Mary squeezes in a funeral during Columbia fishing trip

Mary and Sam loved the outdoors. When I am not in Bremerton or Belfair, I live on my 1968 30-foot Chris-Craft in a marina outside of Longview on the Columbia River. A lot of fishermen keep their boats there during fishing season. My neighbor goes out every chance he can get and this year he has been lucky. He even gave me a beautiful salmon weighing about 20 pounds. Better enjoy this weather, folk. It's not going to last much longer.

Friday, Aug. 20, 1948

Today Dick and Clara were gone home before we get got up. No note. It always seems a strange way to leave. No goodbye or thank you. I guess it takes all kinds to make a world. We got the stuff all ready for our trip to the Columbia River. Took most of the day to do it. Anyway, we are well-equipped. To Belfair and Annie said she had a good time. Saw Evelyn Hyde and we rode over to Skene's and visited for a while. They are fine. Then home and made dinner of clam patties. Rained all day and I just got the dahlias weeded good. Sam took the boat to Ashland's for repairs, and I am going to Housen's to get a raincoat mended as soon as I get the stove going to suit me. At Housen's we mended Sam's pants and chatted. She loves to talk. Anyway, I always hear some news. To bed early.

Saturday, Aug. 21, 1948

Rained off and on until about 1 when it cleared up and now at 6 it is clear, and the sun is shining. Sam is cutting the lawn. Washed clothes and now it is all drying in washroom. Then I cleaned the cabin good, shelves, etc., so Evelyn won't have such a mess to look at. Called Bremerton and found my stuff had arrived so I drove in and got it. Home and washed the plates. Oh, are they lovely! And the lamp is a dream. Cooked rhubarb for dinner, our last. Ordered flowers for Betty Dickson's funeral. The phlox are still so lovely, hate to leave them. They will be all gone when I return. The Housens came down with the same kind of letter Jack Morgan had and we had quite a visit. And how she can talk! To bed late. Cold out.

Sunday, Aug. 22, 1948

Arose late as I could not sleep in the early morning hours. Cleaned house good. Finished all the ironing and had a call from Dickson that the funeral was at 1 on Tuesday. So Sam wanted to go to the Columbia River this afternoon. I saw Evelyn Hyde and Bill. I picked some lovely dahlias for her. Then at 3:25 we left for the river. Sam had got the boat all packed and cut the balance of the lawn. We arrived at our camping spot at 7:15 and set up the tent. It was a hard job as the ground near the trees are uneven, but our camp is a much nicer one then last year. New people run the place. $1 a day we pay. Ate a light dinner as were not too hungry. Now to blow up the air mattress and to bed. We have the army cots to sleep on so it should be fine. A sunny day down here. Few fish caught.

Monday, Aug. 23, 1948

This day the sun arose early, and we thought it would be warm. So up we got and ate breakfast. Then we put up our cupboards and I sorted over all the supplies. The camp looks real good. While I got dinner of steak, salad and potatoes, Sam put up the tent so if Gene came down it would be ready. About 4 we went out fishing. We trolled down as far as the church and back. Sam had one good strike but lost it. Oh! He was disgusted. At 6 we came in and at 6:45 I drove home to Belfair to attend Betty Dickson's funeral Tuesday. Arrived at home at 10:35 and very tired. Went to bed at 1 as everyone was asleep. Rained all the way up to Belfair so it was hard driving. Saw one of the same couples here that was here last year. A long day.

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1948

Today I arose early and got ready to go to Seattle. Called Alma Sundstrom so she would go with me. Found some people called Hoffman there whom Dick had invited to go fishing. They had stayed all night. To Mae Housen's and she mended the chair back. Then to the store and met Alma. We caught the 11:15 boat and found the funeral parlor early. There were only Alma and I from Belfair, so I was glad we had made the effort to go. There was a fairly large crowd there but none we knew from Tahuya or over here. Home on 3:30 boat after taking my mother home and seeing her flowers. At Belfair saw Gene and he could go. So got ready and we left at 6:15. We got here in three hours and 15 minutes. Raining out again. Sam was out visiting so we sat and read.

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1948

This morning we did not get up until late so breakfast was not until 9 or so. The men went out and came in about 2. No luck at all. The sun tried to come out so I cleaned up camp and now the tent is tidy so we can find things. We ate a light lunch and some lovely cookies the lady from Hawaii gave us. Then we went out in the boat and had not been out 10 minutes when a fish struck my line. Sam grabbed my pole and started to reel in. The fish surely gave him a good fight. Finally, he got it into the boat, and we were all relieved. Home and made dinner of lamb chops, gravy, salad, potatoes, Jell-O and tea. Gene made a good fire, so I've started the stew for tomorrow. The Kriedlers are next door to us, haven't caught any fish yet. To bed late.

Thursday, Aug. 26, 1948

Today we had sourdough hot cakes for breakfast, and they were light as can be but next time I'll put in less soda. The men went out fishing about 11 and it was clear and sunny. At 1, I went to the beach with a thermos of coffee and sandwiches. Sat there and read until they came in with no fish. We went out and then the wind started to blow. Blew so hard Sam sat in his coffee twice and was he disgusted. Came to shore and made coffee for them and out they went again. Now it is raining hard and looks like a dreary night. Mrs. Kriedler and I drove up to Chinook, mailed cards and had a chance to get supplies. Picked up wood on our way home. Made beef stew in iron kettle and cooked over the grate. It surely is grand to cook on.

■ Clydene Hostetler is a longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary filmmaker of "Hidden in Plain Sight." She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 14 years. She can be emailed at [email protected]