Follow Friday: Prairie Sanctuaries

This week's follow Friday is Prairie Sanctuaries on Facebook. Photographer Christian Begeman has some pretty neat pictures of little country churches.

https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries/

Two photos I'm particularly fond of are Lake Campbell Lutheran Church and Sterling United Methodist Church. My family members have attended these churches for many years.


Lake Campbell Lutheran Church

Sterling United Methodist Church

Remembering Grandpa Don Crapser

Rest in peace Grandpa. You will be missed dearly but left quite a legacy for us all to remember.  

You spent countless hours and miles running grandkids around town to hit up every park - yep EVERY single park in town. We spent many Friday and Saturday nights at the rollerskating rink, where you were on skates just as much – if not more – than we were. The employees at McDonald’s knew your name and knew that we were getting Happy Meals or maybe just ice cream, but definitely the Happy Meal toy. This Grandpa and his grandkids all had a full set of every Happy Meal toy set. 

If there was a train coming through town, you were within sight of the tracks. You had the grandsons hooked on Thomas the Train, because you had all the Thomas movies! There are bookshelves at the house containing every Disney movie and Kid Songs sing-a-long video ever made. And let’s not forget those home videos – that camcorder was with you for every school concert and family gathering. When you didn't have the camcorder, the the Polaroid camera was there.

When you weren’t driving us all over the place or recording our every move, you could be found relaxing with a book or newspaper. You loved chatting with family and friends, which sometimes meant that excursions with you lasted a little longer. If we needed you, we could always call. And call, we did!  How many times did you hear “Grandpa, can you come pick us up?” 

Thank you for the good times, Grandpa! You will forever be in our hearts.

Grandpa Don's obituary:

Donald F. Crapser, 87, of Brookings, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Brookings Hospital. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at Rude’s Funeral Home, in Brookings. Memorial visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, at Rude’s Funeral Home. 

Donald F. Crapser was born on January 28, 1929 in Brookings, SD, the son of Oral and Leola (Workman) Crapser. Donald received his education in the Brookings schools and in 1942 moved to Bell Gardens, CA and graduated in 1948. In 1948, he moved back to Brookings, SD. He served in the United States Army from 1951 until 1953. He was united in marriage to Jeannette Carter on January 18, 1951 in Ivanhoe, MN. In 1953, they moved to Hamilton, OH where he was employed at the ArmCo Steel Co. After returning to Brookings, he was employed at Meester Auto, Jackrabbit Oil Co. for 24 years and the Martin Oil Co. until his retirement in 1994. 

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brookings and the American Legion. He was a leader and a scout master in the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed rendezvousing, hunting and trap shooting with his sons, his brother, Fay and his Workman cousins. He also liked fishing with his grandkids and many friends. He would take his grandchildren to the roller skating rink every Friday and Saturday night, and he would out-skate the kids every night. 

Donald is survived by his wife Jeannette of Brookings; two sons, Eldon Crapser (Loretta), of Brookings, SD, William Crapser (Nancy), of Sioux Falls, SD; one daughter Donita Fleming, of Brookings; ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; one brother Maynard Crapser, of Long Beach, MS; one sister-in-law Bernita Crapser, of Sioux Falls, SD and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Fay and Larry, one sister Betty DeBord, and one granddaughter, Shannon Christopherson.

Remembering Jeannette Waage

Heaven gained an amazing angel yesterday.  The oldest member of the John & Ida Waage family, Jeannette Waage, is now at peace.  She celebrated her 99th birthday on November 15th.  Aunt Jeannette with be greatly missed by the entire Waage family.

Jeannette (Langmeyer) Waage's Obituary from Skroch Funeral Chapel is as follows:

Jeannette T. Waage, 99, Brookings, SD, formerly of Colman, SD, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2013 at The Neighborhoods at Brookview. She was born November 15, 1914 in Kingsbury County, SD to Anton and Theresa (Fecht) Langmeyer. She attended country school and graduated from Carthage High School in 1933. She attended Eastern Normal and taught rural schools until her marriage to Joseph Waage in 1939. They farmed in Moody County until Joe’s passing on November 3, 1964. She remained on the farm until moving to Colman in 1971. Jeannette moved to Sunchase Apartments in Brookings in 2008 and to The Neighborhoods at Brookview on October 22, 2013. She enjoyed doing crafts at the Colman Senior Citizens Center and was an avid baseball and Minnesota Twins fan.  

Jeannette is survived by two daughters, Jonetta (David) Negstad, Arlington and Janis (Jim) Knutson, Rapid City, seven grandchildren, Nancy (Tim) Nelson, Barbara (Gale) Hojer, Neil Negstad, Wayne (Angela) Negstad, Ryan (Rebecca) Knutson, Jaima Knutson and Jonathon Knutson, 11 great-grandchildren, four sisters, Arlene Larson, Burke, Viola (Dale) Wagner, Virginia Billet, and Mary Collins, all of Brookings and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, parents, a brother Andy, and a sister Berneda Scroggins.  

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Monday at Colman Lutheran Church with visitation from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday at Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Brookings. Arrangements by Skroch Funeral Chapel, Colman. 

Joseph & Jeannette Waage

Remembering Pearl Harbor and Lyle Jorenby

Today, on December 7th, we pause to remember the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. It shocked our nation as the Japanese attempted to prevent the U.S. from interfering with Japanese military actions overseas, but we rose to the challenge and the rest is all part of our history.


In the Jorenby family we also celebrate the birth of Lyle Jorenby, who celebrated his 19th birthday on the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Two months later Lyle became the man of the family, when his father passed away leaving him to help his mother care for his nine siblings ranging from 17 years to 4 months of age.  He loved and cared deeply for his family.  He enjoyed spending time with family.  In fact it is a pretty safe bet that Lyle didn't miss very many family reunions over the years, especially since he and his wife Mildred hosted reunions for many years.

Lyle worked hard both on and off the farm. He enlisted in the Navy and served his country proudly during World War II.  He started in the rank of Fireman First Class on the USS St. Paul and was in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered in September 1945.  Lyle was a genuinely happy man and generously aided many friends, neighbors and distressed travelers over the years.

We sadly laid the man we loved to rest a mere four weeks shy of his 91st birthday.  Lyle Franklin Jorenby will be greatly missed.


Obituary of Lyle Franklin Jorenby:

Lyle F. Jorenby, 90, of Brookings, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at First Lutheran Church, in Brookings. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings. 

Lyle with his dad Norman Jorenby in 1923.

Lyle Franklin Jorenby was born December 7, 1922, the oldest of 10 children of Norman and Stella (Waage) Jorenby, in Brookings County, SD. He and his family farmed in various locations around Volga during the Great Depression. 

After graduation from Volga High School in 1941, Lyle worked on the family farm and was celebrating his 19th birthday when the news came of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His father died 2 months later, leaving Lyle to help his mother with the raising of his 9 siblings, who ranged in age from 20 months to 17 years. He entered the service in July 1944, enlisting in the Navy, training at Naval Station Great Lakes and at Naval Station Newport. Lyle left Boston on the newly commissioned cruiser USS St. Paul serving in the rank of Fireman First Class in May '45. He saw action in Japan's home waters and was on the St. Paul in Tokyo Bay when Japan signed the terms of surrender in Sept. 1945. After occupation service in Japanese waters and in Shanghai, the St. Paul returned to the U.S. in January '46, where Lyle dis-embarked, was honorably discharged, and returned to civilian life. 

Lyle then worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for 8 years as a gandy dancer and then as a section foreman. He met Mildred Peterson at a dance at the old National Guard Armory in Brookings and was united in marriage to her on April 18, 1952 in Sioux Falls. They made their first home in Lake Preston, where their 3 children were born. 

After Mildred's father died, the family moved in 1956 to the farm Mildred grew up on northeast of Brookings. Like many farmers of that era, they raised beef and dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens. They later specialized in beef cattle, specifically Angus and Charolais. Lyle was able to share many farm duties and stories with Mildred's brother Robert, who farmed and lived with his family, in the early years, on the farm next to Lyle and Mildred. 

Lyle and Mildred retired in 1990 and bought a house in Brookings. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Vegas, California, and closer spots, and were active in church, and in the wellness and walking programs at SDSU. Lyle worked part-time as a driver for the Brookings AgFirst Farmer's Coop for a number of years after retirement. He was primary caregiver for Mildred during her struggles with Alzheimer's until her admission to a nursing home in 2008. Due to diabetic complications, Lyle lost his right leg on the day of his wife's funeral, Veteran's Day in 2009, and lost the other leg a year later. He was admitted to Brookview Manor on his 87th birthday, moved to The Neighborhoods at Brookview in 2013 and lived there until being admitted to the Brookings Hospital on November 8th, 2013, where he passed away on November 10, 2013. 

Lyle was mostly a quiet, unassuming man, a hard worker who was happiest when planting or harvesting crops, watching TV, playing old records, reading, or doing picture puzzles with family, then going to social functions with Mildred after retirement. On the farm, in the winter, after Mildred went back to work, he became the chief cookie-baker and supper-starter. He loved his kids and grandkids, and liked to tease them, as well as the workers he met later at Brookview. Lyle offered assistance to distressed travelers and neighbors, pulling many a driver out of snowdrifts, as well as out of mud holes during the county road rebuilding project in front of the farm, all without complaint. 

Lyle is survived by sons Howard (Cheryl) and Kevin of Brookings; brothers Cliff (Lori) of White and David of Brookings; sister Marge (Alton) Quam of Volga; grandchildren Andy and Kristi Finkhouse of Rapid City, Destiny, Josiah, and Jeremiah Jorenby of Brookings, and Hope Folkens of Brookings; as well as several in-laws, nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mildred; daughter Cynthia Finkhouse; brothers Donald, Carroll, Burt, and John; and sisters Betty Bovee and Sharon Watt. 

Sunday's Obituary: Joyce Anderson

In memory of Joyce Anderson, wife of Glen Anderson who is a Waage cousin:

Joyce Irene Anderson, 80, passed away Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Flandreau Medical Center. She was born June 7, 1932 in Hendricks, MN to Martin and Gina (Sommervold) Christopherson. She attended country school through the eighth grade. Joyce married Glen Anderson on February 24, 1949 in the Christ Lutheran Parsonage in Hendricks. They lived near Elkton, SD and Joyce worked at the Staurolite Inn in Brookings. They moved to Rapid City in 1960 but returned to Elkton in 1961 where they lived on the farm. They moved to Edgewood Vista, Flandreau, SD in October 2012. Joyce worked at Royal Plastics and Sunchase until her retirement in 2007. Joyce enjoyed gardening, garage sales, cooking, antiques, shopping and loved her family.

 Joyce is survived by her husband Glen, son Jim, Elkton, daughter Pat (Rick) Ehret, McMinnville, OR, four grandchildren, Tara (Chris) Quincy, Krystal (John) Demay, Brooke Ehret, Jade Ehret, three great-grandchildren, Caden, Emma Joyce and Hailey, and three sisters, Helen Hemish, Alice (Jim) Leuning and Marcella Lang. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her parents, four brothers, Harry, Clifford, Kenneth, Leonard and four sisters, Cora, Pearl, Viola and Vada.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Christ Lutheran Church, Hendricks, MN with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-7 pm Monday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau, SD.  

 

Obituary from http://www.skrochfc.com

Sunday's Obituary: Ada Gossau

In loving memory of Aunt Ada, here is the obituary of Ada B. Gossau from the Leola (Workman) Crapser's files.

 

Ada B. Gossau
Ada Blanche Gossau, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 1987 at the Estelline Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sterling United Methodist Church, rural Brookings with the Rev. Penny Ritter officiating.  Burial will be at Sterling Methodist Cemetery.  Visitations may be made from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Rude's Funeral Home; the family will be in attendance.  Visitations also may be made preceding services Tuesday at the church.

Ada Blanche Gossau was born Sept. 10, 1916, in Sterling Township, Brookings County, to Jessie and Blanche (Heard) Workman.  She attended rural school in Sterling Township and graduated from Brookings High School.  She then moved to Chicago and spent several years there working in factories.  She also lived in California for a year.  She married Charles T. Gossau on June 2, 1947, in Pipestone, Minn., and the couple made Brookings their home.  She worked at various jobs in Brookings until retiring in 1980.  Mr Gossau died May 1, 1987, in Sioux Falls.  She enjoyed bowling, fishing and craft work.

Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Gossau of Brookings, and two sisters, Mrs. Sara (Raymond) Laganella of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs. Leola Crapser of Sioux Falls.  She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother.

Those Places Thursday: Sterling Methodist Church

Sterling Methodist Church

The Workman family has been part of the Sterling Methodist Church congregation for much of the congregation's history.

The earliest records of the church date back to 1878 and include mention of travelling ministers.  In 1884, the Congregation of  the German Methodist Episcopal Church of Sterling Township of Dakota Territory was officially established and met in homes of the members.

It wasn't until 1895 that the congregation had a church building.  George L. Workman leased the three acres of land the church was built on in Sterling Township, Brookings County, South Dakota from Daniel Koester for $30.00.

The first wedding held in the church building was that of Anna Workman and Merle Taylor in June of 1946.

In 1984 the congregation had 29 members, many of them related to the Workman family.

Interior of the Sterling Methodist Church

Occupation: Farm Laborer and Census Enumerator

In a rural community during a midwestern summer in the year 1900, one might expect to find a 20-year-old man working hard on the family farm. Right?

Of course! So it was no surprise when I found my great-great grandpa Jesse Workman in the 1900 U.S. Census listed with his parents and brother right there on the family farm in Sterling township, Brookings County, South Dakota. Twenty-one years old, single, and his occupation listed as "Farm Laborer".

Source: Ancestry.com - 1900 U.S. Federal Census.  To see the census lines for the George Workman family, click here.


But as I looked up towards the top of the census page to gather the little bits of data identifying the location and date of the census, I saw a familiar name. 

"Enumerated by me on the 1 day of June, 1900, Jesse Workman, Enumerator."

Grandpa!  I never would have expected to see grandpa Jesse's name listed as the census enumerator.  I just always expected that city folks would be the enumerators.

I guess this might explain why his parents George and Minnie Workman are the first people listed for this enumeration district as well.  Gotta start with the people you know best!


(Disclaimer: I didn't really need to look at the top of the census page to identify the location of this family since Workman family members still farm the same land today. It's just a good habit to look there.  And now I have another reason to look at that information - you just never know what you'll find!)

Sunday's Obituary: Sharon N Luze Watt

Grandmas hold onto our hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.  Grandma, you will be missed.

In Loving Memory of Sharon N. Luze

Sharon N. Luze Watt, age 72, of Volga, died Monday, September 10, 2012, at Brookview Manor in Brookings. Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 15, 2012, at Lake Campbell Lutheran Church, rural Volga, with interment of cremated remains in the church cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Memorials may be directed to the Parkinson’s Support Group at the Brookings Hospital.

Sharon Noreen Luze Watt was born May 29, 1940, in Volga, South Dakota, the tenth child of Norman and Stella (Waage) Jorenby . She received her education in the Volga Schools and was a graduate of Volga High School in 1958. She was united in marriage to Curtis Luze on January 30, 1959. She provided daycare while raising their four children. Sharon then worked at the Brookings HyVee Store for 27 years before she retired. She was married to James Watt, Sr. in June 1996.

Sharon was a member of Lake Campbell Lutheran Church. She loved baking, sewing, and working on the family tree. She liked spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include her two sons: Allen (Lisa) Luze, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Bryon (fiancé, Misty Moser) Luze, of Brookings South Dakota; two daughters: Loretta (Eldon) Crapser and Linda (Ron) Horst, all of Brookings; stepsons: Cordell (Stacey) Watt, James Watt III, and Jerad (LaJuana) Watt; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; three brothers: Lyle, Cliff (Lori), and David Jorenby; one sister, Marjorie (Alton) Quam; and two sister-in-laws; Garnet Jorenby and Lois Jorenby; along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Carroll, John, Don and Burton; one sister, Betty Bovee; and one sister-in-law, Mildred.

Sunday's Obituary: Curtis D. Luze

 

Grandpa, you will be missed.

In Memory of Curtis D. Luze

Curtis D. Luze, age 73, passed away at the Sanford Medical Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Funeral Services have been set for 10:30am Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Friday, August 31, 2012 at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD.

Curtis was born on March 4, 1939, in Brookings, SD, the son of Harold and Irene (Christianson) Luze. He received his education in the Brookings Schools and was a graduate of the Brookings High School in 1957. After receiving his education he served in the National Guard for 26 years. He was employed at various places in Brookings until 1971 when he was employed at 3M. He continued working at 3M until his retirement in 1994. Curtis was then employed at Conveyance Vans in Brookings. Curtis was united in marriage to Sharon Jorenby on January 30, 1959.

Curtis was a member of the First Lutheran Church and the Brookings American Legion Post #74. He enjoyed woodworking, cabinet making and traveling. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He was survived by two sons Allen (Lisa) Luze of Sioux Falls, SD, Bryon (his fiance’, Misty Moser) Luze of Brookings, SD, two daughters Loretta (Eldon) Crapser, Linda (Ron) Horst all of Brookings; 15 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and one brother DuWayne (Sandy) Luze of Tacoma, WA; along with several nephews and nieces.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister Joan.

 

Sunday's Obituary: Bernard Singsaas

Bernard Singsaas - Louisville, Colo.

Bernard Singsaas, 86, died of natural causes Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, at the Balfour Retirement Community in Louisville, Colo., after a short stay in the Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties care center.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Singsaas Church near Hendricks, Minn.

Bernie was born on the family farm in Oak Lake Township, near the Minnesota border, son of Ingebrigt Singsaas, from Singsaas, Norway, and Christine Trooien.  He attended a one-room school house then boarded in the nearest town to graduate from Astoria High School.  He worked on the farm and at odd jobs and then graduated in accounting from a one-year business school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in January 1942.  he served in Navy construction battalions in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and, after four years, left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer.

Bernie married Carole Maxine Bailey on Aug. 5 1950, in Witchita, Kan., after a four-month courtship while he was hospitalized following a car crash that almost killed him.  Carole died in September 1965, and Bernie never remarried.

He worked as an office manager for nearly 30 years with Peter Kiewit and Sons, a construction company with headquarters in the U.S. and Canada, which took Bernie and his family to many locations, including Vancouver Island, Utah, Montreal, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, New Orleans, Nebraska, Montana, and Alaska, as well as Kansas.  Family vacations by car crossed every other state.

He was an avid reader, bridge player, playing in many bridge tournaments and achieving Lifetime Master status, and traveler, doing extensive research on the family history in Norway.  After retiring to San Diego, he enjoyed daily golf games between frequent travels that took him to most countries and all seven continents, making many friends along the way.  He sold his car and golf clubs and moved to Boulder County, Colo., in 2001, just before his 81st birthday, to be close to family.

Survivors include  two daughters, Christine Howard of Louisville and Cathryn Grimland of Loveland, Colo., and six grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, a son Steven Eric Singsaas, and all eight siblings.


From the Brookings Register, Sept 13, 2006

Sunday's Obituary: Irene Knutson

Irene M. Knutson
(March 30, 1918 - October 24, 2005)

Irene M. Knutson was born on March 30, 1918 in Deuel County, SD the daughter of Martin and Ingeborg (Singsaas) Christianson.  She died on Monday, October 24, 2005 at Brookiview Manor in Brookings at the age of 87.  Irene received her education in rural school in Brookings County, SD.  In 1936, she married Harold Luze in Brookings.  Harold died in 1970.  She was united in marriage to F. Gordon Knutson on June 20, 1976 in Brookings.  Irene was employed at SDSU in Student Housing for 29 years before retiring in 1983.  She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Brookings, Sons of Norway and Mission Interest.  She enjoyed reading, quilting, sewing, traveling to Alaska and several trips to Norway.  She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Irene is survived by her husband Gordon of Brookings; two sons Curtis Luze of Brookings, DuWayne Luze of Tacoma, WA; 20 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, one daughter Joann Mennis, three brothers Ervin, Ernest and Vernon and four sisters Julia, Thelma, Merle and Alice.

Funeral services 10:30 AM, Thursday, October 27, 2005 First Lutheran Church Brookings, SD Rev. Nyla Schoeld, Officiating.

Visitation: 4PM until 7PM Wednesday Rude's Funeral Home Brookings, SD

Interment: Greenwood Cemetery Brookings, SD



CORRECTION: At the time of Irene's death she had 13 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Sunday's Obituary: Norma Sharp

Norma Ann Sharp

August 23, 1937 - May 7, 2012

Mrs. Norma Ann Sharp, 74, of Philadelphia, MS died Monday, May 7, 2012 at Neshoba County Nursing Home in Philadelphia, MS.

She was a native of Brookings, SD and had been a resident of Philadelphia, MS since 1973. She formerly worked at Nemanco, Inc. and Wells-Lamont Corp. in Philadelphia, MS. Mrs. Sharp was Methodist by faith. She was a classic example of an army wife. She raised their family while her husband served in the military for 24 years, including tours in both Korea and Vietnam, until his retirement.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Sharp; parents, Pete and Hazel Carter; and brother, Larry (Bubby) Carter.

Survivors include daughters, Lori Sharp Vowell (Brian) of Columbus, MS and Angela Sharp Kelly (Jerry) of Philadelphia, MS; sons, Danny Sharp (Sharon) of Atlanta, GA, Joe Sharp (Donna) of Philadelphia, MS and Randy Sharp of Philadelphia, MS; grandchildren, Brent Vowell, Katie Vowell, Gunner Vowell, Mariah Kelly, Randi Kelly, Shondae Walker, Megan Day, Chris Sharp, Chad Sharp, Mandy Sharp, Colby Sharp, and Jaden Sharp; great-grandchild, Destiny Sharp; sisters, Dee Hust of Las Vegas, NV, Jeannette Crapser of Brookings, SD and Kay Cox of Brown City, MI; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Obituary from McClain-Hays Funeral Home

Sunday's Obituary: John E Jorenby

In loving memory of uncle John E. Jorenby, who passed away on July 26, 2011.

John E. Jorenby was born on October 29, 1934 in Volga, SD to Norman and Stella (Waage) Jorenby. He grew up and attended school in the Volga area. After finishing school, he served in the US Army. John spent his career working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in South Dakota and California before transferring to the Bureau of Land Management which led him to work in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. After retiring, he moved to the cabin he built in Trout Creek, Montana but eventually found his way back to Wyoming.

He was preceded in death by his son, Terrence L. Jorenby, his grandson, Dalton Taylor Jorenby, brothers, Carroll, Donald and Burton and his sister Betty Bovee.

John is survived by his daughters, Tamara Jorenby of Bozeman, MT, Tracey (Scott) Maryland of Casper, grandsons Kaycee, Lucas, Tyler, Stryder and Oryan, brothers, Lyle, Clifford (Lori), David, sisters Marge (Alton) Quam, and Sharon (Jim) Watts all of South Dakota.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 30th at Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper WY. Memorials may be made in John’s name to the charity of your choice.

http://www.newcomercasper.com/obituary.asp?src=value&obitid=49973&fname=John&lname=Jorenby&city=Casper&st=WY

Photographers in Dakota Territory

Way back in July, I mentioned a book titled They Captured the Moments: Dakotas Photographers 1853-1920 (see post). I stopped by the local library to see if they had a copy.  I found the book, which is good, because I wasn't really interested in paying $45 for the book without seeing what it had to offer.

It has information on several photographers (I think they said 3,000+), for the Dakota Territory area.  As long as I had the book in hand, I responded to a handful of queries on the Ancestry.com forums regarding photographers in the area and timeframes they were in business.

The book also notes what types of pictures would likely be found in the Dakota Territory area and during which time periods those types would have been prevalent in the area. For example Carte-de-Viste style photographs, which were usually produced on 2-1/2x4 inch cards, gained popularity in France in 1854.  However in Dakota Territory they were not commonly used until the late 1860s and then were only used in the area until around 1890.

All in all, I think They Captured the Moment: Dakotas Photographers 1853-1920 would be a good reference for someone that had a large collection of photos they were trying to identify.

Sunday's Obituary: Hannah Dempster

The obituary of Hannah Dempster was published in the Brookings register on 22 November 1915:

Mrs. Hannah Dempster Dies

Mrs. Hannah Dempster passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Boyd, 1018 Williams Street, Monday evening after a lingering illness.  Hannah Gray was born Sept 2, 1830, at Moyarget, County Antrim, Ireland, and departed this life on Nov 22, 1915 at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 20 days.  On Oct 31, 1950 she was united in marriage to George Dempster with whom she came to America in 1883 when the family settled in White, SD, where they lived for about a year.  From there they moved to Brookings.  Mr. Dempster passed away 9 years ago and since that time, Mrs. Dempster had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Boyd, all of Brookings.  Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dempster, seven of whom survive their mother.  The children are Mrs. Henry Getty, Mrs. Lawrence McGarry, William J. Dempster, and Mrs. Margaret Boyd, all of Brookings.  Mrs. Charles Fish of Castlewood, Mrs. Frank Glenn of Aurora, and George C. Dempster of Estelline. 

Mrs. Dempster was a woman of strong character and impressed her personality on those with whom she came in contact, always leaving the impression of being a woman of clear faith and positive conviction.  She was always hopeful, looking on the bright side of every situation and able to see the humor of life where others saw only sorrow and disappointment.  She was a consistent Christian whose faith was strong, a Christian who tried daily to apply her faith to her life.  She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church and always attended the services with unbroken regularity until the death of her husband.  She had been growing feeble with the infirmities of age but never lost interest in her children and the friends who were about her.  The deceased leaves to mourn, besides her immediate family, one brother Charles Gray of Brookings, also a large number of relatives and friends who extend their sympathy to the bereaved family in this time of sorrow.  The funeral services were yesterday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Boyd.  Services were conducted by Rev. Wm. A. Mast.  Internment was in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Dempster Family Immigrates to America

The Dempster family immigrated from Ireland to America in the early 1880s for a handful of reasons, including the poor crops in the County Antrim and the political unrest between the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians. 

In addition, family stories say that Hannah Dempster was so fearful of their home being attacked that she would sit up at night and keep watch at the window with a candle.  One night Hannah fell asleep and the candle set the curtains afire.  It is said that George decided then that it was time to leave for America.  Another family story tells of young male relative that did not return home one night and was found the next morning strung up by his thumbs in a nearby cave.

Two of George and Hannah Dempster's older daughters immigrated to America in May 1882.  Hannah Dempster (b. 1864) and Matilda (Dempster) McGarry (b. 1858), son-in-law Laurence McGarry, and 1 year old grandson Laurence McGarry Jr. boarded the ship Dominioin in Belfast, Ireland.  They arrived in Quebec, Canada in June 1882.  They stayed in Canada until that winter and then left for Brookings County, Dakota Territory.

From Dempster

From Dempster

George and Hannah immigrated with the rest of the family in the summer of 1883.  The family boarded the steamship Devonia in Moville, Ireland in July.  The Devonia arrived at the Port of New York, likely Castle Garden, on the 7th of August 1883.  Their son Thomas died shortly after they arrived and is buried in the eastern United States.  They came directly to Brookings County, Dakota Territory and likely stayed with  Hannah's brother Charles Gray, who had a farm near the town of White.

From Dempster

From Dempster

Ship list images are snippets taken from the ship lists on Ancestry.com's "Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935" and "New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957".


Some family information taken from Jo Kalleymn and Shari Adair's journal from their trip to Ireland in April and May 2006.  Thanks Jo and Shari!

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: George and Hannah Dempster

In honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, I share a photo of my Irish ancestors.  This is a photo of George and Hannah (Gray) Dempster. 

The little girl was originally thought to be one of their daughters, either Matilda or Maggie.  However, in recent years, some cousins have thought that it could be their granddaughter Mary Boyd, who was born in 1883 in Scotland. 

We also believe the photo was taken in the mid-1880s.

My Irish Genes - Dempsters

'Tis the week of St. Patrick's Day, so I figure I should share some about my Irish roots.  With that said, I only have one Irish family that I know of - the Dempsters.

My fourth great-grandfather, George Dempster was born in Rasharkin, Antrim, Ireland on January 17, 1829 to William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Dempster. His wife and my fourth great-grandmother, Hannah Gray was born in Moyarget, Antrim, Ireland on September 2, 1830 to John and Elizabeth (McConaughy) Gray.

 

They were married on October 31, 1850 in Antrim, Ireland. They had 9 children, all born in either Cape Castle or Ballycastle in the county Antrim, Ireland:

• Elizabeth Hannah "Betty", 1854-1925
• Mary Jane "Jane", 1856-1892
• Matilda, 1858-1937
• William John, 1860-1932
• Margaret Ann, 1863-?
• Hannah, 1864-1939
• Maria Campbell, 1867-1953
• George C, 1869-1942
• Thomas, 1872-1883

The family immigrated to America in 1882 and 1883. (Watch for more on their immigration in another post this week!)  They made their home in Brookings County, Dakota Territory - later South Dakota.

 

George passed away on November 27, 1906 and Hannah on November 22, 1914, both in Brookings, South Dakota.

Mappy Monday: The Journey of My Irish Ancestors

In honor of my Irish ancestors, here is the emigration of the family of George and Hannah (Gray) Dempster.

View Dempster family emigration in a larger map

Locations pinpointed on this map include:

• Rasharking, Antrim, Ireland
• Moyarget, Antrim, Ireland
• Cape Castle, Antrim, Ireland
• Ballycastle, Antrim, Ireland
• Moville, Ireland
• New York, USA
• White, South Dakota, USA
• Brookings, South Dakota, USA
• Aurora, South Dakota, USA

Watch for more about George, Hannah, and the Dempster family this week!