FAMILY STORIES

60th Anniv. -- Frank -- Carrie Blazek L. to R. Rose Martin, Lil Knap, Louis Blazek, Frank Blazek, Carrie Blazek, Lod Blazek, Frances Woita, and Bessie Kucera.

   In February, 1966, I moved to Weston, Nebraska where I still reside. I am a member of St. John's Catholic Church. My husband, Emil Woita, died August 1, 1976. (See Frank Blazek Family.) Submitted by Frances Woita

   Olaf Olson and Anna Kasja Bloom and their three children, Andrew, Anna and John, left Ugglebo, Geflebargs, Sweden, May 5, 1882 for the United States. Another son, David, died of pneumonia after he had fallen into a lake during the winter season. David was two years old and passed away before they came to America.

Olaf Bloom Family. L.- R., Front Row: Olaf, Tillie, and Anna; Sec. Row: Andrew, Anna, and John.

   The Bloom family came to Malmo, Nebraska after a short residence at Kanakee, Illinois. Pete Lust, who lived in Malmo, paid their passage to America. It was agreed that Olaf would work for this man seven years to pay for the transportation. When they arrived in Malmo, all their worldly possessions for a family of five were contained in a homemade trunk that measured thirty-six inches by twenty-four inches by eighteen inches. This trunk is still in the home of a descendant of the Bloom family.

   Olaf planted trees for landowners as boundary lines for their claims. Long willow branches would be planted in dug furrows. Many new trees would grow along the planted branches. Many other kind of trees were planted.

   Olaf and his sons did a lot of hunting and fishing. Rabbits were their specialty.

   While at Malmo, Beda O'Tillia was born. After the transportation bill was paid, they moved to Ashland, Nebraska. They lived on various rented farms located south, northwest, and northeast of Ashland.

   Anna became ill with rheumatism and was bedfast for two years. Tillie was forced to leave school at the fourth grade to take care of her mother. Anna Margaret, their older daughter, was married to Gustaf Holmberg and lived in Missouri. Olaf needed help to care for his wife when Tillie became ill. Dr. Kirpatrick called Tillie his "Little-Nurse" and encouraged her to get well so she could care for her mother.

   A young Swedish girl, named Anna Anderson, had just arrived in Ashland from Sweden. Olaf brought her home to help care for his wife and daughter. Anna Anderson never left the Bloom family. She became Andrew's wife. John married Edyth Cramer from Iowa, and Tillie was left to care for her aging parents. Andrew was nineteen years older than Tillie.

   The lack of money never kept them from owning an organ and later, a piano. Tillie was given music lessons from a blind man who came to the house to give music lessons. Tillie learned easily and practiced until she was able to play for local dances. She had a natural gift to play any song by ear that she heard.

   When Tillie married Peter Edward Anderson, Olaf and Anna moved to 1717 Clay Street in Ashland. Ed and Tillie bought a 160 acres north of Memphis where Anna Marie, Carl Edward, and Clarence Eugene were born.

   When World War II began, they sold and moved to a farm east of Elkhorn, Nebraska where Ed passed away a short time later. Tillie returned to Ashland in 1951 and passed away January 19, 1952. By Mrs. Marie Hoxie

   We moved to Saunders County in February, 1947, settling on the Maxwell farm in Pohocco. Orval was born in Lancaster County near Roca to Cal and Leila Boettner, second generation pioneers who settled on a Timber Claim. I was born and raised about one-half mile from our present home. My parents were Jim and Nettie (Maxwell) McClean.

The Orval Boettner Family, 1963. Front: Orval and Dorothy; Back: Kathleen, John, and Mary.

   We were married in Norboro, Iowa, by the Rev. Walter Rowaldt. Our oldest child, Kathleen, was ten and her sister, Mary A., was six months old when we moved here. Our son, Jon, was born here September 14, 1948.

   Orval was one of the first in this precinct to start a farm herd of sheep. Out of this grew 4-H sheep projects for all three children. Each one in turn exhibited the Grand Champion Market Lamb and won showmanship honors. Both girls belonged to Kitchen Kuties, a long-established 4-H Club. Kathleen excelled in Public Speaking and Foods Demonstrations, while Mary excelled in Home Economics projects. Both were style show winners. Jon took honors in farm and tractor projects. He belonged to the Better Bossie's Livestock Club led by George Gaeth.

   All three children are college graduates. Kathleen is presently Chapter I Coordinator in the Fremont Public Schools. She married J. Keith Murphy whose parents, Albert and Alice Murphy, are long time Saunders County residents. They have one son, Michael James. Mary married Larry Brown, son of Bertha and the late Ralph Brown, also of this county. Mary teaches adult education classes at Midland College. Their children are Molly, 15; Matt, 9; and Dan, 5. Jon married Cindy Bahe of Fremont. They live in Omaha. Jon works for J.H. Kenny Food Brokers. They have one son, Michael Jon.

   Because we both feel it's important, we work for our community. Orval served 9 years as a school board member in District #11. I was a 4-H leader for over ten years.

   After a couple of drought years in the 1950's, I went back to my old profession -- teaching History three years in Cedar Bluffs, and then 16 years at Fremont High School. I retired in 1976 as a Guidance Counselor.

   Both of us have been active in local and state politics, working for many years on voter registration. In 1976, I was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Presently, I serve as Vice Chairman of the Saunders County Democrats and have been a Precinct Chairman six years.

   We both belong to the Fremont Presbyterian Church where I am a Ruling Elder.

   In 1981, I was named a Nebraska Merit Mother.

   We believe in the small family FARM and hope it can be preserved. Submitted by Dorothy Boettner

   I was born, Dorothy Rose Konecky, August 23, 1924, on a farm near Ithaca, Nebraska. I went to Ithaca school for 10 years, starting before I was 5 years old. Then I graduated from Wahoo High School. After that I moved to Omaha to work as stenographer at Army Headquarters, then back home to live and work as secretary to a purchasing agent at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant for 3 years. Next, I moved to Fremont, Nebr. to work as a receptionist for Dr. Heine.

35th Wedding Anniv. Everette and Dorothy Bogenreif

   My parents came from Wahoo, Nebraska, settling as farmers by Ithaca. My mother was Frances Styskal Konecky, born January 30, 1896, and died on March 26, 1959, a wonderful loving homemaker. My father, Joseph, was born Feb. 6, 1895, and died January 20, 1978, a farmer dedicated to his work. I have a lovely sister, Rosanne, living in Fremont, Nebraska, married to Richard Woita.

   Our family lived by a beautiful natural lake to sit and dream by, to go fishing and wading in. It was loaded with bullhead and carp, flipping up in the water on quiet days, teasing an expectant fisherman ...Then the awful drought came, dried the lake up until the lake bed was covered with thousands of dead fish. The crops were burnt, and the depression came with its heartbreak.

   Before that, the winter time brought neighborhood children in for skating parties. How my father loved to fascinate everyone with his figure-skating! Then each year, the men would get the ice-cutting machine and cut ice to fill our ice house for our old-fashioned ice box before we knew electricity.

   As time went on, and I was putting the usual "eye drops" in everyone's eyes a certain young man winked at me through the drops. He worked down the hall at Riggs Optical as an optician. He wouldn't stop winking at me, so I married him! I said "Yes," in St. Patrick's Catholic Church Sept. 28, 1946 in Fremont and became Mrs. Everette Bogenreif. Everette's family came from Lincoln, Nebraska. His father, Guy, worked for the railroad but had a disabling heart attack at 42, and later passed away. His mother, Pearl, is living in Lincoln, Nebr., very spry at 81. Everette served 3 years in the Field Artillery, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in Luxemburg, seeing many of his buddies die. When

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he came home, he trained as an optician and has been one for almost 38 years.

   We've had a busy life raising 6 boys, Joseph, Michael, James, Timothy, Nicholas, and Robert. Joe's wife was Kim Scott. Their children are Kelly, Jason, and Laurie. Michael's wife was Nancy Gumb. Their children are Christopher and John Jacob. James's wife was Linda Engel; their children, Jennifer and Julie. Nicholas married Jean Venneman recently.

   Our daughters-in-law are delightful, and also the grandchildren! They enrich our lives so we don't know what we'd do without them. Fascinating what a simple little wedding band will bring about! Submitted by Dorothy Konecky Bogenreif

   My father, Fred Booth, was an immigrant from Sweden. He married Eva T. VanDriel of Malmo, Nebraska on June 27, 1906. They farmed on the farm where we reside, and where I was born on August 29, 1914, youngest of three children.

Francis and Blanche Booth

   On June 11, 1946, I married Blanche Meduna of Colon, youngest daughter of Wm. and Agnes (Koutny) Meduna. She graduated from Wahoo High School in 1938. She was Secretary-Treasurer of Saunders County ASCS, where she was employed from 1940-46.

   We have one son, Edward Francis Booth, born April 29, 1947. He attended grade school at Malmo, the same school I attended. He graduated in the first class of the new Bishop Neumann Central Catholic High School in 1965. Edward served in the U.S. Marines from 1966-70. Thirty-two months of this time were spent in Vietnam. In 1970, he returned home and started working at the U. of N. Field Lab at Mead. He is still employed there as an electrician.

   In November, 1968, while our son was in Vietnam, we traveled to Sydney, Australia, where he had R & R. This was the highlight of our travels. We also stopped enroute home in Hawaii and California.

   I was engaged in farming and also raised Angus cattle. My wife, Blanche, started working for the Bachand Grain Company in Malmo in 1950. In 1959, we became members of the Bachand Grain Company Corp., where she was on the board of directors and secretary-treasurer until 1974. The company was sold to Holmquist Elevator Co. of Omaha. She was manager of the Malmo Elevator for three years.

   In 1977, I retired from farming, renting out the land, but we continue to live on our farm where we built a new home in 1962. We are enjoying these years together, doing yard work, gardening, traveling, etc. My wife's hobbies are stamp collecting and flowers.

   We are members of St. Joseph's Church, Colon. My wife has been organist for over 35 years. I belong to the choir also. We are both active church workers. I am a retired member of Malmo Volunteer Fire Dept., member of Wahoo Knights of Columbus Council, a 25-year member of Saunders County Feeders Association, and we both belong to Saunders County Czech Chapter. Blanche is also active in Extension Club work, and presently is on the County Council, serving as treasurer.

   On Sept. 10, 1982, our son, Edward, was married to Micki Sayers of Lincoln. Micki has two sons, Jeff Sayers, 8, and Jay Sayers, 6, so we became instant grandparents. We enjoy this addition to our family.

   The newest project in our area is a dam, being constructed on the roadway east of our home. We will enjoy watching this development take place. It is quite different from the trees and creek that I had grown up with and enjoyed. But we enjoy the progress and hope it will be an improvement for future generations. We hope we can say we have been good stewards of our land with our methods of conservation. We thank God for our relatives and friends, and for our beautiful country. By Francis Booth

   Fred Booth was born in Wassebro, Sweden in 1864 and came to America in 1893. He worked in the Malmo Community as a carpenter and married Eva (Van Driel), the eldest daughter of R.B. and Lizzie Van Driel, who were early pioneer settlers near Malmo, June, 1906.

John and Theresa Booth 1976

   Fred and Eva farmed near Malmo and raised three children: Elizabeth, John and Francis. Two of Fred's nephews, Lars and Gust Kjellberg, came from Sweden at the age of 17 to make their home with the Booth family.

   Theresa's parents were Charles and Theresa Riepl. Charles Riepl was born in Omaha, and later, the family moved to Herndon, Kansas, and farmed there. Theresa (Solko) Riepl was born in Nebraska City, and moved with her folks to Herndon, Kansas when she grew up.

   Charles and Theresa were married in Herndon, Kansas in June, 1907. To this union nine children were born. In 1917 the family moved to Fremont, and then to Saunders County where Charles was a farmer and farm laborer. Theresa, their eldest daughter, married John Booth in 1937, at Colon, Nebraska. They had one child, Virginia, born in 1939.

   They lived on the Lizzie VanDriel farm that was known in the early days as Sunnydale. They bought the farm from the estate. Now the farm has been in the family for over 100 years and has received the Ak-Sar-Ben Award. Many family gatherings were held in this large home.

   John was a member of the Malmo School Board for several years and active in the Volunteer Fire Dept., also in church work, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

   Theresa is a member of St. Ann's Altar Sodality in Colon Catholic Church and used to sew and care for altar linens. She was a County Extension member and County Red Cross Bloodmobile chairman for several years. She also served as a 4-H leader.

   John and Theresa are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Colon. This is where we met when we were children.

   One of our most frightening experiences was on July 3, 1973, when a small tornado destroyed the large barn, granary, hog house and left the windmill standing; fortunately, the house was not damaged.

   A happy experience was a trip to Sweden in 1976 to visit relatives and see the place where John's father was born. We found Sweden to be a very clean country and everyone was very kind to us. We have been hosts to Swedish relatives and friends before and after this trip. We have also entertained Van Driel relatives from the Netherlands.

   Our daughter, Virginia, attended Malmo Public School and Prague Parochial School. She was a graduate from Malmo the last year Malmo had a high school, 1958.

   Virginia worked at Mutual of Omaha and later married Lonnie Warner; they had two daughters; both died in infancy. Later she married Don Welty. They have a daughter, Kay Lynn. Submitted by John and Theresa Booth

   Ernest J. Bouc was born to Jacob and Mary (Havlovic) Bouc at their rural Ceresco, Nebraska home on January 23, 1920. He served in the U.S. Army from November, 1941 to 1945 in the 10th Armored Division under General Patton.

Ernest Bouc Family, Aug. 1982. Top Row: Joanne, Kathleen, Milton, and Thomas; Bottom Row: Anne E., Marilyn, Phyllis and Greg.

   Ernest and Anne Egr, daughter of Frank and Mary (Vanek) Egr, were married in 1948 at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Plasi, P.O. Prague, Nebr. We made our home on the farm of his parents, who had retired to Wahoo, Nebr. God blessed this home with seven children. My sister, Mary, and her family, the James Ruzeks, lived just two miles southwest.

   Our children walked to Dist. 32 School, later being bused to the Valparaiso and Raymond Central School where they completed high school. There were the years of the Friendship 32 4-H Club meetings and projects. Later, F.F.A., school ball games, and family reunions.

   The farm and the neighborhood kept the family together with jobs, such as gardening, sewing, baking, babysitting, weed-walking, cow-milking, duck-hatching, fruit tree care, livestock care, and machinery and building maintenance.

   It was a heart-warming event when all the good neighbors and relatives arrived with equipment and baskets of food for a big husking bee on Nov. 9, 1960, after Ernest had been hospitalized several months following surgery.

   Being members of the St. Vitus Catholic Church, Touhy, P.O. Valparaiso, the family spent many happy times visiting in that community. There were

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the Baptisms, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, and the weddings. There were the weekly softball games, 4th of July celebrations, and the Touhy band presentations. Ernest played an old bass horn.

   Ernest had a new saw for cutting trees for firewood. One cold winter day, a group of friends tried to demonstrate it by dragging a large tree trunk into the Joe Pekarek Tavern. It caused a lot of smoke. From then on he was nicknamed "Smokey." After a two-year bout with cancer, Ernie died on August 18, 1981.

   The children are: Joanne (Mrs. Anthony Komenda), living near Agnew; Kathleen (Mrs. Gerald Givens), Lincoln; Milton, Ceresco, employed at Wahoo Metal Products; Thomas, farming at home; Greg, recently married to Diane Brabec, employed by Jim Buresh Plumbing, Valparaiso; Phyllis (Mrs. Jim Emmerich), an R.N. at Lincoln General Hospital; and Marilyn Ceresco, student-teaching at West Ward School, Wahoo. The grandchildren are Jacob Komenda, and Craig, Mark, and Ryan Givens. Submitted by Mrs. Ernest (Anne) Bouc

   Jacob Bouc was born April 18, 1876 in western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia in the village, Podevuv, county of Hors Tyn. At the age of six, he came to the United States with his parents, Jacob and Marketa (Toupal) Bouc, and family. These pioneers lived in a dugout east of Plasi, Nebraska in Elk Precinct in Saunders County.

Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Bouc 50th Wedding Anniversary, 1953

   Jacob could tell stories of how he took care of his younger siblings while his mother helped work in the fields. Many a "cumel" (a kind of thin cereal tied into a cloth) he made as a pacifier for his youngest brother, John.

   Later this family moved to a farm south of Weston, Nebraska. Jacob, now a young man, chose his bride from his boyhood neighborhood. He married Mary Havlovic, daughter of Ondrej and Frances (Novak) Havlovic at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Plasi, on April 18, 1903. Their attendants were Frank Tvrdy and Emma Ptacek. They made their home on a farm in northern Rock Creek Precinct in Saunders County on the former Olaf Dristy place. Their six children were all born at home, some with the help of a midwife, and some with Dr. Dodd of Weston.

   Their children walked to the country school at District 32 a mile away. Many a naughty thing the boys did in that school, such as putting a smelly skunk between the window sill. The oldest daughter, Mary, would tell tales of how she helped wean calves so they could milk the cows to provide milk for the family. One time, before Christmas, Jacob and Mary, returning from a shopping trip, found that Lucille and Fred were decorating a tree. They had cut off the top of one of a row of Dad's beautifully started cedar trees.

   There were the good times, visiting other farm families. Many of the cousins lived in the neighborhood.

   There were the trips to Grandma Havlovic's in the Overland Touring car. What an experience that was! The car would not start until a fire with corn cobs was started underneath and the hood covered with a blanket. There were the weddings of the daughters with the receptions held at home. The children are: Mary, Mrs. Adolph Janecek, Wahoo; Lucille, widow of Ray Riha, David City; Fred, Colon; Ernest, deceased; Martha, Mrs. Venn Kralik, Wahoo; and Jo, Mrs. Victor Egr, David City.

   Jacob and Mary spent their years of retirement in Wahoo, celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1953. They are both gone now but their memory lives on. Jacob's sister and most of his brothers all lived to be married more than fifty years, always living in Saunders County, and liking it. Submitted by daughter-in-law, Mrs. Anne Bouc

   Joseph H. Bowers was born in a sod house on a homestead five miles south of Leigh, Nebraska on March 17, 1883. He was the tenth in a family of twelve children born to Joseph and Matilda Ross Bowers. His father was a war veteran who came West from Virginia at the close of the Civil War.

   The family moved to Schuyler while Joe was still a young boy. His father operated a livery stable there. While living in Schuyler, Mr. Bowers became acquainted with the telegraph operator of the main line of the Union Pacific. He started his career by carrying mail bags back and forth from train to post office. In time he worked himself up to a night operator at the depot. He learned the Morse Code and became an expert at telegraphy. In 1910, Joe started working for the Burlington Railroad, first as a "relief agent" at various stations, and then he was assigned the agency at Prague. In 1925, the Burlington transferred him to Wahoo where he spent the last of his 47 years with the Railroad. He retired in 1959.

   Mr. Bowers married Antoinette Stasanka of Wilbur, Nebraska on August 11, 1909. Nettie, daughter of Karl and Esther Stasanka, was born June 13, 1884, at Chicago, Illinois. Her father was the owner of a tailoring shop. He died when Nettie was three years old. When she was about five, the family moved to Wilbur where she received her education. She taught school in Saline County, and then in Prague where she met Joe.

   Mr. and Mrs. Bowers lived upstairs in the depot and Nettie became Joe's assistant. As a hobby, Nettie painted, specializing in the painting of china. Her collection of dishes and glassware became highly prized. Their only child, June Louise, was born in 1918, and died that same year in the flu epidemic.

   Joe Bowers did not have a great deal of formal education. It consisted of whatever the elementary schools of Colfax County offered at the turn of the century. However, he never stopped learning for he possessed a quick, inventive mind. He was great with conversation, an ardent reader, and current in his knowledge of affairs in the state and nation. In his spare time he enjoyed constructing and repairing various types of equipment. He patented and manufactured a kind of a door for hog houses that was operated entirely by the animal. He also invented a central water system for this same hog house. He called this business "The Bowers Manufacturing Company." He owned a wheat ranch in North Dakota where he loved to spend a little time each year, always traveling by rail or bus. He never owned an automobile.

   Joe was always sociable, jovial, and affectionate. He was the anchor for his large family of brothers and sisters, keeping in touch with each one. He and Nettie were regarded with great respect, admiration and fondness by family and friends.

   Mr. and Mrs. Bowers made generous donations to the Wahoo Community. They deeded their home and land located by the depot to the Saunders County Historical Society. The Museum now sits on the land which has been named Joe Bowers Memorial Park. In the mid-1970's they made a $15,000 contribution to the Organ Fund of the First Presbyterian Church, stimulating the congregation to raise the additional money needed for the organ which was installed in 1977.

   Joe was affiliated with Wahoo's First Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, and Knights of Pythias. He passed away on December 5, 1980, at the Wahoo Care Center at the age of 97 years. Nettie died January 1, 1981 at the Haven House.

   When asked what prompted him and his wife to deed his land, home, and possessions to the Historical Society, he answered: "I was busy all the days of my life. I had no time or chance to spend money. I saved it and made careful investments. They paid off -- grew and grew. Soon the investments were making more money than I was! We have no living children so I try to help people and organizations when a worthy cause comes up. We gave our land, home, and valuable personal collections to the people of the city of Wahoo for the wonderful life Wahoo gave to us, our job, our home, our friends." By Marie Rezac

   My great-grandfather, Charley B.B. Boydston, was the son of Burris Boaz Boydston and Rachel Burge. He was born in Pleasant Valley Township, Johnson County, Iowa, on January 21, 1862. In 1871, he came to Saunders County, Nebraska. On October 28, 1886, he was married to Flora Nash. My father, Henry Bascom Boydston, was born at Ceresco, Nebraska on January 20, 1896. He married Gladys McReynolds of Ashland, Nebraska on June 10, 1920. He farmed near Ashland all his life.

   I was born March 1, 1928. I have an older brother, Francis, living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an older sister, Shirley (Mrs. Kendall Dimmitt) of Alvo, Nebraska, and a younger sister, Blythe (Mrs. Clyde Stickney) of Lincoln, Nebraska. My oldest brother, Lawrence, died in 1953. I attended grade school for 8 years at District 41 in Saunders County. I started high school in Ashland, Nebraska in 1941, and graduated in 1945. Norma Newsham (Mrs. Raymond Richard of Ashland) and I attended all 12 years together. It never mattered how hard I studied, she could always do better. I served two years in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. One year was spent with the occupation forces in Germany where I was privileged to travel a lot.

   I was married August 8, 1953 to Arla M. Schoenleber. Her parents, John and Dallas Schoenleber, were farmers in Lancaster County. Arla was born March 25, 1935. Arla began school in Bennet, Nebraska. Her parents moved to a farm north of Greenwood, Nebraska during her first year. She attended District 32 in Lancaster County, and then, graduated from Waverly High School in 1953. Arla has a brother, Kenneth, who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and a sister, Lynn (Mrs. John Wingate), who lives in Columbia, Missouri.

   I met Arla when we were both young people in the Methodist Church at Cedar Hill. Her mother was my Sunday School teacher. The Methodist Church was an important part of both our parents' lives and it has continued to be a part of ours. Probably the most active years were in Weeping Water where we both taught Sunday School classes.

   We have four children: Jacquelyn (Mrs. Don Virts) of Lincoln, Douglas of Lincoln, Rick of Champaign, Illinois, and Cheryl (Mrs. John Hansen) of St. Louis, Missouri.

   I have worked for the Soil Conservation Service since I graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1956. Arla and I have lived in Scottsbluff for 6 months, Weeping Water for 13 years, Walthill for 6 years, Loup City for 4 years, and Wahoo for 4 years. We are presently living in Wahoo where I am employed by the Soil Conservation Service, and she is employed by the County as the Dispatcher-Secretary for the Handi-Van Service. Submitted by Cloyd D. Boydston

   Michael Boyle, currently mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, claims ancestral roots in Saunders Coun-

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