Our knowledge of Grandma Stanger’s early history is very limited. We assume she was born in 1901 but she has varying years on 2 different birth certificates. 1901 makes more sense though, because the math doesn’t work out with when her older sister, Eva, was born. She had to get another birth certificate when Dad was on his mission and convinced them she was a year younger, so we think. She always told us that it was too sad to talk about her early life, so we know what we can piece together. Her mom, Angeline, died from complications due to childbirth at the age of 32. Her baby sister died a few months after her mom. Grandma quit school to help take care of her family, wanting her siblings, Eva, Mabel, and James, to be able to finish school. She ended up graduating from high school, four years after the class she started with. She then went to college and received her teaching degree, an Associates from Utah State. She met Grandpa Stanger at a church dance. When she passed away, she said, “I’ve enjoyed it,” meaning I have had a good life.
Grandma was a fun, positive person who drew people and animals to her. She made everyone feel like she was your best friend. She was a collector of strays, people, and animals. I remember cats, horses, dogs, ponies, cows, geese, and chickens being at her house. If you were close to her house more than likely you’d hear her cry: “Here, kitty, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty.” When this happened all the surrounding cats would flock to her sidewalk, knowing she was about to serve them dinner.
She was very funny about her age. I was sitting with her at a ward reunion. They were trying to figure out who the oldest lady and gentleman were in attendance. I don’t remember who won, but turned to Grandma Stanger and said, “Grandma, aren’t you older than that?!” She didn’t appreciate this at all and firmly told me I was incorrect.
She was talented at many things. She hand-quilted numerous blankets. She crocheted countless doilies and other creations. Her house had collections of rocks and trees she had acquired on various trips. Any time I smell lilacs it makes me think of Grandma Stanger. She loved to watch “Hee-Haw” and Johnny Carson.
Grandma Stanger served in the church. She and her chum, Donna Pierce, were teachers together in the Primary and Sunday School for years. They were very mischievous together.
When Dad was on his mission Grandma worked at the Del Monte Canning factory. One of the foods she helped prepare were tomatoes. The tomato acid would eat at her hands and cause them to crack and bleed. She didn’t want Dad to know how bad her hands were, so she would wear gloves to write him letters, to prevent them from bleeding on the letters she’d write him. Dad didn’t know Grandma had done that until years after she had departed this life. Aunt Gaylene shared the story with him.
Grandma loved her family. We all took turns having sleepovers at her house. She would enjoy such odd combinations of food, ketchup sandwiches, and onion sandwiches are two that I remember specifically. She then would turn around and make you obscene amounts of waffles and expect you to eat them all. You usually rolled out of her kitchen, stuffed to the gills. She made yummy, sweet pickles, potato salad decorated with green peppers to look like flowers and the best chili sauce I’ve had. She loved cooking for people, it was one way she showed you that she loved you.
We lived within walking distance of her house, and we would have her babysit us on occasion. She’d come with her coin purse stuffed, intent on letting us pillage all the coins we could find.
She taught us to recognize what the dreaded tomato horn worm looked like or the nasty potato bugs you didn’t want on the plants. It was our job to find those juicy, disgusting critters and squish them. We couldn’t let them ruin the plants. We wandered around her big garden looking for bugs to squish, being disgusted and fascinated with their gooeyness. As long as we weren’t ruining the plants, we were golden.
Every Halloween we would end our Trick or Treating at her house. She would make us hot chocolate and listen to our stories from the evening. She would save us oodles of candy and make sure we took it all home with us in our Trick or Treat bags. She made you feel loved and special.
I keep contemplating Grandma’s attitude about having enjoyed her life. She didn’t have it easy, losing her mom and sister so young. She’d also lost a younger brother before that. To get from the point of experiencing such loss and trauma at a young age, having the responsibility of helping to care for her family at the age of 8, and still being able to say, “I’ve enjoyed it.” Not only did Grandma Stanger enjoy it, but she also helped others to find joy in their journey. This attitude is something I want to emulate. Grandma Stanger endured in faith and hope.
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