Personal Page of $Name

Fritz Christopher "Dick" Ehlers

Personal Data:

Item	Date	Place/Description
Birth	1914	Clearbrook, Wa.

Parents:

Parent	Name
Father	Frederick Bernard Ehlers
Mother	Katie Opal Little

Personal Note(s):

Note Number	Note Text
1	[Ehlers Family History.FBK.FBK.FBK.FBK.FTW] 1. Folder contains:obituary information; report card from Clearbrook School for the eighth grade, 1929-30; letter from Katie Ehlers, dated the day F.C. died (September 7, 1977), about his condition and what arrangements for burial would be. 2. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "I remember one summer evening a long time ago. The folks had finished with the milking and had turned the cows out in the barn lot. I was standing near the back door of the barn on the ramp. Henry and Dick were always close together, as they were this particular evening. They were standing side by side up near the west side of the barn lot. There was an exit there and poles across instead of a gate. They looked so little standing there. And then I remember the clatter of the horses' hoofs as they were let out of their staffs in the barn. They came across the wooden floor in the barn and out the back door, down the wooden ramp. They made straight for the boys on a dead run. None of us uttered a sound as we were too frightened, I guess. I can see Prince and Queen to this day as they raised up and sailed over the heads of the boys and out over the pole gate." 3. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "Dick and Henry knew how to take a gun apart and put it together again before they were ever allowed to shoot one. By the time they were target practicing they were making their own shells. At hunting time we had a lot of company from the city. It is customary to let your guests have the first shot. So you see the small fry had a long wait at times. It was embarrassing for the city folk to either miss or mangle a bird. The little boys were calm as a cucumber and make a clean shot. Many a bird they gave so the men wouldn't go back to the city empty handed. Mom taught me early the correct way to clean a bird. The boys were so proud to hand over the game. Never once did they forget to clean their gun and put it away. One time it took a little longer to clean tho. They were target practicing and wanted me to try. I should have known something was up because they so insisted. I put the gun to my shoulder & pulled the trigger. It gave me a good jolt. They had a poor homemade shell it it and knew it would kick. They doubled up with laughter. So I just threw their gun down in the wet mud and went in the house." 4. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "Dick was in about the third grade. Clara Syre was his teacher. This incident took place at hunting time. Dick was not allowed to take his gun to school but the temptation was too great this day. He took his gun and went to school by way of the old tram. When he got to school he marched right up to the teacher's desk and gave here his fresh shot bird. He asked her to please keep his gun for him till after school. He went and sat down at his desk without batting an eye. Neither did she." 5. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "Henry and Dick slept in the back bedroom. Henry was next to the wall and Dick on the outside. For awhile, when they were young, they would tease for a bedtime story. So earlier in the day I would read Brier Rabbit, a serial that was running in the paper at night. I'd use that as a basis for the story. To make the story longer I'd start at the beginning pretty much each time. There were times I'd sure draw on my imagination for situations. There were times when I'd hear, 'No, No. Brier Rabbit did so & so.' They sure could remember." "How they would rassle each other. You'd think they'd tear each other limb from limb. We'd separate them and five minutes later they'd be laughing and right back at it again." 6. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "I remember the boys were big enough to tend the cows and do the milking. This beautiful summer evening it was Dick's turn to bring the milk pail with the milk for the house as well as the big metal strainer after milking. He was just getting big enough by this time to put the bridle on Queen if he stood up in the feed bin. He just couldn't resist the temptation to put the bridle on Queen and bring the milk things up to the house. To make the ride more interesting he decided to have her trot. As she trotted, the metal strainer clanked up and down in the metal pail. The faster she trotted to get away from the noise, the worse the noise got. I'll never forget Dick, so small, holding the reins with one hand and the milk pail in the other. It was held way out so as not to spill a drop. He galloped passed the house, turned her towards the west field, circled & made another pass at the house. And, me, standing there yelling, 'Drop the bucket.' I don't remember how many round trips he made with Queen trying her best to get away from the noise. Finally Dick realized this couldn't go on forever. Thinking he couldn't waste the milk, he head her for the barn. It's a good thing the big barn doors were open as they went in at full gallop. I remember hearing all the 'whoa' and the thrashing about. By the time I got down there, they were both on their feet. Queen had lost her footing on the straw when she came in so fast. They had a mad scramble. Queen was trembling Dick was mad. But the precious milk was saved. Oh, boy, it's a wonder any of us survived." 7. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "I remember many years ago Pop took Grandma Ehlers and our family on a Sunday to Cultus Lake In British Columbia. The picnic lunch was being prepared. Ethel and I and Dick, were all just children. I remember Dick so little that I held his hand as we walked. We decided to wade around the edge of the lake. All went well until we reached a place in the lake where there was a steep drop in the bottom of the lake bed. So we submerged way over our heads. But as we surfaced we hollered for help. Ethel could not swim and I could only dog paddle and Dick was so little. But I hung on him and each time we went down and my feet hit bottom, I'd give him a big heave upwards, and then come up for air. All the time we hollered for help. People started coming. A man brought out a rowboat and got hold of Ethel. Other willing hands grabbed Dick. I remember a man came running out of his summer cabin and dove fully clothed into the lake and swam towards us. He was a powerful swimmer. By then I could tell the lake bottom was shallow and I went up on the beach and layed down a few moments until I got my breath back. Then I walked around the edge of the lake on the path and across a bridge that spanned where the creek bed out the lake was. I joined the crowd. By then Mom and Grandma were there and people were saying that it wasn't the first time that it had happened. And there should be warning signs posted. Alls well that ends well. I never did like Cultus Lake."

Note Number

Note Text

[Ehlers Family History.FBK.FBK.FBK.FBK.FTW]

1. Folder contains:obituary information; report card from Clearbrook School for the eighth grade, 1929-30; letter from Katie Ehlers, dated the day F.C. died (September 7, 1977), about his condition and what arrangements for burial would be.

2. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"I remember one summer evening a long time ago. The folks had finished with the milking and had turned the cows out in the barn lot. I was standing near the back door of the barn on the ramp. Henry and Dick were always close together, as they were this particular evening. They were standing side by side up near the west side of the barn lot. There was an exit there and poles across instead of a gate. They looked so little standing there. And then I remember the clatter of the horses' hoofs as they were let out of their staffs in the barn. They came across the wooden floor in the barn and out the back door, down the wooden ramp. They made straight for the boys on a dead run. None of us uttered a sound as we were too frightened, I guess. I can see Prince and Queen to this day as they raised up and sailed over the heads of the boys and out over the pole gate."

3. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"Dick and Henry knew how to take a gun apart and put it together again before they were ever allowed to shoot one. By the time they were target practicing they were making their own shells. At hunting time we had a lot of company from the city. It is customary to let your guests have the first shot. So you see the small fry had a long wait at times. It was embarrassing for the city folk to either miss or mangle a bird. The little boys were calm as a cucumber and make a clean shot. Many a bird they gave so the men wouldn't go back to the city empty handed. Mom taught me early the correct way to clean a bird. The boys were so proud to hand over the game. Never once did they forget to clean their gun and put it away. One time it took a little longer to clean tho. They were target practicing and wanted me to try. I should have known something was up because they so insisted. I put the gun to my shoulder & pulled the trigger. It gave me a good jolt. They had a poor homemade shell it it and knew it would kick. They doubled up with laughter. So I just threw their gun down in the wet mud and went in the house."

4. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"Dick was in about the third grade. Clara Syre was his teacher. This incident took place at hunting
time. Dick was not allowed to take his gun to school but the temptation was too great this day. He took his gun and went to school by way of the old tram. When he got to school he marched right up to the teacher's desk and gave here his fresh shot bird. He asked her to please keep his gun for him till after school. He went and sat down at his desk without batting an eye. Neither did she."

5. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"Henry and Dick slept in the back bedroom. Henry was next to the wall and Dick on the outside. For
awhile, when they were young, they would tease for a bedtime story. So earlier in the day I would read Brier Rabbit, a serial that was running in the paper at night. I'd use that as a basis for the story. To make the story longer I'd start at the beginning pretty much each time. There were times I'd sure draw on my imagination for situations. There were times when I'd hear, 'No, No. Brier Rabbit did so & so.' They sure could remember."
"How they would rassle each other. You'd think they'd tear each other limb from limb. We'd separate them and five minutes later they'd be laughing and right back at it again."

6. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"I remember the boys were big enough to tend the cows and do the milking. This beautiful summer evening it was Dick's turn to bring the milk pail with the milk for the house as well as the big metal strainer after milking. He was just getting big enough by this time to put the bridle on Queen if he stood up in the feed bin. He just couldn't resist the temptation to put the bridle on Queen and bring the milk things up to the house. To make the ride more interesting he decided to have her trot. As she trotted, the metal strainer clanked up and down in the metal pail. The faster she trotted to get away from the noise, the worse the noise got. I'll never forget Dick, so small, holding the reins with one hand and the milk pail in the other. It was held way out so as not to spill a drop. He galloped passed the house, turned her towards the west field, circled & made another pass at the house. And, me, standing there yelling, 'Drop the bucket.' I don't remember how many round trips he made with Queen trying her best to get away from the noise. Finally Dick realized this couldn't go on forever. Thinking he couldn't waste the milk, he head her for the barn. It's a good thing the big barn doors were open as they went in at full gallop. I remember hearing all the 'whoa' and the thrashing about. By the time I got down there, they were both on their feet. Queen had lost her footing on the straw when she came in so fast. They had a mad scramble. Queen was trembling Dick was mad. But the precious milk was saved. Oh, boy, it's a wonder any of us survived."

7. Story by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"I remember many years ago Pop took Grandma Ehlers and our family on a Sunday to Cultus Lake In British Columbia. The picnic lunch was being prepared. Ethel and I and Dick, were all just children. I remember Dick so little that I held his hand as we walked. We decided to wade around the edge of the lake. All went well until we reached a place in the lake where there was a steep drop in the bottom of the lake bed. So we submerged way over our heads. But as we surfaced we hollered for help. Ethel could not swim and I could only dog paddle and Dick was so little. But I hung on him and each time we went down and my feet hit bottom, I'd give him a big heave upwards, and then come up for air. All the time we hollered for help. People started coming. A man brought out a rowboat and got hold of Ethel. Other willing hands grabbed Dick. I remember a man came running out of his summer cabin and dove fully clothed into the lake and swam towards us. He was a powerful swimmer. By then I could tell the lake bottom was shallow and I went up on the beach and layed down a few moments until I got my breath back. Then I walked around the edge of the lake on the path and across a bridge that spanned where the creek bed out the lake was. I joined the crowd. By then Mom and Grandma were there and people were saying that it wasn't the first time that it had happened. And there should be warning signs posted. Alls well that ends well. I never did like Cultus Lake."

Partnerships:

Maxine Teller

Son:	Wayne Henry Ehlers	Born: 25 Nov 1938
Son:	Richard Paul Ehlers	Born: 2 Dec 1940
Daughter:	Cheryl Elaine Ehlers	Born: 1945