| Notes |
- Woodrow (Bink) and Thelma (Bassett) Pearman F326
Thelma was born in Kearney, Nebraska October 16, 1922 to Frank and Maude Bassett and grew up in southwest Hooker County with her two sisters, Dorothy 1921 and Jean 1928 and a brother Ray 1918. They lived in the same area until 1949 when they moved a short distance east. Thelma attended school in the Eclipse School (near Hamonda) the first 2 years then to the Ballard School to the east except for 2 years she attended school in Mullen. The Bassett children rode horseback to school, also to pick up their mail three times a week at the school. Thelma started to high school in 1937 but times were hard so she and Dorothy dropped out in December staying out the remainder of that year and all of the next. They then started again in 1939 and Dorothy graduated in 1941 with Thelma graduating in 1943 from Tryon where she transferred the last few months of her senior year. She met Bink in 1940 and they dated until he went to the Army in March 1942, he came home on furlough in November 1942 and they were married in hyannis in a double ceremony with Bud Edelman and Marjorie David. Bink returned to the Army and Thelma went to school and graduated. She spent the summer in Gering, Nebraska with Arthur and Frances Comstock, uncle and aunt and her cousin Leola. She applied for a rural school in southwest Scotts Bluff County and remained there to teach.
Bink went overseas to Germany in the early spring of 1944 and when school was out Thelma returned to Mullen. She applied for a school in Hooker County and taught the McPherson School staying with Ray and Myrlte Reigle in 1944-'45. When school was out she went to Hastings where her mother and sister Jean were working in a defense plant. The war ended in August 1945 and they returned to Mullen. Thelma taught the Furrow School that fall and she and Jean lived in a trailer near the school.
Bink returned home from Germany in October and he joined them at the trailer. Thelma resigned at Christmas time (by preagreement with the school board) and they moved to the A.J. Gragg place where they had employment. Jean continued to stay with them.
Wilson Ray was born in August 1946 and 1949, Bink and Thelma moved from Graggs and leased the Ireton land from Frank Bassett. They lived there for 1 year and then went back to Graggs in 1950. Franklin Don was born in October 1951. They bought the E.R. Sexton property 3 1/2 miles south of Mullen in 1952 and moved there in May 1953 to enable Ray to attend school. A school bus, driven by Jack Maire, picked the boys up all through their school years.
In 1960 or '61 Thelma began working as a "domestic engineer" 3 to 5 days a week and continued for about 15 years. When the packing plant opened up south of Mullen, she did their laundry for a time.
In 1960 Bink began working of the Cherry County Road Department and continued until 1985. During this time Thelma took care of the cattle and most of the chores around the place.
Ray graduated from high school in 1965 and went into the Navy for four yaers.
Don graduated from high school in 1970 and entered VecTech at Milford to study Auto Mechanics in 1971. Ray also entered just one school quarter after Don. Don graduated in June 1972 and Ray in October 1972. Don returned to Mullen to work and Ray went to Gothenburg to work in a garage.
Ray was married to Lana Olson in June 1972 and Don married Susan Hansen in May 1975. Angela Dawn was born to Ray and Lana June 5, 1976, Riley James December 4, 1980 and Traci Jo October 4, 1983. Ray and Lana moved from Gothenburg to Arnold in 1979 and purchased a garage.
Don and Sue built a house near Bink and Thelma's in 1976. Rae Ann was born to them on July 16, 1981 and Melissa Sue, November 30, 1986.
Bink had open heart surgery in August 1986 and has enjoyed good health since. Bink and Thelma buy a few calves each fall and sell them as yearlings the following fall. In 1987 the steers weighed and average 1036 pounds without any grain, a goal they have been seeking for sometime. They keep busy raising a garden and caring for their place now, but most of all enjoying their grandchildren.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
