Arthur McKinley SkramstadAug. 3, 1909 to Oct. 1, 1996

I guess you could say I led a colorful life and enjoyed living and telling about it.Education was a very big part of my life when I went to grade school I receivedawards for perfect attendance and when I wasn't able to go on to high school Itook some classes by correspondence and attended Aakers Business College. Asa member of the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1940-1942 I took nearly everycourse offered. And remember there wasn't electricity then, so the studies weredone by a kerosene lamp. Between 1964 and 1980 I took another 20 or socourses through various colleges in the region. I always said, "they can't takeyour education away from you." Maybe that was a key to staying young atheart. At 73 I tried to get a license to drive motorcycle but didn't pass. At 84 Iwanted to take the CPR class and attended a few sessions and then found that Icouldn't get down on the floor on my hands and knees to do the resuscitating ofthe dummy. I also looked into getting my GED but didn't pursue that.At 16 I bought an accordion and practiced 6 hours a day till I was good enoughto join others and play for dances in the area. I met Mae at a dance in theHammer barn on the north side of town in July of 1937. [When Dad recalledthat event with me (Holly) his face lit up.]In 1950 with 2 kids gone from home and 4 kids under the age of 9 we sponsoreda displaced family of 5 from Latvia. They weren't with us for too long beforethey all found work to support themselves but they left a lasting impression.Karlis, the father, is now 91 and goes to the YMCA every day.I couldn't fly for the Army Air Corp because they found that I was color blindbut that didn't stop me from flying. My cousin Ray knew how to fly and broughta Civil Air Patrol plane to the farm and I got to fly dual with him, after having30 hours of that under my belt I soloed in 1954 then in 58 got my privatelicense. I enjoyed flying until Civil Air Patrol ended in Cooperstown and therewas no longer a plane to fly.In about the same time frame I got my amateur radio license with the help of mycousin Oliver and by 1958 I had worked all 50 states. My call was KGGI.Maybe some of you attended amateur radio (ham) picnics down by the river onthe farm. There must have been a thousand in attendance over the years. We hadfree airplane rides and Ray Skramstad did some stunts.Mae & I must have been pretty well suited for each other to have been marriedfor 56 years. There must have been times that all my extra interests didn't makeit the easiest for her and the kids. Our 50th Anniversary in 1990 at Sibley was

an event to remember, fun was had by all. Our immediate family was only alltogether twice, once in 1978 in Cooperstown and in 1980 in Arizona.After I retired I made breakfast for Mae everyday. I never did understand whyshe'd rather sleep-in than have breakfast with me but she always got up and atethe breakfast I made. Then she cleaned up after me like she did all the time.If you came to our house you had better sit down or you'd be "rocking the boat",and you couldn't leave without being fed.Maybe you remember the pet crows or pet deer or the bees in the kitchen or theturtle eggs behind the kitchen sink. Or maybe you have a turtle clock. I madeone for each of my kids.In 1981 we started traveling I guess I was 72. We pulled a camper for a coupleyears then got a motor home we went from Canada to Minneapolis to Chicagoto Mississippi to Texas to Arizona. We chased an ice storm all the way toMississippi one year, that made me think I had enough traveling across countrywith a motor home. We still enjoyed going to events in North Dakota. It wasalways best to be back home in Cooperstown where I knew everyone andeveryone knew me.