Christmas Past

Visiting Oma

Treasured moments with a treasured Oma

Harold's Adventure in Painting

 

More of Opa's art work can be seen by clicking on the page (Harold's Art Work) just under the family picture at top. His adventures in painting included the care for several years of painting Grady Gammage auditorium at ASU in Tempe. After he retired he was responsible for staining all the woodwork in the Pine, Arizona Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In addition he did numerous paintings that he gave as gifts. Seen in this blog are just a few of his works.

More Birthday Celebration

What a beautiful day for a birthday celebration!
A few of Oma's loved ones arrived for a KFC lunch and it was party time while Zach entertained.

Oma, Dessie, Mom - You are treasured and loved!!

Celebration

Dessie celebrating her birthday with her son, Marty

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Opa's Treasures

Opa's Art Work

These are a few of Opa, Harold Bielefeldt's art work that various family and friends have in their homes.
They are rare, one of a kind, and are truly a treasured legacy.
Please send me a comment or email with photo attachment of any other art work so it can be included here.

Oma is a Blessing to Family

Family Easter Party was more special with Oma!

Oma's Rabbit for Jared

When Jared was a little boy, Oma made him an Easter Bunny, which he so dearly loved for many years. The carrot in the holster has lost it's green top, but it's still in quite good condition as his mother only let him play with it at Easter time. Jared loved sewing with Oma. On Halloween he liked to design a costume and have her help him sew it up. He was given a sewing machine for Christmas at about age 16 and had great fun sewing costumes for him and his buddies. Thank you Oma for your patience and dedication to a little boy's hobby.

Happy Birthday Dessie

91 year old Dessie enjoyed a birthday supper with her three children -

lots of laughter and memories were shared.
Happy Birthday to a remarkable and creative woman who gives so much love and fun to her family.

Elegent Oma

What a delight to have Oma over for chicken and dumplings (Beth's recipe).
Oma explained that her mother's dumplings were made by rolling out the biscuit dough
and cutting them in squares instead of as biscuit drops.
Oma Dessie is looking forward to the new year as she is feeling grateful and hopeful
and enjoying being a very young and totally elegant 90.
Her son Marty is dapper as usual!

Halloween from the Past

Is it Frankenstein?
Don't be scared Little Orphan Annie........

 

 

Awwww.......................

 So dramatic - so regal - so fierce! Such fun!!

Remembering Joethel - A Pie Party

Oma Dessie gathered her family together to celebrate her mother, Ethel White Chesley's 116th birthday on September 21. This was a special time to honor her promise made to her "Daddy Joe" many years ago to write his story. Dessie chose to celebrate with her mother's favorite birthday dessert - lemon meringue and also chocolate pies. Everyone enjoyed a homemade lemon pie made by Amy and homemade chocolate pies made by Beth as well as a variety of other delicious pies. The family group attending included Oma's 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Amy & Mike led us all in singing "Love's Old Sweet Song", a favorite of Grandma and Grandpa Chesley. Oma shared some sweet thoughts about her parents and presented each of her children and grandchildren with a published copy of her memories of her parents. This special book contained some memories and poems written by her parents as well as many family photos taken through the years, beginning in the late 1800's.

Love's Old Sweet Song

Story of Grandma & Grandpa Joe is at the publisher thanks to Dessie's beautifully written memories - a few in Grandpa's own words - and several journal entries written by Grandma.

Celebrating Oma's 90th Birthday Party

A party to remember for 90 year old Dessie Chesley Bielefeldt!
Grandson-in-law, David Miller serving apricot filled carrot cake

A special time to reminisce and visit with cousins, Jan and Denna

What a delight - a gift from Oma to her family - her story published!

We can't help laughing when we are around Oma - She's the best, most creative and funnest Oma in the world! We all love and cherish our memories with her!

Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gather to honor our dear Oma/Mom

All the children had such fun playing on the "Harry Potter",
as 4 year oldAllie Nunley calls the teeter totter.

Yummy crockpot beans (refried style), cilantro-lime rice, Mexican shredded roast, Trader Joe's flour tortillas, chips, salad, Beth's homemade salsa, Hanne's homemade guacamole, Amy's yummy cookies, and much more. Thanks to all who made this a fiesta to remember!

Happy Birthday Dessie

You have always been loved and you will always be loved and treasured!
Thank you from one and all for blessing our lives!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DESSIE

Happy 90th Birthday Dessie/Mom/Oma
to an incredibly gifted and creative women!

Wow! 90 years of blessing the lives of others! From the moment your parents received you with joy to the moments you received your children with joy to the moments your grandchildren brought joy into your life. Your children and grandchildren all join together in wishing you continued joy.

America - the Destiny of the Harold Bielefeldt Family

Coming to America - Harold Left His Beloved GermanyHarold Found His Beloved Dessie in Tempe, Arizona
Harold would entertain his family all their life with stories of his life in Germany, of his hardships as well as his adventures, his life as a soccer player, a ship builder and his activity in his church and his experiences of gathering food during the dark depression. He was captivated by his darling Dessie. He married her, then went off to war as an American soldier to fight against his homeland. While he lay wounded in the hospital, his first child was born. He arrived home at Christmas to greet the little guy who was the center of all the family. Harold and Dessie built 3 homes during their many years together and raised three beautiful children that they dearly loved.

The posterity of Oma and Opa dearly love them and feel they have been blessed with a rich heritage of storytelling, creativity, love of life, love of family, artistic ability, love of the beauties of nature, family traditions and many other things.

KIDS AND GRANDKIDS - THE JOY OF OMA AND OPA

Dessie is always happiest with grandkids on her lap and with plenty of noise and activity and pagentry going on with her family.


Opa's great desire was that his family would be united - he tolerated the confusion with great patience. Family was his priority.




















































Every child and grandchild has been welcomed with love and laughter. How Dessie loves the visits of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She still has toys and a cute yard for kids to play in. She has 14 grandchildren and more than 30 great grandchildren.

Dessie and her kids reunion

On September 13, 2008 Dessie and her kids held their first annual sibling and Mom reunion in Star Valley at Marty's cabin. They made the one and a half hour trip early in the morning while Annethel gave valuable information about the rock formations along the way and they all discussed the intriguing scenery found in Arizona.They all discussed many scientific and geological pieces of information interwoven with jokes and reminiscing about the olden times.

Upon arrival at the cabin, everyone breathed deeply of the cool, fresh mountain air and said, "Let's stay here forever." (maybe that's a little exaggeration) Anyway we all had a walk and enjoyed a delicious lunch of ham and turkey sandwiches with very gooey brownies. Sugar and Spice frolicked and enjoyed barking at the neighbor dog, Hummer, and at anything that moved (like a leaf). No one was interested in a nap - it was way too interesting to swing, walk, look for Elk (none appeared), listen for coyotes and talk about the many events of past, present and future along with hopes, plans and dreams. The stream that Jared and his buddies and the grandchildren had built with soldiers guarding their many forts had totally vanished in the summer storms. None of us was brave enough to try the zip line or ride the dragon or take the hike through the national forest that the kids took in July. Even so we still had a fun time.

The evening was spent eating yummy homemade beef burritos and bean tostados (with more gooey brownies) and playing a game called "Reminiscence" until almost midnight. No one was interested in watching any of the numerous and fun DVD's we have for entertainment. Finally everyone crashed, but arose early to a pancake breakfast eaten out under trees of the "enchanted forest" as the grandchildren call it.

We had intended to leave after breakfast, but it was too beautiful and pleasant and we finally managed to peal Frank out of the glider swing and tear Annethel and Dessie away from the beauties of the forest and Marty away from his gardening and barn to load back up into the van and head on down to the valley late in the afternoon. Hopefully, this was the first of many sibling and Mom reunions to come.