[Grace Johansen had technical difficulties getting us this week’s “Did You Know.” We fill in for her with a photo and information from a column titled “Grace Johansen’s homespun holidays,” about Johansen’s childhood Christmases, written by Sandy Long for the December 7, 2006 River Reporter.]

This photo shows the Behling family gathered for the holidays during Grace’s childhood. Seated at the organ is Grace’s mother, Ruth Behling. Behind her is Grace’s grandmother, Emma Marold. Back row, left to right, are family members Ruth, Cathy, Bob, Grace, Alma, Betsy and Grace’s father, J. Frank Behling.

Much of Grace’s childhood took place during the Great Depression. She recalls that once, meeting the challenge of a particularly strained year, her mother drew upon her resourcefulness by gathering up her daughters’ dolls, scrubbing them clean, washing and starching their clothing and reapplying makeup to their faces. She lined the “new” dolls along a shelf and when the four girls entered the room, they found a glowing Christmas tree surrounded by shiny dolls. “It was one Christmas we never forgot,” said Johansen. “It was a lovely memory.”