I was born Wallace Edward Leat
My mother was born Rena Blossom Smalley 4th of 5 children , to Francis Duane Smalley & Jennie Eslick, both school teachers . When my mom was 8 years old her mother died giving birth to her sister, Hazel in 1890, leaving 5 small children for her father to care for. Unable able to care for the children Francis adopted the children out.
Rena was adopted by a wealthy rancher, Robert Hamilton Koontz and his wife Minerva. Growing up with the Koontz, Rena & the neighbor boy, Herbert Alder were sweet hearts but because of the age difference they were forbidden to see each other. Herbert went his way marrying and Rena also. She married my father William James Leat, a gambler, when she was 18 in 1906, having 3 sons with him myself, William & Wallace. They divorced mom then married Bert Isaac Norman in 1915, us boys taking the Norman name.
Bert too was not a kind man, drank and abused my mom and us kid's.
Rena & Bert had five children together, he passed away in 1946.
Herbert Alder her childhood sweet heart, wife Bessie died in 1960 and he went looking for Rena they reunited and were married in 1967 . They were together in Valentine NE. for 8 happy years. Herbert became ill and Rena unable to care for him as she too was not in good health, went to live with my half sister Vera in Omaha, NE. Herbert passing in 1975 then Rena in 1977.
My mother was born Rena Blossom Smalley 4th of 5 children , to Francis Duane Smalley & Jennie Eslick, both school teachers . When my mom was 8 years old her mother died giving birth to her sister, Hazel in 1890, leaving 5 small children for her father to care for. Unable able to care for the children Francis adopted the children out.
Rena was adopted by a wealthy rancher, Robert Hamilton Koontz and his wife Minerva. Growing up with the Koontz, Rena & the neighbor boy, Herbert Alder were sweet hearts but because of the age difference they were forbidden to see each other. Herbert went his way marrying and Rena also. She married my father William James Leat, a gambler, when she was 18 in 1906, having 3 sons with him myself, William & Wallace. They divorced mom then married Bert Isaac Norman in 1915, us boys taking the Norman name.
Bert too was not a kind man, drank and abused my mom and us kid's.
Rena & Bert had five children together, he passed away in 1946.
Herbert Alder her childhood sweet heart, wife Bessie died in 1960 and he went looking for Rena they reunited and were married in 1967 . They were together in Valentine NE. for 8 happy years. Herbert became ill and Rena unable to care for him as she too was not in good health, went to live with my half sister Vera in Omaha, NE. Herbert passing in 1975 then Rena in 1977.
I was born Wallace Edward Leat
My mother was born Rena Blossom Smalley 4th of 5 children , to Francis Duane Smalley & Jennie Eslick, both school teachers . When my mom was 8 years old her mother died giving birth to her sister, Hazel in 1890, leaving 5 small children for her father to care for. Unable able to care for the children Francis adopted the children out.
Rena was adopted by a wealthy rancher, Robert Hamilton Koontz and his wife Minerva. Growing up with the Koontz, Rena & the neighbor boy, Herbert Alder were sweet hearts but because of the age difference they were forbidden to see each other. Herbert went his way marrying and Rena also. She married my father William James Leat, a gambler, when she was 18 in 1906, having 3 sons with him myself, William & Wallace. They divorced mom then married Bert Isaac Norman in 1915, us boys taking the Norman name.
Bert too was not a kind man, drank and abused my mom and us kid's.
Rena & Bert had five children together, he passed away in 1946.
Herbert Alder her childhood sweet heart, wife Bessie died in 1960 and he went looking for Rena they reunited and were married in 1967 . They were together in Valentine NE. for 8 happy years. Herbert became ill and Rena unable to care for him as she too was not in good health, went to live with my half sister Vera in Omaha, NE. Herbert passing in 1975 then Rena in 1977.
My mother was born Rena Blossom Smalley 4th of 5 children , to Francis Duane Smalley & Jennie Eslick, both school teachers . When my mom was 8 years old her mother died giving birth to her sister, Hazel in 1890, leaving 5 small children for her father to care for. Unable able to care for the children Francis adopted the children out.
Rena was adopted by a wealthy rancher, Robert Hamilton Koontz and his wife Minerva. Growing up with the Koontz, Rena & the neighbor boy, Herbert Alder were sweet hearts but because of the age difference they were forbidden to see each other. Herbert went his way marrying and Rena also. She married my father William James Leat, a gambler, when she was 18 in 1906, having 3 sons with him myself, William & Wallace. They divorced mom then married Bert Isaac Norman in 1915, us boys taking the Norman name.
Bert too was not a kind man, drank and abused my mom and us kid's.
Rena & Bert had five children together, he passed away in 1946.
Herbert Alder her childhood sweet heart, wife Bessie died in 1960 and he went looking for Rena they reunited and were married in 1967 . They were together in Valentine NE. for 8 happy years. Herbert became ill and Rena unable to care for him as she too was not in good health, went to live with my half sister Vera in Omaha, NE. Herbert passing in 1975 then Rena in 1977.
Gravesite Details
Date of Interment 6 30 1988
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