Maiden leap-frog fun?

If the lives of the Maiden girls out on White River during the 1930's were challenging, they weren't without fun.  Here, Jackie, Dorothy, Betty and Letty (Lettie) engage in a bit of tomfoolery with a couple of unidentified young people at the bottom of this undated photograph.  This photo was likely taken on the Maiden homestead northeast of Chadron, Nebraska  (Betty Love Jolovich collection)

Betty's Perfect Attendance - 1932

Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich racked up some enviable school attendance reports in 1932.  These monthly report records were shared with us by Betty's daughter, Janice (Love) Tenold.  To see a larger version of this document – along with other Maiden family images – visit our Maiden Family Gallery.

90-year-old Betty Love Jolovich, dies in Sheridan – the last of her Maiden family generation

They were called the "Greatest Generation."  And in so many ways they were – those durable youngsters who grew up during the Great Depression and who knew the horrors and sacrifices that came with World War Two.

Betty Love Jolovich was of that generation.  She died at her home last week (3/22/17) in Sheridan, Wyoming at age 90.

Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich
(1926 - 2017)

Born May 27, 1926 in the family farmhouse 14 miles northeast of Chadron, Nebraska, Betty Belle Maiden was the fifth daughter in the family of Bill and Leota Maiden.  She attended school on the home place and later at the Normal Prep School in Chadron.

On June 20, 1944, Betty married Marlin Love, an Army buddy of her brother Henry.  They honeymooned back to his home in Iowa on a motorcycle.  Alas, the old 1932 Harley-Davidson broke down in western Iowa, and they had to hitchhike the rest of the trip!

After Marlin was discharged from the Army, they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, where they arrived December 4, 1944. The Loves would spend the rest of their lives in Wyoming, mostly in and around Sheridan, where they raised their four children.

Marlin Love died in 2000, and two years later, Betty married Paul Jolovich.

In addition to her parents, Betty Love Jolovich was pre-deceased by her first husband, Marlin Love, and by her sisters Minnie Scott, Nettie Drake, Lettie Miller, Dorothy Lewis, and Jocelyn Allen; brothers David Weston, William Weston, Henry Maiden, and James Walter Maiden.

She is survived by her second husband, Paul Jolovich of Sheridan, and by her children Beverly Reinke and Sandra Mosley of Sheridan, son Matthew Love of Gillette, and daughter Janice Tenold of Rapid City; and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Her ashes will be spread near those of Marlin's up on the mountain in their beloved Big Horns, where the couple volunteered for so many years.

💙

Note:  The passing of Betty Love Jolovich marks the end of the Maiden family members who were of that "Greatest Generation."  She was the sole remaining child of Bill and Leota (Durham) Maiden, both born in the late 1800's.  None of the Maiden lives was easy, and that took a toll on some of them.  But it didn't hamper a tremendous sense of humor among a few of the Maiden girls – including Betty.  We'll always remember her infectious laugh, mischievous smile, and her keen wit.  None of us will soon forget this special lady.   We are adding a few additional photographs of "Aunt Betty" to the Maiden Family Gallery.

Late 1920's photo of Derricks and Maidens

This snapshot was taken on the old Maiden place about 14 miles northeast of Chadron, Nebraska, probably in about 1929.  We can identify several of the people — but not all of them.  The five children standing in front are (left-to-right):  Lettie Maiden, Henry Maiden, Nettie Maiden, Betty Maiden, and Dorothy Maiden.  The dapper fellow standing in the back at left is either Monroe Derrick or his brother William Derrick; others in the back (l-r) are Leota Durham Maiden, Dora Derrick Maiden, William Joseph Maiden, Minnie Maiden (partially hidden), an unidentified lady, and the elderly lady in the black dress at right may be Nettie Derrick Bouma.  The Derrick-Maiden relationships can be a bit confusing.  Here's a simple explanation for the relationships in this photo only:  William (Bill) Derrick (and Monroe) is a nephew to Dora Derrick Maiden, who is the mother of William Joseph Maiden.  Cora Derrick Bouma is a half-sister to Dora Derrick Maiden.  Question:  what are the names of the dogs, to whom do they belong, and — more importantly — who is taking the picture?

A holiday celebration of Loves

A cold and snowy night -- in a place we'd never heard of.

But the moment we walked through the door, we were delighted at what we found.  We were guests at a family reunion to honor Betty (Maiden) Love Jolovich at a remote guest ranch about 17 miles north of Buffalo, Wyoming.  

We've lived in South Dakota and Nebraska for a good number of years, and we've traveled quite a bit throughout Wyoming, but we'd never heard of this place:  The Ranch at Ucross.

Jan (Love) Tennold and her siblings -- Sandra, Matt and Beverly -- orchestrated this special reception and dinner to honor their mother, who is the last living child of William J. and Leota (Durham) Maiden.  They couldn't have chosen a nicer place.

But we have a feeling that no matter where they might have assembled, there would have been an outpouring of warmth and love that would have filled the room.  We counted 25 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other assembled family.  And we were fortunate enough to live close enough to receive an invitation the the festivities.

The afternoon was a time for family members to visit, tell stories, and catch up on activities.  From California and South Dakota to Arizona and Wyoming, there was an abundance of stories and lots of reminiscing.  What great fun for cousins and kinfolk to be able to come together for a holiday reunion.  The group paused long enough to be captured in the photo below.  You'll find a higher resolution version of this photograph in our Maiden Photo Gallery.  And we're working on compiling all the names for a caption, so please lend a hand!  A simple e-Mail note will do!

Following a reception and dinner at the Ranch House,  the group reconvened at the Lodge to view  an hour-long video that Larry and Karen Miller recorded at Betty's home in Dayton in 2008.  

We can think of no other way to celebrate the Christmas season that family coming together to share memories -- and to show affection for the lady who helped make it all possible:  Betty Maiden!  

With a gloomy medical diagnosis, this remarkable lady faces the future -- however short or long -- with great dignity and grace, and still nurturing the keen sense of humor that she has embraced for her 87 years.  While doctors count her future in months, we all know that her spirit -- and our memories of her -- will be alive for generations to come.  What a lady!

The Maiden kids - late 1930's

While preparing a new picture calendar for 2012, I was digging for some old photos that might help spur memories of years gone by.  This one popped up, and I was delighted to include it in the calendar.

I had seen this photograph before, but it'd never captured my imagination the way it did today.  Perhaps it's the unique personalities of the six Maiden girls -- and one boy -- reflected in their faces and clothing.  Or it might be the contrast of the dry earth barnyard with Grandpa Maiden's bold new barn looming in the distance.  Whatever caught my attention, it's allowed me to examine more closely and enjoy this glimpse of yesteryear out on White River in Dawes County, Nebraska.  There's no date on this photo, but from the apparent ages of those in the picture, I'm guessing this was taken in the late 1930's.

In the rear (left-to-right) are Nettie, Henry, and Betty Maiden.  In the middle are Lettie, Minnie, and Dorothy.  Jackie is in front.  I can't see clearly enough to determine who is to the rear right, closer to the barn.  Perhaps Ray Scott -- Minnie's son -- is the boy, but I can't be certain.  I don't believe that's Grandpa Maiden back there, but again, that's just a guess.

I wish I could remember that barn.  I've been told that Grandpa William J. Maiden was very proud of it.

So Long, Shad!

With three years under his belt as a member of a National Guard medical evacuation unit in Rapid City, South Dakota, Shad Tenold is about to “ship out” for an overseas tour of duty in Kosovo. It was only fitting that many family and a few friends would gather to help send him off. That gathering took place today (May 18, 2008) at the Perkins Restaurant in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Here’s Shad with his grandmother, Betty Jolovich. His parents are Gene and Jan (Love) Tenold, who ranch near Reva in northwestern South Dakota.

We’ve posted a few other photos from the gathering at So Long, Shad!