Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma Nell!

Ellen "Nell" (Johnstone) Borgreen

"Nellie" was born in Liverpool, England on 5 Feb 1912, to William H. and Mary Alice (Coleman)Johnstone. She was the 2nd of 8 children. "Nellie's" father immigrated to Canada in April 1912 and landed in Halifax on April 7th, just one week before the sinking of the Titanic.

On 4 Jun 1913, Mary Alice arrived in Quebec with her two children, Steve and Nellie and her mother, Mary Coleman. The family reunited with William and moved west to British Columbia, where they would live until immigrating to the U.S. in 1916. Nellie's brothers, William and Donald were born in Canada. Mary Alice crossed into Montana at the port of Gateway on 24 Feb 1916, with her 4 children and her mother. William entered the U.S. at some point in time, but no record has been found. The family settled in Great Falls, MT. William worked as a master meat cutter for The Great Falls Meat Packing Company.

Kathleen, Gertrude, James and John were born to William and Mary Alice over the next years in Great Falls.

Nell attended St. Mary's High School and then the Columbus Hospital's School of Nursing where she graduated in 1933. These were difficult years. The nation was in the throes of the Great Depression, Grandma Coleman and William were suffering from cancer. William was unable to work and the family banded together to make ends meet. Mary Coleman died on 14 Jun 1932 and William died on 16 Oct 1933. At this same time Nell went to work for Dr. C. H. Peterson.

On 29 Jun 1935, Nell married Carl Borgreen at St. Anne's Cathedral in Great Falls MT. They made their home in Great Falls. Nell and Carl welcomed 4 children to the family; John, Judy, Jim, and Jerry.

On 22 Nov 1959, life took a drastic and tragic turn when Carl died suddenly and unexpectedly on a hunting trip. The family carried on, the kids grew and married and had children of their own. Nell returned to nursing, working at  Park Place and Cascade Country Convalescent Hospital until her retirement.

Nell was spunky and fiesty until the very end and on 22 Oct 2000, she left us to reunite with Carl.
Today would be her 100th birthday. Happy Birthday, Grandma. We love you and miss you.

Workday Wednesday....Nurse Nellie

Nellie Johnstone

Ellen "Nell" (Johnstone) Borgreen graduated from the Columbus School of Nursing in Great Falls MT in 1933.
She was employed by Dr. C. H. Peterson for a time, before her marriage to Carl Borgreen. After Carl's untimely death in 1959, Nell went back to work as a nurse, first at Park Place and then the Cascade County Convalescent Hospital.

I remember going to work with Grandma Nell and all the antics she would share with us. Her stories were hilarious and even though she griped about her job, I'm sure she secretly like the work because of the way she told the stories.

There was the man who hoarded sugar packets in his boots.
One day, as she walked past a patient's room she was hit with a bucket of water. The poor man thought he was back on the farm and cleaning stalls. Once she heard a woman's voice coming from the closet. When she opened the closet door the old lady shouted "I'm not done yet!" She thought she was in confession. But another resident had shut her in the closet because they were tired of listening to her talk.
One elderly lady needed something to do every day to keep her busy. Grandma Nell found a basket of hand towels and that lady folded towels happily. When she got near the bottom of the basket, Grandma would "accidentally" knock the pile over and the lady would gladly start folding again. There are too many stories to share on one small blog. Grandma Nell was a colorful gal who brought fun and frivolity everywhere she went.

Those Places Thursday.....Grandma's Shanty

Those Places Thursday – do you often think back to places where you lived and worked at one time? What about those places where your ancestors spent time? Post about “those places” with photos and stories on Those Places Thursday. This has been an ongoing series by Cheryl Palmer of Heritage Happens.


The pictures and poem below come from my cousin Molly. Her dad, my Uncle Jimmy, is an artist and he created a planter box for Molly from Grandma Nell's old mailbox. He wrote the poem and gave it as a gift to Molly for her birthday. I've been unable to find a good picture of Grandma's little yellow house in my own collection of photos. I know that one exists and I'll post it and write about the "shanty" when I find that photo. But for now, these photos will do. 

"Gramma's Shanty"

I hope that this old box brings you good memories of the little yellow shanty

like those of the old black purse and all its treasures and candy

memories of sleeping in the big wooden bed and all the nightime stories so often said

memories of helping in the little kitchen and the yummy meals that appeared as if done by a magician

memories of sitting in the rocker on the tree shaded deck, cuddling for a hug and a peck

memories of time spent with one that loved to go for a walk or to just sit and have a good talk

memories of the little bathroom with the big metal tub with the flowery bubbles that made it so fun to scrub

memories of a gramma who loved you so much, whos life we now cherish so much

Jim Borgreen

Written for Molly’s birthday

Daze of the week

Daze of the Week!

"Some of you may have noticed that in each Genealogy Blogging Beat we now feature national holidays and some of the more offbeat holidays. Here are some dates next week to look out for so you can plan your blog posts for next week:

• May 27: Cellophane Tape Day"

from Geneabloggers

Nell Borgreen

This made me laugh and served as a prompt for today's post. Grandma Nell (Ellen Johnstone Borgreen) was the queen of scotch tape. In the living room of her little yellow house, there sat a large buffet. No one was ever allowed to touch it. EVER. In fact, after Grandma died, my mom got the buffet and I'm not too sure she's ever screwed up the nerve to open a drawer and look inside.

But I digress. In the middle drawer of the buffet was a large collection of scotch tape dispensers. Grandma would buy a roll of tape, use a little bit and immediately lose the end. She'd buy another roll and the process would repeat itself. Each roll would be deposited in the middle drawer of the buffet. Whenever I'd come to visit, Grandma would take the rolls out of the drawer and I'd spend our time together chatting and picking at the ends of all those dispensers. Oddly, I enjoyed this activity and the time with Grandma. 

Another scotch tape story goes like this, when we were little, my sister and brother and I would often get a card in the mail from Grandma. The envelope would be very heavy and the front covered in stamps. Inside we would find quarters taped to the card. There was usually several dollars worth of quarters and we were always thrilled at the gift. Because of the heft and bulk of the card, the flap of the envelope had to be taped down. Grandma was very generous with the tape and we'd joke that we should really buy stock in the Scotch tape company. Of course, gift wrapped boxes received the same treatment. Grandma must have used miles of tape in her life. 

March 21...Tender moments

March 21 - Describe a tender moment one of your female ancestors shared with you or another family member.


I will never forget the times spent at Grandma Nell's house. We would have sleep overs and it was always so much fun. Grandma loved to have the kids come to visit in her tiny little yellow house. She had very little room, so she'd get creative. Snacks were kept in the dryer in the kitchen. We had free run of the place and could have whatever we wanted without asking. She always had little metal snack trays for us to use in front of the TV. They had little foldable legs and we'd sit on the floor, watching cartoons and snacking away. Then Grandma and I would snuggle on the couch and she'd pat my hand or my leg. We would sit like that for hours. 


Many years later when I had children of my own, we'd go visit and she'd sit with them the same way and pat their legs or hands. It was so sweet to see that tenderness passed on to the next generation. 

Happy 99th Birthday Grandma Nell

Mystery Monday....Who Have We Here?

Liverpool Man circa 1925

Liverpool Woman circa 1925

Burrell & Hardman photography

unknown man, photo date unknown

photo taken in Dublin date unknown

These photographs were found in the ceder chest of my grandma, Ellen "Nell" Johnstone Borgreen. She had no recollection of who these people might be. The two Burrell and Hardman portraits, which I've affectionately dubbed Liverpool Man and Woman, might be identifiable and I've made efforts to contact the curators of their collection. I'm just waiting to hear back. The two older framed portaraits are much more a mystery to me. The woman's portrait says "Ellen" on the back. I don't think the name "Ellen" refers to Grandma though. Grandma's godmother's name was Ellen, according to her baptismal certificate. I'm hoping and wondering if this might be the godmother, Ellen Coleman, who I suspect was the sister of Grandma's mother, Mary Alice Coleman Johnstone. The man has a familiar family resemblance. When I first saw this portrait I thought he looked like one of Grandma's brothers. Grandma's godfather's name was Thomas Coleman. I've long suspected that he might be Mary Alice's brother. But I have no proof. The fact that these portraits were found together, similarly framed and the same size would lead me to think they might be related, somehow. Such a mystery. So much fun to try to figure out. 

Sentimental Sunday...Grandma's Black Purse

Grandma Nell's Black Purse

This is the black purse. It hung on the door knob of the back bedroom at Grandma Nell's (Ellen Johnstone Borgreen) little yellow house for years and years. Truth be told the purse wasn't always the same purse. She would change them out, but they were always black. What was inside this purse? Stuff, junk, treasures. The stuff changed as often as the purse changed, but it was always full of something fun and interesting to a little kid. Maybe an old pocket calendar, a doll from the dollar store, an old empty lipstick tube, a deck of cards (not all of them, of course), some plastic plates for a tea party, a note pad and pencil.... It didn't really matter what was inside, it was new to the kids. I didn't actually play with the black purse as a child. I don't think Grandma had the flash of inspiration until my cousins came along. But my kids all played with it, and when Grandma passed in 2000, the purse came to live at my house. It received a thorough cleaning out and inspection for safety then was tucked away for the future.

 The little dumpling on this scrapbook page is my granddaughter, Dani, playing with her great-great grandma's black purse.  Last year I brought the purse out of the closet to share with her for the first time. She was enthralled with all the stuff inside. Such a simple thing full of random "junk" to keep a little kid busy for a  while. Like Grandma Nell, I'll change the contents out frequently, but the purse shall remain the same for as long as it holds up. Then it will live the rest of its days in my treasure chest of family memorabilia.

Happy New Year!

The Johnstone Clan w/spouses

Now I don't know if this photo was taken on NYE or not. It probably wasn't as Aunt Katie and Auntie Pete are sleeveless. But its the most festive photo in my collection and I think it works. This is the Johnstone clan, the children of William H. and Mary A. Johnstone, and their spouses. This photo was taken at Grandpa and Grandma Borgreen's house on Smelter Hill in Great Falls MT, sometime in the 40's. There are only two people in this group who I did not have the pleasure of knowing, Grandpa Carl Borgreen and Aunt RoseMary. They both passed away too early.

The others I knew and loved and miss terribly. Auntie Pete and Aunt Francis are still living and I would love a chance to visit with them about their memories.

Back row from L to R.

Carl Borgreen, Audrey "Pete" Johnstone, Jack Johnstone, Steve Johnstone, Bertha "Bert" Johnstone, Jim Johnstone

Front row L to R

Bill Johnstone, Francis Johnstone, Nell (Johnstone) Borgreen, George Tracy, Kathleen (Johnstone) Tracy, Rose Mary Johnstone. Not pictured are Don Johnstone and Gert Johnstone.

Nellisms

Grandma Nell (Johnstone) Borgreen

Here's a list of funny things Grandma Nell used to say. This is only the tip of the iceberg. I'll be adding to this list as I think of more.

Grandma Nell was an RN, so many of her isms make reference to body parts or functions. That's just the way she was. 

Someone left the gate open.

Said while waiting for a break in traffic

Should have shot him and raised a pig.

Said in reference to a worthless example of a human being.

Say you eat well.

Said behind the back of someone who would do well to

cut back a little bit.

Would you look at that

Said about anything that went against the grain

Uglier than a hatful of rectums.

Pretty self explanatory

Able to sit up and take nurishment

The usual response when asked "How are you doing today?"

I was going to vacuum, then I thought better of it.

We all have this feeling from time to time.

I'm going to the hair benders
going to the beauty parlor

I have to put my face on.

Said while getting ready to go out

Went to bed with my boyfriend, Morpheus.

Referring to the god of sleep.

Went to lunch with my cronies.

Her gal pals.

That old blister

If Grandma Nell didn't like you, you were a blister

That old plaster
Similar to an old blister

Don't eat that or you'll get the Molly grubs
tummy ache

Don't get your bowels in an uproar.

Don't get excited

Don’t get your water hot.

See above

Don't get your knickers in a twist.

See above again.

Would you look at the head on that!

Quit crying, you big calf!


Quit your crying or I'll give you something to cry about

I could be wearing that like a mink stole

 Pee or get off the pot

Basically, hurry up or get out of the way

That gives me the hump

The hump was never good. Refers to feeling grossed out.

That gives me the willies

Similar to the hump but more creepy

Old Lumpy Nose - (Pres Reagan)

Hamburger 'onion' only

Always from McDonald's and in a Happy Meal