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

Ted Grieb with his brother, Connie

Teddy was born April 19, 1918 at home in Arroyo Grande, Ca, the 4^th child, 3^rd son, to Fred and Gertrude Grieb.

The Grieb Boys: Ted, Jim, Fred Sr., Stan, Art, Carl and Connie

He was a quiet and reserved boy growing up and worked with his father and brothers on the Grieb Ranch.  He loved animals, going horseback riding and spending time outdoors.  He had a good sense of humor and at times played practical jokes.

Teddy was known for his hunting skills.  Every year he would go deer hunting and bring back a deer.  His mother would use some of the meat for roasts and stews, but a lot of it was used to make venison jerky.  The meat was prepared with salt and red pepper, strung on string and hung on the clothesline to dry.  Once in a while he would bring home enough quail to feed the whole family.

Fishing was also a favorite activity for Ted-salmon, rockfish, clams and abalone.  Anything he brought home was cleaned and prepared for his mother to cook.

He completed 3 years of high school before he dropped out in 1936 to work full time.  He was a hard worker.  At one time, he was employed by Sheila Varian to tend her Arabian horses.  He also worked on several ranches, doing general farm and ranch work.

On December 7, 1941, Teddy was driving up the coast to go abalone diving with brother Carl and friend Bob Sewell, when he heard on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed.  On February 21, 1942, at age 24, Teddy enlisted in the Army for the duration of the war.  He was first stationed at the Presidio of Monterey, Ca.  His sister Claire loved to correspond with him and he always wrote her back.

He was shipped overseas and served on the front lines in the South Pacific.  He experienced horrific and unspeakable things in Papua, New Guinea.  He went into battle with 200 men and was one of 19 to survive.  In his own troop, he was the only survivor. Severely wounded, he spent many months in the hospital.  To make matters worse, he contracted malaria due to the wet and humid conditions on the island.

His family did not think they would ever see him again.  When he did come home, he was severely traumatized and filled with shrapnel.  The shrapnel worked out of his head and neck for the rest of his life.  His daughter Kathy kept his army uniform and eventually donated it to the Veteran’s Center in Fresno.  For many years after the war, Ted would spend time with his army buddies.

In 1948-49 he owned a property in the Oak Park area.  He lived in a small house and rented the larger house to friends Bob and Dorothy Sewell.

On June 23, 1952, he married Doris Mallory.  His dad, Fred bought two motel units and moved them to the ranch property and put them together as housing for him and his family.  He had four children, Kathy 1953, Robert 1954, Floyd 1955 and Larry 1957.

While residing on the ranch, he supported his family by working in a rock quarry, selling flagstone.  He made a good living as he sold good quality flagstone accomplishing the work equivalent of four or five men in one day.

Ted was a loving father.  Kathy recalls that he would read to her and taught her to read chapter books.  He gave her Strawberry Roan which she has kept and treasured all these years.  She also said Ted was willing to sit down and talk to his kids about their problems and figure out the answers.

Ted with his daughter, Kathy

In later years, Ted lived near his daughter Kathy and babysat his granddaughters.  He fed them when they came home from school and helped them with their homework.  He was very kind and loving.  Kathy’s’ family was heartbroken when in 1996 he moved to Yuma, AZ and bought a mobile home near his son Robert.

Ted lived the rest of his life in Yuma, fishing and hunting and spending his time outdoors.  He would occasionally visit his brother Carl and other family members in Arroyo Grande.

He died at his home on July 24, 2004.  He is buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery next to his father and mother Fred and Gertrude Grieb.  He was a good man who will always be missed by his family.

Contributed by Kathy Martin, Claire Sorenson, Carl and Barbara Grieb and Sandi Ferrio