Ricketts List of Names

List of Individuals

The Hiker

Yes, we are a family of hikers. Where we came from walking, running or hiking was a way of life and necessity. There are so many stories, too many...its hard to stay focused on just one.

My dad, Russell Heiderman, grew up on a farm next to Lothery Creek in Ripley County, Indiana. (Ok, that is probably not spelled correctly, however, I will change the spelling as soon as I find out the correct one.)
He said the Creek was a way of travel for him from very early childhood. He walked it, he fished it, he hunted it and he ice skated to school on it in the winter time. Russell said he escaped to the creek as any youngster did in the summertime to find quick relief from the summer's hot sun and hummidity. Being a lad growing up on a farm didn't leave much time for that, but providing fish for the table was always kindly looked upon.

Dad knew that walking was not only pleasurable but healthy. So, it wasn't unusual for him to walk at least two miles daily even the day before he fell to Heaven...that's another story.

Russell & Vaina Lee Heiderman 1954

Russell, my dad, once said to me, "Your mom is my buddy, my wife, my friend...as well as my life."

They entered into their life together at the age of 17.
Through all the hard times, as well as the good, we five girls never heard them quarrel. Later in our lives, we laughed when we all recalled the same thing
...sometimes things would become very quiet and Mom would look around towards Dad and calmly and without changing her expression, "Russell, June is coming." (It was upon this remembrance that we all came to realize that was Mom's way of telling Dad to straighten up his act before June arrived and we all took off to Grandparents house for a summer vacation.) Dad would grunt and walk out to the barn, "to take care of the animals".

Many many times when we would walk into a room where they were talking, Dad would be sitting close to Mom and looking straight into her face softly talking about who knows what. They never looked up or moved or loss focus of each other at those times and we would all silently acknowledge their 'moment' and walk away without interruption.

This, then, is what 40 years together looks like. Wow!

Ricketts Family Tree

Ethel E. Ricketts b. 1894 - d. 1966, was my father's mother. She was married 1913 to Clifford H. Heiderman for fifty-three years. They had two sons; Russell b. 1914 and Roy b. 1920. Ethel was a twin to sister, Edith Ricketts. She was a quiet and shy woman and never had her photo taken except once to my knowledge. That photo has been misplaced, I hope not permanently. She was born, married, died (cause: uterine cancer) and is buried in Ripley County, Indiana.

Happy New Year...2009

I, like many others, am waiting with high hopes and anticipation for the Obama Inaugeration. This economy has effected our family, our two sons have jobs to look for in the new year. We are very optimistic though, because our family has known worse times.

My father and mother had many stories to tell of the depression years and I lived through the war years with them. Some of my earliest memories are of the radio addresses by our Presidents in those years. Also, the newsreels at the movies were bigger than life and very impressive.

After almost two decades of hardship for many, the 'dream time' in America began. We had survived those years and were making a new life. I feel like I was one of the lucky ones to have been in my 'prime' years during the best of times. I was born to an amazing mother and father, and had been raised in old fashion ways with old fashion morals and they have served me well.

Yes, we look forward to 2009, because we can, we will prevail.

Family Tree

The Cole Family - Family Tree for Cole, Seymour, Palmer, Tucker, MILAM, Turner and 84 other surnames.