They Had A Good Time

Our aunt, Linda Cole was always a vibrant, happy person. She had a laugh that would light up a room. We didn’t see Linda and her husband Bobby as much as some of the rest of the family, because they lived for many years is Kennebec, South Dakota, where they owned a little “mom and pop” hotel. To visit them and their children, Sheila and Pat meant a trip of at least a weekend, and better yet a three or four day weekend. The drive was long enough to where you had to stay the night. The nice thing was that since they owned a hotel, you always had a place to stay…and they never would let us pay them for the room. They just liked that we wanted to come for a visit at least once a year.

When the hotel burned down, after being struck by lightning, they pretty much lost their livelihood. To rebuild made no sense, because there was a chain motel that was right off the interstate, meaning that fewer people actually came into Kennebec to the “mom and pop” that was located there. Times were changing, and they would have to change with them. The solution was a move to Winnemucca, Nevada, where they found jobs working in the casinos. I think they were happy to be free of the hotel, because it meant no more cleaning rooms and limiting their vacation times to the months when no one was traveling, including them. Winters in South Dakota can be a special kind of brutal, and travel was hazardous. Linda and Bobby found that the warmer, dryer climate of Nevada really suited them, so they stayed for the rest of their lives. They never “struck it rich” but they had a good time. Their move to Nevada meant that fewer people went for visits, and that is sad. It was a little further, so it was hard. Her sister, Joann and brother-in-law visited the most.

Bobby passed away from cancer on May 30, 2014, at the age of 71, and Linda passed away unexpectantly on September 22, 2016, from a heart attack at the age of 69. We were shocked and saddened by their passing. They were, in my opinion, far too young. I think Linda lost the will to live after Bobby passed. They were such a part of each other. Their marriage was on that was made in Heaven, and they never doubted their love for each other for a minute. Today would have been Linda’s 78th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Linda. We love and miss you very much.