Happy birthday, Dad. Happy Birthday, Uncle George.
Yes, 89 years ago twin boys were born in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. They were born to Clarence and Christina (Weik) Nettestad and were welcomed by two big brothers, Obert and Vernon. The twins were named after their grandfathers, Ole and George. They grew up on a farm in the Pelican Rapids area and attended school through the 8th grade which was an acceptable practice at the time. They attended a delightful country Lutheran church just down the road, South Immanuel, where they were confirmed in the faith
and later Ole (my Dad) and Betty Toso (my Mom) were married and Uncle George, of course, was the best man.
Ole and George joined the Army and signed up to take paratrooper training.
They were stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. This paratrooper training was important to Dad as he was about to be married and taking paratrooper training increased his pay by an extra $30 a month. Pretty good for the 1950s. It seems like a "no brainer" until it is revealed that Ole was scared of heights! Wow, what a husband won't do to provide for his family! Fortunately, Ole and George first served between WWII and the Korean War so they were stateside for their service commitment. Uncle George will "re-up" and make the Army his career. Ole, however, will come back to Minnesota and become a business owner (The Crowbar in Sabin, Minnesota) and with his wife, Betty, raise their family of three girls: Vicki Lynn, Cheryl Renae and Kimberly Kay.
Ole dies at the age of 45 leaving behind a legacy of friendship and love. When I remember my Dad, I remember how no one was ever a stranger to him. New people were just friends he hadn't met yet. No matter where we would visit, someone was bound to shout across the room or greet Dad on the street with a wide smile, an outstretched hand and a hearty "Hey, Ole!" Dad had a great sense of humor, a compassionate heart and a Peter Pan complex - he just didn't want to grow up! He loved playing tricks and pulling shenanigans! It was hard to be mad at him. He was too much fun! Dad had an over sized stuffed gorilla named "Samuel." Quite often, Dad would put Samuel in the front seat of his car and drive around. You can only imagine the looks he would get!
One of my favorite memories of my Dad is spending time with him on his day off - Thursday. It came to be called "Holy Ole Thursday." In the summertime, because school was not in session, I would spend the afternoon with him. Dad loved to put a big cooler in the trunk of the car and fill it with ice, beer and soda. Then we would drive around the Minnesota farmlands and look for farmers out in their fields. When Dad would spot a farmer driving a tractor or some other field equipment, he would find an approach and drive into the field. Then he would open the trunk and sit on the bumper waiting for the farmer to make his round. The farmer would invariably stop and get down from the tractor and come over. Dad would offer him a refreshing cold drink while Dad would climb up in the tractor and make a round giving the farmer a much needed break. I can still smell the sweet smell of soil as it was being tilled or the pungent smell of grain being harvested. I would sit with the car door open, my feet dangling over the bench seat of the car as I sipped a Nesbitt orange soda watching my Dad make a round in the field. It was a scene of peace, a feeling of kindness, a sense of everything being perfect in the world.
Dad always wore black slacks, a white shirt with a bolo clip tie and at times a vest with black dress shoes...even on Holy Ole Thursdays. I do not remember my Dad ever wearing jeans or a sweatshirt. He did have a polo shirt - his bowling shirt, but otherwise it was a white cotton shirt that Mom would have to iron and starch with black dress slacks. One grand harvest "Holy Ole Thursday," Dad and I were driving through the countryside and came around a corner where a very elderly man was "shocking" grain. Shocking grain is the way wheat was harvested before combines. The grain is cut with a scythe and then bundles are tied with twine and the bundles are tipped together to look like a teepee or "shocks" so the grain can dry. It is back breaking, hot miserable labor! Dad shouted with delight at this "find!" He barreled into the field, scrambled out of the car and ran to the man hollering "I haven't shocked grain in years!" Dad was absolutely delighted to be lifting the bundles and making shocks all over the little corner field! I can only imagine what the farmer thought when he saw this man dressed in a white shirt and black slacks with black dress shoes running across the field, waving his arms with a huge smile on his face! I remember sitting in the car waiting patiently not wanting to venture out into the stubbled field because I was barefoot. So I just sat and watched Dad and the farmer tidy up the field of its scattered bundles before the farmer came to the car and enjoyed a refreshing drink from the stash in the trunk cooler.
Dad's life wasn't very long in days, but it was large in living life. He made a difference in many lives. He invested himself in others. He showed kindness and demonstrated friendship and he loved his family.
My devotional prayer book shares this prayer written by Pastor Hugh R. Monro, (New York City, NY): "Gracious Lord....Help us to walk in the spirit of constant prayer, to increasingly delight in Thy Holy Word, to love one another and to have some part in bringing the Light of the Gospel to those in darkness. In the midst of the confusion and stress of earth, may our souls rest in Thine own perfect calm, and may we be able to comfort those in trouble with the comfort wherewith we are comforted of God...."
I find comfort in Christ's words " “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3)
I am confident that my Dad is with the Lord right now, walking the heavenly realm, continuing to greet one and all and sharing his joyous spirit. I'm not sure if shenanigans are allowed, but I'm confident I'll know all about it when my feet entered those pearly gates one day. I know I'll hear "Hey, it's Ole's daughter!" and I, too, will be at home.
Happy birthday, Dad. Happy birthday.
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