GrandchildrenFrankMargaret2

Josephine was born March 24, 1907 in Grand Island, Nebraska. She married William Marshall January 4, 1929. She was nicknamed 'Toots'. Josephine passed away January 25,1993. Her body was cremated and the urn is burried between the graves of her mother and father in Eaton, Colorado.
Josephine had no children.

Irma Mae Thomas was born August 23, 1908 in Phillips, Nebraska. She married Lloyd Nightengale, April 26, 1931. She passed away July 1, 1942. Irma Mae had no children.

Vern David was born December 1, 1909 in Phillips, Nebraska and passed away Feb. 18, 1985 in Denver, Colorodo. He married Gladys Burnham, December 31, 1946. Vern was a member of the Armed Forces serving during WWII. Vern had no children.

Audrey Irene was born January 18, 1912 in Phillips, Nebraska. She married Arthur Riley Wallace, August 8, 1936. She passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 16, 1983. Audrey and Arthur are the parents of Patricia Ann.

Mom was born on January 18, 1912 in Phillips, Hamilton County, Nebraska on a Thursday and passed away on September 16, 1983 at the age of 71. She is buried in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah where she spent most of her life. She first married a man by the name of Al Hollenhors while a young lady and they were divorced. She married Dad, Arthur Riley Wallace, on August 8, 1936. She was a hard worker all her life. She had learned how to work hard as she was raised on a farm and the girls had to help in the fields as well as the house. Her mother Mary Jane Sallinger Thomas was an invalid in a wheel chair for over 20 years and the girls had to take care of her, as she couldn’t even move her fingers. Mom said that they would have to position the babies in grandmother’s arms so she could hold them. After Mom and Dad were married, she cleaned houses in Cheyenne, Wyoming for $1.00 a day. They lived in a railroad boxcar when they were first married and Mom fixed it up like a real home. She was a fantastic cook as she cooked and was a waitress for many years. They moved to Salt Lake City shortly before I was born and I can remember making many trips to Colorado to visit Grandpa and Mom’s brothers and sisters when I was a young child. Grandmother Thomas passed away when I was only 2 ½ years old so I don’t remember her a lot, but I do remember Grandfather Thomas and he was a great old gentleman. When I was 17, I remember finding out that I was adopted and that my natural mother was actually Mom’s sister Idabell Genevieve Thomas Schneider. Thank heavens they kept me in this great family! Mom worked for J.C. Penneys for many years. Dad worked for P.I.E and was transferred several times during his employment to Cedar City, Iron County, Utah remaining for about a year; then to Rawlins, Wyoming for a year; then to Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. We moved back to Salt Lake City 1960. Mom and Dad lived in Salt Lake till he left P.I.E. around 1968 and they moved to Salina, Utah where Mom continued to work for J.C. Penneys. They then moved to Moab, Utah where they ran a campground on the Colorado River. They moved to Ogden, Utah in the 1970’s where they ran a mobile lhome park. In 1980, they retired and moved to Duchesne, Utah to live on our ranch, which was where they were living when she passed away. Mom was a wonderful wife and mother. Her house was always spotless and her yards were always weed free and colorful. She lived long enough to enjoy her four grandchildren for awhile. We used to go camping and fishing a lot, which she really enjoyed. She loved to travel and loved to visit with peiple. She was a member of the First Methodist Church and the Elks.

Evelyn was born September 18, 1916 in Grand Island, Nebraska. She married Clyde Lewis November 11, 1938. To this union were born six children: Clyde F; Roselee; LeeRoy; Caroline; Janet and Nancy.

Robert was born April 24, 1915 in Grand Island, Nebraska. He married Ruby Houtchens February 2, 1942. Called Bob for short, he was a member of the United States Military during WW II serving in Germany. He was killed on December 4, 1944 not far from where his father, William Thomas, was born near Hamburg, Germany. Robert had two sons: Robert Lee Jr. and Gordon R.

Elizabeth was born February 20, 1919 in Grand Island, Nebraska. She married James Norris October 19, 1938. Elizabeth passed away January 1, 1992 and was laid to rest in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Elizabeth and James are the parents of Ronald James; Jerald Mid; Roger William; Mary Jane; Jenice Elizabeth and Randal Charles.

Idabelle was born June 29, 1920 in Grant, Nebraska. She married Ruben Schneider February 12, 1942.
Ruben was a member of the Armed Forces serving during WWII. Gennevieve worked for Safeway stores for many years and retired from there. As of June 2001, she lives in the Denver Colorado area, and is the only surviving child of Mary Jane and William.

Ralph was born June 23, 1924 in Grant, Nebraska. He married Ruth Weitzel June 29, 1947. Ralph was a member of the Armed Forces serving during WWII. They are the parents of Gary Lee; Larry Dean; Duane Allen and Donald Gene. Ralph passed away October 24, 1978 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Myrl was born November 20, 1911 in Grand Island, Ne and passed away January 28,1977 in Omaha, NE. He married Ellen Gertie Wendt October 25, 1933 in Lincoln, Ne. Ellen was born Septmeber 24, 1912 and died May 22, 2003. Myrl and Ellen are the parents of William Frederick; Donald Keith and Martha Ellen.

          Along with other information, the following remarks are excerpts taken from a paper completed by Myrl's youngest granddaughter, Misty Sue Sallinger, for a college genealogy project.   Misty never had the privilege to know her grandfather but came to know him through her research of his life. Thank you Misty for your contribution to the life story of Myrl Sallinger

     Myrl's mother, Maggie Benson Sallinger, passed away when Myrl was 3 yrs of age and he spent the remainder of his youth living with his Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mary Sallinger. His father William had later remarried and moved to Eaton Colorado. He continued to maintain a relationship with William over the years but his home was with Charlie and Mary and Myrl's children grew up thinking of Charlie and Mary as their grandparents. Myrl graduated from Grand Island Senior High School and moved to Harvard, Nebraska where he met Ellen Wendt at a dance. They were married on October 25, 1933 in Lincoln, NE with Myrl's cousin Wesley Sallinger and Wes's bride to be, Judith Webster witnessing the event. As a result of this marriage, they had three children: William Frederick; Donald Keith and Martha Ellen Sallinger.

     Myrl was drafted into the Army in October of 1943 and served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe during World War II. He was a member of the 29th Infantry Division that hit the beaches in the first wave of the "Battle Of Normandy" on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was a rifle sharpshooter and as a result of being in combat and being fired upon by the enemy, earned the right to wear the"Combat Infantry Badge".   His service to his country ended one night while driving a General Officer to some unknown location. As vehicles traveled with little or no lights, an accident occurred where he was seriously injured and the General Officer killed. Myrl was taken to a hospital and it was only after Ellen had many of her letters returned and many anxious moments that it became known what had happened to Myrl. He returned to the States on September 7, 1945 on the ship USAT E.B. Alexander and was discharged from the Army. On Nov. 6, 1945, Myrl and his family were living at 2022 W. 4th St in Grand Island, NE at which time he received a personal letter from Major General Louis A. Craig wishing him well in his future and giving him the opportunity to make the Army a career which he declined. The injuries he received from the accident would cause health problems later on in his life. Although it was difficult for him in later years to get disability, he was a frequent patient of the Veteran's Hospital in Grand Island and Lincoln.

     After recovery from his injuries and returning to the United States and being discharged from the Army, Myrl worked at odd jobs to support his family. He eventually bought a feed store in Central City, NE where he owned and operated the Supersweet Feed Store until 1962. He than bought Fuss's Grocery Store, a corner grocery store on Vine Street in Grand Island, NE which he operated until he retired. In January of 1977, he was taken to an Omaha, NE hospital because of poor blood circulation in his leg thought to be caused by a blood clot. After surgery, he had an allergic reaction from the oxygen that was administered and placed in an intensive care unit. It was while in intensive care that he died from a massive heart attack caused by severe coronary artery disease on January 28, 1977. His survivors included his wife Ellen; son's Bill and Don and daughter Martha. Also, as of 2003, eleven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He is buried in the Grand Island, NE Cemetery.

Of his many interests, playing pool was probably his greatest way of relaxing and he apparently was very good at it. He was known to be able to jump the cue ball over the ball in front of it and hit the next ball to make his shot.

     Myrl L. Sallinger, 65, of 343 E. Dodge died Friday in an Omaha hospital. Services will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with the Rev. Vernon Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in Grand Island Cemetery. Visitation hours are from 4-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Heart Fund.
     Mr. Sallinger was born November 20, 1911, in Hall County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Sallinger. After his mother died, he was raised by an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sallinger.   He attended schools and grew to manhood in this area. On October 25, 1933, he married Ellen Wendt at Lincoln. The couple lived at Central City and Grand Island where Mr. Sallinger was engaged in business.
He served with the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He retired eight years ago because of ill health. He was a member of the United Methodist Church.
     Survivors include his widow; two sons, Donald of Grand Island and William of Hastings; one daughter, Mrs. Martha Penner of North Platte, and nine grand children.

More about Ellen Wendt Sallinger Cram

Ellen is remembered as a wonderful Mother and Grandmother . She passed away May 22, 2003 in Grand Island, NE. Her obituary follows::

     Ellen G. Sallinger Cram, 90, of Grand Island died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at Tiffany Square Care Center.

     Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev. Vern Rice will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

     Mrs. Cram was born Sept. 24, 1912, at Harvard to Frederick and Gertie (Meester) Wendt. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Myrl Sallinger and Oscar Cram.

     Survivors of the immediate family include two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Ruth Sallinger of Grand Island and Don and Sue Sallinger of Lincoln; a sister-in-law, Freida Wendt of Hastings; three stepsons and two stepdaughters.   Additional survivors include 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

     Mrs. Cram grew up and attended school in Harvard and graduated from Harvard High School in 1931. She married Myrl Sallinger on Oct. 25, 1933, in Lincoln. The couple farmed near Harvard until moving to Grand Island in 1941. The couple moved to Central City in 1956 where they owned and operated the Supersweet Feed Store. They returned to Grand Island in 1962 where they owned and operated Fuss's Grocery Store. She was then employed as the head cook at the Lutheran Hospital. Mr. Sallinger died in 1977.

     She married Oscar Cram on Jan. 28, 1980, in Grand Island. The couple moved to Denver and then returned to Grand Island in 1985.

     She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

     Mrs. Cram was also preceded in death by one daughter, Martha Penner; and two brothers, Henry Wendt and Floyd Wendt.

      Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.