Gypsy Comes To Life

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I grew up in the Lustre Farm Community north of Frazer. My dad, Arnold Sonsteng, was a pioneer. He homesteaded there in 1916. Dad had 15 children – 10 boys and 5 girls. I happen to be the 13th child. I am a 1951 Glasgow High School "Scotties" graduate.

My brother, Stanley Sonsteng, worked at The Glasgow Courier for many years. My brother-in-law Ivy Knight worked for the Courier as well.

Back in 1953, I married a Texan who stationed at the Air Force Base in Great Falls. After his military discharge we lived in Texas for a few years and then moved to New Mexico in 1961. Santa Fe has been my home for the past 63 years.

Stanley and I share our birthday – July 22nd. I am 7 years older than he is. My husband passed away 7 years ago. I sold our home and moved into a Senior Living. Years ago my mother told me "Arlene it is once an adult and twice a child." I have lived to see it come true here at this Senior Living.

I am grateful for activities like bingo, choir, book clubs, etc. It is wonderful to be active. One of our activities is a writing class. We are given various subjects to write about. Some topics have been – snow – dreams – personality traits – gratitude – moments of joy – wind – etc. This last one was personification.

I took my mother's doll and tried to bring her to life. Actually the story is totally true as to where "Gypsy" has traveled, etc. Now Gypsy is displayed at the Pioneer Museum. I thought you might like to place my biographical story of Gypsy in your paper. It might encourage individuals to stop by the museum and see Gypsy.

Truthfully I don't know what my mom called her doll. I named her Gypsy because on occasion as a child my mom would look at me and say "So Arlene are you a Gypsy."

PERSONIFICATION

Gypsy Comes To Life

By Arlene (Sonsteng) Decker

Santa Fe, N.M.

My name is Gypsy. I started out as a porcelain doll head. My mother Laura (Saubak) Sonsteng received me as a gift when she was 4 years old. Mother was born in 1903. My Grandma Sauback created my body out of a piece of cloth and stuffed it with cotton. The stuffed cotton makes me nice to cuddle with. My uncle carved my legs and feet and arms and hands out of wood. I was so happy when all the pieces were attached and I became a real doll and then I saw the joy I brought to my Mom. She beamed with happiness and for years always kept me by her side. We lived in Fosston, Minnesota for many years.

In 1916 my grandparents moved from Fosston, Minnesota to Valley County, Montana. They took up a homestead north of Frazer, Montana. Laura and I were happy on the farm there also but as mother got older she had less time for me. Frequently I was left in a dress drawer and I was lonely.

In 1922 Mother was nineteen (19) years old and went to work for a widower who had six (6) young children. She cared for his children for several months and then she married him. Oh how those children adored me!

Milly especially loved playing house with me. She dropped me one day and it cracked my shoulder. It wasn't painful but it took away some of my beauty. My heart would be broken at times when I watched the children fight over me. Everyone wanted to hold me. I dearly loved it when they shared their heartfelt secretes with me.

When the children grew up and left home, I spent a lot of time alone. Mom was no longer interested in me like she had been. On occasions she would go through her dresser drawer and when she saw me she would visit with me briefly. Mom died in 1998.

My aunts and uncles needed to get rid of her possessions. My Aunt, Milly (Sonsteng) Knight mailed me to my Aunt Arlene (Sonsteng) Decker in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Arlene took me to Albuquerque to a Doll Doctor to repair my broken shoulder. Then she had a lovely garment made especially for me. It was refreshing to feel special again.

Arlene had a daughter, Glenda, who had a doll collection and expressed a desire to have me but then changed her mind. Arlene was getting old and didn't know where I should spend the rest of my life. My grandparents had been pioneers in the farming community in Montana. Arlene decided I needed to be in the Pioneer Museum in Glasgow, Montana.

Arlene thought she could no longer travel so she mailed me back to Montana to Billings to my great-niece, Laura Lee (Knight) Haefer. Laura was named after her grandmother. I spent a few months with Laura. I developed a close friendship with her adorable frogs and her loving husband, Hal.

I was well over 100 years old in August, 2016, when Laura and I left Billings on our road trip to my permanent home. She buckled me in for safety and we took off on our 280-mile trip to Glasgow. She made it lots of fun for us to be on the road. We enjoyed a lot of conversation and we stopped at a park to rest and get some fresh air. I joyfully took a ride on the swing and the slide.

I am very happy at my permanent home. It feels so good. The employees take excellent care of me. I am never lonely. Every day tourists stop by to see me. They always smile when they see me. I love hearing the complimentary remarks they make about my looks. I always smile back and throw them a "thank you" wink.

I have had a good life and I am still living a good life. I wish everyone would be as blessed as I have been.