Sharon Sharp
My Spunky, Brave, Courageous, Determined, Feisty Aunt Madalyn!!
Back in 1957, 60 years ago this year, my Dad, Lyle Hendren, suffered an attack of illeitis - something he commented was the same thing as Ike (President Dwight D. Eisenhower) had except Ike could afford it.
At the time, we lived on a dairy farm about 6 miles outside of Danvers, Illinois. We milked somewhere around 30 cows each and every morning and evening, taking approximately two or two and a half hours each time. Even though my brother and I were required to help out in the barn, taking turns, our duties mostly consisted of washing udders, and changing milking machine belts from cow to cow as the milking progressed down the line of cows in the barn.
When Dad went to the hospital for emergency surgery on his lower bowel to remove the gangrenous portion (the illeitis), none of our immediate family was prepared or even able to step into Dad's shoes and take over the milking and other farm duties which were his responsibility.
Into the breach, up stepped Aunt Madalyn! SHE knew how to use a milking machine, and even how to strip udders after the milker did an incomplete job of emptying the udder! SHE knew how to feed and take care of all those cows that were our only livlihood! She switched off with Uncle Dean from the other side of the family, and between Aunt Madalyn, Uncle Dean, and the neighbors helping with haying, hauling feed, changing pastures, cultivating corn, -- and all the other things a farmer must do, our cows were milked EVERY time, ON time, without our losing our family income, or even the farm!!
This little woman, as far as I can recall, did it all by herself. I don't remember "helping" her out, but I might have. Too long ago to remember for sure. Out of the goodness of her heart, she traveled at least 18 miles one way, at least every other day, for several months while Dad recuperated and was able to take his job back over again. I don't know whether my Mom offered to pay her, at least for gas, but knowing Aunt Madalyn, she would have sputtered in indignation, and refused. (What Uncle Paul did for supper those evenings, I have no idea!) And, I believe, this was before either Paula or Eric were thought of. If Paula had been born by that time, Aunt Madalyn must have left her with someone in Bloomington-Normal those evenings she came to milk, because I don't recall ever having a baby cousin to play with when she came out.
God Bless Aunt Madalyn! She was surely a blessing to us in our need. Lord, give her wings, and give her a seat beside You, where she deserves to be. Amen.