What kind of hardships or tragedies did your family experience while you were growing up?

The only tragedy I can think of is when Mom carried a baby to full term and she died in Mom's womb prior to birth at about 8 months.  The doctor had Mom carry the baby to full term and delivered it.  The Feuerborn Baby Girl is buried in the Benton City Cemetery.  The little girl was 2.5 years younger than Suzanne.  The next baby, two years later was Patty.  That is the only time I can remember when my Dad cried, was at that funeral.

The only hardships I can remember was the tight budget for groceries, $40/week is what I remember.  The only vacation the family ever took was driving to Portland to stay with Grandpa and Grandma Muffenbier.  Also we had one trip to southern California to see Aunt Kate and Uncle Dan.  After I left home Mom and Dad bought a trailer and took the younger kids on some camping trips and to the ocean.   

I wanted to go on vacation like some of the kids I knew.  Shelley and Mike went with Aunt Maxine and Uncle Ernie camping in their truck and camper a lot.  That really bugged me.  That was the advantage of having a small family.  The first restaurant I ever ate in was an IHOP (International House of Pancakes) with my Dad when we drove to Seattle to pick up Mom, who delivered Patty in Seattle because of RH Negative blood factor.