The Kidder Newsletter, part 3

The Family Tie, April 1967, Vol. 3, No. 4

  "Helen Kidder, daughter and first child of Benjamin & Kathryn Kidder was born April 22, 1909 in Nehalem, Ore. a small lumber town near Astoria, Ore.  Just three weeks prior to her birth her parents left Chicago by train to join Frank Whitaker, uncle to Benjamin Kidder and a brother-in-law of Daniel Dwight Kidder, Ben's father.  Frank Whitaker was a lumber cruiser and owner of some valuable timber land.
   A son, Arthur B. Kidder was born Oct. 20, 1910 but he survived only six weeks.  Another son, Warren C. Kidder was born Jan. 5. 1913.  Four years later Ben Kidder died of pneumonia.  Helen was only eight years of age and Warren only four years old when their young widowed mother had to go to work to support the family.  Finances were limited but the family never went hungry.  Most people in the neighborhood could afford little more than the necessities of life and the Kidder family ate and dressed as well as most and better than some.  The Kidders were happy and contented even thought they didn't have modern plumbing for a number of years and couldn't afford a telephone or an auto.
   Helen was always quite serious minded and a good student.  She graduated from grade school in 1923, and Lewis & Clark High School in 1927.  She attended business college after which she did office work until her marriage to Walter Grosch on July 14, 1929.
   Helen's first child, Richard, was born Nov. 7, 1931 and her daughter, Doris, was born Aug. 30, 1933.  Helen's interest have centered mainly on her family and her church.  She is a very good cook.  She cans vegetables and fruits in the summer and puts up all kinds of jams & jellies.  At Christmas time she bakes all sorts of Christmas cookies & candies.  She also enjoys sewing.  When Doris was a little girl Helen sewed many doll dresses for her dolls.  Her family spends the summer weekends at different lakes in the area on picnics. The winter months find the family ice skating together.
   Helen & her husband, Walter, built their lake cabin at Priest Lake, Idaho starting in 1950.  They worked side by side on this project until it was completed.  Electricity was not available at the time of building and every board was sawed by hand.
   Helen's two children are both married.  She has four grandchildren of whom she is very proud.  Richard & his wife, Shirley are parents of Sharon, Richard Jr. and Susie.  Doris and her husband, Bill Palmer are parents of a daughter, Janet.
   Helen is The Family Tie reporter for the Kidder Clan in Spokane.  She does an excellent job of reporting and the editor and Staff are very appreciative of her news which arrives promptly on the 25th day of each month."