It was not until Chris Holm was tapped to take part in the Rosie the Riveter group in West Seattle that she began to share her stories of working at Puget Sound Sheet Metal during WWII. Looking nothing like the muscular riveter that Norman Rockwell pictured on the front of the Saturday Evening Post she nevertheless held her own, first as a bucker, and then as a riveter, using 3/16th ice box rivets on the B-29 bulkhead.

Life in Seattle was exciting when the Trianon Ballroom was filled with sailors who came up from the docks to dance. Most were shipping out right away so she did not link up with anyone until after the war when she and her future husband both worked at Boeing. Duke stopped to give her a ride to work one day and they began to date, going ice skating even though she had never been on skates before, and skiing at Snoqualmie Pass. His marriage proposal was unique. Duke asked her what she did with her money. When she said she saved it, he proposed that when he had saved $1000 and she had saved $500 that they get married, a marriage lasting 46 years. Duke, Chris and her parents drove back to Walnut Grove, Minnesota carrying the satin wedding dress purchased at the Bon Marche for $60, ending a lifetime of hand-me-down clothes. In 1960, Chris and Duke took their three children, Terry, Vicki and Justus to New York on vacation using the trailer which served as their transportation on outings for thirty years.

Looking back at her childhood, Chris remembers living in the made-over Olsen store of Little House on the Prairie fame. Being the youngest of five she reminisces about a special Christmas when she got her first and only doll. Since she could not see the writing on the blackboard at school, the teacher told her father that she needed glasses and that upset him as $10 was a big amount to part with in those days. With money scarce she and her four siblings worked summers during their early years. When she was in the 9th grade she went to live with her grandmother and received five dollars a month to help build the fire in the wood stove, do the laundry, and heat the water.

Chris still lives in the home her husband helped to remodel with one grandson but keeps in touch with her three now grown children, three other grandchildren, one great grandchild and one step great grandchild. Before her husband Duke died she was active in the community with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, teaching Sunday school and playing the organ for ten years at Highland Park Methodist Church. She remains active in tending her garden, canning, and recently completing a glorious quilt tied at the corners of each piece cut from scraps leftover from sewing all her children’s clothes.

After Duke died, she began a friendship with a companion whom she has spent many hours with over the past six years. She remains independent, however, doing all her own yard and housework and is free of arthritis even at age 85. Her winning smile and easy manner is appreciated by neighbors and friends alike. If you bought a WA Women in Trades 2010 Rosie the Riveter calendar you have seen her smile beaming out from the month of October. Recently she and I were honored by each receiving a crystal B-17 medallion at a gala celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the first flight of the B-17. We both danced up a storm and received kisses from the old WWII pilots who wanted to thank us for what we did as Rosies. Chris says she will never forget it. My sentiments too.

Georgie Bright Kunkel is a freelance writer who can be reached at gnkunkel@comcast.net or 206-935-8663.