. I am grateful for all my brothers and sisters and the help they have been along this journey we call life. Each of them has provided needed service from time to time for me and my family in our travels. Help them Heavenly Father to understand my love for each of them.

Of course Heavenly Father, I can never thank you enough for my own sweet, wonderful Johanne’ nor her parents Jim and Marie English, my other Dad and Mom. What a blessing they have been in our lives and the lives of our daughters. I am so grateful for his faithfulness and example in the Gospel. His willingness to help me learn how to use the Holy Priesthood and to be of service to all those around me. I am also grateful for all the plumbing and woodworking skills he taught me. I am grateful, too, for the many lessons I learned from Marie concerning healthful living and her willingness to travel half way around the world to assist us in Iceland when Johanne’ broke her leg. I am grateful for her asking, “Are you a Shepherd or a Sheepherder?” And I am most grateful now for understanding the question because of their teaching and example. I pray that I may always be a shepherd to those whom Thou hast entrusted to me.

As I said, I can never thank Thee enough for my angel wife. Johanne’, the love and music of my life. There are no words greater than those found in Proverbs to extrol this beautiful daughter of God:

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girtheth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleth them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

And how is it Heavenly Father that Thou hast seen fit to bless us with eight choice beautiful daughters who remember Thee, their Heavenly Father, and Thy love for them? How is it that they have been blessed to find men who are devoted to God, Family, and Country? Men who know the value of work and education. Men who love these, Thy daughters and our daughters, with a love deeper than life itself. Men who are grateful that they can walk this journey we call life together with these angels who seek only to administer charity, the prue love of Christ, to those around them? My heart is indeed full of graditude for these, Thy daughters and my daughters, and their husbands whom I am pleased to call my sons. How grateful I am also for their children, my grandchildren, to love and cherish and to be loved by them. How full they make life and how worth living. Please bless me that I may always be kind and loving, and the Papa they expect me to be.

Lastly, Heavenly Father, I seek a blessing from Thee. I pray Thee that Thou wouldst grant me wisdom that I might always be the shepherd Thou expects me to be. That I might be able to lead and guide these whom Thou has entrusted to me back into Thy presence that we might all have fellowship together throughout eternity. And always help me to have graditude in my heart for these Thy children and Thy many blessings both temporal and spiritual which I have in my life.

Your grateful and loving son,