G V
I always think of your family during lambing and calving season. That's when I started spending more time out on your ranch... I spent many weekends there in a spare room Ernie made up for me. Fed a few bum lambs with you girls. Joe teased me when we went out to feed the cows... I didn't know how to maneuver the gate... it became a joke when I visited that the city girl (I was actually a small country town girl) didn't know which way a country gate swung. I had many dinners there. It was just for a short season following my divorce, but Ernie made me feel like I belonged and provided me safety. She came & saw me in Denver shortly after I had my oldest in '94. We moved to Utah shortly after that, and we fell out of touch. I can't thank Kayla enough for helping us reconnect this past year. Ernie was the best visiting teaching companion I EVER had. She taught me how patience and unconditional love for others who were outside of the fold. There was an inactive sister who lived a block away from me in Great Falls who Ernie had already developed a friendship with. Ernie was the only visiting teacher this sister would allow into her home. Ernie would sit on her step to wait until she returned home... sometimes it would be over an hour. I would sit with her & wait. I don't recall who that woman was, but she was one of the nicest people, and she said anyone who was friends with Ernie was a friend of hers. She invited us in, prepared us lunch and showed us their large arrowhead collection found out at Ulm Pishkun and throughout the surrounding areas. We went often. Every time I was with Ernie, I knew I'd be in for some kind of adventure and loving on someone. Her heart was as big as the universe and she made everyone feel like they had a place in it. Her smile, presence and laughter would fill any room. Her beautiful daughters have been graced by her same smile and laughter.
May the good Lord continue to bless and comfort you and your families always.
