Don and Betty Lilyquist
Wedding Day - August 20, 1948

February 19, 1945 is a very important day in history.  Do you know why it’s so important?  It’s the day that my mom and dad, Betty and Don (Bill) met on a blind date at Chester Park in Duluth.  They went to a toboggan party there with other couples. Three years later the couple traveled with Betty’s parents to the West Coast, tenting along the way and visiting relatives as they went.   On Christmas Eve that year (1948), Don gave Betty an engagement ring, and the couple married on August 20, 1949 in a beautiful ceremony at First Methodist Church in Duluth. The rest, as they say, is history.

Only it’s an interesting history – and that’s why I am so excited to share it with you.

Their courtship was happy – and fairly standard.  But the story that follows – that begins with the eve of their wedding, is captivating. Don and Betty hid their car in Marvin’s garage during their wedding festivities, and while they were loading the car for their honeymoon, their friends and family tried to find them.  The two hid quietly in the garage for over an hour until the others gave up and left – and then their adventure began!

The ’36 Plymouth, with terrible tires, was loaded (the back seat was full of spare tires) and the newlyweds were headed to Chicago for a few days.  As they traveled, the tires would blow out, and they would leave them on the side of the road after they changed them out.  Along the way, the window in the passenger side of the car fell into the door,
and so they stopped in Wisconsin where a friend gave them some cardboard to put in the window.  Then, shortly thereafter, the front end of the car went out of alignment.   Don had to stop and fix it before they could continue their journey.

Further down the road they stopped to visit one of Don’s cousins.  There they learned of a cheap hotel in Chicago, and the couple eagerly headed there.  That night Betty woke up itching and was convinced she was full of bedbug bites.  However, it turned out that while visiting the cousins she had been bit by bugs in their garden!

While in Chicago they had a lovely time, but during their stay there was a gas war, and they were unable to buy gas, so they parked their car in a garage.  This ultimately cost more than their stay in the hotel.  Who would have guessed that?!

Their drive back home through Wisconsin was uneventful, and they were grateful for that, just until they reached the Minnesota border, where the car cracked a piston.  The owner of a nearby gas station lent Don his tools and the owner of the station even drove to the next town for the parts!   At that point Betty knew for sure that Don could fix
anything – something that continues to hold true to this day.  The young couple finished their honeymoon at the Minnesota State Fair, and was happy to return back to Duluth after their interesting journey!

On April 26, 1952, Don and Betty were blessed with their first son, Keith Allen.   Three years later, Loren Dale followed (on October 10, 1955). Both boys were big babies (8lbs 10oz and 9lbs 5oz respectively) and Betty could not have anymore children.   The family seemed incomplete without a girl, so in 1967, Carol Ann, who was born on May
3, 1966, was adopted.  They now had a perfect family! Throughout the years they’ve lived in many locations – 16, to be exact, including 3 homes on Rainbow street alone!   Presently they reside in a cute little home on 91st street in Morgan Park.

Don and Betty have enjoyed their lives to the fullest, and both are filled with wonderful memories: lovely vacations with family and friends to exciting places like Yellowstone National Park, Hawaii, and Orlando, camping and enjoying the outdoors, and traveling with Don’s business. In the past, both Betty and Don remember looking forward to Saturday afternoon coffee at Grandma Lilyquist’s, which was always a very enjoyable, and spending time at the cabin on Sand Lake. They light up as they recall New Year Eve parties with Phyllis, Howie, Dorothy and Norman, enjoying delicious meals and playing cards.   Over the years they have also greatly enjoyed being active with their children and grandchildren in school activities, scouting camp, and more.  Dad tells me that every time he sees an old picture, it brings up another memory.

Their grandchildren are the lights of their lives -- Carla and Matt are Keith and Jackie’s children (Keith’s first wife) Andrea is Keith’s step daughter with Keith’s second wife Joyce, Adam and Sara are Loren and Laura’s children. And, finally, Jaron and Garrett, (they live in Tennessee) are Carol’s stepchildren with her husband Bill.

The couple’s adventures continue, though perhaps not in the dramatic ways that their honeymoon unfolded. Betty, who began sewing at 10 years old with her mother’s help, remains a skilled seamstress.  She taught her daughter, Carol, to sew, and it’s an activity they certainly enjoy together.  Betty has fond memories of sewing with her sisters Dorothy and Phyllis twice a month and making stuffed bears for the Red Cross.
And she will still travel at the drop of a hat!Don still greatly enjoys working with his hands and produces gorgeous woodworking products.  He stays active in the Duluth Kiwanis and loves to go fishing with Loren.  His favorite time of year, Christmas, and
Don especially looks forward to that because “that’s when the whole family is together.”  Both Don and Betty still get together almost every Saturday with Phyllis and Dorothy to have a meal and play cards

Don and Betty’s hopes for the future are health and happiness. They both hope to see their grandchildren marry and have children of their own; they look forward to great grandchildren!

Carol Lilyquist-Snoeyenbos

Mom and Dad... We love them very much!
Story by; Loren, Laura, Adam, Sara, and Brittany

Mom and Dad have always shown how very important their kids and grandkids are to them.

Mom and Dad go to every sport and extra activity they can of Loren’s, Adam’s and Sara’s.  It started with Adam’s Saturday morning bowling team at age 6.   He became a third generation bowler in the family! Over the past few years, Dad, Loren, and Adam even bowled together on the Kiwanis team on Wednesday nights.  Mom and Dad went to soccer games, and track and cross country meets for Adam and Sara.  They have cheered on Loren, Adam, and Brittany at Garry Bjorklund Half Marathons; and
Loren, Adam, Sara and Britt at inline half marathons.  They have come to many band and choir concerts over the years and continue to come to band concerts and piano recitals for Sara.  They are very supportive of their kids and grandkids.

Over the years we have taken trips to Wisconsin Dells with Mom and Dad.
We all went down the water slides together at Noah’s Ark!  We have had fun at Christmas time going shopping, watching the Holidazzle Parade, all playing Kazoo’s while walking in the mall, and doing other family activities in the Twin Cities. We have also gone to Ironworld, Madeline Island, a Twins game, and the State Fair together.   Dad, Loren and Adam went to Sawbill a few times when Laura and Sara were at Mother/Daughter camp.  The guys relaxed, fed chipmunks, played in the water and ate
some good food; ask them about “Ash-a-roni”!

As everyone knows, Dad was very involved in Boy Scouts.  When Keith and Loren were little, he was a Scout leader, which brought the family on trips across the States.   Mom was also Keith’s den leader.  When Adam was a Cub Scout, Dad and Loren helped Adam’s troop build Reindeer card holders.  They are very cute, and are used every Christmas.

The times at the cabin on Sand Lake were very special.  The guys spent time repairing things while the gals cooked.   It seemed we were always eating, which was a good thing.  We especially remember cooking marshmallows and hot dogs in the fireplace.  Grandma Anderson would scold Keith and Loren for having acorn fights.  We enjoyed rides on the lake, water skiing and short walks on the cabin road.

Christmas brings fond memories of Mom and Grandma Anderson making Christmas cookies.   Christmas Eve supper is always special with “pigs-in-a-blanket” and ham loaf.  After supper, when the kids were little, they would look out the bedroom or basement windows for Santa.  They would come running when they heard Santa’s bells ring.  They always missed him but found packages at the door.  Dad actually got  some of Santa’s whiskers once when Loren was little!

For the past 12 years, each June, Loren and Dad have participated in the ALS Fishing Tournament on Island Lake.  The day is spent fishing, then in the evening there is a spaghetti dinner and auction.  It is a very heartwarming event to help fight ALS.  They never catch many fish but always manage to get cold and wet.  Dad even won the door prize of a pickup truck one year!

Three years ago, Dad and Loren each wondered if the other had any interest in building a cedar strip canoe. They talked about it on several occasions, and Loren finally ordered the plans.  In January 2005, he started cutting out the forms.  That September, they cut three 18-foot 2 x 6 cedar boards into 1 inch strips, 72 in all!  The
following spring Dad helped Loren start putting the canoe together in Loren’s garage.   250 hours later, with the help of the family, they completed their canoe, minus a couple brass finishing touches.  They ran out of good weather this year, so the maiden voyage of the “Quist Qwaft” will have to wait until next spring.

Mom has done a lot of sewing for her family over the years.  She made cute outfits for Sara (with matching outfits for her doll) and great matching pants and tops for Adam.  They were recipients of several wonderful blankets that are still used all the time.  She has made wonderful, heirloom quilts for everyone in the family!  She took over  Grandma Anderson’s “Pajama Grandma” distinction—Sara is still wearing one of the pairs of PJ’s she made for Adam! She has helped out Sara and Laura with their sewing projects, and made Laura (and others) beaded Santa pins that get compliments every time they are worn.

Dad has done a lot of woodworking over the years.  When Loren was a child, he built him a desk; and for Adam, a cradle when he was born and later a child size workbench. He built Sara a baby cradle and built Laura a famous “barn shelf”.

Dad, along with Laura’s dad, gave a lot of help and advice when Loren and Laura started building their house, five years after they were married.  They wouldn’t have known where to even start without their help.  The moms and Grandma Anderson helped often with food and snacks. They continue to help us around the house with things such as a deck, garage, a fireplace and wallpapering.  They have helped Adam and Brittany on their new house as well.

Mom and Dad have always been very active in their kids and grandkids lives.  We appreciate all they do for us and love them very much.

- Loren, Laura, Adam, Sara and Brittany

Loren, Laura, Molly, Sara, Brittany and Adam

What more can you ask for in life!

I’ve known Bill/Don Lilyquist - all of my life -- and Betty for 60 years. I must be getting older to be able to remember like this.

Bill and I were “Kids together” - we shared toys, parents, siblings, relatives, our chewed gum and most importantly - the bench at the kitchen table in our house!! We also shared the blame for all wrongs that were caught by our elders with “I ain't the one, Billy or Phyllis, is the one.” How else can you be to someone?

Bill tried to teach me to drive (when he delivered groceries for Carlson’s) not too successful with that project - lucky we didn’t get killed that day!

I remember the Saturday night in January - I believe either ‘45 or ‘46 when Bill came home from a sleigh ride (very popular in those days) with stars in his eyes and love in his heart - - He had been on a date with “the love of his life, Betty Anderson” and from there on - she became one of our family as our sister.

I was bridesmaid in their wedding - We were always good friends and did so many things together - both singularly and after we were married as couples and eventually parents - We shopped on weekends, traveled, played cards, watched TV, went to birthday parties which included other family members also - Always had fun and were good friends - I believe for 40 years we spent our New Year’s Eve playing cards, visiting and wishing each other well for another year and probably enjoying too much of the bubbly - seeing the old year out and the new year in!!

The past few years we’ve found it a bit harder to be”wide-eyed” for midnight - But we have made it!!

We have enjoyed each other and stayed close - what more can you ask for in life!!

- Phyllis Pearson

Marvin, Helen, Margaret, Dorothy, Don and Phyllis

Nice “shiner” Don!

The four of us went to Hawaii and Don and Harold decided to go into the ocean and ride the waves. They got turned upside down and Don got a big black eye! Then they came in and read the directions and warnings about the waves “never turn your back to the waves” And Don had a black eye for the rest of the trip.

Then we got a car with the condo we rented. Harold was driving and we went up a terrible rough road to go and see where Lindberg’s grave was. Betty told Harold that if it was his car she bet he would not have be driving up on that road!

We had a great time!

- Betty Markland

Grandkids!

Adam and Sara

Andrea

Matt, Carla, Sara and Adam

Don and Carol - Morgan Park

Wedding Day!     Dad and Carol on Carol's Wedding Day

Loren and Dad - ALS Fishing Tournament - Dad won this truck!!!!

Dad and Mom 25 Wedding Anniversary

Dad and Marvin

High School Senior Photo

Mom - High School Senior Photo

Don, Carla and Betty (Grandpa and Grandma Lilyquist)

45th Wedding Anniversary with Carol

Dad with Joyce and Keith - Carol and Bill's Wedding Day

The Lilyquist Family
Segrid and Phyllis - Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Marvin - Don and Ernest

Don, Marvin, Dorothy, Margaret and Phyllis

The Lilyquist's
Betty, Carol, Don - Keith and Loren

Wedding Day

Mom and Dad - Carol & Bill's Wedding Day (2001)

Mom and Dad

Mom and Keith

Baby Betty

Mom as a little girl