Sent in by their daughter, Dolores Gettel

There are two crosses at the railroad crossing by the grain elevator in Power, Montana, in memory of my parents, Oscar and Hilma Johnson, who died as a result of a car/train accident at that spot. They were the parents of Evelyn LaValley, Lillian Jenkins, Jeanette Waltari, Blanche Waltari, Ethel Doheny, Gladys Pearson, and myself.

Roger Gettel, a grandson, was instrumental in getting the crosses installed. What a great memorial! With so many trains going through Power these days, the crosses will be a reminder to stop, look and listen!

My mother was born in Oakes, North Dakota and my father was born in Ystad, Sweden. He came to the U.S. in 1902 at the age of 18. He eventually ended up in North Dakota where he met my mother and they were married. My mother was teaching school at the time. Dad had homesteaded 10 miles north of Power previous to this. This is where they made their home and raised their family. They had six girls in 8 years, then, ten years later, I was born. Seven girls on a farm; everyone worked hard and it was a wonderful family.

I married a local boy and we lived on a farm ten miles from my parents and we were very close.

On the day of the accident, my parents were coming into Power; riding with a neighbor lady to watch slides about the Holy Land. My mother was in the front passenger side and my Dad was right behind her in the back seat. We never knew if the lady stopped or even saw the train that hit them; at that time the crossing in Power was bad - a few years later they installed a new crossing with lights.

I came into Power shortly after the accident with my two little boys. My father was on one side of the tracks and my mother was still in the car. They were so beat up. My father died shortly after getting to the hospital and my mother lived five days. She died the same day as my dad's funeral, so then we had another funeral. The lady driving the car was just shook up.

I was the baby and very close to them. My parents were hard working; they had a big garden, milk cows, and chickens. My mother sold eggs up until her death. They were wonderful Christians with so much pride in their family. The crosses in Power are a reminder; we decorate them seasonally.

Oscar
March 21, 1884 -
April 20, 1969

Hilma
April 4, 1892 -
 April 25, 1969