Frank Greet's life story was among the many papers given to me by my dad. It actually appears to be written to be read at his funeral.
FRANK GREET
Frank Greet was
born October 1, 1885, at Knightsville, Indiana, to George and Elizabeth Ann
Reed Greet.
When very young,
his parents moved to Red Lodge, Montana, where Frank had his first year at
school.
Early in 1891 the
father and his eldest son, Ernest, moved to their homestead on Spring Creek, a
branch of the Nowood River, seven miles south of where Ten Sleep, Wyoming, now
is, and started the spring’s work on their land, while the second brother Will,
and the mother remained at Red Lodge until the end of the school year so Frank
and his twin brother, Fred, could finish their first year at school. They then
joined their father and brother at their new home.
Here Frank and
Fred rode horseback seven miles to the Upper Spring Creek School, or attended
school in the Buchmaster home on Otter Creek or stayed at the Mark Warner home
on the Nowood, and attended school in a cabin on the Mike Lynch ranch east of
the present town of Ten Sleep, depending upon the season of the year, and where
they were having a term of school.
While Frank was a
very young boy the community church at Ten Sleep, the first church building in
the present Washakie county, was built; everyone helped according to his means
and ability. The young boys and their
parents all had a part in this building project, and all were very happy when
the church was completed and all could attend services conducted by ministers
of various faiths, who came to serve them at various times. The church was
placed in the cemetery, and a lot was assigned to each family who assisted with
the building of the church. A lot was assigned to the Greet family, and it is
in this lot that Frank’s remains will be placed today to rest until the
resurrection day.
Their parents died
while the boys were very young, but they carried on until the spring of 1909
when they sold their Spring Creek ranch and bought the 3 Circle ranch from Joe
Henry. This ranch is about twelve
miles further up the Nowood, and is known by the name “Double Crossing,” a
place where teams and wagons had to cross a bend in the creek in two places
before they could go on up country to the south. Here the twins lived and worked the rest of their working
lives, and added to the place as they could, until they had established the
present Greet Brother’s Ranch.
On February 5,
1913, Frank married Edna Pyle. The
wedding took place at the Gus Coleman ranch on Upper Canyon Creek. It is now known as the Marple Ranch.
Life is full of
joys and humor; one occasion of both concerned the marriage license. Since Frank was the first one to apply
for a marriage license in the newly organized county of Washakie, the County
clerk, Eddie Conant, did not charge Frank for the license. He said that anyone brave enough to
apply for a license during those critical times should not have to pay for the
license. Frank often said, in a
joking way, that he could not have gotten married if he had had to pay for that
license.
Four sons and two
daughters were born to this union.
(The children’s names and
residences are listed here.)
When the
Seventh-day Adventist Church was established at Big Trails, the Greet family
became members, and when they moved to Ten Sleep in 1952 Mr. and Mrs. Greet
transferred their membership to the Ten Sleep Seventh-day Adventist church. Frank enjoyed his church
relations. He loved the Bible and
the old religious songs. One of his favorite texts was Isaiah 41:10; which
reads, “Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.” One of his favorite songs was “Whispering Hope”
which will be sung at this service.
Frank was very
happy with his family, a good neighbor, always willing to help anyone who was
in need of assistance, and a good citizen. He commanded the respect of all who
knew him.
Besides he wife
and children, he is survived by his twin brother, Fred, of Worland, Wyoming, 18
grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and several nieces and a nephew.
Services were
conducted by Pastor Richard Stenbakken at the Ten Sleep Seventh-day Adventist
Church on Thursday afternoon, May 25, at two o’clock. Burial was in the Ten
Sleep Community Cemetery, with Veile Mortuary in charge.
