Eileen LaVonne DeBord Bolton

I have not moved from the Park Rapids area. I live on what is called, the Hubbard Prairie. This is a farming community located about ten miles SE of Park Rapids. I graduated on May 27, 1965. I married my high school sweetheart, Dennis Bolton, on August 21, 1965. We will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary this year. For the first few years of our marriage, I worked in an office in Park Rapids. Dennis farmed. When our second child did NOT want to go to the baby sitter, I became an at-home Mom. Dennis kept our business records.
After an over-draft notice from the bank, I
I took over our bookkeeping responsibilities. I love it! In the late 1980's, our son Christopher, (a computer programer) told me that I HAD to learn the computer. I previously was hand-writing weekly invoices to our customers. The computer has turned a light on for me. I began with a dos program, expanded to Quicken and now using Quick Books also. Each day I enter my office with a smile. It's like playing a game. I am thankful for what I learned in typing class from my favorite teacher, Mr. Long.

Our four children and their children are our happiness. We marvel at God's miracle of birth. We have 9 grand children and one more to arrive in October of this year.

Den and I are pretty much workaholics. Den's life is farming. My life is keeping the books. I have several hobbies, when I have the time. I like to sew. I have made quilts for our grandchildren and my brother. I have made felted totes and given them away. I enjoy making and giving. In the past, I made jewelry (pins) from antique buttons. I am now having fun making bracelets from real stones and crystals. These I also give away.
When watching a movie in the evening, I can whip up at least 4 or 5 bracelets. I have my work table set up with all colors of stones organized. My 2 year old granddaughter loves to disorganize my stones.

Den and I are active in the Hubbard United Methodist Church. I was H.U.M.C. Financial Secretary for ten years. I decided to hand the job to someone else. I have not missed it.

We sing in our church choir, with practice every Wednesday night. This is our weekly entertainment. I am thankful for what I learned from Miss Barr, (Mrs. Wagner) Miss Beardsley and Mr. Hagan, my choir teachers.

Den and I bike. (pedal bikes) We belong to a Hubbard/Park Rapids bike group. We have biked in other countries with our group and annually in Florida. Last year we went to California to bike. We purchased battery-assist bikes and took them to California to ride. I knew the hills in the wine country of CA would be a little more than I was ready to handle. (Too much time spent behind the computer and too little time spent on the bike getting in shape for heavy biking.) The battery assist bikes worked wonderfully. Other bikers were impressed with our ability to stay at the head of the group. We later confessed the help of the battery.

I enjoy reading a good book. I usually only have time to do this when on a trip. I share the book with Dennis and we enjoy it together. This keeps him awake while driving.

We enjoy traveling to other countries and the U.S.
Our travel time is always limited, because we can't stay away from our home businesses very long. After about 7 days we are always ready to come home. Maybe this will change in the future.

I collect antiques and annually attend an antique show in Florida. In my house you will find a collection of antique platters displayed on shelves on one entire wall, antique quilts folded neatly on shelves, counted cross-stitched projects framed and on a shelf on a wall in the kitchen. (I did none of these beautiful cross-stitched projects.) You will also see a lot of little chairs hanging on one wall in the family room. I have to admit, I am now on a mission to try to get rid of some things. I have collected my share. I am now giving to my kids whatever they will take. Collecting is fun, but I do not want to leave a lot of work for my kids. I don't plan to leave soon, but I am thinking ahead.

God plays an active role in my life. I am thankful for His hand in my life. He has been good to me.

I look forward to notes from you all. This is a miracle of the computer. Thank you to whomever set up this site. I hear it was Roddy Houston. Thank you Roddy!!!

I enjoyed my school days. I have all good memories. I remember the time my second grade teacher put tape on my mouth because I talked while walking to lunch through the tunnel from the grade school over to the lunch room. Miss Ostrum, might be her name. She was on the mature side and very frail. She was nice.

Remember Miss Kaliher? She was my 6th grade teacher. I don't think I have her name spelled correctly. She was firm and serious. I don't remember ever seeing her smile. I did like her though. You just knew that there would be NO messing around in class or, heaven's forbid, in the hall!!

I could have studied harder, but then I might not have had so much fun.

I always tried to behave quite perfectly. The worst thing I ever did was, a car load of girls and myself, tee-p'd a teacher's house. Oh My!
I was scared! I was the one driving the car, so I felt more at fault. We never got in trouble for doing this, but it has always been a haunting vivid memory.

I think we were fortunate to be in high school in the 60's. How great was that! Drive-inn movies,
car hops, good songs, good movies, cut-offs with white canvas tennis shoes, good friends and good times. It don't get no better!!

(FYI - The white canvas tennis shoes cost $3.50 at Bishops. They were $1.99 at Ben Franklin. The ones at Bishops were cooler and these were the ones you really wanted. Nylons cost $ .99 at Ben Franklin. They were the kind that came in two pieces, no panty attached. You had to wear that crazy garter belt to keep the nylons up. The rubber, button-thing, on the garter belt, made a mark on the back of your thigh, which made wearing nylons not exactly comfortable, but we wore them, with a smile!!)

I look forward to seeing you this summer!!

Eileen