Hilda Marie Black memoir

Consists of an autobiography entitled “Memoirs of Hilda Black” written in 1965 for a creative writing class as a member of Puyallup Senior Citizens. The folder also has an obituary and memorial message for Hilda and two news clippings about an “Old Timers” gathering. Hilda won first place for her costume, which she had fashioned over thirty years ago for the first Ezra Meeker celebration.

Biographical Note

Hilda Marie Black was born on 31 August 1884 in Red River, North Dakota, and died in 1972. She was the oldest child of John and Sarah Sand. She was confirmed in 1899 and was hired out at age eighteen in 1902 for housework on farms. She used her earnings for tuition to attend Aakers Business College in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Here she waited tables to pay for room and board.

After graduating she got a job as a stenographer. Then on 20 August 1910 she married William Black in Minot, North Dakota. They moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and then on to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, where their son Sidney was born in 1914. During the War they moved to Havre, Montana, where Hilda’s family had moved.

In 1918 they moved to Tacoma, Washington, and later to Puyallup where they tried berry farming and raised chickens. They later started a plumbing business and did that until 1956 when her husband had a stroke. Hilda was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and was active in church and community organizations.