Louis Wilbur Sackett

Louis Wilbur Sackett was born on May 16, 1927 at the family home in Hubbard County, near Park Rapids, Minnesota and went to his rest in Edmonds, Washington on July 9, 2022. He was the son of Leroy Sackett and Wilhelmina Barg-Sackett.

Louis had fond memories of a day when he was three years old, and his older sister Doris was five years old. It was a hot muggy day in August, when his mother gave each of them a hand full of raisins, said, “Now you kids go and play near the creek.” They obediently went to play near the creek, but something just did not sound right. It was in the middle of the afternoon and when the two children talked it over, they decided to go quietly up to the house, look in the window and see if they could find out what was going on.

Putting thought to action, they quietly tip-toed up to the house, Doris bent over, Louis climbed on her back so he could see into the window. At the same time, his younger sister, Verna, let out a lusty yell. Louis said to Doris, “Baby.”

The fist school Louis attended was a small eight-grade school about two miles from the family home. During nice weather he and Doris would take a shortcut through the woods, then the meadow and arrive at the school house in time to play. In the cold winter months they would need to walk on the road with the snowbank on each side and when they arrived at school, the teacher would check their ears to see if they were frozen. Sometimes the teacher would require them to take off their socks and shoes, then she would check to see if their toes were frozen. If teacher suspected frost bite, she would take the dish pan, go outside, fill it with snow and start rubbing the snow on the affected part. School was a delightful place, there were books to read, and recess when you could play with your friends.

During the summer months, there was much work to be done at home. The cows needed to eat the green grass in the meadow. Louis and Verna would herd the cows, being careful that they did not wander over to Grandpa Barg’s cornfield. While Louis was watching the cows, they would eat the grass in the meadow, but if he and Verna began to play, the cows would immediately gravitate toward the 40 acres of lush corn plants. Then it was time to run quickly, heading them back to the meadow. The cows were often determined to get some of the tasty corn. It was a battle to keep them where they were supposed to be feeding.

Louis was a member of the local 4-H club. He had a Guernsey heifer which he taught to lead, stand a certain way with the front feet together. He would clip the hair on her head, neck, and tail. Leaving enough for the animal to switch her tail. Records must be kept, how much grain did he give each day, how much hay and the cost of these items. Before going to the fair, Louis must wash his heifer being sure that her feet were clean, - usually the washing must be done twice to be sure she was perfectly clean. When Louis took his heifer to the Hubbard county fair, his hours of hard work paid off. Louis was awarded coveted first prize blue ribbon as he led his pet around the show ring.

One day in the summer of 1936, his mother needed to be gone from home and she said, “Louis, if it starts to rain, be sure you and Verna get all the baby chicks in.” To supplement the family income, mother would purchase 500 tiny chicks, keeping them warm in the brooder house with a special stove. Then during the summer, sell them as fryers to the tourists. A car would come up the driveway, Louis and Doris would go out to speak to the people. The tourist would ask, “Do you have any fryers ready today?” Doris or Louis would say, “We will have one ready in a few minutes.” Meanwhile, Mother would run out the back door, grab a chicken, kill it, then quickly remove the fathers, take out the entrails, and have it wrapped and ready to sell within 10 minutes.

Of course it started to rain. Louis and Verna were trying to get the baby chicks into their warm house. They did NOT want to be caught, so Louis and Verna would chase them to the fence, catch them, take them to their brooder house. Louis and Verna had barely caught the last chick, gone into the house, and they cyclone touched down one-half mile away and removed the roof of Grandpa Barg’s barn. Grandpa was in the barn feeding the cows when suddenly the rain was pouring down on his bald head. They cyclone lifted the roof, carried it one-half block and sent to roof down in the field. Grandpa and all the cattle were safe.

On September 7, 1937, Louis’ mother and Hugh Millard were married. Louis was 10 years old. Soon the family were on their way from Park Rapids, Minnesota to Marshfield, Oregon (now Coos Bay) where Millard had been employed. One child rode in front with Mother and Millard, and two children rode in the back of the covered pickup. Included in the family belongings was a 10 gallon milk can, the cream separator and that special blue ribbon.

Mount Rushmore was recently completed and while there, Louis saw a man in a special basket putting finishing touches on the face of Abraham Lincoln.

Yellowstone Park was also on the list of places to see on the way to Oregon, but when the family arrived at the entrance there was a big sign, “CLOSED.” Oh! What a disappointment. Louis had looked forward to seeing Old Faithful spout.

Arriving in Marshfield, Louis found good fishing form the bridge. Naturally a good entrepreneur, soon he found that he could make some extra money as a caddy at the local gold club. In the woods behind the house were some mountain blackberries, the restaurant wanted more than Louis and Doris could pick and they paid a good price for those delicious berries.

In 1938, the mill where Millard had previously been employed was not hiring. The depression was still felt in that area. Therefore, it was decided to move to the Willamette Valley where Wilhelmina’s sister and family were employed. The green-bean farmers needed help to pick their

crop, they paid one cent per pound and Louis was a good picker- pick up to 500 pounds some days – excellent money for an 11 year old boy in 1938.

After graduating from the eighth grade at Marion, Oregon, Louis rode the bus to Jefferson High School where he found a great athletic program. He was on the baseball team, and also went out for track. When it came time for the annual run up Scrabble Hill, Louis won and had his name engraved on the trophy. He had been “practicing” regularly. Each day, he would play as long as possible, then run the two miles uphill to home arriving at the time his mother expected him.

His junior and senior high school years were spent at Laurelwood Academy in Gaston, Oregon. Those were happy years, living in the dormitory, meeting many new friends and growing up generally. He worked on the farm and graduated in the class of 1944. Louis was 16 on graduation day, then turned 17 a few days later on May 1, 1944.

Soon after high school graduation, Louis had a job in the Portland, Oregon area. Then he purchased his first car! It was a light blue Chevrolet, and it had a special skirts to cover the wheels. Louis was one proud car owner!

Louis’ uncle, Beacher Barg was serving in the Merchant Marines. The dangers were great, but the pay was good. The year 1945 found Louis on the high seas with the Alaskan Steamship Company. It was while Louis was with the Alaskan Steamship Company that he met a beautiful Irish nurse named Alma Hunter. They were married on February 2, 1949.

Survivors include: one brother William Millard of Colton, California, three sisters; Laura Lee Meadow of Portland, Oregon, Jennifer Millard of Bellingham, Washington, and Verna Travis of Orlando, Florida and many nieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Sackett family.