Alfred Eldridge Briggs fifth child of Benjamin and Dorthy Briggs lived beyond them all. A widower of three years Ann Barker Briggs gave him four children, the eldest, Eldon aka Skip preceded him in joining the family in the next life. Steven, Norman and daughter Linda are the remaining family along with 15 Grand children, 22 great grand children and one due in February.1 great, great, Grand child and one more due in February.
Al was born February 1, 1916 with a blizzard blowing around the family farmhouse, on the banks of the Red River of the North in Moorhead, Minnesota. No Doctor was in attendance, only a midwife.
If the condition of one's birth is any indication of how a person weathers through life, it could have been said he would be a hardy, strong man.
He lived his life as a hard worker and contributed to his family, community and country in a big way.
He grew up during the depression on the farm.
Tending cows in the fields, reading anything he could get his hands on. Because he had to run after the cows it made him a fast runner. In school he went out for track and football. He was a star football player.
He worked in a gas station nights, sleeping on a cot. If he wanted to have a night off,he had to pay someone to cover for him. He said it cost him more than he made.
He bussed the children in his town to school in a car for another job.
When his father started the Cass Clay creamery co-op he was there helping recruit farmers and learning to negotiate. He helped lay the foundation of the creamery that is still in operation today, 84 years.
As children Alfred and Brother Herald had cows to enter in the county Fair. His 4H experience was less than his hopes, so he decided farming was not for him and looked for other work. Before he was drafted for WWII he was a brakeman on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
His service to his country brought him to California for flight training at several bases.
He was stationed at the Santa Ana Army Air Base.
On leave he met his wife of 73 years on the Balboa Island ferry going to a USO dance.
Ann and Al saw each other seven times in seven months. He knew she was the one!
He asked her to come to Phoenix, Arizona because he had something he wanted to ask her.
Ann's mother came with her. At a dance out on a balcony under the full moon he asked Ann to be his wife. Ann said he did all the things she had imagined her Beau would do.
They were married February 27,1943 in Marfa Texas.
The wedding was small yet everything fell into place. An organist was at the church rehearsing for another wedding to be held later that day so Ann had all the things needed for a young war bride. Music, maid of honor, the girl who arranged her bouquet agreed to stand up for them. They even had a wedding cake! Al's buddy was best man.
Al went to Europe with a son on the way.
He flew three missions. The one most talked about was when he flew a glider into enemy territory through a smoke screen. He could hear the other planes crashing as he called out to God to help him. (The glider pilot emblem is a G with wings, the glider pilots said the "G" stood for guts.)
He landed with a Jeep and two officers who left immediately. Leaving Al and Co-pilot to walk back to Paris. They had flipped a coin to see who would fly the mission.
Al said he flew every airplane the army had.
He also said he flew all over the world. That statement was made to his daughter at a time when his memory wasn't what it once was.
Let's give him that one anyway.
Al came back from the war a hero.
Ann and his young son there to greet him.
California had few good prospects for him to support his family so they went back to Minnesota where Al resumed working on the railroad and added conductor to the feathers in his cap.
With the plans of his father-in-law, architect Frank Hatch, a home was built by Al and family.Minnesota was home until 1951.
The family of five moved back to California and resided on a half acre in Santa Ana heights. Al missed the farm. The half acre on Birch street became home to birds, sheep and goats. With a garden for food.
There was lots of milk and eggs for Ann to make cakes and pudding with.
The house became too small after daughter Linda arrived so they bought a brand new home in Costa Mesa.
Al worked four jobs to support his family.
While workingsecurity at a dock on Newport harbor, a judge from the Orange County Court gave Al a job. He worked the court, jail and served papers, etc until he retired in 1976. He was honored by the board of supervisors for sixteen years of service..
During those years of working, he became active in the veterans of foreign wars.
He became a life member and made all State Commander of the 2nd district. They sent him to Washington D.C.
Ann and Al were very active in the VFW. They both went through the chairs. Meaning they served in each position to be held until they became leader for a year. They both did this on two levels.
There is the individual post, then again in the 2nd district.
Al was also a part of the Orange county Marshals association. He served as president in the year 1974?
In his retirement years Al found things to do helping people in his community. He enjoyed playing cards and pool. He also had a garden plot in the community garden center.
Al and Ann moved into a mobile homefor a few years then found their retirement home in Laguna woods. They moved there in 1983.
Al missed his family so they became the opposite of the snowbirds and bought lake property in Minnesota where his family had lake cabins. They spent Summers there for many years driving a motor home and visiting other family and friends on the trips to and fro.
In the retirement community of Laguna Woods Al and Ann became active in many clubs.
The wheelers especially was a group they got on with. Motorhome Rallies were a big part of their life. Again they both found themselves in the leadership role.
They traveled to many scenic places. From Canada to Mexico and over to Europe for a tour with their Church choir.
Their twilight years were sweet. Daughter Linda began in 2010 to care for her parents.
Al was very independent and was resistant to her help at first. She won him over by keeping things pretty much the same as when she grew up. The only thing she changed was the quality of the food. She bought organic whenever possible. After about a year they both said they had noticed a difference.
Linda and Al played cards every day until Al could no longer concentrate. It took Linda a year before she could beat her father at wild gin his favorite game.
He never gave her any hints how to play the game. She just had to pay attention.
Al and Ann were in love the whole time.
Linda would make them dinner and for dessert they would sit on the couch together and watch wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy during that time they would have a dish of ice cream or pudding. He would put his are around her or hold her hand you could see how much in love they were. Ann left us in August of2016. It was a 73 year long love affair, can you imagine?
Things changed for Al. He missed his wife.
He went into himself. Linda did her best to keep him present. He was clear yet distant. It seemed he was teaching us all something about just being.
In January of 2017 Al fell and it was decided he needed 24 hour care. Linda put together a team of people to help her maintain her father's way of life. Family and friends pitched in, along with a very special mother and son team, Lynn and Brian Van Over.
The real Al Briggs came out on occasion.
His dry sense of humor was always a topic of interest between the elder guardians. He would sing and recited rhymes. This was how he truly communicated.
His time clock got off, so sometime when he got up from a nap he thought it was time for breakfast.
His favorite meal…. Pancakes or waffles.
Linda made him special recipes that gave him the essentials he needed. Sometimes she would make sweet potato pancakes or spinach pancakes. It was fun to see what he would eat.
Chocolate and syrup were his favorite sweets.
When a 100+ year old says I want waffles and then asks you to scratch his back, that is the ultimate.
Every elder guardian at one time or another said that Al was amazing.
During his last week of being ambulatory he made more of an effort to be present with Linda and her husband Jim.
Al asked the question what shall I do with the rest of my life? Jim quickly responded with "how about starting a business."
Al said "sure."
What kind of business? Jim says.
Al said a shoe business.
Jim: what kind of shoes?
Al: shoe, shoe fly don't bother me.
He got him with that quick Whit and dry sense of humor.
That week Jim brought over a puzzle in hopes that Al would help. One afternoon he came out from his nap and observed the progress, noting that there was quite a bit left to be done. Linda invited him to sit and help. He did and while they were sitting there Al found a piece that fit. He sat and worked on the puzzle while Linda made him a waffle. It was good to see him engaged.
We celebrate this amazing man!
He went home to be with Ann Oct 3, 1:45 am
2019.