Desert Hot Springs, Winterhaven & Yuma

Mar 17 – 23 ….We left in the am for Winterhaven, CA/Yuma, AZ. Dad drove his car and us the motorhome. Doug and the motorcycle group arrived at our park (Pilot Knob) around 5pm. We went to the Mad Chef for Corned Beef and Cabbage with them. Doug and Dad stayed with us from the 17th – 23rd. We drove around the Yuma farm area and watched them harvest lettuce. We even helped ourselves to a couple of heads (well Dad did). We also stopped into a great date shop for a 'date shake' and some other goodies. We toured the old Yuma Territorial Prision. On Saturday we went with John Hebblemen, Randy Ross and Julie to the Moose Lodge where we had a wonderful Rib dinner and dancing. On Tue we drove around some more and stopped in and looked at Park Model homes and then Toy Haulers and Motorhomes. Dixie cut John's hair and then we all went out for a Chinese dinner. Doug and Dad left on Wed morning. Mike & Dixie did laundry and some house cleaning.

Mar 13 – 16... Mike was to fly back to PSP on the 13th but flights were full out of Denver. He decided to drive back with Dad and Dixie. We left Great Falls in Dad's Sebring convertible at 815a on Sunday the 13th. We drove 702 miles to Fillmore, UT where we overnighted at the Best Western. On Monday we arrived at Desert Pools RV park in Desert Hot Springs around 330pm. We picked up some dinner and went to Danny's. On Tue we went to the pool. In the afternoon we went to visit Bill and Gloria and then we all went to dinner at Babe's. On Wed we had Bob and Cheryl over for Happy Hour and Danny and Lexi came for dinner.

Mom's Memorial Service ~
Florence Irene Beck Hamilton
April 24, 1934 ~ March 3, 2011

Picture Board in memory of MOM

Mom's Memorial Service ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - March 13, 2011

Mar 4 – 12.... Pastor Steve came over in the afternoon and discussed Mom's service arrangements. Rod & Patty Morris and Russ and Cheryl Klette came by Dad's. Doug and Fran arrived the evening of the 4th. Dad, Doug, and I drove to Chinook on the 5th and met Denita and Steve at Edwards Funeral Home to make the arrangements. Mom was cremated as her request We also ordered flowers at Shore's Floral. From there we decided to go out to the farm. We spent the weekend going through pictures – we put together a slide show and a picture board for Mom's service. There was bunches of snow piled everywhere. We came back on Monday morning. Marge and Don arrived that evening. Danny flew in Tue afternoon. Mike was to have been with him but the flights were full. He ended up flying to LAS and then DEN and finally arrived at 1130p Tue. Russ, Cheryl, Marge, Don, Shirley, Doug and Fran were over for dinner at Dad's. Cheryl and Russ provided a wonderful spaghetti dinner. I took a fall on the ice when going to pick up Mike!
We left for the farm on Wed., the 9th. We got most everything set up at the church. Shelly and Jay arrived late in the day.
The Memorial Service on March 13th for Mom turned out really nice. We had 3 pastors – Steve, Cheryl and Rowlie as per Mom's request. All had lovely words to say. Ken Overcast sang and played his guitar...Granny's Mansion (his song) and Mansion on the Hillside. It was very special. The congregation sang I Was There to Hear You Bourning Cry and How Great Thou Art as were her request. I wrote a short Eulogy that was read by Pastor Cheryl. Approximately 200 people attended the service and 140 were served at the meal following. Due to the snow we will have the burial of the ashes this summer. Following the dinner we went to Wally and Loretta Becks to visit with relatives. We drove back to Great Falls on Friday the 11th. Marge and Don left for home on Sat. Dixie made phone calls to Insurance companies, etc to help Dad. Danny flys back on Sunday.

Mom at Missouri River Manor 2/23/2011

Mom on 1/29/11 while in the hospital

Mom's Long Road comes to an end

Feb 19 – Mar 3 ….Dixie flew back to Montana the afternoon of Feb 19th. She was able to visit Mom on Sunday. Denita and family were also there from Hogeland. Dixie got a haircut on the 24th and went to the dentist for a teeth cleaning on the 25th. She stayed with Dad and went to the Missouri River Manor to be with Mom daily. Mike flew up on the 24th. Doug, Fran and Danny decided to go on their trip to Purta Vallarta on the 24th. Mom's back and neck pain continued to get worse. The last day she was out of bed was Feb 22nd. It just caused too much pain. Jim and Diane came to visit on the 20th and Shirley and Shelly on the 26th. Pastor Steve made several visits to see Mom. On Sunday the 27th Mom told us that she was not going to make it. She talked to Doug, Danny and Marge on the phone and said her goodbyes. Denita came up on the 27th. I spent the night with Mom from the 27th to the 2nd. Denita stayed overnight with me from the 28th to the 2nd. Mom was not very coherent after 1st. By this time she just wanted to know 'how long it was going to take?' Mike flew back to Palm Springs early in the AM on the 3rd. Mom passed away peacefully at 515p on March 3rd. Denita and I had just left the room move items in the cars and I was headed to Doug’s house. I got Doug and Fran's tickets changed to fly back on the 4th.

Indian Waters Feb 10 – 18 ….We made the move to Indian Waters RV. Dixie stayed busy doing Haircuts. O the 12th we went to movie 'True Grit' with Danny and then over to Bill & Gloria's for burgers. On the 17th we got a call from Doug advising that Mom took a turn for the worse. She is not able to get up without excruciating back pain. Dixie made plans to fly back to Great Falls.