GETTING TO KNOW YOU....

 

VIOLA SEBASTIAN

BACKGROUND:  Vi Sebastian was born on a farm north of Elgin, North Dakota, on July 10, 1931; the youngest in a family of 13 children.  There were two siblings whom Vi didn’t have the opportunity to know:  the second eldest son of the family died of spinal meningitis at the age of 15 and the eldest daughter died of pneumonia at the age of 9.  Vi attended a country school in the elementary grades and when the family moved into Elgin, she graduated from high school there.  She and John met when she was 16 and Vi was actually dating a friend of John’s.  When things didn’t work out for Vi and John’s friend, “Johnny was right there”.  They dated a while and discussed marrying but John felt he had to do his stint in the military.  John was in the army from 1951 to 1953, serving 10 months in Korea.  He didn’t want to tie Vi down by marrying her before his military service, reasoning that he faced serious uncertainties.  Vi was agreeable to his reasoning, but always felt John was the man for her and that she would marry him one day.  That day was August 2, 1953.  Following their marriage, they moved to Bismarck were John had secured employment with the State Highway Department.  Their first home in Bismarck was a small apartment; they eventually bought a two bedroom home without a basement.  Through the years and as their family grew, John and Vi added to the home that eventually became a five bedroom home with a full basement!  Vi stated John was a very talented individual who could build as well as do mechanical work – skills that served them well throughout their lives together.  

Family:  Vi and John had four children.  Vi indicated she always wanted two boys and two girls – in that order – and that’s exactly what happened!  The children are John, Jr. who lives in Bismarck, Mark in Minnesota, Barbara of Bismarck, and Deborah in Montana.  Vi has six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great grandson, and six great granddaughters. 

VocationS:  As stated previously, John Sr.’s career started with the Highway Department where he worked for five years.  He then became yard supervisor for Wheeler Lumber Bridge and Supply where he worked for 15 years before he was injured on the job.  Following this work-related injury, John Sr. suffered with back problems that caused him to retire.  Vi’s work history started at Vossler’s – a grocery and dry goods store in Elgin where she started working the month before she turned 16.  At the time, young people could not apply for a social security number until age 16, so she worked for one month without that “official” identity which these days is assigned practically at birth!  After graduating high school, Vi taught at a country school for a year before her marriage.  John’s desire was for Vi to be a stay-at-home mom, and she obliged by taking care of the children and the home.  When Barbara turned age 5, Vi started selling Avon products which she did for four years.  After that, she worked at Montgomery Ward for five years, off-and-on for her brother’s State Farm Agency, and eventually worked at JC Penney’s until retiring in 1994. 

Hobbies:  Vi’s hobbies are playing the accordion and organ, and reading.  She and another member from the Calvary congregation, Clarence Hust, have entertained countless times over the past 15 years at area nursing homes, care centers, etc. with Vi playing accordion and Clarence playing guitar.  Clarence’s wife, Marilyn, sang with them for a time.

Spiritual AND MUSICAL Background:  Vi shared that her parents both had wonderful singing voices.  She started playing the old pump organ by ear at a very young age; Jesus Loves Me was the first song she learned to play.  Her Dad then taught her to harmonize and the rest, as they say, is history.  Vi was confirmed at age 13 and started singing at age 14 with the choir at the family’s country church near Elgin.  Her whole family was very musical.  She then sang with the Elgin choir where she was a part of duets, trios, and quartets.  At age 18, she started playing the piano.  Her formal music education consisted of 12 piano lessons.  Vi served as an organist at the Bismarck Reformed Church for 20 years and 15 years here at Calvary Church.  Since her ‘retirement’ as a regular musician here, Vi has helped out a few Sundays – for which we are most grateful.

ROLAND KETTERLING

 A NOTE OF THANKS

BILL & BETTY LAPP

BETTY'S EARTHQUAKE CAKE

LAURENCE & DORIS GRUEBELE

Backgrounds:

Doris and Laurence met in Tuttle, North Dakota, Doris’ home town, when Laurence and a cousin would drive from Pettibone, a neighboring community on weekend evenings.  The relationship started with just looking, to greeting, to eventually speaking.  They were married at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Tuttle and shortly thereafter moved to Las Vegas so Laurence could attend telegraphy school.  Upon completion of classes, Laurence took a job with Union Pacific Railroad in Colorado/Wyoming and served as a relay agent.  Shortly thereafter, the telegraph was replaced by more modern technology and telegraphy jobs became obsolete.

The Gruebeles moved back to North Dakota, and primarily through employment circumstances have lived in a number of places through the years.  Laurence’s work experiences include grain elevator and road construction and in 1961 he entered the US Army.  He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, and with exception of basic training, he and Doris were able to be together in Kansas living in an apartment off-base.  During this time, their daughter was born.

Upon Laurence’s discharge from the army, the three of them moved back to North Dakota and Laurence worked for Clairmont Construction before hiring on with Wachter Ranch as the foreman for the ranch and sand and gravel business.  During this time, they had a home built in Bismarck by another Calvary Church member who had a construction business, Harold Ziegler.  The Gruebeles spoke highly of Harold’s skills and talents as a builder, in addition to which “he was so nice to work with.”

The Gruebeles also managed the 18K Grocery Store which operated just south of Main Avenue on 9^th Street here in Bismarck.  They specialized in homemade sausage, a variety of ethnic delicacies, and fresh cut meats.  They also ran the Northbrook Mall snack bar for a while, initially to give their high-school-age daughter experience in the work world.

When the store closed, Laurence asked his then adult daughter if she would consider team trucking with her Dad; she said yes.  Laurence bought a semi-truck/trailer fitted with a “pup” trailer (a slightly smaller trailer attached to the regular sized trailer.  He and his daughter made daily trips to Rapid City hauling dry cement powder from there to Bismarck’s Beyer’s (now known as LaFarge Dakota Inc.) Concrete ready mix.  The usual pattern was that the daughter would drive to Rapid City while Dad slept in the cab; Dad would drive back to Bismarck while the daughter slept.  They would arrive back in Bismarck very late at night, shower, have a big breakfast prepared by Doris, and repeat the day into night pattern.  They did this for 11 years!!!

These days, Laurence hauls sand and gravel in the Pettibone-Robinson-Tuttle area every day and Doris holds down the fort at home.

Family:

Two children:  a daughter - Cindy, a son – Jay; 3 grands:  a boy – Mitchell, soon to graduate from optometry school in Oregon; two girls:  Kaitlyn in Las Vegas and Jayla, a Bismarck senior in high school.

Hobbies:

Doris:  Birding and feeding birds year-round.  While living in Pettibone, she once observed 23 species in one year.  She is also fascinated by butterflies and collects Monarch chrysalides which she places in an indoor net enclosure and watches them morph into butterflies before releasing them outdoors.  She is on the mailing list for hundreds (or maybe thousands?) of catalogs so if you need a hard to find item, check with Doris!

Mel & Doris Lauer

Background:  Mel and Doris both were born in the McClusky, ND area.  They both put down deep roots and made this area their long-time home.  They met as school children in McClusky and “puppy love” (Mel’s words) flourished.  Then the unthinkable happened – Doris’ family moved to Regan, ND when she was 13.  Mel started corresponding with Doris by mail.  In June of 1945 at age 18, Mel was drafted into the army (more on that a little later).  The letter writing continued and upon Mel’s discharge from the service in 1947, he returned to North Dakota and he and Doris were married in June of that year.

Family:  The Lauer’s have five grown children; two daughters and three sons (two of the boys are twins).  One daughter lives on the farm established by Mel and Doris, one daughter lives in California, one son lives in Missouri, and two sons live in Bismarck.  The Lauers have 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.  In early June they attended a family gathering in Glen Ullin that included other in-laws.  They were one of two sets of great-great grandparents resulting in two five-generation photographs.

Vocation:  Following their marriage, Mel and Doris moved to a farm near the small community known as Pickardsville, about six miles west of McClusky.  It was a grain and beef cattle operation that they worked and lived on until May, 1996.  Mel stated that their chosen way of life was not an easy life, but he always enjoyed it and wasn’t anxious to leave it even when he knew it was time.  Doris was a stay-at-home Mom and homemaker which was more than a full-time job but she agreed with Mel that it was a good way to live.

Hobbies:  The Lauers were long-time bowlers:  Doris bowled for 41 years and Mel bowled for 42 years.  This hobby took them to many communities in North Dakota.  Mel and Doris indicated they felt they bowled long enough and didn’t miss the actual bowling but missed their bowling pals.  These days, Mel meets with a group of gentlemen daily for conversation and a light lunch; Doris enjoys a daily lengthy walk.

Spiritual Background:

Mel was raised in the EUB church and Doris was a Baptist before her marriage to Mel.  They both indicated that they always had been rooted in faith, but had not always been dutiful about worship attendance.  At Mel’s parents 50^th anniversary celebration, his parents reflected on their life together and Mel’s mother stated, “The only thing I wish for is that all my children would attend church regularly.”  That simple statement influenced Mel and Doris into becoming more regular worshipers.

Do You Know Mel’s military history?  In a brief discussion about his military service early in our conversation, Mel mentioned that following basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was shipped to post-World War II Germany.  The country was in ruins – the devastation Mel witnessed was something he said he’ll never forget.  He casually mentioned that the army’s accommodations at the underground Hitler Youth School were beautiful and comfortable.  What an interesting lifetime experience for a very young man all the way from North Dakota!

CLARENCE & MARILYN HUST

Family:  Clarence and Marilyn have 5 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 step-great-grandchildren.  Their children are Kevin, Darin, Shannon, Kim, and Justin.  One daughter lives in California, another lives in Colorado, one son lives in Jamestown, and two sons live in the Bismarck area.

Vocations:  As a young working girl, Marilyn worked as a cashier in a movie theater.  When she and Clarence married, she became a full-time homemaker and mom until her youngest child was well situated in school.  Marilyn then worked at the Steele nursing home in the dietary department for two years.  Upon moving to Bismarck, she worked a total of 15 years at Missouri Slope Care Center until she became ill and had to take a year off work.  Following her recovery, she worked on an “as needed” basis until last year, when she fully retired.

Clarence was a milk truck driver, delivering product to what was then Winger Cheese.  From there he moved on to Northern Improvement, a sand, gravel and construction company,` and worked 35 years for that company.  As a heavy equipment operator, Clarence spent 28 of 35 years operating a piece of equipment known in the industry as a paver.  For those of us who appreciate newly resurfaced roadways, the paver is the machine that moves asphalt onto the prepared roadbed.  Clarence mentioned the names of other heavy equipment – some of which were recognizable and some were unknown to this writer!  Let’s just say if you have a big machine in need of an operator, Clarence is your man!

Hobbies: 

Marilyn enjoys crossword puzzles and creating items with plastic canvas.  She also sings in the Calvary Church choir and is active in the UMW.  She is currently serving as secretary for that group.

As many of you know, Clarence has music in his bones.  His very first guitar was a Roy Rogers toy.  When he was approaching his 8^th grade graduation, he promised his mother he would pass the grade so that she would finance his purchase of a $15.00 guitar.  Mom came through with the advance and Clarence made good on his promise!

Spiritual Backgrounds:  Marilyn recalls her mother’s diligence in getting her children to Sunday worship services.  She grew up Lutheran but transferred to the EUB church when she and Clarence were married.

Did You Know. . Here’s an interesting fact – especially during the wild spring weather being experienced almost nationwide:  Marilyn was one block away from the path of the 1957 Fargo tornado!  How’s that for scary?

As a musician, Clarence is a member of three musical performers groups.  His largest audience to date was over 500 people attending the annual RSVP Recognition Banquet.

LaDawn Eisenbeis

Background:  LaDawn was born in Hazen, North Dakota, and grew up on a farm near Beulah.  She graduated from Beulah high school in 1994 and then moved to Bismarck to attend the University of Mary where she majored in business.  After graduating from the University of Mary, she took time off from school and work to take care of her grandmother, Rosina Martin.  Rosina and Walter Martin were members of Calvary Church.   

Family:  LaDawn in an only child, as is her father.  Her mother has one sibling.   

Vocations:  After her Grandma Rosina passed away, LaDawn took a job position with Farmers Insurance Group.  Following a stint in the insurance industry, she took a part-time position with the Motor Vehicle Division of the North Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) which evolved into several positions over a one and a half year period of time.  Eventually, LaDawn accepted a full-time position with the DOT and worked there for nine years.  Recently, she accepted a position with the ND Department of Public Instruction. 

Hobbies:  Growing up in near-western North Dakota, LaDawn developed a fondness for rodeos and bullriding – happily as a fan and not as an active participant!  She also enjoys scrapbooking and has made and given scrapbooks as gifts.  She’s also part of a bowling league and plays sand volleyball in the summer. 

Spiritual Backgrounds:  During her young years, LaDawn attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zap, North Dakota and was baptized and confirmed there.  After living in Bismarck and attending church with her Grandpa Walter, LaDawn transferred her membership to Calvary. 

Backgrounds:Fran Ketterling was born and grew up on a farm three miles north of Leola, South Dakota where she attended school from grades 1 to 12.  Martin was born on a farm near Long Lake, South Dakota and lived in Ashley until age 6.  His parents then ran a country store near Lehr where local farmers could sell cream and eggs and purchase supplies.  His father died in a well-drilling accident when Martin was 11 years of age and was the only child at home.  He and his mother moved back to the Long Lake area.  Fran and Martin met in high school and “took a shine” to one another; eventually marrying in the Reformed Church in Leola. 

Family:

Martin & Fran have 5 children (3 sons, 2 daughters) and 11 grandchildren (7 boys, 4 girls).  Two of their sons live in the Los Angeles suburbs, one son lives in Fargo, one daughter lives in Wichita, Kansas, and one daughter (Deb [Ken] Pilon) lives here in Bismarck.

A cute story shared by Fran:  When she suspected she might be pregnant even though they had four children and weren’t planning for more, she chose to share the news with Martin while he was at his workbench in their garage.  Fran said Martin continued with what he was doing and commented simply, “Oh, there’s always room for two more feet under the table.” 

Vocations:

Martin started in the construction trades – primarily plumbing – at the young age of 19.  This basically became his life’s work.  Job opportunities had the Ketterlings living in Aberdeen, South Dakota and eventually in Bismarck as Martin continued in his chosen field of work as a pipefitter.  Fran was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) off and on and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital (now Avera Health Care) in Aberdeen and at Medcenter One in Bismarck.

Hobbies:

Fran enjoys cooking and baking, especially baking.  She also likes to read when time permits.  Martin has highly developed “fix-it” skills and in the past year or so, Calvary Church and parsonage have been major recipients of his many talents.  He also likes to keep up with current world events.  The Ketterlings purchased a computer a couple of years ago and both of them spent a fair amount of time getting acquainted with it.  Fran admits to enjoying a computer game now and again!

Spiritual Backgrounds:

Fran was raised as a member of the Reformed Church.  Martin was raised Lutheran.  A number of life changes (marriage, relocating, “church shopping”, etc.) eventually brought them to Calvary where they have been members for over 20 years.

Did You Know. . .

Background:

Family:

Helena and Oscar have three children, two sons and one daughter, and 7 grandchildren.  One son lives in Minneapolis and is a general manager for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.  The Ebel’s daughter lives in Colorado Springs and is home-schooling three teen-aged sons.  The Ebel’s other son lives in Jamestown and is a machinist for Champ, a Canadian manufacturing firm. 

Vocations:

Oscar worked for the railroad for many years of his adult life.  He started as a depot agent in Jamestown and then as times changed, he took the training required to become a train engineer.  He retired as an engineer after 20 years of service.

Helena worked for insurance adjusters, both in Jamestown and then in Bismarck. 

Hobbies:

Helena loves to read; her favorite books are Christian novels.  She also does embroidery work, and taught herself to crochet and knit.  Her mother stressed to her daughters the importance of learning to read crocheting and knitting patterns, and not learning only by seeing and doing.  Helena’s mom felt the ability to read patterns would greatly expand the capabilities for her daughters’ handwork.  For a woman of her generation, that was commendable insight.

Oscar is a genealogy buff and is currently researching his father’s side of the family.  Anyone with experience will tell you that genealogy is interesting, time consuming, and addictive.

Did You Know. . .

Gertrude Sailer

Background:

Gertrude was born during the time her parents lived on a farm north of Dodge, North Dakota.  She was one of 9 children.  They relocated and farmed northwest of Bismarck, near Beulah, North Dakota when Gertrude was a young woman. 

Family:

As the mother of three children, Gertrude and her husband raised two girls and a boy.  Her son and one daughter live in the Minneapolis area.  One daughter passed away at age 35 of cancer.  Two of her granddaughters live in Bismarck and she has a great-grandson serving in the military in Afghanistan.  Gertrude’s husband, Alvin, spent 29 years working for Montana Dakota Utilities.  Alvin passed away in 2006, also of cancer.

Vocations:

Hard work met its match in Gertrude.  She did painting (interior and  exterior), varnishing and wall papering – working only in new construction.  Bismarck has apparently been progressive for many years because Gertrude indicated she was always busy in this line of work.  Gertrude also managed the café at a local livestock sales barn.  Even though sales were generally conducted one day a week, it took many, many hours to prepare meals and pastries for sale day.  She used to bake 40 pies a day for the sales events – including scratch crusts.  Think about it  40 pie crusts in one day.  To a pie-pastry challenged individual, this is quite and accomplishment!

Hobbies:

Gertrude did not complain at all about working hard during her lifetime.  She actually found time in her schedule to do crocheting.  Her hands and eyes are not as crochet-friendly as they once were, so she currently doesn’t have a project in progress.  She does, however, enjoy the crafting activities at the Primrose Retirement Community were she resides.  She showed this visitor a recently completed project.  It consisted of a Christmas ornament that started its life as a clear glass ball.  The crafters were instructed how to apply paint on the inside of the glass ball by pouring small amounts of a selected color scheme into the glass ball and swirling it to obtain the desired effect.  The ornament Gertrude completed was absolutely lovely.

Spiritual Background:

Marian Barbie

Background:

Marian was born at Bismarck Hospital on November 14, 1927.  She recently celebrated her 83 birthday and stated she doesn’t mind if her age is known.  What a refreshing attitude!  Marian is youthful in many ways (more on that a little later).  Marian’s family lived in Menoken.  She graduated from Bismarck High School and Bismarck Junior College (now BSC).  Her husband, Don Barbie, was a returning veteran of World War II and they met while students at BJC.  Don and Marian were married in Grand Forks where Don graduated from UND with an engineering degree.  Married student housing was not as readily available at the time and Marian and Don lived in an 18-foot mobile home with no running water (except for a garden hose in the summer!), and no refrigeration, but they had an ice box.  Don’s work eventually took them to Kansas and to Pennsylvania.  They returned to Bismarck where Don worked as a bridge engineer with the ND Department of Transportation until his retirement. 

Family:

The Barbies had two daughters.  Dana is an hydrologist with a geological survey company in Austin, Texas.  Daughter Donna in Florida is a professor and program chair at Riddle Embry, a highly respected private flying institution in Daytona Beach.  Marian also has a granddaughter, Katrina Marie, who lives in Las Vegas. 

Vocations:

Marian, who is now retired, had an interesting employment history.  She worked for 6 years at what was then known as the Workers’ Compensation Bureau.  In 1965 she became Clerk of Court for the Burleigh County Court System.  Among other duties, Marian was responsible for issuing marriage licenses and functioning in the court room when accused persons made their pleas before a judge, impaneled jurors, and conducted court probate functions.  The job she held was an elected position and she ran for the position 3 times, winning all 3 times.  At some point, the court system underwent structural changes and district courts were formed from counties in specific areas.  This changed some of Marian’s job functions and she saw “the other side” as she became involved in mental health hearings, divorce proceedings, and child support collections.  Work for her was always interesting and challenging. 

Hobbies:

At one point in her life, Marian played bridge quite regularly.  Her favorite hobbies were gardening – especially flowers.  It would seem that someone of Marian’s style would have had a lovely, manicured yard and gardens.  Marian has a canine companion known by the name “Miss Daisy” who came to her via granddaughter Katrina.  Miss Daisy is a basset hound and has beautiful dark brown eyes. 

Spiritual Background:

In her youth in Menoken, church services were held at school.  Regular church attendance has been a part of Marian’s life. 

Did You Know. . .

Marian started bowling many, many years ago and at one time was involved in league bowling 3 plus nights a week.  She currently bowls in the senior league twice each week.

Background:

Merle was born in Sheldon, Iowa and moved at the age of 5 to Corsica, South Dakota.  Connie was born in Parkston, South Dakota, a community near Corsica.  They both received their elementary and secondary educations in Corsica.  They met at the Reformed Church at very young ages and have been friends forever; both were age 19 when they married.

Family:

Connie and Merle have two children:  Shawn (Ali) and Cammy (Darrin) both of whom were born in Huron, South Dakota.  The Brinks have four grandchildren:  Margaret (13) and Tommy (12) Brink and Jerad (19) and Colton (17) Bosch. 

Vocations:

Following their marriage in 1967, Merle and Connie moved to Chicago, Illinois where Merle had accepted a position as a counter agent with was then North Central Airlines.  Merle was transferred to Huron, South Dakota after about a year and a half in Chicago, and then transferred to Bismarck in 1979.  Following a couple of mergers, North Central Airlines became part of Northwest Airlines.  In all, Merle worked for 39 years as an airline counter agent retiring in 2005.  The 39 years of service to the flying public (and the fact that Merle retained his sanity) attests to his friendly nature and positive attitude.  Connie was a stay-at-home Mom until their two children were out of high school, and then held a variety of work positions.  For seven years, Connie managed the Dollar Discount Store  the first dollar store in Bismarck.  She then worked at the group home on 34^th and Rosser Avenue for seven years.  Connie was on the staff here at Calvary Church for three years as program coordinator.  Early in her employment here, Connie attended a four-day conference in Denver, Colorado on the topic of forming and sustaining active children and youth programs in congregations.  In addition to other duties, Connie developed the youth and children’s programs at Calvary Church and with assistance from Merle, organized the Calvary Kids program.  This was a well-attended, once a week after school program for children in kindergarten through grade 6.  Connie also served as the first full-time volunteer staff person for what is now known as Bismarck Community Church.  Connie, with Merle’s help, has been responsible for the development of children and youth church programs in at least three churches. 

Hobbies:

On the topic of hobbies, Connie and Merle agreed that their grandchildren are “Hobby One” and then simultaneously stated “travel.”  They both also greatly enjoy fishing.  The Brinks stated they love to follow the grandchildren’s numerous activities including, but not limited to, sports and music.  Merle also enjoys hunting game birds and singing.  Connie confesses to loving perusing rummage sales! 

Spiritual Background:

Connie and Merle both grew up in homes where faith and a Christian way of life were valued.  They profess that their belief in God and ongoing prayer are the backbone of their existence. 

Did You Know. . .

After Merle’s retirement, he developed a strong interest in food preparation and availed himself of an Italian cooking class at Bismarck State College.  In addition to Italian cuisine, Merle enjoys being a creative cook (‘cook speak’ for making up his own recipes!) and preparing specialty dishes.  Merle gave high marks to Connie’s cooking skills; she indicated that she is a ‘meat and potatoes’ cook.  According to Connie, while Merle has a flair toward the preparation of more sophisticated menu items, he also enjoys setting a table with candles and attractive tableware and linens.