At right, Delbert “Deb” Haynes is pictured in October 2022, several months before his 100th birthday. A lifelong farmer, he married Emily Frances Haynes on Aug. 24, 1944, and had four children: Jerry, Dale, Rick and Gale Haynes. At left, Haynes is pictured in his U.S. Armed Forces uniform. He joined the Army Air Corps in February 1945.
Syrup bucket days
A century and a month ago, Clyde William Haynes and Mary Ann Noren Haynes brought a son into the world at a farm house situated within the fields of Phillips County. Their home, on Aug. 26, 2016, would earn recognition during the Colorado State Fair as a Centennial Farm. Their son, Delbert “Deb” Haynes, born Feb. 13, 1923, happens to still be alive today at 100 years old.
His childhood is what most children would see on a television screen nowadays. Starting school in 1929 – without a modern-day school bus – Delbert would journey on foot “one mile east of home” to get to a Phillips County’s country school, called Sunnyside.
“We always took our lunches from home,” he said, “usually, in gallon syrup buckets.”
When he finally got to school, Delbert grew his knowledge of subjects such as mathematics and English. He also would recall moments that have stuck with him for a century, such as memories gleaned with his first teacher, Mrs. Magel Sprague.
Rural lives contain memorable first-time experiences, though many of those times may even get lost in daily rhythms and routines. It often takes something monumental for residents to pay attention to the wonders around them: A particular event was memorable for Delbert, for the whole school of Sunnyside and even Mrs. Sprague herself.
“One day, a small airplane flew over,” Haynes said. “[Our teacher] let the whole school go outside to see it.” This, he continued, “was the first time we had ever seen one.”
Airplanes had arrived on the scene a little more than a decade before passing that day over Sunnyside.
Fast forward to February 1945: Planes were a regular sight when Delbert joined the U.S. Armed Forces as part of the Army Air Corps branch. Months earlier, on Aug. 24, 1944, Deb married Emily Frances Haynes in the Methodist parsonage. While Delbert served stateside, Emily was able to work with him, including the time they spent in Fort Lewis, Washington, where she worked in the army hospital.
Once the duo returned home, they started farming again and continued for the next 77 years. It was in agriculture that Delbert found his occupational peace and joy. Along with farming, Delbert and his wife raised four sons: Jerry, Dale, Rick and Gale Haynes.
“An impression that Dad left on me was that, ‘Your word should always be your bond,’” Gale said. Leading with that saying in mind, Gale continued with what his father instilled: “Always deal fairly with others, so later down the road you could look people in the eyes, knowing you have been honest.”
In his 100th year, cards may be sent to Delbert at 22975 Co. Rd. 33, Holyoke, CO 80734.