Family Photo: a puzzle

Last Sunday, I took the opportunity to drive from Salt Lake City to Pocatello, Idaho to visit my (first) cousin (once removed) Charles “Chuck” Humphrey.

Karrie and Chuck¹Selfie photo of Karrie Blees and Charles “Chuck” Humphrey, Pocatello, ID, August 17, 2025.

We had a great time chatting AND he showed me his collection of old family photographs. He carefully removed photos and photo-postcards from albums so that we could read what was written on the back.

Puzzle

To: Mabel (Gentzkow) Oliver
From: Carrie and Edd. (Gentzkow)
Jan. 28, 1919

Why don’t you answer? All well here. Hope same there. Having the nicest weather ever.
“puzzle,” find my two girls Hazel and Alice, and then write and tell me and I will answer back.

[Mabel and Ed Gentzkow were siblings.]

The front of the postcard features six young girls wearing matching dresses.²Postcard originally owned by Mabel Oliver (1885-1989), given to Charles Humphrey by Mabel’s daughter-in-law Eloise Oliver. Digital numbers added by Karrie Blees, August 22, 2025. Note that there is one white circle on each of the girls; these are pin holes that pierce the cardstock.

Chuck quickly identified his mother, Alice Gentzkow (9 years old), as the 4th from the left. Together, we determined that #5 is Hazel Gentzkow (11 years old).

Who are the other girls?

Why were they dressed alike?

Were all the girls from La Moure, North Dakota?

SOURCES

• 1
  Selfie photo of Karrie Blees and Charles “Chuck” Humphrey, Pocatello, ID, August 17, 2025.
• 2
  Postcard originally owned by Mabel Oliver (1885-1989), given to Charles Humphrey by Mabel’s daughter-in-law Eloise Oliver. Digital numbers added by Karrie Blees, August 22, 2025. Note that there is one white circle on each of the girls; these are pin holes that pierce the cardstock.