Genealogy is an Obsession: April 2013

One of the very favorite and influential people in my entire life was my Aunt Tootsie, officially known as Myrtle Vivian Enger, born April 27, 1916 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the youngest child of my paternal grandparents Edward and Hannah Larson Enger. My father, William D. "Bill" Enger was her oldest brother, 16 years older to be exact.

I wrote about Vivian before and some of the struggles she had in life as a victim of polio (Blog 7--Enger Kids, Vivian and Stanley: Bad Things Happen to Good People." ) Sadly for me, but not for her, Vivian passed away in August of 2011 at the age of 95 having accomplished a long and successful career as Nobles County Clerk of Court, a loving 64-year marriage to Clarence Erbes, and a wonderful family of son Steve and his wife Jo, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

I wrote the following tribute to her at Christmas in 2008 after spending a week with her and my cousin Steve at her home in Worthington, Minnesota, helping her sort out her massive supply of family photos and family history papers.

Rest in Peace Aunt Tootsie. You are forever implanted in my memory and in my heart! I hope to be with you again someday, and you can sing Froggie Went A Courtin' for me one more time!

My Aunt Tootsie

By Dianne Sonia Enger Snell December, 2008

It’s hard for me to know where to start when asked to write my thoughts about my Aunt Tootsie. Oh yes, I know her name is Vivian—or technically “Myrtle Vivian”—but to me she’s Tootsie. That is the way I have always known her, and when I say always, I mean she has ALWAYS been in my life.

I was born in Worthington, Minnesota on November 27, 1939, when Tootsie was still Vivian Enger. She gave me my first doll named “Sugar Plum” which I still have in my memory trunk. She has a slightly smashed head, but I don’t remember the story behind that. Tootsie would probably remember.

My cousin Janet and I were the flower girls when Tootsie married Clarence Erbes on October 4, 1942. She always told me that I got bored right in the middle of the ceremony and said, “Come on, Gigi, let’s go write on the blackboard.”

I was the youngest of the Enger grandchildren back then. I also lived the closest to Toots and Clarence in Worthington so Tootsie spoiled me rotten when I was little. She would sing to me, read to me, rub my back, and tell me stories. When my parents would go out of town I would get to stay with them on McMillan Street and I would sleep with Grandma Hannah. Grandma was a great story-teller and I loved to listen to her stories of the “olden days” when my Daddy was a little boy. I couldn’t imagine that, as he already had grey hair when I was born!

One time I was staying with them and my dog Tippy ran away so I cried and cried and Clarence went out looking for her for hours. She finally came home on her own. Another time, Toots asked Clarence to pick me up after school and when he came I didn’t want to go home with him—I wanted to go to my friend’s house. Clarence said, “NO”, because he didn’t have time to come and pick my up again later. I wouldn’t get in the car so he threw me in the back seat and took me to the house. I was really mad at him for a while, but later on Toots found me sitting on his lap.

Steve was born when I was seven and that was a big red-letter-day in my life. Actually, I think I had mixed feelings about it. I was really excited to have a baby cousin and I bragged about him to all my friends. On the other hand I was a little jealous as I thought Tootsie would quit spoiling me! However, that didn’t happen. I was still her little girl! I do have to admit that Steve is pretty great guy!

When I was thirteen years old and after our lumber yard burned, my Dad announced that we were moving to our farm in Mora, Minnesota—250 miles away! That was one of the saddest times in my life, having to leave my house, my school, my friends, and especially Toots and Clarence and Grandma. We would still visit once or twice a year and they would come to the farm, too, but it just wasn’t the same.

After I married and moved to Wyoming, Colorado, and then Washington and had my own family the visits “home” to Worthington became few and far between, but the bond between me and my Aunt Tootsie always remained close in my heart.

One of the most special times together was just this last November when I was able to come and stay with her and Steve for five days in her house and spend the time going through family photos and memories. I learned even more about her then than I ever knew, and she was even able to sing all 13 verses of “Froggie Went A- Courtin'” for me so I could write them down. I will always cherish those days!

Merry Christmas, Aunt Tootsie, and I love you!!