FAMILY STORIES

Loren and Lil Hanke

army in Jan. 1951. In May, he was sent to Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division on the Marine Phoenix, a converted troop ship, leaving from Seattle. It took two weeks to arrive. They landed at Inchon, Korea and went on trucks through the bombed-out city of Seoul to the front line. When Loren was on day patrol on Aug. 9, 1951, he was wounded in action, rescued by helicopter and taken back to the base hospital. From there he was flown to a hospital in Osaka, Japan. In December, he was flown to the hospital in Fort Sam Houston, near San Antonio, Texas.

   Lillie Edna Klemme was born Jan. 14, 1928 to Fred and Marie (Blomberg) Klemme at Murdock. At age 10 Lil lost her mother. Lil attended school at Murdock, graduated from Murdock High School, and attended Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln. She worked for Cook's Paint in Lincoln and Dr. Liston in Elmwood.

   On May 12, 1952, Loren and Lil were married at the Callahan Evangelical United Church near Murdock. Loren was still in the service so they lived in Killeen, Texas until he was discharged in October.

   They farmed near Swedeburg and in 1975 they bought their own farm, where Loren does livestock and grain farming. They have been faithful members of the United Methodist Church in Ithaca, where they have served in various capacities. Loren and Lil have always been willing to help anyone who needed it.

   This union was blessed with one son, Alan Leon, born March 7, 1954. Alan married Mary Boardman of Unadilla and they have 3 sons, Travis, Deric, and Cory Lee.

   Lil was loving, kind and generous, but she lost her battle with cancer Nov. 30, 1982. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but her kind deeds and loving ways will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known her.

   On June 1, 1917, Rudolph Hanke and Marie Hageman Hanke were married at the bride's home near Ithaca, Nebraska. Rudolph had been farming his father's farm for three years. Then he took his bride, who had taught school for 3 years, to that farm.

   Rudolph's father, F.C. Hanke, came from Pomerania, Germany to the U.S.A. in May, 1869 at the age of 18 years, to Dixon, Illinois, where he worked on a farm for 4½ years. In 1873, he came in a covered wagon from Illinois, crossed Iowa, fording swollen streams to the 120-acre site he later bought from the Railroad Company about 4 miles south of Ithaca. He built a frame house and started farming. Rudolph's mother also came from Germany and was married to F.C. Hanke in 1874.

Rudolph and Marie Hanke

   Marie's parents both came from Germany. Her mother, born in 1862, came from Polzin, Germany and her father, born in 1860, from Saxon, Germany.

   In 1922, farms were hard to find and crops were poor. Hogs were 3¢ lb. and corn, 10¢ bushel. With our 2 children, Harold and Ruth, we moved to a ranch in Sioux County, near Fort Robinson, where we had a new home built. We lived there 2 years and Marie taught school.

   Help was needed at Fort Robinson which was 4 miles from the ranch. Rudolph applied and got work as a farmer first and then as one of the gardeners for the Fort. They raised all kinds of vegetables that were delivered to the people at the Fort. Bread sold at the commissary for 3¢ a loaf. We lived there for 3 years when a letter came from F.C. Hanke's doctor asking us to come back to Saunders County as Rudolph's father was very ill. While at Fort Robinson, 2 sons were born to us -- Kenneth in 1924 and Loren in 1926.

   In 1927, we moved back to around Ithaca, staying a while with my brother who was farming my mother's farm. We had an apartment in Ithaca for a few months. Then the first week in February we moved to a farm one mile south of Ceresco. We lived there 8 years and daughters, Retha, 1929, and Darlene, 1932, were born.

   We moved by wagon and hayrack to a farm 2½ miles west of Malmo in March, 1936. We joined the Malmo Covenant Church. We farmed there 4 years. Sleeping sickness was afflicting horses in the community so Rudolph bought his first tractor in 1938. In 1940, snow drifts were as high as the telephone poles. The last part of March we moved by truck to a farm southeast of Swedeburg. We joined the Swedeburg Covenant Church. We farmed in this area until Rudolph retired and we moved to Wahoo.

   All six of our children graduated from Ceresco High School. Harold married Hazel Milton -- children Keith, Geraldine, Doris, Clarence. Ruth married Ted Lindquist -- children Patricia, Marvin, Jeanine. Kenneth married Grace Helms -- children Carolyn, Gary. Ken was in World War II. Loren was in the Korean War, was wounded. When discharged he married Lillie Klemme -- son Alan.

   Retha married Dr. Kenneth R. Treptow -- children Warren, Douglas, Craig. Darlene married Rev. Delmar Anderson -- children Susan, Steven, Mark.

   Our three daughters attended UNL and were schoolteachers.

   Our sons were farmers, Kenneth and Loren are still on their own farms. Harold sold his farm near Malmo and moved to Wahoo. He worked for the Farmers Co-op until he retired. He is now working part-time for the City of Wahoo.

   For health reasons, Rudolph and I moved to Wahoo into an almost new house in December, 1956. Rudolph died in 1965 and I stayed on living there for 8 years until, for health reasons, I sold the house and moved to an apartment. Marie Hageman Hanke

   Charles' parents, Clarence and Vera Hansen, were married on Febr. 24, 1937. They farmed at Leshara, Nebraska. They moved to another farm by Mead in 1942. Harvey was born Sept. 19, 1939, Charles, on Febr. 19, 1944, and Donna, April 7, 1945. They are Clarence and Vera's children. They moved to Ceresco in 1950 to farm until they retired in 1976.

"Charles Hansen Family" Louise, Jim, Charles

   Charles married Louise Mayhew of Fremont, Nebraska on Febr. 25, 1976. They lived in Lincoln and worked for the Nebraska National Guard until December of 1970. They moved to West Palm Beach, Florida where Jim was born on Oct. 26, 1971. Charles worked on the West Palm Beach Fire Department. Louise worked in Palm Beach. They moved back to Lincoln in 1974 where Charles joined the Lincoln Fire Department. Submitted by Charles Hansen

   My grandparents came from Denmark in the 1860's. My dad (C.M. Hansen), Hans, and Soren were their three sons. Dad was born three miles northeast of Valley, Nebraska. When Dad was one year old, my grandparents moved to Minden, Nebraska in a covered wagon. The first winter they lived in a dugout.

Clarence and Vera Hansen

   My dad married Hulda Hultgren in 1904. Four sons were born: Carl, Walter, Clarence (myself) and Stanley. My mother passed away when I was two

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   years old. Dad remarried and one son, Ernest, was born. Carl, Walter, and Stanley live in Minden and Ernest lives in Hastings, Nebraska. My dad farmed five miles southeast of Norman, Nebraska all his life. After retiring from the farm, he moved to Minden and passed away in 1958 at the age of 88.

   Much of my young life was spent helping on the farm, herding cattle, hunting, and trapping. I worked out many years in the 1920's and 1930's, some winters for board and room. I worked for Leonard Harsh on his ranch south of Bartley in 1929 and 1930, picking corn for one cent a bushel. Today this ranch has 38 oil wells. I also worked on Butler Brothers and Frandsen's Ranch south of Cambridge from 1934-1937. This is where I met Vera Sorensen, daughter of Christian and Agnes Sorensen of Cambridge. The Sorensens had four children; Arnold, Vera, and twins Phillis and Pauline. Vera was born August 10, 1914 and attended rural school in this area. After graduating from Cambridge High School, she taught at a rural school in Furnas County for three years.

   On February 24, 1937, we were married in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our first home was at Leshara, Nebraska. We lived on this farm 6 years. We then moved to a farm near Mead, Nebraska and in 1950, we moved to a farm west of Ceresco.

   Our children are Harvey, born in 1939, Charles born in 1944, and Donna born in 1945. Harvey and his family, Scott, Chris, Robin, and Evan live at Park Rapids, Minnesota. Charles, his wife Louise and son Jim live in Lincoln. Donna Hansen Tejral and her family, Lisa and Marc, live in Ceresco.

   We belong to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ceresco and have been active in school and community activities. Clarence served on the Ceresco School Board many years and had the honor of presenting each of our children their high school diplomas. We considered 4-H an important organization and served on the 4-H Council when our children belonged to 4-H clubs. Clarence is on the Board of Directors and is a member of the Saunders County Historical Society.

   In 1975, we retired from farming and now live on an acreage southwest of Ceresco, Nebraska.

   Peter W. Hanson and his bride, Betty, left Nasum, Sweden for America in early 1879. Upon landing in New York, Betty worked as a maid and Peter as a carpenter (his trade in Sweden) until they earned enough money to come to Saunders County, Nebraska, where they homesteaded land southwest of Mead, formerly owned by the railroad. Five children were born to this union: Hilda, Hines, Ernest, Fred and Elmer (my father). He told us the story of the Indians camped by Silver Creek. One of the squaws had given birth that morning as Dad was walking to school. The rest of the Indians had gone on ahead, and when the baby was born, she gathered it up and ran to catch up! He always teased us that we were "pampered" when we had our children!

   In 1903, Elmer (then 14), after encountering much difficulty in securing a bank loan to purchase his first steam-powered threshing machine, was finally successful. It was shipped into Ithaca on a flat car. He began custom threshing and continued into the '30's, later adding cornshelling to his business.

   While he was threshing for Henry Mays near Memphis, he met my mother, Lizzie Mays. They were married March 23, 1910, and lived for a time in a new little home built on the homeplace. In 1913, they purchased land southeast of Mead which was their home for the next 29 years until the U.S. Government purchased the land for the Ordnance Plant. In 1942, they purchased the farm west of the original land homesteaded by my grandfather. They resided there until their death, my mother's in 1965 and my father's in 1978.

   Elmer and Lizzie had six children: Mildred (Mrs. Earl Robbins, Cedar Falls, Ia.), Donald (deceased), Lyle and Forrest (Mead), Lorraine (Mrs. Fred Retzlaff, Lincoln) and myself, Doris (Mrs. J.D. Schuelke, Bedford, Iowa).

   Elmer and my brother, Donald, began well and pump repair in the late 30's. After World War II, when Lyle and Forrest returned home from the Navy, the business of E.R. Hanson & Sons was formed. All three sons continued in the business until the mid 70's when Donald formed the Hanson Well Co. The business is now operated by Forrest, following Lyle's retirement last year.

   The original farm homesteaded by my grandfather is now owned and farmed by Lyle and Forrest.

   In 1950, my father realized a lifelong dream when he, my mother, and I went to Sweden. We saw his father's birthplace and the church where his father and mother were married. We met many cousins; one visited us this fall. Looking back, we can only guess at the hardships and heartaches suffered by those who were brave enough to leave their homeland and loved ones to come to America. Submitted by Mrs. J.D. (Doris) Schuelke

   Frithiof F. Hanson, son of John and Eva Charlotte Wall Hanson, was born January 8, 1881, on the farm his father homesteaded southwest of Colon, Nebraska.

Raymond, Frithiof, and Clarissa (Miller) Hanson

   His father, John Hanson, was a native of Sweden and was born March 16, 1840, near Lund Skona. He came to this county in June 1868, and a month later secured a homestead on Section 8, Center precinct. He was the first Swede to be naturalized in Saunders County on May 26, 1874.

   Frithiof's mother, Eva Charlotte Wall Hanson, was born in Vestergotland, Sweden, January 6, 1850. She came to the United States with her father in 1865. They first settled in Nebraska City and, in 1868, relocated in Saunders County where her father, Joseph Wall, who was a Mormon, took a homestead on Sand Creek and was the first Swedish settler in this county.

   Frithiof was one of ten children, five of whom died in infancy, the others being: Alfred, Andolph, Selma Gustafson, and Hilda Walthers. He spent his childhood on his father's farm. He attended Luther College in Wahoo. In 1901, he graduated from the school of Business, and in 1904, he graduated from Luther Academy. His brother, Andolph, and he were associated in the merchandising business in Colon, Nebraska. In 1915, he was the rural mail carrier for Colon.

   On June 16, 1921, he was united in marriage to Clarissa J. Miller of Callaway, Nebraska. Clarissa was the daughter of Albert and Mary Foust Miller. She was born in a sod house in Custer County. Tales have been told of the country being so isolated that when they went to the nearest town the rear wheels of the wagon were tied to leave ruts so they could find their way back home.

   Frithiof and Clarissa had one son, Raymond H., born December 14, 1923 in Colon, Nebraska. They moved from Colon to Fremont where he owned and operated a grocery store. Several years later they moved to a farm west of Cedar Bluffs.

   When Frithiof retired, he and his wife moved to a house in Cedar Bluffs and Raymond took over the farming. They were members of the Presbyterian Church of Cedar Bluffs. Soon after his retirement, Mr. Hanson was stricken with glaucoma and as a result lost his eyesight in 1948. He told Rev. Millet his one regret in life was that he was unable to see any of his grandchildren. Submitted by Raymond Hanson

   Raymond Howard Hanson, the only child of Frithiof and Clarissa Miller Hanson, was born December 14, 1923 in Colon, Nebraska. His paternal grandmother's father, Joseph Wall, a Mormon, was the first Swedish settler in Saunders County. His paternal grandfather, John Hanson, came to America from Lund, Sweden in 1868 and was the first Swede to be naturalized in Saunders County. John Hanson took a homestead on Section eight, Center precinct which Raymond and his cousin still own.

   When Raymond was quite small, his parents moved to Fremont, Nebraska where his father owned and operated a grocery store. He received his first years of education in Fremont. The family then moved to a farm west of Cedar Bluffs Nebraska. He completed his elementary education at Dist. 91 and graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School in 1942. Raymond married Loretta Rabbass daughter of Rudolf and Maria Hoffman Rabbass, on October 2, 1945 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska.

   Loretta was born November 9, 1924 on a farm near Colon, Nebraska. She received her elementary education at St. Matthew's Christian-Day School, Dist. 97, Dist. 62 and Dist. 60. She graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School. Prior to her marriage, she was employed at the Bank of Valley and the Commercial State Bank of Cedar Bluffs.

   Raymond served ten years as secretary and president on the school board of Dist. 91 where his children received their elementary education.

   Raymond and Loretta have three children: RaJean Nanette, born July 13, 1950; Renee Janelle, born January 26, 1955; and Howard Brian, born July 10, 1956.

   RaJean attended Cedar Bluffs High School where she was salutatorian of her class. She graduated from Midland Lutheran College with a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Mathematics. She married Dennis Everman December 21, 1970. To this union two sons were born: Justin James on March 18, 1977, and Cody Quinten on July 7, 1980. They live in Fremont, Nebraska where RaJean is a mathematics teacher in Fremont Senior High School.

   Renee attended North Bend Central High School and ranked third in her class graduating with high distinction. She graduated from Midland Lutheran College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Accounting. She married Bernard Wilson April 2, 1977. They live in Millard, Nebraska. Renee just recently changed her occupation from public accountant to private accounting.

   Howard attended North Bend High School where he was active in wrestling, and was listed in "Who's Who Among American High School Students 1973-74." He graduated from Midland Lutheran College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Psychology. He was active in Kappa Phi Fraternity, choir and Blue Key Honor Fraternity. He married Barbara Landstrom of Holdrege, Nebraska on June 14, 1980. They have a baby boy, Matthew Noel, born December 21, 1982. Howard is employed with Little Audrey's in Fremont, working in the personnel department.

   Raymond and Loretta are still living on the farm west of Cedar Bluffs.

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