Alice “Lorna” Grieb at 2 years

Alice “Lorna” Grieb was born at home on what is now Todd Lane in Arroyo Grande, California on February 25, 1926, the 7th of nine children (third daughter). In her early childhood she was often ill and missed a lot of school. Her parents often called the family doctor to make home visits. Eventually, she began to thrive and kept up with her 6 brothers quite well. Lorna was a tomboy and loved spending time more with her brothers than her two sisters. She loved to play outdoors and found it to be drudgery to be called into the kitchen for cooking and cleaning tasks. On Saturdays, she hiked, rode horseback to the beach or played in the creek on hot days. She enjoyed outings and camping trips with family. Lorna hated wearing shoes and one of her teachers once sent a note home to her mother saying that if the family couldn’t afford to buy her shoes that she would provide them. Her mother was very embarrassed!

Always the Animal Lover and the Crafter

She loved animals and always had a number of cats as pets. She dressed them in doll clothes, gave them buggy rides and told them all her troubles. You can imagine her consternation when her brother Carl, ever the entrepreneur, sold her new litter of kittens! She learned to sew at an early age (she says 2″“ grade) when she wanted a pair of shorts and took apart an old dress, cut out the shorts and sewed them up. Her mother was quite surprised at her ingenuity. She took knitting lessons in San Luis Obispo at Sinsheimers store and did so well that she was able to teach her mother how to knit also. She excelled in sewing and knitting all of her life. She made dance costumes for several nieces. She sewed beautiful wedding gowns and attendant dresses for her two daughters and a granddaughter and designed quilts and afghans for charity. As a young adult she developed a love of music and art. She took piano lessons and played the cello in the school orchestra. She was always drawing and sketching things in her notebooks.

Teen Years

Early Teen Years

As a teenager she attended dances on Saturday nights at the “rat races” in downtown Arroyo Grande, chaperoned, mostly by brothers Stan and Ted. It was at one of these dances at age 16 that she met Merriam Erickson, an army private stationed at Camp San Luis. They corresponded for several years after he was shipped overseas during World War II.

Lorna graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in June of 1944 and enrolled in San Luis Obispo Junior College majoring in Art.(at the time on the same campus as the San Luis Obispo High School). After a year she asked her parents to allow her to attend Woodbury College in Burbank, CA to further her study of art. Her parents finally approved and it was arranged when Merriam returned to California in 1946. So instead of completing college, she got married. A fact she at times lamented.

Early Married Years

Lorna in her early 20’s

Lorna and Merriam were married in her parent’s home on February 22, 1946. She was just three days shy of her 20th birthday. Merriam was 28. Merriam’s years in the army brought out the wandering spirit in him and throughout their marriage they had many adventures as they moved from place to place —Minnesota, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho. Lorna had two daughters Sandi Marie born July 1947 and Cyndy Jean born April 1954. During their growing up years she was a Camp Fire Girl leader, 4-H leader and church volunteer. Each and every day her life demonstrated how she valued her family. Lorna got her first job after her marriage in Bemidji, Minnesota working as a stock clerk in Woolworth’s. She had many temporary jobs over the years. Many of them seasonal, like picking berries in Oregon. At one time, she had a sewing business doing alterations and once worked in a bakery, which she loved. She was a school cafeteria cook and also a cook in a private treatment facility.

The Products of Her Hands

The best experience my sister and I had observing her work habits and ethics was when she spent many summers working cutting apricots for her dad and her brother Stan. She was a whiz at cutting apricots and cut more boxes by far than any of the other workers. A few years later when her brother Stan put together the apricot cutting machine my mom and Stan’s wife Lois were the first to test it out. It was quite something to see how well my mom did operating the new machine and how pleased her brother was. She was also a terrific worker during the walnut harvest, sorting walnuts as the nuts sped by on the conveyor belt. Her hands turned black from handling the walnut husks. Through the years she managed to improve her skills in various art forms——oil painting, egg tempura, sculpting, embroidery, needlepoint and quilting. She took two commercial art correspondence courses and did well, but the nomadic lifestyle at the time made pursuing a career in that field difficult. She excelled in making bread, pies and soups, winning many blue ribbons at fairs and baking contests. In her early 5O’s she designed and built a house in Atascadero, Ca. It seemed there was nothing she could not do —architecture, carpentry, electrical, plumbing. However, after a short time, she sold the house and moved in with her parents to care for them several years.

Retirement Years

When Merriam retired from Cal Poly in 1980, they moved to Citrus Heights CA to be closer to their two daughters. A short time later they bought property next door to her brother Jim and his wife Frankie in Mountain Ranch, near San Andreas, CA. Over the next year or so she developed blueprints for yet another house. This time a tri-level house with a wrap around deck. The project turned out to be especially challenging. She managed the whole construction project single-handedly as by that time Merriam was ill and developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Merriam’s brother Ole and nephew Ed came out from Minnesota for several months and laid the foundation and framed the house. This project was no easy feat requiring permits and inspection approvals, ordering building supplies, drilling a well and many other details. All this at age 62 while caring for an ailing husband. Eventually, the project was abandoned, the property sold.

Lorna and Merriam moved back to Sacramento and purchased a properly near daughter Sandi. Daughter Cyndy and husband moved in with Lorna and Merriam to be of support. In April 1994, Merriam was placed in an Alzheimer’s care facility where he stayed to the end of his life. After 49+ years of marriage Merriam passed away in 1995. Lorna struggled to heal emotionally from the loss of her husband and physically from a broken hip but continued to excel in all her artistic talents, making many one of a kind gifts for friends and family as well as donating quilts and knitted blankets to charity.

Back to Her Birthplace

Lorna with brother Stan on left and sister-in-law Lois in the middle.

In 2001 she happily moved from Sacramento to Arroyo Grande where she reconnected with friends and church family from years ago. She enjoyed hosting brunches, lunches, Bible Studies in her home. Feeding people delicious homemade food was one of the things she loved best. In 2002, she moved in with daughter Sandi to what is now the Grieb Farmhouse Inn—the original home of her grandparents Katharina and Konrad Grieb on Todd Lane. Always the giver, she preferred to remain in the background, never expecting recognition or acclaim. Her selflessness was a model for everyone who knew her. She always kept busy as a volunteer for the local food closet, Habitat for Humanity and various quilting guilds. She sewed projects for her church including the offering bags and the choir robes. The day was never complete unless she took time for herself to read, complete a crossword puzzle and enjoy a few good cups of hot, green tea. In the end, she was an inspiration to all her family and friends as she struggled daily with various forms of cancer. She never wavered in her faith and gratitude for a life well-lived. It is amazing that she was born and died within a 100 feet of each other. She is buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery with her husband Merriam Erickson and next to her son-in-law Floyd Ferrio. The same cemetery where her grandparents, parents and five siblings are buried. Our family stays together in life and death.

Alice Lorna Grieb Erikson – February 25, 1926 — September 2, 2013 – 87 years, 6 months, 8 days

Written by Sandi Ferrio

Grieb Boys. Carl is second from right.

Leonard “Carl” Grieb was born in Arroyo Grande, California on July 27, 1928. He was the 8 of nine children born to Fred and Gertrude (Haven) Grieb. Growing up in a farming family Carl leaned to work hard at an early age. He is still known and respected for his strong work ethic.  His first memory as a child was of a family trip to Santa Ana to visit his Grandma Haven. Another of his earliest memories was the construction of their new home after the previous one was destroyed by fire. He was tied up so that he wouldn’t interfere with the workers. He cried and screamed so loud the workers asked Grandma and Grandpa to let him go. They said that they would just work around him.

Carl attended 8 years at Orchard Street School. He enjoyed many sports in his youth. He participated in soccer, football, basketball, track and boxing.  He wrestled just for fun, and said that no one could beat him. He has always enjoyed competition.  Carl grew up raising animals, buying, selling, and trading. Chickens, rabbits, dogs, horses and cattle. He says that one time he even traded Lorna’s cat! Add goats, pigs, and just about anything else to that list. He is still wheeling and dealing to this day in 2017 at the age of 89.

In 1939, when he was eleven years old, he received a Kentucky Jack for his birthday. His friends, Bob Runels and his sisters, rode bikes or walked along side as they explored all over the area. He even rode out to the Grieb Ranch to check the Water. He had a lot of freedom. He says that if his chores were done he was free to roam.

Carl attended 4 years at Arroyo Grande High School. The high school was then located at Crown Hill. He graduated in l947 with the assistance of Phyllis Runels and Dorothy Ormonde. Phyllis helped him with his math and Dorothy his English and History. During high school he was on the basketball and boxing teams. His senior year he received a medal for boxing, losing only one match after being injured in football. He was also the senior class vice president. Carl continued to self-educate throughout his entire life by reading about livestock and other interests.

During Carl’s high school years he met Barbara Lucille Decker at a Great Western Livestock show in Los Angeles. He was there with his brother Stan and some other friends. Barbara with there with her step brother Bobby Miller, step sister Shellie and friend Nancie Bragg (Dellagana) from Templeton. After meeting they continued to correspond and they got together monthly in Atascadero for the dances at the Grange Hall. In 1949 Carl proposed to Barbara at Knottsberry Farm. They were married on February 12, 1950 in Los Angeles. Carl was managing a dairy and milking cows in Edna at the time. They made their first home in Edna, moving soon to Santa Maria and then to Templeton, all in the first year. Other than a short time in Santa Maria, Carl has lived his entire life in San Luis Obispo County.

Carl and Barbara added three daughters to their family during their years on the dairy that they bought in Templeton. Wynetta, Margie and Connie were all born in Paso Robles between 1951 and 1954. Carl burned the candle at both ends managing their dairy, milking cows, hunting with his coon hounds and riding and roping with friends. Barbara kept busy taking care of the home and the girls. Carl continued the family tradition of putting the children to work at a young age.

In 1956 Carl, Barbara and girls moved to Arroyo Grande. Carl drove truck for a few years and the family lived in town.  In 1958 Carl and Barbara bought a dairy in Oso Flaco. Carl once again owned and operated a dairy with his wife, a hired hand and girls to support him. He also continued to hunt during this time.  After a few years Carl and Barbara sold the dairy and Carl went to work milking cows for the Macagna Dairy in Oso Flaco. He moved his family to the edge of the Nipomo Mesa for about a year.

In 1960 Carl Went to Work for Engle and Gray in Santa Maria. The family moved back to Arroyo Grande. Carl worked for Engle and Gray for the next 25 years. During that time he drove truck, Worked as an oiler on the crane and was the crane operator for many years.  He was an excellent oiler and operator. He accomplished many things that most people would not even attempt.

During the years that Carl worked for Engle and Gray he also raised beef cattle and drop calves from the local dairy. He leased several pieces of land and ranches for grazing. He helped friends gather and brand their cattle as well. He also continued to hunt with his coon hounds and enjoyed raising chickens.

In 1966 Carl and Barbara purchased 10 acres on Huasna Road just out of Arroyo Grande. They moved the family back to the country.  In 1969 they bought the upper part of the Grieb Ranch, the “high hills”, from Grandma and Grandpa Grieb. They did not move at that time. In 1974 they bought 18 acres on Lopez Drive between the ranch and town. Then in 1975 they were able to purchase the property where they currently reside. They initially lived in the little house that Uncle Teddy had put on the property. In 1976 they built the house that they live in now. Margie and Wynetta and their families also lived on the property.  Connie and Stan were living in Illinois at the time. Connie and Stan returned to Arroyo Grande and moved to the ranch in 1979. At that time our entire family was living on the same property.

Carl and Barbara have moved many times during their 66 years of marriage.  Carl usually planted fruit and walnut trees wherever they lived. Barbara made their house a home and was a devoted and loving wife and mother.  She was the glue that held the family together. They always welcomed others into their home and were very generous with everything they had.  Carl provided well for his family and continues to do so.

Carl leading pack horses across the creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, on the west side of the Sierra Nevada, California

Carl traveled with his family on three vacations. The first was a trip up the California coast to Oregon and the others were to the Midwest to see Barbara’s relatives in Iowa. They visited several national parks and had wonderful family time. He also took his wife and children, as well as his grandchildren and many other friends and family on pack trips to locations on the California coast, to the Sisqoc River and several places in the Sierras. He made several other trips out of state at various times hunting, transporting livestock and visiting friends and relatives.  In 1969 Carl took a motorcycle trip to Mexico with friends and in 1986 traveled to Japan with Barbara to visit with friends there. He has traveled a lot in his life, but he’s always in a hurry to get home. There’s no place like home!

Carl retired from Engle and Gray in 1985. He continued to live on the ranch and leased other ranches as well. He raised cattle, helped others with their cattle, team penned, took hunting trips and pack trips. He bought, sold, and provided cattle for The Brush Poppers for team penning and sorting. He won the team penning championship one year. He enjoyed several years penning and sorting, traveling to various locations with family and friends.

Carl always has good working dogs and good horses. He enjoys the challenge of finding and gathering wild cattle that others can’t round up. He’s known and appreciated for his special skills, tough horses and cow dogs. All of his children and grandchildren learn a lot working with him. He also has several “adopted” daughters brought into his “family” over the years. He is a true cowboy.

At the market with Grandson, Great-grandson and Summer Intern. Summer 2017

At 75 years of age, Carl began a new chapter of his life. He started raising and selling meat goats on the ranch.  He later added cattle, pigs and chickens to his sales. At nearly 89, he still works the ranch everyday.  He buys and sells goats, pigs, cattle and chickens. He can still be seen driving the streets of the area, and the roads of California and Oregon, in his white truck pulling his old White stock trailer. That trailer must have over a million miles on it. You can only imagine how many miles Carl has traveled over the years walking, riding horseback, riding a motorcycle, driving the tractor or the RTV  Kabota. Even though he likes to rest a spell, read and relax, he hasn’t let any grass grow under his feet. He has been an example to all of his family of what it means to be a Grieb.

Currently Carl and Barbara have 4 generations living on the ranch. Connie and Stan have continued to live there and have come alongside Carl. They have enabled and supported him in his latest ventures. Connie has enlisted help from everyone on the ranch, as well as many others.  The legacy of Carl Grieb will live on for many generations.

Jimmy with sister Claire.

Growing up in the Grieb Family was always something I felt was a special gift. Even if you were not actually born into the family there was always a place for you around the table or where ever the family gathered.

Hearing a particular story once while sitting with a woman reporter who interviewed Grandma and Grandpa for a newspaper article, I remember them telling a story: During the Great Depression someone stole a pig from the ranch and years later they received a letter of apology and the repayment of the pig in cash. Since they had long forgotten the hog being stolen, and they had not reported the theft to the authorities, they were both tickled by the outcome.

Jimmy with neighbor Sue.

My Dad James Grieb is the youngest of the nine Grieb children. He was born when Grandma was over 40 and she had not planned to have anymore children. Grandpa, who was over 50, wanted one more baby and so she agreed saying, “Fred, he is going to be your child to take care of,” so he agreed. James was Grandpa’s constant companion only to also to be watched carefully by his sister Lorna (Alice) Grieb Erickson and tormented by big brother Carl.

James was the only child born in the Spanish style stucco house in September 1932. The previous homestead had burnt down.

James served in the Navy from about 1949 until 1956. His travels had him serving from San Diego, California in the Pacific, to Hawaii, to Japan and back to San Diego during the Korean War. When he returned home he planned to marry our Mom, Joan Marie Brown. He had previously fallen head over heels in love with her when she was 13 and cutting apricots for a summer. They would be married July 17, 1957. They had three children: Marla Marie, Sue Ellen and Mark Allan Grieb.

Later Dad would drive truck in the oil fields in Santa Maria, California. From there he and his wife Frankie Jean Griffith built a home in Mountain Ranch, California, where they lived for nearly 20 years. After retiring, they sold their home and relocated to Rocky Point, Oregon where they currently live next door to cousin Dean Grieb.

Story info provided by Marla Lowman, Jimmy’s daughter.

Silas the seventh generation made it to the Grieb Farmhouse Inn to celebrate Thanksgiving. We were blessed to have 5 generations represented at the original homestead for Thanksgiving this year.

Before our bountiful meal members of the family read parts of Psalm 100.  A psalm of giving thanks:

1. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his.  We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Sandi prayed a Thanksgiving prayer,

“Lord, We feel so blessed to have been given such a wonderful family.  We ask that our roots would be deep in your love.  Fill our hearts, friendships and homes with your truth and forgiveness. We thank you for each person, for their unique qualities and special characters.  Watch over each one and keep them safe, fill their lives with your goodness, inspire their hearts to follow you, bless the work of their hands, and weave us all closer together.  Thank you for this food you have faithfully provided.  Amen”

Born in Arroyo Grande on December 7, 1920 in a little Cottage behind the Grieb Farmhouse, she was the 5^th or middle child of Fred and Gertrude Grieb’s 9 children.

Growing up, Claire was tall, thin, quiet and loved to read.  Once a week her mother would take her to the library to get several books to read during the week.  A good book and a pile of crackers made for the perfect bedtime until Grandma would yell out, “For heaven’s sake Claire, TURN OUT THAT LIGHT!”  She would read all night if she could.

Claire Loves the Outdoors

She loved camping and fishing and anything out of doors.  One of her favorite places to camp was Yosemite.  She remembers that her mother would always select camp site 14 as it was close to everything.  Her dad would string a tarp from tree to tree to make a little Grieb fortress and a little privacy. The family would sleep under the stars.  While there she enjoyed fishing and hiking and just plain being out of doors.

Favorite Memory of Growing up in Arroyo Grande

A fond memory of home is a place across the creek and down a little way towards the old Farmhouse where Grandpa had set up a picnic area.  Uncle Art built a barbeque pit and would sometimes put a small dam across the creek to make a little swimming hole for the kids to play in.  Family and friends were always invited to come bring their Sunday meal and join in the fun.  This was always a good time to catch up with what was going on around town.

Grandma Grieb would make deviled eggs – one of Claire’s favorite things to eat and still is.  Olives are also a favorite as she would sneak a can from the kitchen once in a while and go outside and eat the whole can of them all by herself.  When Grandma went to get olives for her potato salad, or her famous “More”, and found there weren’t any, she always knew Claire took them.  Grandma Grieb just knew everything.

Once in a while Grandpa would want to take a drive out to Huasna. Grandma and Grandpa would ask if anyone wanted to go along.  Claire always said yes as she loved going for rides and still does.  It worked out great for both Grandpa and Claire as she was the one to open and close the cattle gates.  She loved it.  Grandma also liked going to the beach once in a while and Claire usually was the one to go with her.  She would never turn down an adventure away from home.  They both enjoyed the cool air.

Claire’s Role in the Grieb Family

For some reason she was chosen chief bottle washer (dishwasher) for the family of 11.  What a chore for one person to wash and dry all those dishes and pots and pans alone.  Brother Stanley would take pity on her once in a while and would dry for her.  If she didn’t get the counter where she put the clean dishes washed off before starting, Stanley would sometimes jokingly put a clean dish or two that was put on that counter back in the dirty dish pile for her to wash again, telling her it wasn’t clean.  What a prankster.  She wasn’t too happy about that.  One day she thought that if she snuck out and left the dishes that someone else would do them.  Nope, they were there waiting for her when she got back.  She didn’t try that again.

Education, Marriage and Raising a Family

Claire graduated from Arroyo Grande High School and went on to attend Cuesta College.  After attending for a few months, she met her future husband Sterling Sorenson.

March 17, 1941 Claire married Sterling and had 4 children, John, Bill, Sterling Jr., and Theresa.  Not working outside of the house other than a few seasonal jobs raising her children was her main priority.

Sorenson Home 1950: Theresa, Bill, John, Sterling Jr.

Claire and family moved a lot and everywhere they moved was her favorite place to live as it was always a new adventure.  Growing up in Arroyo Grande was the place she loved the most though.

We don’t have a wedding picture of her and Sterling.  This is one of the last pictures we have of her and Sterling together taken in late 2000 or early 2001.  They were married 60 years.  Sterling passed away July 25, 2001.

She and Sterling had a garden no matter where they lived always growing plenty to feed the big family for months to come.  Canning and freezing  what they couldn’t eat fresh to feed the family throughout the year.

Claire as a Great Grandmother

Claire has 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren with a few step  grandchildren as well.  She lost her oldest son John in 2012 and Grandson Sterling Keith in 2015.

From January to April 2015 she spent time in Montana with daughter Theresa waiting for her latest little great grandson to come.  Evan came 6 weeks early as momma had complications. Momma spent 3 or 4 months in the Missoula, Montana hospital 2 hrs away from home in Helena to save her and baby. The day Evan was born there was a blizzard on MacDonald Pass in Montana, The drive to Missoula from Helena was not passable until the next day.  Snow is beautiful but it sure can raise havoc when driving. What a great adventure Theresa and Claire had driving through the snow the next day for nearly 3 hrs to see him. What a little thing he was.

Claire, Always Ready for an Adventure

As a child she never dreamed that she would ever be traveling and in later years was very fortunate to have traveled all over Europe and Scandinavia. In addition, for almost a year, she and Sterling lived in Ballerup, Denmark.  She has seen much of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska both of which she loves and has traveled to many times.  She has also been to Japan to visit grandson & family that lived and worked there for a while.  At 95+ she is still always ready for another adventure.

Bio submitted by Theresa Blasquez