Helen Painter Watson – The Cranstons

The Panic of 1907

The Panic of 1907 How Lewis Levi Painter got his money out of a closed bank Written by a grandchild of Lewis Levi Painter — author not yet identified Subject: Lewis Levi Painter, who signed himself L.L. Painter Event: The Panic of 1907, fall of that year Place: The Painter ranch on the Little Missouri […]

by Charles Cranston Jett

Helen Josephine (Painter) Watson – Obituary – March 13, 2023

Helen Josephine Painter was born March 5, 1947, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, the fifth of ten children of Preston and Marion Painter, cattle ranchers in the Black Hills. She graduated from Lead High School and attended Black Hills State College, where she met James (Jim) Watson; they were married nearly fifty-three years. After a […]

by Charles Cranston Jett

Painter Photographs . . . In the Sixties

Here are some photos taken from the slides that Helen had. Please feel free to make comments regarding when they were taken and who the people are in the photos. I think some were taken at Mary’s wedding and some at Thanksgiving sometime in the sixties.

by Charles Cranston Jett

Marion Cranston Painter – Her Daughter (Helen’s) Memories

My Mother, the Laundress In the 1950’s and 1960’s Belle Fourche was a town of about 5,000 people. It was a time when kids walked everywhere or maybe rode their bicycles. Being the 5th of 10 children and starting at age 11, the oldest daughter at home, I was called upon to help my Mom […]

by Charles Cranston Jett

Locations of Cranston Family – North Dakota and South Dakota

These are the locations taken from Google Earth of the various places where the Cranstons Lived in North and South Dakota. The location is the North Dakota / South Dakota state line and to the west is the Montana State line. This is the overview Another Overview Relationship between Painter Ranch and the Willett Place […]

by Charles Cranston Jett

The Preston and Marion Cranston Painter Family ~ 1963

As Dick Painter said, “Mom had anticipated this photo and wanted everything just right. Everyone had just the right clothes notice. Dan and Mary had tried using hydrogen peroxide and their hair was a little light colored. Ned did it and had me try it too. Our hair turned out an awful looking red so […]