Nice To Meet You, Here's Your Gun!
“I knew that if I made the wrong turn, at the wrong time, that I might be dead and I knew that if I fired at the wrong person I might lose the love of my life forever.”
~Frank Arrington
My grandmother, Linnea Arrington, was born and raised on a dairy farm in Snohomish, Washington. Her parents, Walt and Ruth Bartelheimer, bought the farm after they married and grew it to one of the largest dairy farms in northwest Washington. They processed and sold dairy products and grew and sold peas and corn. The pea and corn processing plant was about 250 feet from their house and they had been having problems with people stealing from the plant.
Eager to be away from the farm, Linnea moved to San Diego after college. She got a job as a legal secretary and met her future husband, Frank Arrington. Frank was raised in San Diego and was working as a mortgage banker when they met in the office elevator. After several months of courtship, Linnea was eager to take him to Snohomish, to introduce him to the family that she was so proud of.
They planned a trip to Washington over a Christmas vacation. When they arrived at the farm, after a long day of traveling, it was dark, around five o’clock. My grandmother’s family had just invited them into the house and introductions were being made when Linnea’s brother came running and screaming, “GRAB THE GUNS, THERE IS SOMEONE UP AT THE PLANTS!”
The guns were distributed! One was given to Frank. Even though they didn’t know if he could shoot. Then off they went into the dark, to chase the suspected bandit. Frank was following everybody as they were searching for the bandits. His biggest concerns at the time were that he might run into the bandit, shoot a family member, or worst yet be shot by a future family member. His second thought was, “How in the world did I get involved with this family!” Being very careful not to be separated from the group, he followed Linnea’s brother and father while they ran around corners on the dirt roads leading down to the plant.
When they got to the plant, they started to search. After a half hour of searching, the bandit was not discovered. Luckily nobody had fired a shot at Frank, so they started the long trip back up to the house unharmed. When they got back they met with the rest of the family and finished the introductions.
Even after this crazy experience, Frank decided to marry Linnea. Frank proposed soon after this crazy experience and they got married a year after on April 5, 1975. They have kept their love strong and are still married to this day, and they will never forget the day Frank had to go chase off the bandits!
Eager to be away from the farm, Linnea moved to San Diego after college. She got a job as a legal secretary and met her future husband, Frank Arrington. Frank was raised in San Diego and was working as a mortgage banker when they met in the office elevator. After several months of courtship, Linnea was eager to take him to Snohomish, to introduce him to the family that she was so proud of.
They planned a trip to Washington over a Christmas vacation. When they arrived at the farm, after a long day of traveling, it was dark, around five o’clock. My grandmother’s family had just invited them into the house and introductions were being made when Linnea’s brother came running and screaming, “GRAB THE GUNS, THERE IS SOMEONE UP AT THE PLANTS!”
The guns were distributed! One was given to Frank. Even though they didn’t know if he could shoot. Then off they went into the dark, to chase the suspected bandit. Frank was following everybody as they were searching for the bandits. His biggest concerns at the time were that he might run into the bandit, shoot a family member, or worst yet be shot by a future family member. His second thought was, “How in the world did I get involved with this family!” Being very careful not to be separated from the group, he followed Linnea’s brother and father while they ran around corners on the dirt roads leading down to the plant.
When they got to the plant, they started to search. After a half hour of searching, the bandit was not discovered. Luckily nobody had fired a shot at Frank, so they started the long trip back up to the house unharmed. When they got back they met with the rest of the family and finished the introductions.
Even after this crazy experience, Frank decided to marry Linnea. Frank proposed soon after this crazy experience and they got married a year after on April 5, 1975. They have kept their love strong and are still married to this day, and they will never forget the day Frank had to go chase off the bandits!