Hilda Anita Leathers was born January 24, 1905 in Mechanicsburg, Sangamon co., Illinois to Hyatt and Mattie (Hundley) Leathers. Her father died shortly after her birth. In 1909, her mother moved the family to Hanes (Lemon), South Dakota, where they homesteaded. Because of the difficult conditions there, Mattie moved the family again in 1911 to Mount Rose Township, Bottineau Co., North Dakota, where her brother Jesse already had a farm. Her brother Hundley took on the responsibility of raising the family. Hilda completed her schooling, including two years of teachers college. She taught school and played the piano.
Hilda met Joseph Bergstad at a Boy Scout social where Joe was playing fiddle and Hilda was playing the piano. It was not too long after they met that they married in 1936 in Lansford, North Dakota. They almost immediately moved west to look for a better life because of the depressed economy and the draught conditions (dust bowl) in North Dakota. Joe brought two fiddles into the marriage and Hilda brought in money she had saved during her 12 years of teaching. They lived in several locations in Washington, where two sons were born. The family then moved to Oregon, just outside
Fort Stevens, where Joe worked as a barber on the base. During these early years grandmother Mattie Leathers lived with the family.
Near the end of World War II, Joe bought a barber shop in Astoria and then some lots on Youngs Bay in the country, where Joe built a house. Their third son was born here. Joe passed away in 1961. Following this, Hilda moved back to North Dakota, where she taught until retirement. She then returned to Oregon and taught school there until retirement. She retired to her home in Astoria until health problems led her to move in with her son in Avinger, Texas. She lived there until her death
in 1985.
**Bio submitted by Nancy Leathers, FAG Contributor #47775799
Hilda met Joseph Bergstad at a Boy Scout social where Joe was playing fiddle and Hilda was playing the piano. It was not too long after they met that they married in 1936 in Lansford, North Dakota. They almost immediately moved west to look for a better life because of the depressed economy and the draught conditions (dust bowl) in North Dakota. Joe brought two fiddles into the marriage and Hilda brought in money she had saved during her 12 years of teaching. They lived in several locations in Washington, where two sons were born. The family then moved to Oregon, just outside
Fort Stevens, where Joe worked as a barber on the base. During these early years grandmother Mattie Leathers lived with the family.
Near the end of World War II, Joe bought a barber shop in Astoria and then some lots on Youngs Bay in the country, where Joe built a house. Their third son was born here. Joe passed away in 1961. Following this, Hilda moved back to North Dakota, where she taught until retirement. She then returned to Oregon and taught school there until retirement. She retired to her home in Astoria until health problems led her to move in with her son in Avinger, Texas. She lived there until her death
in 1985.
**Bio submitted by Nancy Leathers, FAG Contributor #47775799
Hilda Anita Leathers was born January 24, 1905 in Mechanicsburg, Sangamon co., Illinois to Hyatt and Mattie (Hundley) Leathers. Her father died shortly after her birth. In 1909, her mother moved the family to Hanes (Lemon), South Dakota, where they homesteaded. Because of the difficult conditions there, Mattie moved the family again in 1911 to Mount Rose Township, Bottineau Co., North Dakota, where her brother Jesse already had a farm. Her brother Hundley took on the responsibility of raising the family. Hilda completed her schooling, including two years of teachers college. She taught school and played the piano.
Hilda met Joseph Bergstad at a Boy Scout social where Joe was playing fiddle and Hilda was playing the piano. It was not too long after they met that they married in 1936 in Lansford, North Dakota. They almost immediately moved west to look for a better life because of the depressed economy and the draught conditions (dust bowl) in North Dakota. Joe brought two fiddles into the marriage and Hilda brought in money she had saved during her 12 years of teaching. They lived in several locations in Washington, where two sons were born. The family then moved to Oregon, just outside
Fort Stevens, where Joe worked as a barber on the base. During these early years grandmother Mattie Leathers lived with the family.
Near the end of World War II, Joe bought a barber shop in Astoria and then some lots on Youngs Bay in the country, where Joe built a house. Their third son was born here. Joe passed away in 1961. Following this, Hilda moved back to North Dakota, where she taught until retirement. She then returned to Oregon and taught school there until retirement. She retired to her home in Astoria until health problems led her to move in with her son in Avinger, Texas. She lived there until her death
in 1985.
**Bio submitted by Nancy Leathers, FAG Contributor #47775799
Hilda met Joseph Bergstad at a Boy Scout social where Joe was playing fiddle and Hilda was playing the piano. It was not too long after they met that they married in 1936 in Lansford, North Dakota. They almost immediately moved west to look for a better life because of the depressed economy and the draught conditions (dust bowl) in North Dakota. Joe brought two fiddles into the marriage and Hilda brought in money she had saved during her 12 years of teaching. They lived in several locations in Washington, where two sons were born. The family then moved to Oregon, just outside
Fort Stevens, where Joe worked as a barber on the base. During these early years grandmother Mattie Leathers lived with the family.
Near the end of World War II, Joe bought a barber shop in Astoria and then some lots on Youngs Bay in the country, where Joe built a house. Their third son was born here. Joe passed away in 1961. Following this, Hilda moved back to North Dakota, where she taught until retirement. She then returned to Oregon and taught school there until retirement. She retired to her home in Astoria until health problems led her to move in with her son in Avinger, Texas. She lived there until her death
in 1985.
**Bio submitted by Nancy Leathers, FAG Contributor #47775799
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