52 Ancestors: Joined together - Sam & Maggie

One of the courting stories I didn't cover last month came immediately to mind when I saw this prompt, and I couldn't resist telling their story, especially after finding some new references to it when digging through the paperwork I had for something else earlier this year. My grandparents, Sam Hillinger and Maggie Hansen, both served in the Army during World War II, and both came through the war quite safely, and were eventually assigned to the Frankfurt area after the war to help with reorganization and cleanup. 

Maggie took her time in Europe to go visit her father's family up in Denmark when she was free of duties, but she also took an opportunity to go on an organized trip to relax. The Red Cross had organized trips to Switzerland for those who were helping with everything in Europe. I believe she told me her sister, who also served, was going to come with her, but didn't manage, so she chose to go alone, just to get away and relax. The trip was to Saint Moritz. Maggie found herself alone on a train, watching the scenery go by.

Sam had also decided to go on this trip with a group of his friends. But as the trip progressed, they grew loud, and upon seeing a young lady sitting alone on the train, he broke away from his friends and chose to sit with her. And this was how my grandparents met. Together, they learned how to ski, which remained part of their life until shortly before my grandfather passed away. My father still skis every winter, teaching others in our local ski areas.

Maggie and Sam at their Wedding Reception

But...that is only the beginning of their story. Maggie and Sam were both still part of the armed forces when they decided to marry, so like anyone in the armed service, they were required to ask permission to marry, and last month, I found the letters they both wrote up to request permission to marry. Permission was granted, of course, and so they were married in Frankfurt at the register's office with her sister and his best friend at their sides. The next day, they had a celebration with all their friends in attendance.

Nana told me that she'd always hated having no middle name. Her little brother had one, but she and her sister did not. She said that it was especially difficult during her time in the army, because she had to put something in the middle initial section of any form she filled out, which meant that when she filled out any form, her name became Margaret NMN (No Middle Name) Hansen. So she was very excited when she got married, because now she had three names: Margaret Hansen Hillinger.

Sam and Maggie started their family right there in Frankfurt. My father was born shortly before they got their chance to return home. They stayed for a short time in Ohio while my grandfather got his degree in accounting. Then they had to decide which of the offers Grumpy should take for a job. In the end, they chose Seattle because it was near enough to the mountains to ski. Our family has lived in the area ever since, and all of my dad's siblings were born here.

They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1998, with crowds of friends and family in attendance. Grumpy passed two years later. We scattered his ashes at one of his favorite ski areas. Nana died ten years later, and her ashes were scattered on Mount Rainier. Any time the mountain is out here in Seattle, I think of her.

Sam and Maggie, skiers for life