A couple of weeks ago I visited my sister Mildred and her husband Bob White, who reside in Dwight.
Bob, after tossing another log in the fireplace, brought up an incident I had forgotten about that took place back in 1948 but has always gives us a chuckle.
I have mentioned in previous columns about helping the late Frank Welch, who was Minden and district Funeral Director. I did, however, forget about an occurrence that happened one day when Frank got a call to pick up a gentleman who had expired just a few miles outside of Minden.
Bob's brother-in-law, Garfield Boldt, was Clerk of the Township of Snowdon and one of his responsibilities was to issue death certificates. If perchance he was not in his office, his wife Marj would attend to business matters.
On this particular day Frank asked me if I would accompany him as he could use some assistance in picking up the deceased gentleman.
Being an agreeable lad I said "okay" and off we went in the hearse that Frank used for both picking up corpses and as the funeral coach.
After having picked up the body we went to obtain a death certificate from Garfield.
"Do you want to come in and say hello to Marj?" Frank asked.
"No, I'll wait here for you" was my response.
Frank entered the office and was greeted my Marj and after a little idle chatter and obtaining the death certificate he said, "Oh by the way Marj, I have John Hooper out in the hearse."
"Oh good heavens!" she exclaimed "is he in the back or the front?"
After a hearty laugh Frank assured her that I was in the front and quite healthy.
