Page 1 of 14 
 
Washington Women’s Heritage Project records, 1900-2000 
University of Washington Libraries Special Collections 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand 
April 29, 1986 
Cassette 2, Side 2 
 
 
Robert L. Reed  00:05 
Your mother died in 1947.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  00:09 
Yes. 
 
Robert L. Reed  00:09 
Did that have a terrific impact on you? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  00:14 
Well, yes, it was, because we were very close, and we-- she lived nearby, and we saw each other 
very often. But she became ill. I think she had sort of an accident which she didn't make much 
of. She fell on the street one day, sidewalk, didn't say anything about it. But it was shortly after 
that that she began to have a condition-- a heart condition also. And she was-- she died in her 
own home, and the children all made it home in time to be with her, excepting the one brother 
who was a druggist back East. He didn't make it soon enough because he was so terribly busy at 
that time, and he regretted it after a while. Of course, we did too, but it was one of those things. 
Of course, we missed her. 
 
Robert L. Reed  01:08 
After the children all left home, what did you and Mr. Brand do to fill the time? What happened? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  01:18 
Well, when the children left home, naturally, they began to have children of their own, and I 
spent quite a bit of time with each one every time one of the babies was born. I loved it, and it 
relieved them to know that I was here. But when it was convenient, or when we could do it, we 
would take trips. We would drive along the coast and the beaches and, oh, some of these-- Long 
Beach and Seaside and up around the peninsula. And they're all special-- extra trips. And we 
drove down to California once and stayed a couple of weeks with my sister. And then we drove 
up into Cali--California-- Victoria. And then later on, we took trips with some of these travel 
tours. I remember we used to go with the Inquisitor Club, and it was a-- he was a very nice man, 
but gradually, things went to pieces. They went broke. So then others turned up and kept right on 
going with other ones. 
Page 2 of 14 
 
 
Robert L. Reed  02:32 
Did you become involved in any other activities around home that maybe you had done before 
with people your own age? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  02:44 
You mean after [crosstalk]?  
 
Robert L. Reed  02:45 
Well, any-- 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  02:47 
Oh, yes, I became a member of the senior-- Wallingford senior group. 
 
Robert L. Reed  02:51 
That was when Mr. Brand was still around? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  02:54 
No, just after. No, I was with him all the time because he was not well. And all we did then was 
to visit at our children's homes or take little-- short, little walks. Actually, we spent most of our 
time going to the doctor, to the [?oculist?], to, you know, everything that pertained to his health. 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:13 
But this started at what time?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  03:16 
This started-- let me see. 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:19 
[Crosstalk] was sick-- 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  03:19 
We were [crosstalk] seven years, and he died in 1973. 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:24 
So about 1966 he became-- 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  03:26 
About that time, just about that time. 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:31 
And did it almost confine him to the home?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  03:35 
Yes, it did. 
 
Page 3 of 14 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:38 
Did that mean... Well, of course, it meant a lot more responsibilities on your part?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  03:43 
Well, yes, it did, but he was in and out of the hospital so many times. That kept me busy going 
back and forth. But I would not leave him alone in a hospital, so I spent the entire day with him 
until he came home. 
 
Robert L. Reed  03:57 
Did that create any problems for you? Like with many women who probably would not know 
how to handle the finances of the house and pay the bills and all that?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  04:07 
No, no. 
 
Robert L. Reed  04:08 
You were already [crosstalk]. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  04:09 
We always worked together on paying bills. I knew what to pay and what didn't need to-- what 
could wait. No, that didn't bother me, but it was just having him away and losing him. But-- that 
was very hard. 
 
Robert L. Reed  04:29 
So for the past 11 years or so, you have been living as a single person?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  04:35 
Yes, entirely. He was the only one, the one and only. But when I-- then a couple of my neighbors 
said-- they-- I met them, and I said, "Come on over to the Wallingford Senior Center." I wasn't at 
all interested. I didn't want to. I had such a feeling of loss for so many years, I didn't want to 
mingle. But that was the best thing I could have done, don't you see? So finally, I took my 
courage and I went and I-- for many years I went. I became very, you know, involved in their 
activities. They would have their regular bazaars, and I loved to knit things and tat things and 
crochet things and donate them. And I loved to sell them. We [?were?] selling. Occasionally, 
they would ask me to play the piano, and I always felt complimented, because by doing so, I felt 
I still had something to give. And I was getting older. I was about-- I kept on till I was about 90, 
over 90, years old, and then it-- those few blocks were too much for me to walk, so I skipped 
many a meeting. They would call me to find out, "When am I coming? When am I coming?" I 
said, "Well, as soon as I feel up to it I will." But I have very many happy times there. In fact, I 
still go occasionally. My son came home today, so he'll take me tomorrow and then pick me up 
and bring me home. It's a wonderful break in the monotony when you can't do other things. Even 
going on a bus would be too difficult, getting up those steps, you know, and walking around is 
very tiring, so I kind of live for those occasions. Go to church every Sunday, some friends pick 
me up and take me if my children aren't nearby. And I do all my own work. I had a woman who 
helped me for eight years, and then she had an accident and broke her ankle, so I could never 
Page 4 of 14 
 
find one to replace her. It's very difficult to find someone that'll do the things that you want them 
to do. 
 
Robert L. Reed  06:51 
I don't remember if I asked you, what sort of work does George did?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  06:58 
Same as his father. Both salesmen. 
 
Robert L. Reed  07:02 
I wondered if his father had an influence on him. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  07:07 
Yeah, I think so, because when they were going to school, he'd work a day for him, and that kind 
of seller, they loved to meet people.  
 
Robert L. Reed  07:18 
And where is he now? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  07:21 
Well, Philip, Philip the oldest-- oh, George, I should talk about. Philip is retired. George is 
partially retired, but he works here and there and [inaudible]. 
 
Robert L. Reed  07:31 
In Seattle?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  07:31 
In Seattle. 
 
Robert L. Reed  07:40 
My impression is that you had a very little conflict in the family. [?You'd?] have many 
arguments, or just...? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  07:47 
No, we-- I don't believe in [inaudible]. I don't believe in getting overexcited with children or with 
husband. We would talk it over, and then we just thought, "Well, I think your dad-- I think your 
daddy was right," I'd say. "I think your daddy-- you better do what your daddy says." 
 
Robert L. Reed  08:25 
Do you-- or, any time after the children left home did you occasionally have family reunions, try 
to get the whole bunch in?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  08:33 
Oh, yes, oh, yes, we do.  
 
Robert L. Reed  08:34 
Page 5 of 14 
 
Christmas? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  08:35 
Oh, especially Christmas. Easter and Mother's Day, we're going trying to get together on 
Mother's Day, because my daughter's up from Honolulu, we have to have her, because I never 
know when we'll get together again. But she's in, as I told you, in California now. She's meeting 
all her old friends where she was Pastoral Minister Assistant at Virginia Mason hospital. She 
spent a whole day visiting all her friends and the doctors and people who worked with her. They 
had a lovely time. Must have been interesting. Said, "You go and have a good time. I can't go 
with you." I was invited to go along, but I just didn't go along. 
 
Robert L. Reed  09:26 
You've had a very-- you are having a very interesting life, and looking back at it, what do you 
consider probably the most exciting period, time? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  09:32 
He was lenient. He was sort of a quiet, reserved person. But when-- my youngest daughter said, 
"But when he looked at me, I knew what he meant." [Laughs] He was very stern, but he didn't 
show it any bad way. 
 
Robert L. Reed  09:39 
So you attempt to use reason rather than just laying down the law? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  09:42 
Well, with my children and my husband. We were always busy. I can't pick out any particular 
thing. The Christmases, especially with the children, and their school, when they'd have plays or 
entertainments, or when they had their part on the stage, it was rather thrilling. Contributed with 
little acts and little dramas or whatever they played. The sisters prepared them. No, it was all 
thrilling, really. In fact, the most thrilling part about getting married at all is when you find the 
right party and the challenge of growing together, doing things together, harmonizing together, 
and just being happy. There are times that-- this isn't always happy. This isn't always-- we went 
through all the children's illnesses, broken bones and illnesses, and whatever anyone could think 
about. But you roll over that. That's past. My youngest boy was so ill with scarlet fever at one 
time, the rest of the children had to get out and find a place to stay with friends. We were 
quarantined. So that was kind of one of the bad times. But other than that, no, I don't point out 
any bad times. They were all good. 
 
Robert L. Reed  11:15 
You have told me about many of your activities, like at the Senior Center, at the church. Did you 
ever belong to any women's clubs or political clubs or...? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  11:28 
Not political clubs, but I would study the issue very thoroughly, and I would vote. And it was my 
husband who always said, "Don't forget to vote!" He never missed a voting. You know, that is 
remarkable for a man from another country to come here, become a citizen, and be so happy 
Page 6 of 14 
 
about being a citizen, he would remind his children, "It's voting day." They would sometimes 
forget. He said, "You should be happy you have a chance to vote." It's a privilege, really. 
 
Robert L. Reed  12:04 
Do you have contact with any of his relatives now? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  12:08 
Well, most of them have passed away. They're all his age. He was the youngest of 13. 
 
Robert L. Reed  12:13 
Were some of them actually in this country?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  12:15 
Some of them came to visit, some of the younger ones. One of his-- I think, a nephew's son, who 
has a lovely restaurant in Frankfurt, in fact, one of the nicest ones there. Many of the movie stars, 
when they go to Frankfurt, they go to his restaurant. So he has a standing invitation to me, 
anytime you want to come..." He calls me "aunt." I'm not really "aunt." I'm some relation, but I 
don't know how. "You can stay as long as you like." So I wrote [inaudible], I said, "I now am 
nearly 90." He wrote back, "Well, I'm waiting till you're 100 and then I'll come and see you." 
[Laughs] He's a very nice boy. Two of them, in fact, came at different times to visit my husband. 
Of course, he was the youngest. There weren't too many left of his family.  
 
Robert L. Reed  13:22 
Well, this is skipping around a little bit, but let's back up a little. When you first came to Seattle, 
it was just before the big fair here, wasn't it? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  13:34 
Yes.  
 
Robert L. Reed  13:34 
Do you remember that? Can you tell me about it? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  13:37 
Well, that is the one, the AYP, that was the big fair. People were looking forward to it. People 
were coming from all over the country to the fair. It was really exciting. And as I told you about, 
we would often go to visit and certain things would stand out, like the [inaudible] and these huge 
buildings that showed things from all over the world. That was all new to us. We were 
Easterners, see? We had never seen an Indian. Our friends back East told us, "There's nothing but 
Indians there," and another thing, "and they don't even grow decent potatoes. They're half 
rotten." You know, we were afraid, my little sister and I, we were afraid to come here. We 
thought, "Oh my, we love potatoes." But it all turned out, you know, not to be true. So we wrote 
back and told them, "Very happy here." And things worked out very well. There's always a few 
ups and downs. Life was not supposed to be just perfect, you know? We have to make it so. 
 
Robert L. Reed  14:43 
And you have one brother who is still back in Minnesota, is that right? 
Page 7 of 14 
 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  14:48 
He passed away.  
 
Robert L. Reed  14:49 
Oh. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  14:49 
Yeah. The only one living of our family is my sister Ruth and myself, and she's 10 years younger 
than I am, but you wouldn't think it. She's bowling. She's a professional artist. She works up at... 
She's a pianist. She studied in New York. She plays the organ. She never had any children. I 
always tell her, "Well, you never had a family. You had time to do those things." But she came 
up to see me [?the last I visited?]. We were snowed in. Couldn't go anywheres. She made a little 
dinner for ourselves at the table here. We had a nice time. 
 
Robert L. Reed  15:35 
What effect do you remember that this Yukon fair had on this community, Wallingford, which 
was pretty close to [crosstalk]? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  15:44 
Well, it opened it up and there was more building going on, and people were coming in and 
settling. There were more buildings going on downtown, more businesses going. It really did an 
awful lot. I think that's what made Seattle come alive, really. 
 
Robert L. Reed  16:00 
Did they start paving the streets around here? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  16:02 
Yes, they paved the streets and they were wider. Of course, we'd always had electric lights. We 
always had the streetcars. But there was a lot of improvement, just paving, cleaning up, avoiding 
all this nuisance in the summertime, better garbage collection, although he had the horses for a 
long time. My little boy used to follow the horses and the garbage truck. And I'd look for him 
and I said, "Why do you follow it?" He said, "I like the horses, because one day I'm going to be a 
garbage man because I like the horses." That was my youngest boy, George. I remind him of it 
now, sometimes.  
 
Robert L. Reed  16:45 
He never made it.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  16:46 
No. [?He will laugh?]. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  16:57 
[Tape noises] This house that we live in now and have lived in since 1918 was actually one of 
the better homes. The others were very old, or new ones were being built. I know my neighbors 
would come and say, "Oh, you've got hardwood floors," or, "You have a full basement," or, 
Page 8 of 14 
 
"You have room for rooms upstairs." They marveled because they didn't have that. So I felt quite 
complimented, and we were very happy about that. When we had-- our children grew and grew 
and our family grew, we had two rooms, a finished upstairs. There was a room and there was 
steps going up. So that worked out very well. 
 
Robert L. Reed  17:40 
It's a nice house. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  17:42 
It is. I'm happy here. Of course, I would like to have remodeled it or modernized it in this way; I 
may do it yet. I would like to have the sink and the cooking section remodeled, but the man who 
wanted to do it for me -- and it would have cost me a fortune -- he said, "I would put your sink in 
the kitchen window." I said, "Oh no, forget about it. I'll keep what I have, because I want to look 
out of the window." You know, I have lot of pleasure just sitting here in the morning, eating my 
breakfast. I see people coming and going and they're going to work, and it's strange, they have to 
stop for a cup of coffee to take with them to work. [Laughs] I tell my sons, "Why couldn't they 
have that coffee at home?" [Laughs] But it's a new age. It's a new people, entirely new. 
 
Robert L. Reed  18:37 
How do you adjust to the new age and the new people and the...? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  18:44 
I adjust very well. I don't have to do the things they're doing, but I look on and if they are happy, 
well, that's fine with me. But one thing I don't like is these little children out at night till midnight 
on the streets, going to the store, running for some milk or some bread. Now, I would never trust 
my children out in this day. Maybe in 50 or 60 years ago, it wouldn't have bothered me that 
much to go across the street. We kept our doors unlocked. I didn't even have keys in those days. 
They were lost. But now I bolt everything twice, and I don't answer the door unless I know who's 
there. It is a different world. 
 
Robert L. Reed  19:30 
It's a different age, certainly, when you didn't lock the doors. I know we never did in our home. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  19:34 
Uh-huh. And now I don't know my neighbors, because they come and they go, and when they're 
here, they're all working. The wife and the husband, all working. In my day, when I was growing 
up, it was a disgrace for a woman to work. The only women that worked were widows or young 
girls before they were married. 
 
Robert L. Reed  19:55 
But [inaudible]-- a person like your mother, who was a milliner...?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  20:03 
Yeah, but that was different. 
 
Robert L. Reed  20:08 
Page 9 of 14 
 
Different profession.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  20:09 
That was in her home. She didn't have to go out, because in those days, you walked, took the 
bus, and Lord knows how far you had to go. That's different. 
 
Robert L. Reed  20:16 
You mentioned once before that Mr. Brand was acquainted with Rosellini, who used to be 
governor of the state?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  20:25 
Oh, yes.  
 
Robert L. Reed  20:25 
Will you tell me about that? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  20:27 
Yeah, he's still living, Rosellini. The thing is, when my husband was in the meat business, Mr. 
Rosellini worked there in order to earn enough money to go to college. So he was so diligent and 
spent so much time studying every minute, my husband once remarked to him, "If you keep on 
like that, you're going to be governor one day." Now, isn't that strange? And he turned out to be 
governor. 
 
Robert L. Reed  20:55 
He owes it all to Mr. Brand [laughs].  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  20:57 
Yeah, well, because he studied so diligently and he worked so hard to get the tuition. His parents 
couldn't afford to send him to college. He had a couple of brothers, too, you know, and they all 
needed to have a good education. That's what they wanted.  
 
Robert L. Reed  21:14 
And wasn't there some kind of a plaque or certificate that the governor gave to Mr. Brand? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  21:25 
Well, he gave my husband-- I think the time we had our 50th anniversary, he sent him a 
congratulatory note, and he remembered. 
 
Robert L. Reed  21:39 
The 50th anniversary was a big occasion for you. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  21:42 
Oh, yes, my daughter gave it at her home. They were living in the Broadway area at that time. 
She had a beautiful, big home there. And we had a lot of people that knew my husband. I had a 
lot of friends, too, but I think most of them came on account of my husband, because they met 
him in a business way. And of course, that was good. He enjoyed it. And one of them remarked, 
Page 10 of 14 
 
"Well, this is the youngest looking 50-year-old people I have ever seen!" See, we were married 
in 1914 and this-- that was in '64, 1964. Was that during the Exposition here, the World's Fair 
here? It was '6-- yeah, '62, it was. I know. I remember now, because one of my grandchildren 
was born during that year.  
 
Robert L. Reed  22:34 
Now, tell me a little bit about your grandchildren. Where are they and whose children are they?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  22:39 
Well, the way it is nowadays, the parents are living in Honolulu. They're all grown. The one is in 
California. She was-- the daughter was in the Army, mind you, for about several years, and she 
studied-- 
 
Robert L. Reed  22:58 
Now, the ones that you're talking about are children--  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:02 
Of my children. The youngest--  
 
Robert L. Reed  23:04 
--of your--  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:04 
Of my youngest daughter.  
 
Robert L. Reed  23:05 
Your daughter... 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:07 
Joan. 
 
Robert L. Reed  23:07 
Joan, who's in Honolulu? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:10 
Yeah. 
 
Robert L. Reed  23:10 
And one of them was in the army? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:13 
Yes. 
 
Robert L. Reed  23:13 
Which one? 
 
Page 11 of 14 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:14 
And she was back East and stationed in the Azores for a while, and she came back. And she was 
on TV once, she was steering a huge boat or barge or whatever. I thought to myself, "That's a 
terrible place for a girl to be."  
 
Robert L. Reed  23:34 
What's her name? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:35 
Susan. And anyway, she was asked by the captain, "How do you like this [inaudible]?" "Oh," she 
says, "I love it, even when I'm not on the ship or a boat and I stand and look at it, I'm thrilled." 
And she had red hair, and there were just glistening in the sun. 
 
Robert L. Reed  23:52 
What's her last name, or maybe she--? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:54 
Landkamer. Joan's name is Landkamer. 
 
Robert L. Reed  23:55 
Landkamer.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  23:56 
Mm-hmm. I'll get that down. And Lise, Lise is a computer expert.  
 
Robert L. Reed  24:03 
It's another daughter of Joan? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  24:04 
That's hers, Lise, I've mentioned hers. And she was top of her class at University of Washington, 
so she has a very good position. And then John, the oldest son, he's not only a musician, but he is 
now studying-- I don't know what they call it, but it's some computer work and mathematics. 
You know, you got a 4.0 in one of the most difficult mathematic courses they have at University 
of Washington? I'm just flabbergasted. My daughter is, too, because she was good, but he's plus 
better. Now, the youngest son, I think he takes after my sons [laughs]. He went through college, I 
mean, high school, very well, Bl-- no, which high school? I think it was Roosevelt, I think. And 
he decided he did not want to go to college. Well, he's been playing around for a while, trying 
this and that and the next thing. Do you know he does glassworks now? He sent 1000 pieces of 
handmade glass articles to Honolulu. He has agencies in different places along the Western 
Coast. He goes to Bellingham. He is -- I'll show you a picture of him later on -- in the newspaper 
with the kind of work he does. So he's happy doing that. But he told me, "Grandma, I know I 
can't do this indefinitely. It's very hard on the eyes." So I said, "Well, now is the time to think 
about something more serious." Said, "Well, I'm thinking about it." So that's Mark. So they're all 
getting along very well. 
 
Robert L. Reed  25:44 
Page 12 of 14 
 
That's four grandchildren, all from Joan.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  25:47 
Yep.  
 
Robert L. Reed  25:48 
Are there others? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  25:49 
George has two children. The little girl is the oldest, Mary Anne. She is now in doing banking in 
Bellevue and studying at the same time. She's advancing in it, and she's very nice, sweet girl. 
And her brother, Michael, is another [laughs]... He's just shopping around. He had-- he was 
working for Lucky's. He had charge of the fruits and vegetable department of that. So we have-- 
I've got all kinds. 
 
Robert L. Reed  26:24 
You're not a great-grandmother yet.  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  26:26 
No. I should be-- 
 
Robert L. Reed  26:28 
That will come. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  26:29 
--but that's the way it is when you have career children, they don't marry young. I think my 
oldest daughter-- my second oldest daughter, Ruth, I think she was 24, I think, when she got 
married. 
 
Robert L. Reed  26:43 
Do you really have regrets that they don't marry young?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  26:46 
No, it's whatever they want to do. Of course, I'd have more grandchildren, but that's up to them. 
It isn't easy having babies, you know, and raising them. But then my oldest daughter, Ruth, she 
has one son, and he's doing very well. And I can't tell you what he's doing. He was at the safety 
building for a while. It isn't insurance. I asked him, "What are you really doing?" And he 
explained it to me. You know, I've forgotten. But he's been at-- he's advanced. He has a beautiful 
home. His yards look more like a millionaire's yards. Bringing him flowers, he has a garden of 
doing it. But I have no complaint. If they're happy, I'm happy. That's seven, seven grandchildren. 
 
Robert L. Reed  27:41 
Can you think of anything that we haven't covered that we should at this moment? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  27:46 
Page 13 of 14 
 
No, not really. Not really, because a lot of things happen, but what would be important to me 
would probably not be important to you or anybody else. 
 
Robert L. Reed  28:00 
Well, we're really talking about things that are important to you, because it's your life. So is there 
any occasions that you think of?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  28:10 
Well, my boys were Boy Scouts. My youngest daughter was in the Girl Scout movement, and-- 
for a while, while they were going to school. And that was-- it was a learning experience for 
them, because it took them out on hikes. They had to do for themselves, cook for themselves. 
And I was happy about that. It would-- made them a little more independent. 
 
Robert L. Reed  28:35 
Did you and Mr. Brand ever develop interests that were separate, where, like, he would want to 
go fishing and you would go to a sewing circle or something like that?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  28:43 
No, we always timed it so we'd go together, what was the common denominator. And I seldom 
went to anything else but my-- except in church work. But he would be also there, because we 
had our little socials every-- once a week at church, and we would go together there, but there 
were some groups were working the afternoon where he couldn't go, and then I would take 
advantage of it and I would go. But I love to sew. That's one of my hobbies. I love to sew. In 
fact, I made all of our children's clothes, everything, until they were-- well, I don't know how old 
they were. I still made my daughters' party dresses and their coats and their jackets, and knit, 
crocheted. I love to do it. It's tiring, but I love to do it. 
 
Robert L. Reed  29:42 
And you've done interesting handicraft material. You had some stuff at the Puyallup Fair? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  29:49 
Oh, yes, that was beach work, beach craft, driftwood, driftwood and shells.  
 
Robert L. Reed  29:50 
You won ribbons?  
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  29:50 
Yeah, I won a couple of them. Now, I made things for the bazaars, in different places at the 
church and at the senior citizen place. Well, I'm the kind of person who can't sit still, so I have to 
have something in my hands to do it. And I love to practice my piano! I love to practice! Now, I 
think it's more for therapy, quite a bit for therapy, because it helps my hands. And after all, when 
you get to be nearly 92, you have to have something going for you, and I feel that I've done that. 
I'm really with it yet.  
 
Robert L. Reed  30:36 
Do you have close friends around the neighborhood that you drop back and forth now? 
Page 14 of 14 
 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  30:39 
No, it's only the senior center and with my children.  
 
Robert L. Reed  30:41 
That's the story [?all over the place?]. 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  30:47 
Roosevelt all passed away. And they-- the ones that could come have no way of coming. They 
don't feel capable, you know. The long walk... It isn't that long. But for us, it's a long ways, don't 
you see? 
 
Robert L. Reed  31:06 
I know how you must feel at 94 because I feel that way at 71. You sometimes feel lonesome at 
the top there? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  31:14 
Many times, many times, but I try to forget it then. Now, I get deep into something and forget 
about it. I'll take up a book, or, as I say, I'll practice the piano, or maybe I'll take up a little 
handwork. One cannot sit and be lonely. That's the worst thing you can do. I've read somewheres 
that loneliness causes more deaths among the elderly than their illness, because they can't cope 
with it alone. You've got to learn to cope and say, "That's the way it is. I can't change it, so I 
might as well accept it." 
 
Robert L. Reed  31:38 
Do you do much reading? 
 
Esther Gertrude Garske Brand  31:43 
I do a lot of reading, all kinds of reading. I like mystery stories and I like-- 
 