Pictured here are sisters Myrtha Westenskow (Jan 22, 1921-20 May 2017) and Rowain Westenskow (Aug. 5, 1919-March 16, 1922). The two girls were the daughters of Jacob Lamar Westenskow and Murdith Edna Kent. 

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This picture was taken shortly before the family suffered the effects of the Spanish Influenza that killed millions of people one of which was Rowain. 

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J.L. wrote about the incident in his biography that he wrote in 1964. Fast forward to 1987 and I interviewed him about his life and he told me about little Rowain. He showed me Rowain's little "dancing shoes" and  65 years later he still cried. I watched him wipe tears from his eyes. Nearly seven decades after Rowain's death, it still hurt Grandpa. 

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Here is a segment taken from Grandpa's history where he details what happened to the family nearly 100 years ago. 

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"In 1921 and 1922, a terrible disease, the Spanish Influenza hit all over the world.  Many of our soldiers (from World War I) died and many civilians died. 

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Doctors didn't know what was best to do. It hit our house at once. Merdith had it. I took Merdith, Rowain and Mrytha, who was only 11 months old, to the hospital. 

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Winona and Donald were take care of by the folks at home.

 

I stayed at the hospital for seven days and nights and didn't even take my clothes off. 

They wanted me to go home, but I told them that if I went, I would have to take my family also. 

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It looked like Myrtha was going to die. One night she had convulsions for 11 hours and it was a terrible thing to witness. 

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Rowaine was a little over two years old and also had the flu, whooping cough and pneumonia. Merdith was terrible ill also. 

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Little Rowain passed away March 16, 1922. 

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I was away for the first time that night and she seemed much better. But while in my room at the hotel quite early in the morning, I knew that she had passed away. It seemed as if she had come to say goodbye."

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(I was also told later that Rowain had appeared to him and told him "Father, I am leaving now.") 

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Myrtha finally recovered but this was terrible for Merdith

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