Delsie Hogan was born on August 16, 1927 in Salina, Kansas. She is the daughter of Ferdinand Hannert, from Germany, and Viron Knapp, from Kansas.

Delsie was named after her mother's sister-in-law. She was full-blooded Indian. "My mother said that she was very sweet and caring."

"I have four brothers, William, Ferdinand Jr., Frederick and Robert. Then I had two sister, Betty and Jean, but Jean passed away."

One of Deslie's brothers and sister-in-law

"When I was growing up I didn't do much. I helped my mother out a lot. I watched my siblings, washed clothes, things like that."

Delsie when to school in Lindsborg for five years, Oakdale for a few years, Franklin for a few years, then she moved to Oklahoma for awhile, finally she came back to Salina and went to Roosevelt. "I wasn't a good student. I had to stay home a lot and help my mom. I like math and art class."

Lindsborg School

"Holidays with my family were always nice. We always had a good dinner. I don't know how my mom got the meal or where she got it, but on holidays and Sunday she always made sure we had a good meal."

"During the summer my siblings and I would chase after grasshoppers with pretty wings. We would also chase after tumble weeds. Mother wouldn't let us play outside too much because of the heat. She would put wet sheets over the windows to keep the dust out. There were no vacations during the summer."

"Some big world events that I remember are my sister being born. I really wanted a sister. I also remember the Depression and WWII. So many people didn't have homes or food. There were always enough food stamps for my family, but we lived off of bread and milk. People would beg at the door for food."

"My parents impacted my life the most. They taught me to be honest and kind, never hateful. They never discriminated other races, so I learned to be kind to everyone."

"WWII didn't effect me, but three of my brothers went and came back safely. My father believed that there were good Germans before Hitler, but then Hitler turned them around."

"My most vivid memory was when Susan, my oldest daughter, was born. She was so beautiful and still is. Also when I became I grandmother too."

"I can't think of anything that I've always wanted and still don't have. I've thought if I could get use out of a fur coat I'd get one, but I knew I wouldn't be able to get use out of it. In the 40's and 50's people wore those all the time."

"I never did anything bad when I was younger. I never stole anything or lied. All I can remember is starting a match and lighting a coat on fire and almost burning the house down."

"When I was young, I wanted to be a lion tamer. When I was a kid, I went to a movie and there was a lion tamer. I was just fascinated, but when I grew up I knew it wasn't realistic.