She was our Aunt Ila... Never married...She told us nephews and nieces that she was an "Unclaimed Blessing". Her antics made us laugh, Her poodle, Wolfey, was her buddy in later years...Secretly us kids enjoyed that silly dog, but again we loved to tease Aunt Ila about her "worthless dog". We loved to hear her squeal as if she was upset at us....She wasn't.
In later years, she was struck by Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome, a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Paralyzed from shoulders down, she fought back and actually returned to her little home.
Aunt Ila was really quite amazing...She took her share of guff, but never let it stop her. She had an undeniable ability to impact childen even though she never had any of her own. She taught Sunday School for years. She had several jobs over her lifetime...A legal secretary to several attorneys, one of which went on to become a member of the South Dakota Supreme Court.
I was blessed to be chosen by her to be her assistant in later life and one day to be the executor of her estate. I still consider that an honor.
Aunt Ila died around 1990 after she had a stroke. That happened not long after her courageous comeback from Guillain-Barre. Even though she was never wealthy here on this earth, her frugality and conscious desire to serve left an appreciable amount of cash that would go to the ministry of Rainbow Bible Ranch. Wiith that financing we were able to purchase the playground equipment which proves so popular with the hundreds of kids that attend camp each year.
I just discovered these photos the other day. With a little Christmas cheer I thought I would share them with you today. Thank you Aunt Ila for your Godly service and if anyone would ask me..."She was far from an 'Unclaimed Blessing' as her life and memory blesses many yet today.