FAMILY STORIES

Nebraska who also graduated from Wesleyan the same year. I did graduate work at the University of Nebraska the next 2 years. In 1957 we moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana where I was employed with R.R. Donnelley & Sons for the next 5 years.

   Our 2 children were born "Hoosiers" but became "Cornhuskers" when we moved to Yutan in 1962 when I became associated with the Bank of Yutan. Virginia passed away in 1968.

   Carole is the oldest and is married to Neal Newbern. They are both in the U.S. Army and have been stationed in Hawaii the past 2 years. They are expecting their first child in the spring of 1983.

   Steven is unmarried and will graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1983. Both children spent all of their school years in Yutan and graduated from Yutan High School.

   In 1980 I married Thelma Norton, a native of Saunders County for the past 20 years.

   As a young man, I remember a great-uncle (born 1866 -- died 1962) talk about the blizzard of '88. He said he saw worse ones. When I was just old enough to remember, we had a neighbor who lived behind us, who had served in the Civil War as a drummer boy.

   The past several years I have been interested in genealogy and have done quite a bit of research into my family history through old newspapers, census reports and church records from Sweden. I have traced some of my Swedish ancestors back to Sweden to 1756, and am about ready to start on the German history. This has turned out to be a most interesting and fulfilling hobby.

   Jonas Victor Anderson was born December 20, 1846 in Narke, Orebro, Sweden. In 1869 he immigrated to America. After a short stay in Geneseo, Illinois, he came with other Swedes to Saunders County, Nebraska, and filed for homestead right to land in Section 12, Wahoo Precinct, 2 miles south of Mead.

   While Mr. Anderson was living on his land to fulfill requirements for the grant, he worked at the stone quarry near Ashland to prepare rock for laying the Burlington Railroad from Omaha to Lincoln. Over the weekend he walked the 16 miles to his land and stayed in a dugout home he had made there. After fulfilling his residence time he filed for, and paid the fee for, his homestead grant at the Lincoln Office. This grant was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.

   This area had lush prairie grasses, but was treeless except along river or creek banks. When buildings were to be constructed, Mr. Anderson leased a wooded island in the Platte River, directly 7 miles east of his land. He hired a group to cut the large cottonwood trees into rough lumber and then hauled it to his farm. He developed skills of a carpenter, as well as farming, erecting his own and neighbors' buildings. Young seedlings of cedar, maple, and cottonwood were carried to the farm to be replanted. These were huge trees when the Nebraska Ordnance Plant took possession of the land in 1942.

   Often food supplies were carried as he walked home from Ashland or Fremont. Besides garden plants, many wild plants such as lamb's-quarters, and wild plums, grapes and strawberries were prepared for eating. After grain was harvested it was later hauled to a flour mill on a creek near Ithaca, or one near Wahoo. A load of grain was thus exchanged for a year's supply of flour for the family.

   Anna Sophia Matilda Carlson was born March 27, 1856, in Ostergotland, Sweden, and came with her parents to Illinois in 1868. In 1869 they came to Saunders County and homesteaded in the eastern part of Section 12, Wahoo Precinct. Matilda was one of three in the first confirmation class of the Alma Lutheran church, and her Bible had both English and Swedish printed on the same page.

   Victor and Matilda were married January 1, 1873. They had 12 children -- Ellen, who married Amandus Johnson, a farmer; Oscar, a carpenter, who married Viola Swanbo; Carl, a farmer; Joseph, who died in infancy; David (Vikner), a minister and a missionary in China for 26 years, who married Lily Callerstrom; Philip, a carpenter; Hulda, caretaker of the home; Godfrey, carpenter and farmer; twins Hilda and Lily, who died as young children; Ruth, a school teacher; and Esther, a nurse.

   Matilda died November 11, 1904, and Victor died April 25, 1929. Two of their children are still living in Wahoo -- Ruth and Esther Anderson.

   Johan (John) Frederick Anderson was one of nine children born to Anders Johanson and Mayastena Andersdotter in Sweden, September 22, 1831, at Sandkulla Renosocken, Ostergötland, Sweden. He changed his name by adding son to his father's first name for his last name, and first part of last name for his last name, and first part of last name for the first name, so he went by John Frederick Anderson.

   On September 22, 1858, he married Anna Charlotte Erickson, daughter of Johannes and Johanna Sophia Erickson, who was born July 7, 1839, at Klippan Ekeby Socken, Ostergötland, Sweden.

   Grandfather John F. Anderson came to Illinois from Sweden in 1869. He left his wife and four small children in Sweden and worked on the railroad in Illinois to earn money to enable his family to come to America.

   While in Sweden my grandmother was very poor and the family had to go hungry many times. Grandfather had left a cow for his wife to sell, so that they would have enough to live on until he could send for them. The man who purchased the cow never paid her for it. The daughter of a wealthy family who lived nearby kept Grandmother and children from starving by bringing in the leftovers from their evening meal.

   Grandfather's brother, August, who had earlier come to a place which is now Ithaca, Nebraska, and who was a Civil War Veteran, encouraged him to file for an 80-acre homestead next to his.

   In 1870, Grandfather met his wife and four children at Council Bluffs, Iowa and brought them out to the homestead where a sod house was provided, one of those that was partially underground. It had sort of a thatched roof over it and was none too waterproof. Grandmother had lost her trunk of their only possessions to a trickster in Chicago. They were so thankful to come to a place they could call their own.

   The closest town was Omaha. One time Grandfather took his oldest daughter with him to Omaha to buy flour, a broom and few groceries. They walked and had to wade the Platte River. When going in, the river was low, but while they were in Omaha, it had rained. On their way home, the river had risen and the daughter (my aunt) could not wade across the river. Grandfather first carried the groceries across to the other side, waded back and carried his daughter over. While carrying her, they almost drowned, but finally made it home.

   The first two years Grandmother and the children planted corn by making a hole with a stick and dropping the kernel in the hole. Ten acres were plowed under at $3.00 an acre. Grandfather was employed at Ashland and Louisville on the railroad and also at a stone quarry.

   Grandmother walked one and one-half to two miles to a stream to wash clothes. This was not new to her as she did this in Sweden. She was so happy when she was able to purchase a washboard. About 1880, a man started a small store in Wahoo which was just seven miles west of Grandfather's homestead, so they did not have so far to go for groceries. For a long time they had to carry their drinking water two and one-half miles.

   Her scrub brush was two cobs, scouring powder was ashes, her egg beater was six skinned willow sticks tied together. After seven years in a sod house they built a house made of wood. Grandmother made her candles, spun thread, wove cloth. For shoe polish, she used soot from lid of stove and sugar and water mixed together, papered her kitchen walls with newspapers that came once a week. Indians came and begged for food and would threaten them with knives if food was not given.

   Later, Grandfather bought 80 acres of land for around $500.00. They had a large family and never had a doctor. Among them were several sets of twins. Ten children grew to adulthood.

   With all respect to Grandfather, he didn't believe in education, so the children went to school when there was no work to do. His philosophy was "Teach them to work", and that they did.

   In 1902, they moved to a farm northwest of Ceresco and lived there a few years, and then moved to Wahoo where they lived until Grandmother's death March 2, 1915. Grandfather lived with a daughter, Hilda, in Mead until his passing January 1, 1919.

   In spite of hardships they were married 56 years. Their ten children were: Carl Otto; Hulda Matilda (Mrs. Martin Berggren, RFD Wahoo); Gustaf Adolph; Hattie Charlotte (Hädda, Mrs. Charlie Nelson, Omaha); Frank August; Hilda Josephine (Mrs. Ledvig Johnson, Mead); Minnie (Mrs. Ed Anderson, South Dakota); David Arthur; Esther Alfreda (Mrs. Nels Anderson, Swedeberg and So. Dak.); and Anna Louise (Mrs. Magnus Swanson, Ceresco). Submitted by Evelyn (Swanson) Johnson, Ceresco

   I, Melva Darlene Anderson, was born the third child of Ford and Ruth Torrens, on February 20, 1924 in Colon, Nebraska. We lived at Colon and on a farm near Ceresco, but moved to Cedar Bluffs where I attended my twelve years of school. In 1942, the family moved to Wahoo and I began working for the J.C. Penney Co. I worked for them for 6 years. During this time I met my husband-to-be, Wayne W. Anderson, also of Wahoo. (Son of Edna and Fred Anderson of Ceresco)

Melva and Wayne Anderson

   On July 12th, 1948, we were married in the Presbyterian Church in Wahoo, Ne. Our first child, Freddie W. Anderson was born on April 11,1949 in Omaha. Our second child, Donald L. Anderson, was born on August 19, 1954 in Wahoo.

   We lived our first nine years of marriage in and around the area. Wayne worked various jobs, including the J.C. Penney Co. and for the safety department at the Nebraska Ordinance Plant. We then moved west to Broomfield, Colorado, where Wayne was employed by Employers Insurance of Wausau as a safety consultant. Wayne passed away on September 18th, 1976 at Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.

   My eldest son has recently received his doctorate in Colonial History from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and has received a professorship with the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado to begin in August of 1983. He was married August 17th, 1980 to Virginia DeJohn in Wethersfield, Conn. She is also studying for her doctorate in Colonial History at Harvard.

   My youngest son received his B.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Northern Colo-

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rado at Greeley, Colorado, in December 1976. For the last 4 years he has been a teacher at Elbert High School in Elbert, Colorado and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Melva Anderson

   My background is definitely related to early history of Saunders County. My paternal and maternal grandparents settled in Saunders County in the 1880's. My father, Ray Walter A. Anderson, was born on a farm between Malmo and Colon in 1886, while my mother, Elsie Piper Anderson, was born in 1890 at a home 3½ miles northeast of Ashland, which was the location of the H.T. Clark toll bridge over the Platte River.

   My parents were married in 1917 and established their home in Wahoo. My father and grandfather, T.P. Anderson, were members of the Smith-Hultin-Anderson mercantile firm.

   There being no hospital in Wahoo, I was born August 5, 1920 at the Stewart Maternity Home in Omaha, and grew up in Wahoo. I attended North Ward, Wahoo High School and Luther College, and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1942.

   Upon graduation, I began my career, teaching Kindergarten in the Wahoo Public Schools, where I taught for 5 years. Then I moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota for 2 years, on to Topeka, Kansas for 8 years, and finished my career of teaching Kindergarten with 24 years in Phoenix, Arizona -- thus completing 39 years of continuous teaching on the Kindergarten level.

   After taking early retirement in June, 1981, I returned to Wahoo to reside with my mother. I have found that retirement is not the end of the road. It is a doorway to new experiences and accomplishments. Through my interest in music, civic, and community organizations, and my church, I have found a new outlook to my life in various activities. Submitted by Milrae E. Anderson

   Peter Edward Anderson was born September 10, 1872 in Sjogarde, Sodra Hestra, Jonkpg, Sweden. He had seven brothers and two sisters. He and four brothers came to America and landed in New York City April 5, 1891. His brother, Carl, stayed in New York City but Swan, John, and Edward came to Ashland, Nebraska on the train.

R. to L.: John (Johanus), Edward, and Sven Anderson.

   It was common to take another name. Ed's real name was Peter Edward Andreasson. At the immigration office his name was written as Peter Edward Anderson. Swan and John were given the name of Anderson.

   When Ed and his brothers arrived in Ashland, Ed had only a few clothes and fifty cents in his pocket. Swan and John didn't have any more money. The three brothers worked on the section for Great Northern Railroad. They inspected and repaired the rails. They had to pump the section cars by hand. About this time Swan returned to Sweden. John and Ed pooled their money and bought eighty acres south of Ashland.

   John was troubled with asthma and did the inside work while Ed farmed. They sold the land and bought land north of Ashland close to the Platte River.

   Ed arrived in America when he was 19 years old, but did not marry until he was 48 years. He married Tillie Bloom. A short time later John returned to Sweden. Ed and Tillie bought eighty acres 2 miles north and a half mile west of Memphis. They didn't live there long because they bought closer to Memphis. On this place, one mile north and ½ mile east of Memphis, their three children, Marie, Carl and Clarence were born.

   Ed loved the land and its harvest. At harvest time he was very anxious to get the crops into the bins or into the elevator. He would have the wheat straw blown into the hay mow of the barn. He wanted his animals to have good bedding. The corn would be picked by hand by Thanksgiving.

   When ice was cut on the lake near Memphis, now a State Park, he would get the summer ice in a wagon and horses. The ice blocks would be placed between layers of wheat straw in the ice houses.

   He was always the happiest when it rained. He knew the land in Nebraska was good. All it needed was plenty of rain and sunshine to produce.

   In cold weather he would take his children to school and was sure they were bundled up well so they would not get cold. He saw to it that we attended Sunday School and Church in the Methodist Church in Memphis.

   He never lost his Swedish accent. Ed subscribed to the Swedish American paper published in Chicago, Illinois.

   When World War II came, he sold the farm at Memphis and bought eighty acres east of Elkhorn, Nebraska on Maple Street, the main street of Benson, a suburb of Omaha.

   Ed didn't live long after he moved to Elkhorn. He had suffered a back injury in a farm accident near Memphis, but died from another cause. He passed away June 14, 1942 and is buried in Ashland Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Marie Hoxie

   As I write this brief history of my family's life and involvement in Saunders County, I cannot help but reflect on the tremendous changes that have taken place in the past 100 years. But one thing remains constant: the sincerity, friendship and warmth of the people of the Midwest.

   I was one of six children born to Ida Mae and Frank Howe, who came to Saunders County from Pennsylvania, via Illinois in the late 1800's. My father was a builder and cabinetmaker, during the time when it was a common practice to build massive barns on the local farmsteads. Many of these large barns still stand today in the Wahoo and Malmo area. My mother helped with the family income as a seamstress.

   One of the highlights of my schooling in Wahoo was the opportunity to play my violin with the Charlie Prokop orchestra in the Wahoo Opera House. I later became a teacher and, in 1925, I married Roland Anderson of Wahoo.

   Roland A. Anderson's parents, Gus and Amanda Anderson, both came to this country from Sweden, as children, and finally settled in the Malmo area. They were the parents of two boys, Roland and Rudy. After some time spent in farming, they moved to Wahoo and supplied milk to the local residents.

   Roland often spoke of riding to school in Wahoo from Malmo with a horse and buggy, and on the return trip home was always thrilled to see the kerosene lamp in the window of the Malmo farm. He completed his education in electrical engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and returned to Wahoo and established an electrical business, known as Anderson-Webster. During this time, as electricity was in its infancy, he amazed local folks with "magic shows" using the wonders of electricity to perform many feats. Also he built and operated the first government-licensed radio station west of the Mississippi in 1919, call letters 9DUP, located in Wahoo. He continued in business for many years, and never failed to wonder over the many scientific achievements of today's world.

   Two girls, Gayle Marie and Jeanne Lorraine, made our family complete. Ruth E. Anderson

   Ronald Wallace (Ron) was raised in the Colon area of Saunders County and has lived there most of his life. He attended Carpentry School in Omaha and served two years in the U.S. Navy. Ron was involved in the Vietnam War.

Ronald Anderson Family

   I was born in Wayne, Nebraska, but moved to Wahoo in the second grade, and lived there until I attended college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

   Ron and I were married shortly before he was sent overseas. I was blessed, having him return unharmed. We did live in South Gate, California the last three months before he got off active duty.

   God had blessed us with four children: Jeff, 15; Ron Jr., 13; Stefani, 12; and Rusty, our caboose, who just turned two.

   We are living on the farm which Ron's grandparents, Herman and Edna Anderson, built. Ron has remodeled the whole house now so his carpentry has definitely paid off.

   Ron did work as a carpenter for seven years after returning from Vietnam. After driving back and forth to Omaha daily, he decided to try his hand at farming. What a privilege to farm the same land his father and grandfather did! Some day we hope our children will have this land.

   The farm is such a wonderful place to raise our children. They can learn so many things: how to plant a garden; care for animals; or drive all the farm machinery.

   We live in a wonderful neighborhood where each family will help the other one out if necessary. It's especially nice that Ron can farm with his father, Wallace Anderson. His mom, Marian, is always willing to help us too. My parents are quite close too.

   The children attend a small country school through 8th grade, Dist. #60, and have learned so much going there. They have horses, sheep, dogs, cats, and a bunny. They keep busy with church, 4-H, baseball, softball, basketball, cross-country, piano, and bowling.

   How privileged we are to live in a free country where we can say what we want, do what we wish, and worship where we please! This truly is a great country. Submitted by Sherri A. Anderson

   Roy Anderson was born April 6, 1904, son of Andrew and Sophia Anderson. Mamie Martinson was born March 18, 1908, daughter of Fred and Anna Martinson. They were married February 7, 1929 at the Martinson home. A blizzard, bringing the temperatures to 20 below zero, caused guests to have trouble starting cars when the reception was over. Roy and Mamie moved to a farm west of Swedeburg and lived there until January, 1930

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when they moved to Swedeburg and lived with Mamie's grandfather, John Nelson. That year Roy worked for Moorman Mineral Company a few months, then for farmers in the area.

Roy and Mamie Anderson

   In February of 1931, they moved to a ranch near Cody, Wyoming. The main crop was alfalfa but also included grain and even peas and beans for seed and for drying. Turkeys, hogs and chickens were also raised. Alfalfa sold for $4.00 a ton, turkeys for 6 to 9 cents a pound and eggs were as low as 6 cents a dozen.

   December of 1932 found them in Nebraska for Christmas. While here, Delmar had flu, followed by a double mastoid and several tumors. In February, Roy left for Wyoming and home, without wife and children. Banks were closed so there was no way to get cash except through friends who shared so they would have enough to buy gas, and for motels. In April, we followed.

   In December of 1933, we again moved back to Nebraska and our 3rd child, Fred, was born on April 6, his dad's birthday. We then moved to Mead on April 27, 1933. Depression was on. Roy worked for Carl Johnson, farmer, for 2 years. Later, on road crews and for county surveyors.

   In the fall of 1940, Roy began work at the Mead school as Custodial Engineer and continued here until he retired in 1972. The fall of 1949 saw Mamie working at school, as manager and head cook of the lunch room, where she continued for 21 years. During these years they also served as janitor-caretaker of the Covenant Church. They served in many ways in the church as well. One big task was banquets each spring in cooperation with each church and organization.

   Roy and Mamie have children. Delmar, a minister and married to Darlene Hanke, has 3 children and lives in Chicago. Frances Marie, born in Wyoming, is also a minister and teacher of Christian Education at North Park Seminary in Chicago. Fred is with the Omaha Public Schools in charge of I-M-C (Materials Center). His wife, Mary, is in the same position at District 66. They have 2 sons. Lois, now Mrs. Carlton Holmberg, is an L.P.N., working at Immanuel Hospital. Carlton is a welder with Freehauf Company. They have two children. Jon, a music teacher in the Omaha Public Schools, is also interested in opera and art. All graduated from Mead Public School.

   The Andersons, now retired, spend time gardening and weaving rugs. They are still active in church and visit their families, enjoying seeing their grandchildren, all in college. Three of them are married. The Lord has answered many prayers for our family these 53 years, and we are thankful. By Mrs. Roy Anderson

   Living on our farm 3/4 mile south of Colon, on a piece of ground that the state had set aside many years ago to house the State Penitentiary, proves history very interesting. Plans were changed and it was then homesteaded and, later on, sold to Victor and Elmer Franson, my husband's uncles. It was later obtained by Mrs. Herman Anderson, and now is owned by my husband and me. We have lived here the second time since 1967. This farm is referred to by many as "The Presba Farm."

Top Row, L. to R.: Wallace, Marian, Ron and Sherri Anderson; Bottom Row, L. to R.: Jeff, Ron Jr., Rusty and Stefani Anderson.

   We have one son, Ron, (married to Sherri Roberts of Wahoo) living 3 miles northeast of Colon with their children, Jeff, Ron Jr., Stefani, and Rusty. Already the love of the land is instilled in our son and family, and our hopes are they will keep the land in the families to come.

   We owe much to our Swedish ancestors who immigrated to America in 1868-70. Frans Franson, my husband's grandfather, and brother, Eric, came first. They were joined a year later by a sister, Anna, and the following year by brothers, August and Fredrik, half-sister, Marie, and their parents. They all established homes in and around Colon in Saunders County. Frans lived southeast of Colon, August and Fredrik, northwest of Colon, where they broke up sod on a farm bought from the Union Pacific Railroad. Eric homesteaded north of Mead, now owned by the Roland Nelson family. All the family remained in Saunders County except Fredrik, who went on to establish the Estina Baptist Church north of Mead. He became a noted missionary, and then founded the Evangelical Alliance Mission (T.E.A.M.) in Chicago and several Missions back in Sweden. He spent the rest of his short life (56) touring the world, spreading the Gospel.

   Frans Franson built their home and lived all of his years on his farm southeast of Colon, now owned by my brother, John Auch. He married Anna Palm to which 3 children were born: Victor, Elmer, and Edna who married Herman Anderson. To them one son, Wallace, my husband, was born. They lived on their farm northeast of Colon, (where our son, Ron, now lives) until they moved to Fremont in 1959.

   Through wet years, dry years, hail, sweat and tears, your land so becomes a part of you, that only another farmer can understand.

   Our forefathers had the persistence to come to a new country, buy the land, build it up, and add to its value in many ways so they could hand it down to our present generation. With God's help, we plan to do the same. Submitted by Mrs. Wallace Anderson

   Otto Ankersen left Denmark in 1920 and settled in the Fremont area. His wife, Agnes Nielsen, was from the Fremont area. Married in 1936, they lived in the Colon area until they retired to Fremont in 1965. David was the last of 4 children and the only one to stay in the Colon area.

   My grandfather, Bohumil Ruzicka, lived here all his life. His wife, the former Agnes Kracl, came to America in 1907 from Czechoslovakia. My maternal grandfather, William Dwyer, was also a lifetime Colon resident. My grandmother, the former Helena Scott, came here from Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. David Ankersen Family Children: Carrie, Candie, Adam, and Caylie Joy.

   My parents, Raymond and Phyllis Ruzicka were both born here at Colon, were married in 1946, and lived on the same place where Mom was born ever since. I was born in 1948 and my sister, Dianna, in 1950.

   David attended school at Dist. #26, northwest of Colon, and I went to Dist. #65, northeast of Colon. We didn't meet until high school at Cedar Bluffs, where we both graduated. David graduated in 1965 and I, in 1966.

   We were married in 1968. We lived in Fremont for 1½ years. Both being farm-raised, we moved back to the Colon community. We rented for over 2 years. We then put down a mobile home on 1 acre next to my folks place in 1972. Just this September I have built a permanent home in the exact spot where we were for 10 years.

   Our first child, Carrie, was born in December, 1970, followed by Candie in February, 1973, and Adam, in September of 1977.

   This is the third generation living on this land and, technically, attending the same rural school. My mother and I attended Dist. #65. My children attend Dist. #60 into which #65 consolidated.

   David worked in Fremont as an auto mechanic since 1963 after graduating from Milford Trade School. He enjoyed working on cars, evenings, for our wonderful neighbors. He was also a National Guard member for 6 years.

   Much of our family time was spent working with our sheep herd. We have been very active in 4-H, showing our lambs. We also enjoy our horses, ducks, chickens, cats, and dogs, a true menagerie! Our spare time, between chores, was spent camping. We are very active in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, David and all the children being baptized there, along with our having been married there.

   Tragedy hit our family on April 27, 1982. David was killed several minutes after leaving work on his motorcycle while stopped for a red light. It has been a very rough summer for us all, especially since I was 5 months pregnant. God has given us all the strength to carry on and has since blessed us on Aug. 16 with Caylie Joy. She is a very special memory of David, as are all his children. Submitted by Sharron Ankersen

   I, Bonita arrived on Halloween night in 1934 at the home of Julius and Frances Zetocha on a farm a mile and a half southwest of Touhy, Nebraska. I was happy to have the attention of four sisters, Irene, Bettye, Margaret and Frances, also two brothers, Julius and Ernest.

   I followed my brothers to rural school in Dist. 113 and finished my K-8 grades in Dist. 17. These were the years before the school bus service and I remained home until my marriage to Pvt. Don Arney. Don was the son of Logan and Victoria Lineberry Arney of Wahoo. He was the youngest child of a family of eight -- namely John, Evie Dokulil, Earl, Bettye Hughes, Dorothy Hughes, Bill, Robert and Don. His parents were of Irish descent.

   Don attended his K-10 grades in the Wahoo Public Schools before leaving to serve his time in the U.S. Army.

   Our first home was near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and our first child, Diane, was born at the base hospital. We remained there till Don was discharged and we returned to Wahoo. Three more children, Raymond, Kathy, and John arrived.

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