Although Dick was attached to the National Guard in San Francisco through October 1945, Martha returned to White Bear Lake sometime in 1944. The couples’ oldest child, Joseph (Joe) Richard was born in Ramsey County on November 17, 1944.20 Martha was 28 years old and Dick was 25 years old.
The couple needed a home which Dick’s father and mother provided when the building on the northeast corner of Bald Eagle Avenue and Fourth Street was moved early in November of 1945 from White Bear Oil Company property to the south side of 4721 Campbell Avenue, on property owned by Dick’s brother, George. In the late spring of 1946, after several months of work on the building, 327 (now 4711) Campbell Avenue became Dick, Martha and Joe’s home.21
The Campbell Avenue property was temporary housing. White Bear Oil Company ledger records show taxes being paid from March 15, 1945 through July 10, 1947, on Dick and Martha’s behalf, on property located at 615 (now 4859) Bald Eagle Avenue. From other entries in the ledger it appears that during that time several improvements were made to the property including the land being cleared and a garage being built in 1946.22
On January 4, 1947, Dick and Martha welcomed their second child, Mary Ellen.23 At the time of her birth, her older brother Joe was 2 years old.
First cousins, Patty, Susan and Mary, were born within 9 months of each other. Patty was born in May of 1947 and Susan was born in September of 1946. I think Patty’s mother Florence is holding Patty upright.
They’re in the front yard of Adlore and Ellen Vadnais’ home at 411 (now 4787) Bald Eagle Avenue.
Martha, Bev and Fran married, respectively, brothers Dick, Jack and George Vadnais. They are in the backyard of Bev and Jack’s basement home located at 1416 (now 1924) 6th Street, White Bear Lake.
According to the White Bear Oil Company ledger, Dick and Martha’s forever family home at 615 (now 4859) Bald Eagle Avenue was built between 1949 and 1951. The construction bills were paid through the company and included basement work in July of 1949, plumbing work done by Bob Vadnais (Dick’s first cousin) in November of 1950 and flooring in April of 1951.24 The family moved into their new home sometime in 1952.
On May 28, 1954 the couple welcomed their third child, Ann Marie.25 At the time of her birth, Dick was 34 years old, Martha 37 years old, Joe 9 years old and Mary 7 years old. The family was complete when Margaret Mary (Peggy) arrived on February 25, 1959.26
By 1950, Dick, George, Charles, Jack and their father are equal partners in White Bear Oil Company, with each owning 19% of the company; Gordy, at 21 years old, owned 5% of the company.27 All the brothers served different functions in the business. Dick mainly worked at the station (station #1), located at 4th Street and Bald Eagle Avenue, as well as the towing end of the business.
Dick’s youngest brother, Gordy, is in the white t-shirt and Dick is wearing the cap. The man standing to the right is Jim LeVasseur.
After selling off all of the components associated with White Bear Oil Company, the last of the Vadnais brothers retired in 1992. Dick, at 73 years old, had spent the majority of his life, close to 60 years, working at the company.
Roger Vadnais, my second cousin, purchased the last of the properties sold off by White Bear Oil Company: station #1 and the office building.
In 1992, Dick and Martha celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They would both live to commemorate their 59th wedding anniversary.
Standing (left to right): Megan, Joe, Mary, Molly, Jim, Ann, Adam, Salam
Seated (left to right): Cheryl, Martha, Peggy, Dick, Amanda
Front (left to right): Aaron, Ashley, Josh
Martha passed away on Friday, August 30, 2002, 28 days after her 86th birthday.28 A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church on September 4, 2002.
Dick lived almost another 4 years. He passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2006, at 86 years, 10 months and 7 days old.30
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Dick on June 21, 2006, at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church. A private family interment took place at a later date at which time Dick was laid to rest next to Martha at St. Mary’s Cemetery, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.32
The grave site is located in the southeast area of the cemetery.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cynthia
© 2026 Copyright by Cynthia Vadnais, All Rights Reserved
Footnotes for Richard Andrew Vadnais and Martha Phylis Doran (Part 3 of 3) post
Thank you for a thorough and interesting article. I would also be interested in the history of the Doran family as the name comes up in my family.
A wonderful post. Thanks so much. I have so many warm memories of them. oxoxox
Aloha Cynthia,
As always, so grateful for the time, effort and dedication you put into this ! So many good memories at the Station as a kid ( even the smell of it had a pleasing sense of family bond ) – Uncle Dick was always a great guy to be around – Glad to have that picture of the Brothers and cousin Roger on the day the property left the family- that is a pretty big day in the family history !!
Thanks again and best to you !
I knew all the Vadnais brothers as I worked part-time at the gas station on 4th and Bald Eagle Ave. I would often arm wrestle Dick at the counter, finally winning when I was a freshman in college. Growing up on Bald Eagle Ave., we would hang out at Charles Vadnais house, as Mike V. was a friend: Many games of “Kick the Can” were played in that yard by the neighborhood kids. I spent many hours delivering fuel oil with Jack and kept in touch with him until his passing. I also worked with Gordy and George. Each of the Vadnais brothers were special and unique: They helped this young kid from a broken home survive in the 50’s.
Thanks for this Duke – Each of those brothers were genuinely good guys, Glad to know you survived and hopefully thrived – Best to you !!
Thanks Cynthia, always so grateful for the time and effort- Uncle Dick was a great guy- wonderful memories in the station with him as a kid ! I really appreciate your work and dedication to sharing our family history !!
Aunt Martha and Uncle Dick were my God Parents. Many great memories of going to the house to play. Love all the pictures and the great information. So eye opening. Thanks for sharing.