Recollections about Great-Grandpa Crom and my Sister Donna Beck
by Mary Jane Beck Larsen
         
After Great-Grandmother Crom died, Great-Grandpa Crom used to come to the 
Frank Beck Farm and help at the Roadside Market.  Donna liked to be with her 
Great-Grandfather, but at that time he walked with a cane, due to an early hip
injury.  She loved him so much that she would try to help him walk up the hill 
to the house, or just around the yard.  She would hang on to his hand and walk 
very slowly and watch out for him all the way.  I'm sure the slow speed was 
completely foreign to a little girl of about eight years who was so full of 
energy and playful.  But this was Donna's way of showing her affection and 
concern for her Great-Grandfather.
         
"Tiny Finger Prints"
         
When Donna was pre-school age, my mother, Ella Mae Beck, needed to help 
my father, Maynard Beck.  Often they would take Donna to Elsie to stay with 
Great-Grandpa, and Aunt Pearl.  Great-Grandpa Crom said she was so small boned 
and tiny that she reminded him of his oldest daughter, Edna Crom, 
(my grandmother).  When Donna would put her fingers on the glass windows, 
leading to the sunporch, no one was allowed to wash the finger prints off. 
Great-Grandpa would forbid anyone washing those finger prints off, 
as he wanted to preserve them, he thought they were so cute.