5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1962 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on Colorado Avenue in Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Oct 1.  I got up and Ruth & Ray had gone to work. Ivard & Jackie got up & had breakfast. We left for Grantsville at 8:45. gave mother a  new Westinghouse duel control electric blanket (Pink) for her birthday, gave it now so she could use it. We went over & saw Bernieces new living room & sat & visited. Mother went to a meeting, shes new Social Science leader in Stake Relief Society.

Tues, Oct 2.  We had dinner with Ken & Berniece then Ivard took Mother & I up to Toolle shoping all afternoon.

Wed, Oct 3.  Mother got up & left for Salt Lake to conference at 7: A.M. I gathered up our things & told Berniece goodbye & at 10: we left for American Fork to see Donna she wasn't there when we got there so we drove down & looked at Utah Lake, first time I'd ever seen it. Came back & Donna was home & she fixed us lunch & we visited.

Thurs, Oct 4.  Donna was in rush, big Beaver Convention. We left for Salt Lake at 10: We visited with Fat & Sara until time for ball game to start then we went over to Marv's & watched T.V & had a snack & Lorraine took us & went & saw Lee Ann's new house.

Fri, Oct 5.  We got up & had breakfast & I helped Lorraine do dishes then I crocheted while we watched World Series. Ivard & Marv went over to Irv's store. After the game we went over to Irvins & visited awhile & I got some things in store for Gene. We went up to Ruth & Rays & had supper.

Sat, Oct 6.  Left Ruth & Rays in Bountiful at 5:45, for Rexburg. It was real cloudy & some snow on tops of mountains. Got there at 11:15 & visited up in Genes room with him till he left for foot ball game at 12:15. They tied College of Southern Utah 7 to 7 Gene intercepted a pass & ran 35 yds for touch down. We left for home about 7:

Sun, Oct 7.  Sure good to be home again. There wasn't any church this morning on account of Conference, we saw it on T.V. & ball game. I went to bed at 7: I was tired. I got up at 10:30 & got ready & went back to work.

Mon, Oct 8.  I came home from work & went to bed until World Series was over then Ivard got me up & we went & Paid our place & went to bank & paid our bills then we went to dairy q. & had a drink. Kids went to Mutual.

Tues, Oct 9.  sent letter to Lyle & Gene. Took Sis & went to dancing at 4:30 & it was about over, I forgot it was for 3:30.

Wed, Oct 10.  Gail, Lynda & Kids came about 5:, so I stoped iorning & made a big Kettle of bean soup & we ate when Jerry came, He brought icecream. Ray didn't work & he went & bought treats for Dales Cub Scounts & brought some cookies home for supper. We ate & Jerry & Ray went ward teaching.

Thurs, Oct 11.  Dean left for church camp till Sat. Kids don't go to school today & tomorrow, Teachers Institute.

Fri, Oct 12.  Ivards day off he tended Dale & Jackie & put a new window in front room Jackie broke last nite. Ivard went to store & brought us back a drink from D.Q. He cooked supper, spagetti, cabbage & corn. Ivard & Ray went to Meridian to foot ball game. Jerry went to 2 different wedding receptions. I went to work at 11:

Sat, Oct 13.  Dean to home at 11:30 today he didn't do much all afternoon he fixed supper & we ate. Ray went to show & Jerry went away.

Sun, Oct 14.  Jerry went to Nyssa ect. to take Posters for M-Men - was gone when I got home. Dean & Ray went to Priesthood & S.S., Ray came home & took Dale & Jackie. Ivard sat & watched ball games as usual.

Mon, Oct 15.  I came home from work froze to death so I turned blanket on high & got warm then I got up. Ivard went to work at 3: We had supper & Kids did dishes & Jackie & I went to bed & Ray & Dean went to Mutual. Ray stayed home from school sick in bed all day. Jerry went away.

Tues, Oct 16.  I came so cold & tired from work that I went to bed instead of going to relief society. I went to bed at 9:30 & got up at 2:30 & got ready & took Jackie to her dancing lesson at 3:30.

Wed, Oct 17.  I came home & went to bed at 9:45. phone woke me up & I went back to bed & got up at 1:45. Gaile & Kids were here, Lynda was up to Dr. Dale went to cub Scouts then delivered Xmas cards.

Thurs, Oct 18.  I came home from work & read paper & went to bed & stayed all day. Ivard's day off. He took Jackie to Primary & brought her & Dale home after. Ray went to Stake house to practice for youth conference at 5: then went to basketball practice at nite. Jerry & Dale went selling cards.

Fri, Oct 19.  I came home & gathered up cloths & rugs & washed 6 batches. My dryer is broke & I got them all dried outside. We went up town. Jerrys car is in garage so I went & got him. I came home & went to bed at 6:30 I was half dead. My nite off.

Sat, Oct 20.  Dean made cookies to send Gene. Ray went to work at Dairy Queen from 9:30 to 6: Jerry worked until noon then him & Dale went selling Xmas cards. Dean scrubbed & waxed floors. I was so tired & sick. I went & got Ray & he went to Stake House to Youth Conference at 7: it started at 3: Jerry went this afternoon. They had movie actor Roberta Shore & Ray danced 2 times with her.

Sun, Oct 21.  Ivard & Dean went to Priesthood & sunday school. I took Dale & Jackie to S.S at 11:45 & came home & put pork chops in oven with potatoes under. Jerry had to talk in 1st Ward with H.C.

Mon, Oct 22.  I came home from work. I went to bed at 9:30 & got up at 2:30. Ray went to Mutual, Dean didn't have to go tonite. Jerry went away.

Tues, Oct 23.  I came home from work & ate & got ready & went to Relief Society. Jerry got laid off at Paint Store not enough business.

Wed, Oct 24.  I came home from work & went right to bed at 9:, I was so tired. I got up at 2:30 & Ivard went to work, then he called & said the Co-op Oil had put a garnishment on his wages so I spent all afternoon on phone trying to streighten it out. Gail, Lynda & Kids came about 5: & Dean fixed supper. Jerry went job hunting all day. Dale went to Cub Scouts.

Thurs, Oct 25.  I came home from work & got ready & we went to Caldwell & drew out $78. & went & Pd Co-op Oil off (old bill) they put a garnishment on Ivards check. Came home at 10:30 & went to bed, got up at 3:30. Jerry went hunting Job all day came home at 3: & he took Jackie to Primary.

Fri, Oct 26.  I came home from work & read paper & went to bed at 9:30. Ivard woke me up at noon & Ma was here, came from Bills. Ivard had to take me up road where car ran out of gas & push me to Service Station then we went to Hales & bought a 42.50 chest of drawers for Lynda for Stork Shower & came home & Mother, Jackie & I went over to Owyhee Ward to Lynda's shower.

Sat, Oct 27.  Ray went & had tooth pulled at noon & went back to work.

Sun, Oct 28.  At 9: Jerry - Mother - Ray, Dean & Dale went to Stake conference. Ivard took our car & went about 9:30. I went to bed at 9:45 & got up at 11:30 & had dinner all on the table when they got home at 12:20. They all went back to conference & took Jackie.

Mon, Oct 29.  I visited with Mother & fixed supper - cooked cauliflower with cheese sauce & baked candied squash. Mother & Ivard had a roast cooked & I made brown gravy & we ate at 6: Dean & Ray went to Mutual. Jerry & Dale sold Xmas cards.

Tues, Oct 30.  Lyle had his 5th boy today. I came home from work & was going to bed. Ivard & Jackie left to take Mother to Boise to stay all nite with her Sister. Ivard had to come back in for Keys so I went with them. When Dean got home he got supper & I went to bed until time to go to work. Ray & Dean had the house all decorated for halloween when I got up, for Jackies party.

Wed, Oct 31.  Jackie was 6 today. I came home from work & Ivard had Kettle of beans on for chilli. At 10: Ivard, Jackie & I went to Boise to Aunt Venes & got Mother & came home & she made chilli & Ivard & I went & got cake sheet cake all decorated for haloween big enough to cut 48 pieces. Had 8 girls at Party, Sis was really surprised.