The Diary of Frances Bowar - Early Days In South Dakota

By Scott Pelton and Frances Bowar

Frances Bowar lived in Ethan, South Dakota, a small
farming community. She kept a diary from 1938 to
1970, recording the activities of her family, her own
thoughts, feelings, and judgments, and the birth
dates, milestones, illnesses, and death dates of
those people she knew and loved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387907557

Book preview

The Diary of Frances Bowar - Early Days In South Dakota

The Diary of Frances Bowar

Early Days In South Dakota

Edited by Scott Pelton

Copyright

Copyright © 2018 by Scott Pelton

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2018

ISBN 978-1-387-90755-7

Title page photo: Frances Bowar and Kevin Gebhart, August 1961.

Introduction

Frances Bowar is my Grandmother. I remember her caring smile, her German accent, and the swaying gait of her walk, but not much more. Now, in my early 60’s, I have finally gotten to know her. 

Frances Bowar was born into a mid-west farming community in 1891. Her father was a German immigrant and her mother was a first-generation German-American. Her family spoke mostly German until she was about 20 years old. Her formal schooling was very limited; she attended school through the 4th grade, when the duties of helping to oversee her 13 younger siblings overshadowed the need for book-learning. 

And yet, she kept a diary from 1938 to 1970, recording the activities of her family, her own thoughts, feelings, and judgments, and the birth dates, milestones, illnesses, and death dates of those people she knew and loved.  The 9 volumes of her diary, or copies thereof, have been preserved by her family, and shared with me as source material for this work.

This incredible family historical treasure is celebrated in this book. It has been captured here to enable easier access by her family and to ensure that the historical information is available for future generations. These pages contain many fond memories, some sad moments, and some surprises. They evoke a deep appreciation for the care and support that is generated by a loving family environment. 

As editor of her diary, I did my best to correct spelling errors, but left much of the grammar as she wrote it, just to give the reader some insight as to how she spoke.  I also re-ordered the entries to follow the normal progression of days.  Many of Frances Bowar’s original diary entries were not in chronological order. My editorial comments are in bracketed italic font, to separate them from the actual diary entries made by Frances Bowar. Most of these editorial comments are related to clarifying the relationships of family members.

It has been a lot of fun for me to assemble this information. I hope that you too will find it fun and fascinating.

Acknowledgements:

On the personal side, I thank my loving wife and best friend Suzie Ness for her support and patience while I hid away in my man-cave to transcribe and edit this book.

On the family side, I’d like to share my sincere appreciation to the following relatives for their help and support in developing this book:

Bob Schlimgen, who nurtured my interest in family history by leading me on a tour of cemeteries in South Dakota and Wisconsin, sharing family stories and photos, and also providing encouragement and a review of the proof copy of the book.

Aunt Dolores Gebhart, Jane Vogt, and Glen McGinnis for joining us on the cemetery tour and sharing their family perspectives and stories.

Gary Bowar, who sent me numerous family stories via e-mail and also provided encouragement and a review of the proof copy of the book. Many years ago, Gary made copies of the diary for all of the families and that was essential in preserving them.

Joanne Ernster, Joyce Graves, and Mary Kelly for their encouragement and for providing missing volumes of the original diary.

Suzanne Richards, for doing a review of the proof copy of the book.

I am hopeful that future generations of the Wermers-Bowar family will also sincerely appreciate your contributions to this book.

Scott Pelton

Seattle, Washington

July 2018

The Families

[The family members of Frances Bowar and her husband Walter Bowar are a key element of Frances’s diary. They both had large families, and it helps to know who’s who when these people are mentioned in the diary entries. Listed below are the siblings, children, and grandchildren of Frances and Walter. Some of the family members outside of this group, such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and children of cousins, are identified in the text as editor’s notes in bracketed italics.

Frances Wermers Bowar was the first of 14 children born to Mathilda Goebel and Joseph Wermers. Frances’s siblings and their spouses were:

Leo married Josephine Germscheide

Joseph married Eleanor Ella Hohn. Ella Hohn was Walter’s first cousin.

Christine married Joe Buechner.

Rudie married Eva Florence Zehnpfennig. Florence Zehnpfennig was also Walter’s first cousin.

Frank married Elizabeth Lizzie Giesen.

Gust (or Gus) married Marge Cullen.

Tony married Ruth Schumacher.

Rosa (or Rose) married Ted Mechtenberg.

Marie married Louis Swingen.

Dorothy became a Catholic Nun and took the name Sister Andrew.

Henry died in his youth.

Edmund died in his youth.

Al had a learning disability and did not marry.

Frances had 49 niece/nephews.  She had 10 cousins on the Goebel side of her family, and 19 cousins on the Wermers side of her family.

Walter Bowar was the third of 8 children born to Cathrine Zehnpfennig and Lawrence Bowar. Walter’s siblings and their spouses were:

Rosa (or Rose) married William Kabeiseman.

Bertha married Peter Wagner.

Ray married Marie May Breckweg.

Eleanor Ella married Hugh Morgan.

Herbert died in his youth.

Arthur Art married Bertha Weber.

Marcella married John Kalscheur.

Walter had 33 niece/nephews.  He had 35 (or maybe more) cousins on the Zehnpfennig side of his family, and 94 cousins on the Bowar side of his family.

Frances and Walter had eight children, listed below with their spouses:

Florentine married Leonard Lefty Schlimgen. They had 6 children: William (who died shortly after birth), Frank, Jim, Bob, Dan, and Tom.

Joe married Doris Pueppke. They had 5 children: Gary, Paul, Joyce & Joanne (twins), and Joe, Jr.

Mildred died in her youth.

Stella married Charles Pelton. They had 5 children: Suzanne, Charles, Jr., Greg, Scott, and Paul.

Celesta married Ray Roth. They had 5 children: Jane, Stan, Mary, Bill, and Ray, Jr.

Dorothy married Bernell McGinnis. They had 2 children: Glen and Rod.

Helen died in her youth.

Dolores married Arnold Junior Schaefers. They had 2 children: Cathy and Kevin. After Arnold passed away, she married Francis Geb Gebhart. They had 6 children: Stan, Nan, William (who died shortly after birth), Sheila, Greg, and Janet.

Walter and Frances had 31 grandchildren, but did not live long enough to see them all.]

1938

January 1

Was a nice day. Stayed home. Rosa was here in the afternoon and brought Celesta home. She was in Dimock and helped Rose for a few days. She just moved.

January 2

Sunday. Went to Dimock.

January 3

Washed. Had a nice day. Joe is staying with Florentine in Dimock. 

January 4

Went to play practice and also over to Math E’s. [Erpenbach]

January 5

Canned carrots.

January 6

Canned beets. Went over to Lawrence Puetz’s.

January 7

Was to a Farmer’s Union social meeting at John Erpenbach’s.

[John Erpenbach is the husband of Walter’s cousin, Anna Bowar, the daughter of Walter’s Uncle Mathias and Catherine Bowar.]

January 8

Saturday. Was a cold day. Joe Funke is here. Joe played basketball.

January 9

Sunday. Had a card party for the church. Made about $15. Had sandwiches, pickles, pie, ice cream, and coffee. The ladies serving were Mrs. Albert Carlow, Mrs. Lawrence Puetz, Mrs. Laverne Hohn, Mrs. Math Erpenbach, Mrs. Math Mayer, and myself. Made $12.90.

January 10

Had play practice. Heard Grandma is sick.

January 11

Washed the bedroom wall. Walter and Joe Funke went out to Henry Erpenbach’s.

January 12

Washed the kitchen wall.

January 13

Went to play practice.

January 14

Had our play. Everything turned out good. Had a pretty good crowd.

January 15

Gave the play again in Ethan. They all acted their parts good. Joe was the main actor. Ernest Rumbolz, Mrs. Ernest Rumbolz, Mrs. Henry Rumbolz, Araeth Rumbolz, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hohn, Lawrence Puetz, Mrs. Dick Erpenbach, and myself. Made $6.25.

January 16

Sunday. All went to church. Went over to Pet and Lizzie’s in the evening.

January 17

Esther Hohn and Andrew Mechtenberg were married at Dimock. They had a wedding dance at Ethan. A big crowd. Lloyd Nation was killed Sunday night in a car accident.

January 18

The play cast had a 500 card party here. Had oyster stew, ice cream, cake, and sandwiches. All had a good time.

January 19

Was over at Frank Bowar’s and played 500. Joe is in Dimock.

[Frank Bowar is Walter’s cousin, the son of Walter’s Uncle Mathias and Catherine Bowar.]

January 20

Walter and Joe Funke went to John Carlson’s sale. Joe is helping Leonard Trusk. The three girls are going to school every day. The weather is nice.

January 21

Our wedding day. Married 25 years. My mother and Walter’s father were here and all my sisters and brothers and Dad’s sisters and brothers. Played 500. All had a good time and a swell lunch.

January 22

Dad and the kids went to the basketball game. Florentine is staying here till tomorrow.

January 23

Sunday. Lloyd Nation’s funeral this afternoon. Such a nice looking boy. 16 years. Was also to the card party.

January 24

Pet Sudbeck wedding day. Married 21 years. Cold windy day.

January 25

Art and Bertha wedding day. I think they are married 17 years. Was down there last night and surprised them.

January 26

Joe hauled coal this afternoon. Kitchen coal $15.50.

January 27

Walter and Joe Funke went to Mitchell school meeting this afternoon. Had a card party here.

January 28

Walter and Joe went to Mitchell to horse sale. Bill Thuringer was here for a while and also Mr. and Mrs. Fred Puetz stopped here. They went over to Lawrence Puetz’s. Stella stayed in Dimock at Florentine’s and took care of the baby while they surprised Julia and John Bowar. Their wedding day is January 27. Farmer’s Union social and business meeting was pretty well attended. Had oyster sandwiches.

[John Bowar is Walter’s cousin, the son of Walter’s Uncle Henry Bowar and wife Priscilla.]

January 29

Joe Funke came back again. He is over here three weeks. We are all getting tired of him. Joe went to the Roosevelt dance at Mitchell.  It was a very bad night. 

January 30

Sunday. It’s a cold day. Dad and the kids went to church. Dolores and myself stayed home. Dolores knows the Guardian Angel prayer real good. Funke left this afternoon. Went over to Leo’s.

January 31

Dad and Joe went to Mitchell. Joe went to Doc Tobin. He has a sore leg. The kids went to the basketball game and we went down to see Florentine and Grandma.

1938

February 1

I washed. Walter went to the sale. Joe’s leg isn’t any better. He is going to get a bad boil.

February 2

Groundhog Day. He saw his shadow. Joe’s boil is getting a little worse every day. Didn’t sleep much last night.

February 3

Dad and the kids went to church to get their throats blessed. I have a bad cold and couldn’t go. Joe’s boil is about the same - not much better. Dad went to the Rabbit lunch this afternoon with Pet and Math. The money is for the church.

February 4

Joe’s boil isn’t any better. He didn’t sleep much last night and my cold is awful. Coughed pretty near all night. Pet took Dad and Joe to Mitchell. Joe went to the doctor. His leg is awful sore - makes him sick all over. He is running a high temperature tonight. Dad and the kids went to a PTA meeting tonight.

February 5

Sunday. Dad and the kids went to church. Mildred came along. They went to a shower in the afternoon. Joe’s abscess on his leg is getting bad. Suffered awful last night. Little Frank is got pneumonia. They took them to the Parkston hospital. Gust and Marge were here to see Joe and also Bill Livesay and Joe Erpenbach were here and also Locken.

[Mildred is Frances’s niece, the child of Frances’s brother Joe and wife Ella Wermers. Little Frank is Florentine and Lefty’s son.]

February 7

Dr. Tobin was here and opened Joe’s abscess on his leg. He is feeling some better this evening. He is sick over a week.

February 8

Joe’s leg looks pretty bad yet. Slept a little last night. Leonard phoned this morning and said that little Frank is some better but will have to stay at the hospital a few days yet. Walter went to Carl Carlson’s sale.

February 9

Joe is still in bed. His leg is pretty sore and pains him.

February 10

Joe’s leg is much better. He went to the doctor this afternoon. Pet took him to Mitchell. We went down to see little Frank. I think he is a very sick baby. The poor little kid.

February 11

Florentine and Leonard’s wedding day. Married three years today. Little Frank died this afternoon about 20 minutes after three.  He died real easy. His bronchial tubes filled up and his heart gave out. He looks so pretty. Mrs. Schlimgen and Agnes made him a little white silk dress and trimmed it in blue ribbon.

[Mrs. Schlimgen is Lefty’s mother and Agnes is Lefty’s sister.]

February 12

Joe’s leg is getting along alright as much as we know. Went to Mitchell and got new hats. Went to Dimock in the evening to see little Frank.

February 13

Stayed in Dimock with Florentine. Stayed with Ma all night. Funeral was this afternoon. The weather was cold. Sure was a big crowd.

February 14

Just visit around in Dimock with Florentine and Ma and Rosa and Marge.

February 15

Made a quilt at Ma’s today and went home this evening. Snowed all day. Rosa and Marge fixed the lunch.

February 16

Snowed all day. Sure have a lot of snow. More than we had in years. The roads are blocked. Joe was in Dimock with Florentine. The kids didn’t go to school today.

February 17

The kids weren’t in school again today. They opened the road this morning.

February 18

Sewed. The kids didn’t go to school.

February 19

Joe came home last night. He went along with Locken to Huron. It was very cold - about 15 below zero.

February 20

Sunday. Had company. Florentine and Leonard, Mrs. Schlimgen, and Bertha were here for dinner and we went to the card party in the evening. Was a big crowd at the party.

[Bertha is Lefty’s sister.]

February 21

Fixed up some old rugs today. Dolores has a bad cold.

February 22

The men worked around here. I sewed. Joe went to the dance in Ethan tonight.

February 23

Florentine was here. Walter and Leonard went to Sioux Falls. Sold hogs - 22 of them they brought for $413.

February 24

Sold big Bud. He brought $135. Went over to see Dick and Catherine. They are moving next week. Sure hate to see ‘em move.

[Dick Erpenbach is the son of Walter’s cousin Anna and John Erpenbach. Catherine is Dick’s wife.]

February 25

Was to a dance. Farmers Union dance.

February 26

Ed Stockel got Bud today. He is going to Madison, Wisconsin in a truck.

February 27

Sunday. Was all to church. Dad and I went to Dimock. Walter also went to Parkston.

February 28

Walter bought a horse from Frank Sand. $110. He got it this afternoon. Joe helped Dick Erpenbach move today.

1938

March 1

Joe is helping Henry Erpenbach move. Was down to Dimock to see Rosa and Ted.

March 2

Ash Wednesday. Was all in church. Kids went to a basketball game.

March 3

The men were breaking horses. Was over to see Henry and Barb this evening.

March 4

We started our First Friday this morning. Went to Mitchell this afternoon. Got some dress goods. Heard Rudie isn’t any better. He’s been sick since last June.

[The First Friday Devotions are a form of Roman Catholic prayer and worship to recognize the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotions consist of activities that are performed on the first Fridays of nine consecutive months.]

March 5

Saturday. Working here making Dorothy a new dress.

March 6

Sunday. We all went to church. Was to a Farmer’s Union doings in the evening.

March 7

Butchered 4 hogs.

March 8

Worked on the meat.

March 9

Joe left this morning. Dad and him got in trouble for nothing. Surely makes me feel bad. He went to Dimock.

March 10

Canning meat. Dad gave Joe $35 last week for his horse smoke. His first check.

March 11

Cleaned Joe’s suits.

March 12

Worked around here.

March 13

Sunday. Bill and Ella were here for dinner. Rented Charlie Puetz land.

March 14

Joe came back this morning. Florentine brought him. He is going to work for us this summer for $25 a month. That’s what he said he would do. So I hope they get along.

March 15

The men are hauling hay.

March 16

Dick Erpenbach was here. Helped clean grain.

March 17

Dick is here again today.

March 18

Dad went to a sale. Dick helped again.

March 19

Dick is here. Had a bake sale in town. The people didn’t bring anything. Only made $3.25.

March 20

Sunday. All went to church. Went to Dimock in the afternoon.

March 21

Started to work in the field today. Dick is here helping.

March 22

Made out an order for $26 this morning. Dick is here.

March 23

The men are busy working in the field.

March 24

Dry and windy.

March 26

Dad bought a gang plow from Untereiners for $25.

March 26

Joe’s birthday. 21 years old. Henry Bowar died from heart trouble this evening.

[Henry Bowar is Walter’s uncle, the son of Lorenz Bowar and Sibilla Schlimgen. Henry was born in 1864.]

March 27

Rose Marie’s birthday. Eight years old. Was over to Frank Bowar’s [Walter’s cousin] this afternoon. They are going to Wisconsin to the funeral.

[Rose Marie Wermers is Frances’s niece. She is the oldest child of Frances’s brother Gust and wife Marge Wermers.]

March 28

Charlie Tyler is working for us today with his tractor.

March 29

Washed today.

March 30

Today is Henry Bowar’s funeral. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bowar, Mrs. John Bowar, Grandpa Bowar, and Hubert Weber went to Wisconsin.

[The Bowar’s are Walter’s relatives. Hubert Weber is Lefty Schlimgen’s grandfather.

March 31

Heard this morning that John Bowar died at Reliance last night.

[John Bowar is another one of Walter’s Uncles – he was the oldest son of Lorenz Bowar and Sibilla Schlimgen. John Bowar was born in 1857.]

1938

April 1

Went to church for the First Friday.

April 2

Went to Reliance to John Bowar’s funeral. Quite a few from Faulkton and Dimock were there. He was at Fred Bowar’s. Hazel Bowar came along with us. She seems a very nice girl and is going to the Academy in Mitchell and her folks are living in Washington.

[Fred Bowar is John Bowar’s son. Hazel Bowar is one of John Bowar’s grandchildren, the child of John’s son Edward and wife Mary.]

April 3

Hazel stayed with Florentine. They were here for supper then went to Mitchell to a show.

April 4

Dad’s birthday. He is 50 years old today.

April 5

I fell down the cellar this morning. Had to go to the doctor. Got my little finger out of place. Hurt my back, my head, my whole left side. Nothing was broke. Went to Dr. Solberg.

April 6

I am awfully stiff today. Can’t hardly move. The weather was cold. A real blizzard. Quite a little snow. Kids didn’t go to school.

April 7

Kids went to school this morning. Feel a little better this morning. Not quite so sore. Dad is baking bread.

April 8

Marcella and John and Bernadette Wagner and Pauline, Mrs. Meyer, John Bowar’s sister were here from Wisconsin this morning for a few minutes. Going back to Wisconsin. Marcella came with John Bowar.

[Bernadette Wagner is Walter’s niece – she is the daughter of his sister Bertha and Pete Wagner. Pauline Meyer and John Bowar are Walter’s cousins, the children of his Uncle Henry and Priscilla Bowar.]

April 9

Saturday. Dorothy went to County chorus at Mitchell.

April 10

Sunday. Farmer’s Union doings at Henry Oster’s.

April 11

The men worked in the field again today. Dolores was over to see Doris Erpenbach. It was her birthday.

April 12

PTA meeting. Elected new officers. Not much of a crowd.

April 13

Tony’s birthday.

[Tony Wermers is Frances’s brother, born April 13, 1901.]

April 14

Holy Thursday. Had awful nice services in the evening.

April 15

Good Friday. It rained all night

April 16

Saturday went to Mitchell. Celesta and myself went to the dentist. Celesta got some filled and I got one pulled. Cost $7.00.

April 17

Easter Sunday. Florentine and Leonard were here. We went over to Math Roth’s in the evening to see their baby.

April 18

Made a garden and it was so warm that’s the first I put in. Dad and the kids planted potatoes. Joe plowed.

April 19

Kids burned thistles.

April 20

Heard Rudie isn’t very good. Tony Wermers died. Was sick about two years. Suffered awful.

[This Tony Anton Wermers is a cousin of Frances’s father Joseph Wermers. Anton Wermers was born in Germany in 1860 – he is the son of Wilhelm Wermers, the older brother of Gerhard Wermers. Gerhard Wermers was Joseph’s father. Anton and Joseph shared common Grandparents: Johann Anton Wermers and Helena Vrieden. Tony is buried in Ethan.]

April 21

Rudie is very sick. The doctors punctured his spine. Took pictures of his head. It shows a dark spot. Dr. Delaney wants him to go to Rochester. Poor Rudie.

April 22

Tony Wermers was buried this morning. Rudie stayed at the hospital and his kids went to see him.  Also Ma and Father Schmidt. He is willing to go to Rochester. Is going to leave about 3 o’clock this morning in Josie Zehnpfennig’s car. She is driving her car. Florence and Gust want along. I only hope they can help him.

[Josephine Josie Zehnpfennig is Walter’s cousin. Josie is the child of Walter’s Uncle Ted and wife Lizzie Zehnpfennig. Josie is also the sister of Florence Zehnpfennig Wermers, Rudie’s wife.]

April 23

Today little Frank would be a year old. Mrs. Henry Erpenbach’s mother died last night. Dad took them to Epiphany. Came back about 2 o’clock. Joe is plowing every day. 

April 24

Grandma and Grandpa Wagner were here. Rudie got to Rochester alright Saturday about 10 o’clock.

April 25

Operated on his head. Is a very sick man. Can expect most anything.

April 26

Rudie is as well as can be expected. Took a tumor out of his head as big as a baseball.

April 27

Ella phoned and said Rudie is not very good. I am so afraid that he won’t get well. Poor Rudie.

April 28

Was down to Dimock and heard that Rudie is much better. They are giving him radium treatments. I hope he gets better. Gust is down there with him. Gust and Florence take care of him during the day and they have a special nurse at night. He bears all his sufferings patiently.

April 29

Didn’t hear from Rudie today. Kids went to the play and Dorothy went to Mitchell with Henry Rumbolz to a show.

April 30

Senior Banquet. Stella waited on the tables. Joe went to Mitchell. Didn’t hear from Rochester.

1938

May 1

Sunday. Went to Dimock church. The children made their solemn Communion. Daniel also went. We went over to Ray Bowar’s. Rutbaum went too. Heard Rudie was pretty good. Dad and the kids went to PTA picnic.

[Daniel is Rudie’s son; Frances’s nephew.]

May 2

Gust came back from Rochester. Rudie is feeling pretty good.

May 3

Today would be Helen’s birthday. She would be nine years old. Elections today. Dad is at the school. Joe voted for the first time today. Dorothy took the dinner for Dad.

[Helen was Frances and Walter’s 7th child.  She died in 1931.]

May 4

Angeline Erpenbach and Charles Mechtenberg were married today. They had a wedding dance at Emsley. 

[Angeline Erpenbach is the daughter of Walter’s cousin Anna Bowar and John Erpenbach. Emsley is now just a cemetery but it was a busy church with a social hall in those days.  It is located about 8-10 miles west and 2 miles south of Ethan.]

May 5

Washed. Men are still busy plowing.

May 6

First Friday. Went to church. Also went to Dimock to see mother. She is not feeling so well and has a bad cold and she worries so much about Rudie and feels so bad about the poor boy.

May 7

Stayed in Dimock with Ma. Heard Rudie is in a different hospital. Now taking x-ray treatments. They are $5.00 a treatment. Is pretty good and coming home Wednesday.

May 8

Mother’s Day. Was with Ma. Went home today. Went to Ethan tonight to the baccalaureate sermon.

May 9

Had a card from Florence. Said Rudie was getting along nicely. Was coming home Wednesday.

May 10

Just sewed and worked around. Heard Rudie is worse. Frank and Leo went to Rochester last night about 11 o’clock. Poor Rudie. Sure hope they can bring him home.

May 12

Rudie came home from Rochester today. He is feeling pretty good. He wanted to go home to his place. I feel so sorry for him. About 32 graduated from Ethan High School. Dad sold a hog to the little insurance man for $26.

May 13

Field day. It was spoiled, it rained. Went up in the afternoon. They had a picnic dinner at the Corn Palace.

May 14

Transplanted my tomato plants.

May 15

Sunday. Was at Barbara and Henry’s for dinner. Went to Rudie and Florence’s in the evening. Rudie was pretty good but far from well. The sisters in Yankton are all making a Novena for his recovery.

May 16

Started house cleaning. Rained all afternoon. The small grain looks good. My garden also is nice.

May 17

Rained. Had a regular cloudburst. Some of my garden washed away - looks tough. More rain than we had for a long time.

May 18

Washed and washed the porch.

May 19

Stella Goebel has a baby girl. Ma had a letter from Christine. Iona is cleaning house for Ma. Dorothy is writing finals at the Rome 38 school. Catherine E is taking Florence Joachim’s place. She went along with Saufenbergs to Mexico.

[Stella Goebel is Frances’s cousin; she is the daughter of Frances’s Uncle August Jr. and Lucy Goebel. Iona is Frances’s niece, the daughter of her brother Leo and wife Josephine.]

May 20

Dorothy finished her finals.

May 21

Went to Mitchell. Dorothy got a tooth pulled and it was a permanent tooth and I thought it was one of her baby teeth. Charged $1.00.

May 22

Went to Dimock to see Florentine but she wasn’t home so we went to see Ma.

May 23

Washed and planted pickles and watermelons.

May 24

Started my new dress. Went over to Mrs. Degen’s. She helped.

May 25

Went over to Degen’s again and sewed on a quilt. It’s an awful pretty quilt. I want to make one like it.

May 26

Ascension Day – a holy day. Men are not done planting yet. Went to Mitchell. Saw Hazel Bowar. She went to her home at Washington this evening. Going part way on the train and then on the bus.

May 27

Painted all the screen.

May 28

Saturday. Done our work.

May 29

Sunday. Went to church. Stayed home in the afternoon. Went to Barbara and Henry’s in the evening.

May 30

Got my chickens in Mitchell at the Goodsell hatchery. Got 205 from 243 eggs. They cost us about $6.50. Also sewed at Degen’s on a quilt.

May 31

Painted the summer kitchen floors. Florentine and Leonard stopped here on the way home from Huron.

1938

June 1

George Funk and Mrs. Henry Young got married Saturday morning May 28. Joe and Ella were witnesses.

June 2

Worked in the garden.

June 3

Went to church – First Friday. Florentine was here all day. Went to church and scrubbed for the communion class.

June 4

Moved the stove in the summer kitchen. The kids went to a show in Mitchell.

June 5

Pentecost Sunday. The children made their solemn Communion. Surely was nice. Father Eckl had two arches built with flowers and two little angels with long white dresses and gold wings and gold bands. Also had company, Mr. and Mrs. Math Roth. Math and Irena and Barbara and Henry were here in the evening.

June 6

Rained just a little this morning. Bill Locken died this morning of heart trouble.

June 7

Dad went to Sioux Falls this morning. The Case show. He said he had a good time. Florentine came and we went to Mitchell. Florentine went to see Dr. Tobin. She is getting nervous again. He said her heart is all right, but nervous. The doctor told her to come back next week.

June 8

Went over to see Bill Locken. He looked so nice. Poor Leona feels so bad. He was only 38 years old.

June 9

Bill Locken was buried this morning. It’s getting dry. I wish it would rain. Joe went to a dance.

June 10

Still cleaning house. Varnished the dining floor.

June 11

Varnished the bedroom floor.

June 12

Sunday. Went to Emsley church. The children went to Communion there. Went to Bill Thuringer’s for dinner and to Fred Puetz’s for supper. They surely have things fixed nice.  And stopped in Dimock to see Ma.

June 13

Florentine was here and I sewed on my dress. Locken took two sucking calves to Sioux Falls and got $21 for them.

June 14

Sewed again. Al Bowar from Faulkton came and stayed all night.

[Al Bowar is Walter’s cousin, the son of Walter’s Uncle Frank and Aunt Anna Bowar.]

June 15

Surely is getting dry again.

June 16

Washed and it’s very hot.

June 17

It’s very dry and the hoppers are bad and big black beetles are in the garden and on the potatoes.

June 18

Went to Mitchell and got Stella and Celesta hats. It was a very warm day.

June 19

Had Corpus Christi procession in the church. It rained a shower. Went to Pet Wagner’s in the evening to see Bertha. She is sick. Has high blood pressure.

June 20

Fixed on some clothes.

June 21

Heard of the terrible train crash in Miles City, Montana. The bridge swam away just when the train was going over. About 40 people drowned. Joyce Kaskie died in the Montana railroad disaster. Crashed through the bridge into the flood waters of Custer Creek.

June 22

Varnished the kitchen floor.

June 23

Sewed. Made Dolores a dress. Thomas is staying here a few days.

June 24

Went to church this morning. Feast of the Sacred Heart.

June 25

Went to Mitchell Saturday. Got Stella a new hat. Went to Dimock in the evening. Stella went to Uncle Joe’s.

June 26

Had company. John Bowar from Mitchell. He is going to school there. His home is in Washington Springs. Also went to Parkston to see Grandpa and Grandma. They are both sick. Also heard some sad news about Bernitta has a tumor on her spine.

[This John Bowar is likely the son of Walter’s cousin William, who is the child of Walter’s Uncle John Bowar and wife Elizabeth.]

June 27

Greased my chickens. Surely was full of lice.

June 28

Leo and James were here. Dad sold him a horse for $110. He said Rudie is not too good.

[Leo is Frances’ brother and James is Leo’s son.]

June 29

Sewed. Made Celesta a dress.

June 30

Washed and cleaned the basement.

1938

July 1

Dad is cutting oats. The hoppers are bad at the oats. Went to church on First Friday.

July 2

Dad is cutting barley. Henry Rumbolz is helping us cut our grain. It’s very dry and hot. Joe has a boil on his hand. Now in the harvest. Dorothy got sick in the field. It was too hot.

July 3

Sunday. Dad cut grain today. It was very warm.

July 4

Dad cut grain and it was very hot. Joe wasn’t home and the girls went over to the Amish Grove and went to Mitchell in the evening to a show.

July 5

Still cutting grain. Bill Livesay started to work here this morning. He is getting $2.00 a day. He is a good worker.

July 6

Cutting grain. Just about done.

July 7

Canned 8 quarts of beans. Grasshoppers surely are bad - are getting my garden.

July 8

Stella’s birthday. Washed and ironed in Dimock. Dad finished cutting grain. Tommy came along from Dimock. Wants to help shuck grain.

[Tommy is Tom Mechtenberg, Frances’s nephew.]

July 9

Saturday. Shucking grain.

July 10

Sunday. Stella and Celesta went over to Nearhood’s. Gust, Marge, and Grandma came in the evening.

July 11

Marie Wermers got married this morning to Tony Schallenkamp. We went to the wedding. It was a hot day.

[This Marie Wermers is the child of the Tony Wermers who died in April 1938. This Tony Wermers is a cousin of Frances’s father Joseph Wermers. Thus Marie Wermers is a second cousin to Frances.]

July 12

Still shucking grain and awful hot and dry and the grasshoppers are terrible. I am afraid we won’t get no corn.

July 13

Hot and dry.

July 14

Joe and Bill shucked grain at Emmett Coyne’s.

July 15

Went to Mitchell. Girls went