Hello! It’s just over a month since Christmas, but I have one last holiday picture to post.
When talking with Grandma Nadine (pictured at the far right near the lovely tinseled tree) I found out that this picture includes Banta Beatty, who I don’t think I’ve seen a picture of before. He is seated in the front left of the picture, in the yellow chair. Unfortunately he passed away five months after this picture, on May 4th, 1959, at age 59. I was under the impression he was in law enforcement in Needles, but could use some more background on that. The last census record I have of him is as a municipal water employee in Perris in 1940.
Also in this picture are Freda in the white shirt, her son Michael between her and Banta, Alfrieda Almquist at the far left who is seated next to Gustav. Next to Gustav is Dave, followed by Blanche (?), Steve, Pam, and Michael in the high chair. Based on Michael’s age (1 year plus three months I’m guessing) this is Christmas 1958. That possibly explains where Banta and Freda’s daughter Diane is, as she married Donald O’Brian in May 1958.
I hope you all had a great holiday!
From what I remember, Great Uncle Banta retired from the Perris Police Department as the police chief in the 1950s and he did join law enforcement in Needles, whether police or sheriff’s department I’m not sure. From what I remember the adults saying back then, he had died of colon cancer. Cathy Beatty.