Miona C. Ausmus

A Celebration of life for lifelong Lamar resident, Miona C. Ausmus was held at 10:00AM on Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Lamar Christian Church with Ray Matteson officiating. Interment followed at Fairmount Cemetery.

Visitation was held on Thursday, July 8, 2010 from 1:00 PM until 7:00PM at the Peacock Family Chapel.

Miona was born on February 26, 1923 at Lamar, Colorado to Karl Welhelm and Katheryn (Idler) Reyher and passed away on July 7, 2010 at Prowers Medical Center at the age of 87.

 She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother; Wilbur Reyher.

Miona is survived by her husband; Vivian Ausmus of the family home in Lamar, sons; Monte (Carol) Ausmus, Gregory Ausmus, and Rodney (Debbie) Ausmus all of Lamar, grandchildren; Alicia (Kevin) Ridder, Tara (Eloy) Orozco, Bethany (Jeff) Schultz, Lydia Ausmus, Amy Ausmus and Sara Ausmus, and great-grandchildren; Malea Orozco, Brandon Orozco, and Alexa Ridder. She is also survived by her sister-in-law; Rachel Reyher of Greeley, Colorado as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lamar Christian Church and/or Alzheimer’s Association either direct or in care of the funeral home office.

Excerpts of memories Miona wrote in February of 1995

I attended elementary school at the Cactus View country school near Wiley. The school building was made of limestone rock that had two rooms and each room had an entrance and a coat room. The children either walked or rode horseback to and from.

Special childhood memories: My dad had a deep well drilled that we sold and delivered water (drinking). We worked in the hay fields and fed thousands of sheep in the winter time. I drove the stacker team, raked hay, bucked hay, mowed hay, hoed in the garden, milked the family cow, carried wood, coal and cobs to keep house warm. I helped with dishes and house work. Practiced my piano lesson and on Saturday rode my horse “Teddy” to Wiley to Mary Wilson’s house for a lesson. Our family usually went to Wiley on Saturday nights to buy groceries, visit with our friends. I usually bought a 1cent lolly-pop or a 5 cent milk nickel bar. Sometimes they treated all the people to an out-door movie.

Graduated with 14 classmates from Wiley with the class of 1941. One summer I played violin in the string orchestra. Received a music letter for four years of music. I was honored to model my dress that I made in Homemaking in competition in Pueblo , CO .

Fads of the time: Saddle shoes, ringlet hair styles, bobby soxs, boys wore white soxs, “Gone With The Wind”, book and movie, slumber parties, World War II. Traveling on the school bus to and from ball games singing 1930’s and 1940 songs; “Alexandra’s Ragtime Band”, “Home on the Range”, “She’ll be Comin Around the Mountain”.

I had a clerk’s employment with A.L. Duckwalls. I advanced to clerk and cashier for two years when I moved to San Diego , CA to be with my husband Vivian Ausmus who had been drafted in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater with Japan . I worked at Woolworth in San Diego until Vivian was discharged from the Navy. We came home on the train to Lamar and resumed farming.

Vivian and I courted for 2 ½ years, World War II going strong and we thought Vivian would be drafted. We did marry and Vivian was drafted before we celebrated our first anniversary. What attracted me to my husband: He was skinny with red wavy hair and smoked. He had a sporty Ford two seated car that would burn tractor gas. Car gas was rationed along with many other things.

We were married on April 19, 1944 at Garden City, Kansas . I wore a two piece silk blue dress with a frilly white collar. With a blue pill box hat and black cardboard shoes. First home: We lived in a four room house at Kornman where Vivian farmed the Guttridge farm.

Special memories: Our three sons were always the light of our lives. God has blessed our lives with many beautiful events.

We have attended the Lamar Christian Church for 46 years. I liked homemaking, neat home, cooking, canning, baking, sewing, beautiful yard of flowers, gardening, write history, play the piano and making music.

A Special Message to You

I have lived three score and twelve years (written in 1995). My life has been simple and rewarding, and I am not seeking glory in anything I have written. Never have I desired to be famous or notorious, just a humble lady. God has blessed me so richly of which I am so thankful. I have always tried to live honestly seeking goals of an honorable life. God’s word in Galatians 5:22 tells us to follow the Spirit that produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We must try and never tire of doing good.

In the memories of my life, I find life has not been easy, but never have I been burdened with more than I could bear. Many times I have grumbled and complained, but as I look back my faith was tested and my life became more beautiful and more meaningful.

I have a wonderful and caring husband for fifty one years. Our three sons have been a joy and a blessing and added so much to our lives, along with their wives and our granddaughters. Life has been so good and great with much love. At this time I have more than I ever dreamed of in life.

I so much enjoy God’s beautiful world and all His creation. Like beautiful sunrise and sunsets, the twinkle of the stars at night along with the moon in full light. The awe-some beauty of the flowers, green fields, nature growing after the rain; beauty of the plains, of the birds, animals, butterflies. The beauty of rain and snow clouds, fog; falling moisture; rainbows.

There is so much praise to God as he watches over us and provides for all our needs. One day I pray to meet my God and my Lord and say Thank You.

“This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118;24