Girl From The North Country

My other Grandma....

Gretchen

On the outskirts of Glacier National Park, almost as far north as this country can hold us, there lies the Daellenbach Clan. Eleven children of Swiss descent raised in the loud, rugged Montana landscape. Pretty dresses, thin cigarettes, late nights, wide rivers. Adventure. Proper women with wild language, quick knitting hands and floral sheets. Photographs, and more photographs. Stories, and more stories. One gunshot. A couple scandals, a lot of dancing.

For the first time in my life I met my mother's side of the story. MONTANA. We visited with Doris, the only Daellenbach left. White hair, full of energy, and very willing to spill the nitty gritty details. I've always loved Montana, now I finally know why.

sisters Doris Gretchen and Ruth