Germans from Russia Heritage Collection


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Home Outreach

1998 Journey to the Homeland Tour Group near Odessa Airport, Odessa, Ukraine in June, 1998.

Journey to the Homeland: Ukraine and Germany

May 26 - June 8, 1998

Biographies of Tour Group Members

Walter C. Aman, Hillsboro, Oregon

I was born and raised in Campbell County, South Dakota where my grandfather, Jacob Aman, homesteaded after arriving from Landau, Ukraine in 1889. My father, John J. Aman, was 12 years old when he came.

In 1885, my mother's parents, Gottlieb and Johanna Grenz came to South Dakota from Güldendorf, Ukraine. My mother, Karolina Grenz, was 2 years old when the family came to America.

During World War II, I served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 7, 1941 - April 4, 1946, spending 2 years in China, Burma and India. In 1950, I graduated from the University of North Dakota and started teaching. Later, due to housing shortage, I moved to Bismarck to work as an employment counselor. In 1955, I started work for N.D. Vocational Rehabilitation Division as a counselor and supervisor. In 1967, I moved to Hillsboro, Oregon where I worked in the same capacity until 1986, when I retired.

In 1948, Ella Mae Grueneich and I were married in Bismarck. We raised 3 wonderful children there. They are all married and raising my four grandchildren. We lived in Bismarck until the big move to Portland, Oregon in 1967. We enjoyed the northwest very much - the tall fir trees and the abundant rain.

I like gardening, especially roses - am a garden club member here. We had good schools, church, great camping near the Pacific beaches and the Cascade Mountains.

In 1973, our world changed. After two years of intense medical care, my wife of 25 years died at age 46.

Since my retirement in 1986, I have done some family research. I hope that going to the villages where my parents were born will help to continue my sporadic effort to put something in writing for my family.

Duane Walter Bittner, North Highlands, California

Duane was born in Lehr, North Dakota in 1931 to Walter and Ella (Sampson) Bittner. Walter's father, Jacob, immigrated to the USA with his father, John and mother Carolina in 1879, arriving in New York on the USS Berlin out of Glasgow, Scotland. They and other immigrants arrived in Glasgow on the SS Circasia out of Hamburg, Germany. The family came from the Glückstal District in Russia.

My mother, Ella, is of Norwegian decent. Her parents both were born in Norway.

I lived in the city of Lehr with my brothers and parents. My father farmed the land south of Lehr. I graduated from Lehr High School in 1949, taught one room country school for one and a half years before joining the Navy in 1951. After being discharged from the Navy in 1955, I re-enlisted in the Air Force and spent the next 16 years in that service.

I married Patricia Jean Potratz from Zap, North Dakota in 1956. We had three daughters born to us, Paula, Lori (deceased in 1981) and Julie. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, I was a Radio Shack manager for three years before being hired as an Electronics Technician at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.

As an Electronic Technician at McClellan with Civil Service, the Navy and the Air Force, I had occasion to travel widely, including most of Germany and surrounding countries as well as most of the USA. I retired again in 1994 and enjoy my genealogical research of my family and those of other relatives.

I am looking forward to traveling to another part of the world.

Joan Marie Clark, Yorba Linda, California

My grandparents on both my mother and father's sides of the family are from South Russian colonies - Selz.

Michael Segmiller and Katarina (Vetsch) Segmiller came to the USA in 1913. They settled in McClusky, North Dakota; then to Harvey, North Dakota. They had three children born to them in Harvey, namely: Magilinda 1915, Marion 1917, and Elizabeth 1920. Elizabeth died at age 6 and is buried at St. Celilia's in Harvey. My mother is Marion.

The Segmiller's moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1926 and there, my uncle Joseph was born. My father, Joseph Keller, was born in Harvey, North Dakota in 1915 to Valentine and Johanna (Busch) Keller who stayed in the vicinity of Harvey all their lives. Both of their parents immigrated to America from Selz, Ukraine.

My daughter and I are researching the surnames to write a book in memory to all our brave relatives who made the trip over the ocean to countries unknown.

They gave up their precious families, never to see them again or to know where they went. In total hardship they built a new better life, lived in sod houses, farmed rocky soil, and raised their families to believe in God. We will visit their homelands and villages to feel in our hearts the beginning of their lives.

Robert Dambach, Fargo, North Dakota

Bob was born in Newark, NJ in 1951. He received his bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Dayton in Ohio in 1973 and a MA degree in speech communication, radio, TV and film from the University of Iowa in 1975. He has worked at Public Radio and TV stations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Las Vegas, NV, and taught television production at Wichita State University in Kansas.

He came to Prairie Public Television in Fargo, ND as program manager in 1984. At Prairie Public Television, he has produced numerous public affairs programs and historical and cultural documentaries as well as appearing as on-air host for membership drives. In 1996, he was named the Director of Programming and Production for Prairie Public Television. His hobbies are history, woodworking and travel. He has a wife, Virginia, and two daughters, Mary (14) and Jeanne (10).

His heritage is German on his father's side and Irish-German on his mothers. He has been a member of the tours to Ukraine and Germany in both 1996 and 1997 as the producer of a documentary to air in 1999 on the Germans from Russia. In 1997, while in Germany, he got to visit his ancestral village of "Dambach" located about 50 miles from Stuttgart in the Alsace region.

Bob has been closely involved with the production of the television documentary on the Mennonities of Manitoba; to premiere on Prairie Public Television in the fall of 1998. He is Producer for the Germans from Russia documentary to premiere in the winter of 1999.

I look forward to a return trip to Odessa, Ukraine and my first first to Crimea in May to see the country and the many friends I have made there again. I also look forward to meeting you in Odessa as you embark upon a trip and visit of a lifetime.

Richard A. Doll, Tucson, Arizona

I was born in Mandan, North Dakota in 1932 to Liborious & Mary (Streitmatter) Doll. My father was one of twelve (12) children born to Anton & Franzisca (Assel) Doll in Katharinental, German village (1905) & immigrated to the USA in 1911 with parents & ten (10) of their children. They settled in Mandan, North Dakota.

My great-great grandparents, Conrad & Elisabetha (Klein) Doll, immigrated from Neuhausen, Baden, Germany in 1838 to Katharinental near Odessa, Russia. My great grandparents, Peter & Eva (Keller) Doll, were born in Katharinental (1839-1841 respectively) and died there (1909-1910). My grandparents, Anton Doll, was born in Katharinental 1864 and Franzisca Assel, born in Speier 1870. My grandfather was a carpenter working at Mandan Mercantile Lumber Co. and died in Mandan, ND 1943. My grandmother died in Mandan, ND 1957.

My father, Lipp E. Doll, worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad as a switchman for 48 years. He retired in 1970 and died in Mandan in 1989. I had one brother and one sister, who lived with my mother after my parents' divorce in 1933. I remember my grandparents very well as I visited them often. My grandmother was a great German cook and I was always there when she was baking. I lived with my aunt and uncle, Christ & Katie (Doll) Ferderer, who became my Ma and Pa, from the time I was one year old until high school, when my dad re-married in 1944. I was raised in German-Russian culture and strong religious Catholic up-bringing, and attended mass daily being a server. I worked at the Midwest Bakery in Mandan, ND during my junior and senior high school years.

I went to school at St. Joseph's Grade School and Mandan High School graduating in 1950. Then I joined the USAF in 1951-1955 (Korean Conflict). Employed by AMOCO Refinery in Mandan in 1955-1962. Employed by DOD as a Petroleum & Chemical Q.A. representative at various locations, primarily Denver, CO. I also spent a tour with NASA on the Saturn 5 program (moon shot). Also, a tour with DFSC in Stuttgart, Germany 1986-1987. Retired from federal civil service in 1992 after 35 years service. We moved from Denver, CO. in 1993 to Saddlebrooke Adult Retirement Community near Tucson, AZ. I enjoy tennis, biking and travelling.

We visit Mandan and Garrison, North Dakota, where my wife, Ruth Freier, was born, almost annually. Ruth's mother, now 87 years young, still lives in Garrison. We have many friends still living in Mandan, where we lived after our marriage in 1955-1962.

Our three 3 daughters were born in St. Alexius Hospital, Bismarck, ND, where my wife, Ruth went to nurses training. Our daughters now live in the Denver, CO. area and each has one of our three grandchildren. We visit the Denver area quite frequently, as you can imagine. We recently travelled back to Germany in October 1996 to visit friends in the Stuttgart and Wiesbaden area. Also, visited Berlin this time. While living in Germany from 1986-1987, we visited my ancestral German township of Neuhausen, Baden, Germany. Never could find any relationship there. At that time, I wasn't really researching as now. I never learned to understand or speak German very well, although exposed to it in my younger years, only a 'glenis-bissel'!!!

Ruth E. Freier Doll, Tucson, Arizona

I was born in Garrison, North Dakota in May, 1934 to Frederick and Emma (Renner) Freier. My father was born in Freudental, Russia to Karl and Elizabeth (Neumiller) Freier. They immigrated to the United States in 1900 and settled in North Dakota, where the family built a 3 room sod house and farmed. My mother was born in Tyndall, South Dakota to Andrew and Wilhelmena (Neumiller) Renner. They immigrated from Friedenstal, Russia, 1905 via Canada to Tyndall, South Dakota and eventually, Box Elder, Montana and became farmers.

I graduated from Garrison High School in 1952 and went to nurses training at St. Alexuis School of Nursing, now Mary College, in Bismarck, North Dakota. I met Dick Doll while in nurses training, and we were married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan, North Dakota in 1955. We have three daughters and three grandchildren, ages 21 years old to 7 months.

I worked in surgery at Humana Hospital in Denver, CO. for 20 years and spent the last 5 years working as a private scrub nurse for two orthopedic surgeons. I have been retired for the past four years and loving every minute!!

Walden Wally Duchscher, Havre, Montana

I was born to Walter and Ann (Jaeger) Duchscher on May 11, 1948. I am the oldest of 7 children and am a Catholic.

I was born in Rugby, North Dakota and grew up on a farm near Silva, North Dakota.

Both of my grandfathers were born in Russia and, as a young boy, I can remember them occasionally talking about life in Russia.

I graduated from high school in 1966 from Cardinal Muench Seminary and from NDSU in 1972 with a degree in sociology and psychology.

While at the university I wrote two papers about the German-Russians. The first was, "A German Marriage Celebration" and what a 3-day marriage celebration entailed. It explained the role and importance of a match-maker. The second paper studied the educational differences of first generation German-Russians and Norwegians. I spoke at the National Historical Convention and presented my findings.

I own and operate an insurance agency in Havre, Montana, but my true love is still on the land. I also operate a farm about the size of my great-great-great grandfathers, which was given to them by Catherine the Great in Russia.

My interests in history does not stop with family, for my free time is spent rebuilding old trucks, tractors and cars.

Gerald N. Fiechtner, Henderson, Nevada and Fargo, North Dakota

I was born October 8, 1937, to Fred and Selma (Knudtson) Fiechtner at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

I lived in Grand Forks for two years, then to Hillsboro, ND for 3-1/2 years, and then to Fargo ever since. I went to grade school at Jefferson in Fargo, then 3 years at Agassiz Junior High, and one year at Fargo Central High, two years at Concordia High School, St. Paul, MN, and two years at Concordia College, St. Paul, MN in a pre-ministerial course, but did not complete it or go on to seminary. I later attended and graduated from Dakota Business College in Fargo.

I served in the US Army from 1961-64, and then returned to Fargo, where I joined my father in business at Nodak Supply Co, a retail farm, home, housewares, clothing and large appliance and electronic store. I was the oldest of three children. My brother, Robert, was born in 1940, and lives in Fargo, and my sister, Eunice, was born in 1942 and lives in Cupertino, CA. They are both married and have families. In about 1975, my brother, Robert, and I took over the Nodak business, after my father retired. In 1997, both Bob and I also retired from active management at Nodak, but we still hold ownership in the business.

I married Joyce Bergh of Trenton, ND in July 1960, and had one son, Jon, born in 1964. The marriage was dissolved in 1971. In 1973, I married Joan Robberstad from Erie, ND, to whom I am now married. She brought to the marriage two daughters, Lori and Teresa, whom I later adopted. In 1975, Joan and I had a son Matthew.

Jon Fiechtner presently lives in the Omaha, NE area, working in business management and computer-related positions. Lori is married and lives at Big Floyd Lake in MN with her husband, Bruce, and two children, Laura and Melissa. Lori teaches private piano lessons, and works in community theatre and local musicals, among other things. Bruce works for Minnesota PCA. Teresa is married, lives in Fargo with her husband Shawn. Shawn is the manager of Nodak, and Teresa works there also as office manager. They have four children, Jessica, Jocelyn, Jillian, and Shane. Our youngest son, Matthew, is presently a cadet in his third year at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.

Joan and I now split our time between Nevada and North Dakota. We were especially grateful to have missed the terrible North Dakota winter and flood of 1997. We both play golf, are interested in music, sing and play piano and organ, and are both active in church activities. We belong to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Fargo, and in the winter, attend Christ Lutheran Church in Boulder City, NV.

My father, Fred, became very interested in his roots, and was an active member in the North Dakota Germans from Russia Heritage Society until his death in 1986.

My father's father, Gustav Fiechtner, came over from Odessa, Russia as a young boy of 17 years in 1889 with his brother. They both settled in Dickey County, ND, married, farmed in the area of Monango and raised families.

I became interested in my ancestry about 20 years ago, and have "inherited" some of my father's records and files about our lineage. I am happy that my sons, Jon and Matthew, will be able to join me on this "Journey to the Homeland" tour, and hope they will continue to be interested in their ancestry.

Jon Fiechtner, Tekamah, Nebraska

I was born August 3, 1964, in Fargo, North Dakota to Gerald Norman Fiechtner and Joyce (Bergh) Fiechtner. I'm the only child from this marriage.

I lived in Fargo for six years, then my parents divorced and I moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota with my mother. I went through elementary, junior high, and high school in Grand Forks, visiting Fargo two weekends a month and weeks during the summer. During these visits, Dad's father, Fred, would often lasso me into spending time with him; gardening vegetables and flowers, giving away the surplus food, going to the state fair and entering our gladiola in a contest. I remember him singing little German songs sometimes. I took two semesters of German language in high school.

I attended UND for two semesters, NDSU for one. I moved to Colorado in 1984 and moved to Arizona in 1986. I finished a one-year technology course. Working in the typesetting department of Kinko's in Tucson, did freelance desktop publishing for four years and learned screen printing, moved to Nebraska in 1994 to work in my mom's business, Neihardt Publishing.

Mom married John Knauf in 1972, divorced in 1985, married Robin Neihardt in 1989. Dad married Joan Robberstad in 1973.

Matthew J. Fiechtner, Colorado Springs, Colorado

I was born on 14 January 1975 in Fargo, ND. Kindergarten through 8th grade was spent at Grace Lutheran School in Fargo, ND.

I continued my education at Oak Grove Lutheran High School (also in Fargo). There, I participated in many activities. Some of my favorites include the golf team and many various musical groups (the choir, madrigal singers, boys quartet). The German course there also afforded many students the opportunity to visit Germany for a month with an organization called GAPP (German-American Partnership Program). For the first three weeks of the trip (June '92), each U.S. student stayed with a host German student family. They lived in a city called Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein (perhaps one hour drive from Hamburg). We attended Gymnasium with that student during the week. For the 4th week, we took a train to Berlin and toured the area. The next fall, each U.S. student hosted their former hosts in Germany for three weeks. The Germans spent the 4th week in Minneapolis.

After graduating from high school spring '93, I was accepted at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. I was a biology major there, but I really failed to focus on academics. Subsequently, I withdrew after one semester and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, 24 May 1994. However, before heading off to Basic Training, I used part of my tuition refund from Pepperdine to travel to Australia for about 10 days. I spent half in Sydney and half in Canberra. A pen pal of mine hosted me.

Adding together the time I spent in Basic Training, Technical Training, and the actual time I worked as a Health Services Administration Specialist, I was enlisted for a little over a year. The reason the 4-year enlistment period was cut short is because I was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. That is where I am now, and that is where I shall stay until I graduate early in June of '99. It is a great opportunity to be here, but I am really looking forward to my exodus from this place.

While here, I have also enjoyed various extra-curricular activities. I participate in the Cadet Chorale (when my grades are good enough), the Prior Enlisted Council, and Campus Crusade for Christ. In fact, for 3 weeks after my freshman year during the summer, I traveled with a group of Crusade-involved students from USAFA, UC-Boulder, and a few other campuses in the U.S. to Concepcion, Chile. There, we shared the Gospel/culture with students at the Universidad de Concepcion.

After I graduate, I am not exactly sure what I want to do yet. If I go on to pilot training, I will have to spend about 9 years more in the AF. If not, only 5 years. After that time, I sort of have my eye on going back to school for some sort of musical/vocal training. But you never know what else might come up. Basically, there are many paths my life could take from this place and it will be exciting to see how everything pans out. However, no matter which direction my life will take, I hope I will always be able to enjoy golf, downhill skiing, travel, reading, singing, and someday, a family of my own.

Carol Just Halverson, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

A native of Berlin, LaMoure County, ND, Carol Halverson has lived in the Minneapolis area suburb of St. Louis Park, for 30 years. Her daughters, Katharina (Kate, currently studying in Berlin, Germany) and Annie, (8th grade, St. Louis Park Jr. High) are very excited to see their mom fulfilling her lifelong dream of visiting their ancestral villages on the 1998 Journey to the Homeland Tour.

Halverson's parents, Julius and Helen (Dockter) Just and three grandparents, Heinrich Dockter, Katharina (Meidinger) Dockter, and Katharina (Meidinger) Just were born within a few miles of one another in McIntosh County, ND. The fourth grandparents, Karl Just, was conceived in South Russia and born at Tripp, Dakota Territory (near Yankton), shortly after his young parents arrived in America, October 1884.

An Oral Historian, Halverson is in the business of memories. Her company, "Lifetimes" helps others identify and tell their life stories. Halverson conducts videotaped interviews with her clients and edits music and photographs from the interviewee's family album into the text of the interview, creating a living legacy for their descendants. A member of the Oral History Association of Minnesota, Halverson gives Oral History presentations and workshops to school, civic and church groups.

A charter member of the Minnesota North Star Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR), Halverson has spent the last three years directing their programs. She has presented workshops for international conventions of AHSGR and the Germans From Russia Heritage Society (GHRS), and written articles about the history of the Germans from Russia for various periodicals. Halverson has co-written two family histories, and "Unser Leute," a musical pageant telling the story of the German-Russian migration from Germany to Russia to America. She is currently part of a Twin Cities area task force raising support for the NDSU Libraries/Prairie Public Television Documentary about the Germans from Russia.

Katharina Kate Halverson, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Currently a junior at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, I am spending the 1997-98 academic year studying at the Free University in Berlin, Germany. As a German major who also studies Russian language and history, I find Berlin to be the ideal environment to pursue my interests in the current westernization of Eastern Europe, and the consequential influence on immigration issues and the question of national identity.

Following graduation from Vassar, I am looking toward a career in immigration, more specifically, as an English as a Second Language teacher in the United States. Before attaining my certification, however, I will finish my studies in German culture and language, and plan to spend at least one year either studying Russian language and history or teaching English in Russia or Ukraine in the year following my graduation from Vassar. Living and studying in Germany has truly brought the German culture to life for me and has helped improve my communication skills tremendously; I look forward to a year in Russia or Ukraine to do the same.

During my semester break this spring, I travelled through Europe, and was impressed by the effort being made in cities like Budapest to westernize as rapidly as possible. Yet, while Budapest has numerous western amenities like McDonald's and bagel shops, there is something distinctly different in these regions where capitalism is less than a decade old. I am not referring to the anachronistic sight of a Pizza Hut sign on the facade of a building that is perhaps older than my state in the U.S., but rather the gruff, hearty Ernst of a society that is trying feverishly to catch up to the rest of the western world; a society that has not been inundated with NBC and Blockbuster Video just yet, but rather is evolving into a secure member of capitalist society through Trial and Error. I am fascinated with this idea of "renovating" a society and the consequential influence on the culture and customs of the nations of the former East.

As a descendant of German-Russian immigrants, I am curious about the influence of German, Russian and American history and culture on the present-day situation of our families. I often think of my Grandpa Just when I hear an older gentleman speaking a dialect of German on the street here in Berlin. Then there are the times when I enjoy a delicious bowl of Borscht here at my favorite restaurant, and immediately have the sensation of sitting in my Grandma's kitchen having dinner. Time and again I feel that I am returning to my roots, little by little, and in doing so, a clearer picture of what lies ahead of me unfolds. I anticipate an incredible, eye-opening experience with the Journey to the Homeland Tour, and am so thankful for the opportunity to participate!

Mary Frances Filer Jacobson, Mohave Valley, Arizona

I was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, March 11, 1939 to Lester Filer and Magdalene (Meier) Filer. I have one sister, Naomi Ruth Filer, born October 5, 1934. She is going on this tour also. Naomi married Robert Reimer. We moved to Toppenish, WA when I was 4 years old. Attended schools in Toppenish where I graduated from high school in 1957. Then attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, WA for two years, then transferred to the University of Washington, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology in 1962.

I met Chuck Jacobson while attending the University of Washington. We were married on June 2, 1962. After graduating from college I went to work in a hospital laboratory in Tacoma, WA. In October of 1963 our first child, Lisa was born. In July of 1965 our son Mark, was born. After Mark, our second child, was born, I was an at home mother for about 3 years. Then I went back to work again in a hospital laboratory. I continued to work in hospital or out patient clinic laboratories until July, 1992.

At that time, Chuck retired from teaching school for 30 years. I quit my job and we decided to travel. We left in our recreational vehicle for an extended trip around the USA. We traveled to most of the states. While in Arizona, we decided to sell our house in Tacoma, WA and move to Arizona.

My German from Russia roots are through my mother, Magdalene (Meier) Filer. Her parents were Anton Meier and Rosa (Ripplinger) Meier from the villages of Mannheim and Elsass. I have had an interest in my "roots" for about 15 years. Although I do not know the exact location of my grandparents' home in Elsass, I look forward to this trip to expand my knowledge of my German-Russian ancestry.

Vicky Retzlaff Kearns, Napa, California

My father was born in Kulm, Bessarabia and I was born in Kulm, North Dakota. I'm delighted to share my birthplace with the famous Angie Dickenson.

I grew up on a farm near Whitestone Battlefield with my parents and eight older brothers. I walked a mile cross country with my youngest brothers to attend a one-room elementary school. For high school, it was necessary to move to town during the school year because it was so far away. Fortunately, the N.I. at Ellendale had a high school program. It was a most wonderful experience for the dozen or so students in the high school program to be included in the college activities. After my junior year I moved to California and have lived here ever since.

My mother was born in Leipzig, Bessarabia and came to North Dakota when she was five years old. She often described her house and village in Leipzig in loving detail. I find it incredible that next year I will be going to the birth villages of my parents.

My husband, John, and I have two children, Kathy and Robert, who are both married and live in the Bay Area. We also have two delightful granddaughters, Kristen, twelve, and Lauren, nine.

I love ballroom and folk dancing, aerobic classes, good food and reading.

Clarence M. Keller, Havre, Montana

I was born January 22, 1944 in Havre, Montana. I attended the Cottonwood Rural School for the first 8 years, then attended high school at Havre Central High in Havre. I was born and raised Catholic. I farm north of Havre and raise wheat, barley and cattle. I have been farming for 25 years.

LeRoy E. Keller, Havre, Montana

I was born in Havre, Montana October 23. 1933, and am the oldest of 16 children, Two of my brothers passed away from spinal meningitis. We lived 24 miles northwest of Havre in the Cottonwood community. I went to the Cottonwood grade school through grade 8 and then attended Havre High School for 4 years. The last 2 years of high school I delivered milk from 5:00 AM until 8:55 AM six days a week. During my senior year, I played football.

In 1953-1955, I served in the Korean War. I worked for a farmer for 22 years, then in 1969, the farmer loaned me the down payment for a farm. I have added to the 960 acres that I originally purchased, and now own 4,000 acres and lease 480 acres of school land.

I was born and raised a Catholic. I have dedicated my time to the betterment of our church by serving on the Parish Council for 6 years and the financial committee for 9 years. I am very involved in the Knights of Columbus; have held all offices, and am the current District Deputy.

From 1983 to 1989, I served a six year term as a County Commissioner, and am a giver of over 23 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. I also serve on many community boards, such as the Havre Food Bank, Human Resource Development Council (HRDC). I have been serving on the Montana Mutual Insurance Company Board since 1974 and have been president of the local Farmers Union."

My mother was Juletta (Garding) Keller, my great grandparents came from Germany in about 1860. Their name was Schgarding. The first brother took the Sch off and it became a closed family of Garding. My grandfather married a Fuchs, some change the name to Fox or Foxx. My grandfather was Mathias Garding, born in 1885 in St. Martins, Minnesota. My grandmother was Mamie Joevly, born November 10, 1891. Both passed away in Havre.

My mother was born in Grassy Lake, Alberta. When she was one month old, they moved to Spokane, Washington, where they lived for 8 years. Then they moved to North Havre where she met, and later married, my father in September of 1932.

My father was born February 22, 1903 in Begelofka (Russia), Ukraine. He was the 5th child of 14. His father was Johannes Keller, born June 20, 1869 and passed away in Havre on February 8, 1937.

My father's mother was Magdalina Schwan, born in Kursokof, Russia, December 12, 1874. His parents were married in Strassburg, January 28, 1896. (The Schwan family moved to Alexanderfeld.) Magdalina died September 13, 1961. Johannes and Magdalina Keller arrived in the U.S. on the Kaiser Wilhelm II boat in the State of New York June 6, 1911, and then, four years later, moved to Collyer, Kansas.

At breakfast on the first day of school, my Grandfather told his children, "We are in America and we will speak English." When my father passed away, he couldn't speak German, but both he and my mother could understand it. None of their children can speak or understand the German language.

My grandfather had four brothers that named the village, Kellersheim. My grandfather had only 2 brothers come to the U.S.A. His sister, Mary, got to New York and one of her children became sick so they had to go back. My great uncle, Andrew, was in the Russian Army. My great grandfather was Wilhelm Keller and my great grandmother was Christine Gerein.

June M. Kraft, Bismarck, North Dakota

My paternal ancestors came from the Odessa, Russia area. My grandparents were Jacob Kraft and Karline (Mehlhoff) Kraft. My grandfather was born and raised in Kassel and came to the United States in 1910 at the age of eighteen. My grandmother's father is also from the Kassel area, although she lists her birthplace as Mardorofke, Russia. She emigrated to the United States in 1901 at the age of five.

A family search is just beginning and I am especially interested in the Kraft and Mehlhaf families. I would appreciate hearing from others also searching for families in this area. I want to learn about the history and culture of South Russia. It would be exciting to locate relatives still living in Russia or Germany.

Currently, I serve as Burleigh County Extension Agent for the NDSU Extension Service with a focus on family and consumer science. My undergraduate degree is in Home Economics Education with graduate work done in communications. Prior to joining Extension, I taught high school home economics.

I enjoy travel and am excited about visiting Kassel. Although this is my third trip to Germany, it is the first time in the Stuttgart area. I am looking forward to seeing the choir members I met last year while they were on tour in North Dakota.

I grew up at Tuttle, North Dakota, where my parents farmed and I currently reside in Bismarck.

Cynthia Mitzel Longtin, Fargo, North Dakota

Tour (1) veteran Longtin, my mind is whirling with thoughts ... the anticipation is much the same. This is a powerful experience. I'm the youngest of six children born of German-Russian Catholic parents. My father was conceived in Straßburg, South Russia, and born in North Dakota in 1909. This fact and the story of how Grandpa Mitzel was detained by the Russian officials for almost a year; but Grandma was sent to America with the six children while expecting the seventh child has spurred the desire to see where they came from and why.

"I remember well my maternal grandfather, Balthazar Welk, who lived with us for six weeks every year until his death in 1966. His wife, grandmother Margaret (Baumgartner) Welk died in 1954. Grandpa Welk entertained me during those times he spent with our family. He taught me how to trap gophers and made a tree swing out of an old tire, together. Grandpa sang songs in German to me while I learned to count to "10" in German and Russian. Learning words too, I would go to school and teach my friends Russian. I thought it was hot stuff!!"

"I remember visiting my paternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Volk) Mitzel, a resident of the Harvey Nursing Home. She always wore a black head scarf. As a child I liked to have my mom tell me stories about my grandparents, aunts, and uncles who were born in Russia. I had the great pleasure of seeing my ancestral villages in May, 1997, with my French/Norwegian husband and my two sisters. We shared that unique time of our lives in the village of Selz, meeting actual family. Antonina Welk Ivanova, a Selz resident, is a third cousin to my mother. We had lunch in Antonina's home and enjoyed a tour of the village with her. The next day we had lunch at her daughter's home in Kandel. Other than the language difference, it was just like visiting our aunt's house, a moment in time we will never forget. Family is very IMPORTANT!

Stuart Longtin, Fargo, North Dakota

I'm German-Russian by marriage only. When I married my wife, Cindy Mitzel, in 1985, I married into a wonderful German-Russian family. My French-Norwegian heritage blended very well with this family's great faith and spirit. I've been tracing my own family histories for the last twenty years and became interested in German-Russian heritage while researching and compiling histories for my wife's paternal and maternal families. Facets of a strong faith in God became evident time after time in the family stories and trials. I wanted to see where this great faith of the German-Russians came from. I found out a great deal about this faith while on the 1997 tour. My wife, her two sisters and I were thrilled to be able to trace and find relatives while in Ukraine. It was very sobering to think that, but for a quirk of fate, the situation may have been reverse. Seeing them, conversing with them and feeling their joy made the trip that much more exciting. Since the tour, we have been corresponding with many of the people we met. Our horizons, and our family ties, have certainly been expanded.

We both look forward to returning once again to German-Russian roots. We hope to be able to see and take in more and more of the essence of the land. The faith is strong and very much evident in the people. It is exciting to meet and speak with the people and realize they are just like we are and it means so much to them to know you care.

Stuart writes, "I was born January 24, 1951. I have two sons: Joseph, who is 27, and James who is 23. I am the youngest of my parents, three children, having one brother and one sister. My parents are deceased. My ancestry on my father's side is French, having traced my paternal ancestry back to Paris, France, to 1738. It is interesting to note that my French ancestors came from an area in France that is 150 km from Alsace, the origins of the ancestors of my German-Russian spouse."

"My maternal ancestry goes back five generations to an area north of Trondheim, Norway. Members of my mother's family still correspond with relatives here. I have been tracing the ancestry of my parents for over 15 years. Recently, I became involved in tracing the German-Russian heritage of my spouse, Cindy Mitzel Longtin. Cindy and I published a family history of Philip Mitzel, born in 1860. This interest has continued to the maternal ancestry of my spouse, the Welk family. We have been successful in both families' history, with origins to the Alsace area, to 1750. I have become adapt to utilizing Family tree Software and the Internet for this purpose. My organizational skills have come in handy during this project."

"My career has been in the telecommunication industry for 28 years. Presently, I am the Service Manager for installation and maintenance of business telecommunications systems in North Dakota and western Minnesota for Lucent Technologies."

Mary E. Jaeger Marando, Crown Point, Indiana

I was born Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois, to Josephine Kucia (1912-1976) and Joseph P. Jaeger (1913-1980). At age 2, we moved to rural Crown Point, Indiana, raised in a country setting with an older brother (1935-1985) and many cousins. My younger brother was born in 1950. I attended Catholic grade school, small public high school, few courses in college. I married Joseph P. Marando (1935-1996). I have two daughters, Catherine and Marian and one marvelous grandson, Michael Patrick Quinn, age 8. I worked for 29 1/2 years at the US Postal Service, retiring in 1992.

My father (1913-1980), was the youngest child of 13 children. Both his father, Jaeger, and mother, Schiele, were of German-Russian heritage. My father was born in North Dakota, Pierce County, Jefferson Township, on the family homestead. Six of the older siblings were born in Russia, immigrating to the United States in 1898 on the USS Frust Bismarck with my grandfather, Ludwig Jaeger, and his first wife, Magdaline (Volk) Jaeger.

My great grandfather, John Jaeger, and great uncle, Vincent Volk, were founders, donated property, for the Fulda Church, St. Anselm's, in Pierce County, Jefferson Township.

My interest in the German heritage began in the 1970s. And, looking at some of the letters I sent out back then, my goals are finally being reached: 1) to get enough background information to make a trip to Russia and Germany when I retired in 1994 to visit the villages where our ancestors lived, 2) to contact all my living first and second cousins to gain information for my goal, 3) preparing and having printed an "Ancestors of John Jaeger" book.

Goal 1: I'm going May 1998, 4 years from original goal, 100 years from when my ancestors left their homeland.

Goal 2: I'm sure I've met all my first cousins, may not have gotten to all the others but I'm continuing this goal and it could be "never ending". Who will I meet in Russia! Germany!

Goal 3: Have most of my information, but now have added pictures which are sometimes hard to come by.

Hobbies: Golf, travel, reading and a nice dinner. My cousin, Betty (Jaeger) Winkler, who I hope will be meeting me in Stuttgart, has introduced me to ballet, opera, and symphony. There was a very nice opera house in Stuttgart. I like chamber music, and also did country line dancing this spring. For visual arts, I can't believe how much I enjoyed the Louve museum in Paris.

Lillian A. Miller, Williston, North Dakota

I was born on a family farm at Appam, North Dakota -- Blue Ridge Township to Oliver and Mathilda (Erikson) Holm on April 22, 1926. My father was born March 20, 1882 to Peter and Christina (Johonson) Peterson in Sweden. He and his brother, Ole, came to the United States in 1901. They changed their surname to Holm (after Stockholm) because of the vast number of Petersons in Minnesota. On April 1, 1906, he moved to Williston, North Dakota and filed on a homestead north of Appam, North Dakota.

He married Mathilda in the fall of 1912 in Williston. Mathilda was born in Osnus, Fleeca Station, Norway on September 15, 1891 to Christian and Martha (Madson) Erikson. On her 16th birthday she and her father came to the United States, first coming to Whitehall, Wisconsin to an uncle and aunt living there. Then, in 1909, she traveled to Rugby and Barton, North Dakota, where she worked until 1911, when she moved to Williston, North Dakota, where she worked and met my father. I am the 8th of 14 children. My father passed away on October 19, 1969, and my mother passed away on November 27, 1969.

I attended grade school in Appam, North Dakota, high school in Alamo, North Dakota and graduated from high school in Williston, North Dakota in 1944. My father retired from farming and moved to Williston to make it easier for us to attend high school, as we always had to stay away from home. I attended Minot State Teachers College, received a teaching certificate. This was during World War II. I only taught one year.

Then I went to the west coast to my aunt and uncle in Milwaukee, Oregon. I worked in the Oregon Woolen Mills until I met my first husband, James Keenan, and married on July 24, 1946. We lived in Oregon City, where he was a chef in various restaurants until we opened our own drive-in restaurant.

We had two children. Our daughter, Linda was born in Oregon City and our son, Jerald was born in Williston, North Dakota. Jerald has opened a Jewelry Store in Portland; and Linda is employed there. My husband, James passed away December 12, 1977 during heart by-pass surgery.

My present husband, LaVern Miller, and I were married on August 18, 1984. We have a condo in Williston, and also have a home on the farm where we spend time during spring seeding and fall harvest. LaVern is interested and enjoys working with his brother on the farm.

We both are interested in traveling, reading, and being with our families and especially, our grandchildren.

LaVern C. Miller, Williston, North Dakota

I was born at Williston, North Dakota on June 26, 1926. My father, Charles Miller, was born in Oglesby, Illinois on August 16, 1898 to Luxembourg-German immigrants. This family moved to a homestead in Williams County. My mother, May (Horob) Miller, was born in Kief, Ukraine, on December 29, 1905, the youngest child. The family immigrated to Canada, entering the United States and homesteaded in Williams County also. I am told that the last name Horob was shortened at citizenship from Horobanko.

In 1930, my parents bought a farm one half mile from the Horob homestead. I fondly remember my mother and grandmother conversing in Russian, and not understanding any of it.

I obtained my elementary education in a one-room school house. This was a period of one of the greatest droughts and depression that has ever been experienced in western North Dakota. Many families left their farms and city hoping to better themselves at the West Coast and elsewhere. Our family stayed with much frugality, big gardens, milk cows, raising chickens, home grown beef, and a W.P.A. Program; we survived. The farm is still family owned and, at present, managed by my brother.

I attended Williston High School and received a diploma in 1943. My senior year was only six months, having need to work on the farm during World War II years.

My lifelong career has been raising small grains, livestock and picking rocks. My father told me, "A good way to go broke was not to pick rocks and not summer fallow." Having been blessed through my heritage that hard work, common sense, and a Christian life-style will bring contentment and success.

I have five daughters by a previous marriage of 18 years.

At present I am semi-retired, married to my present wife for 13 years, who will be accompanying me on my first ever overseas tour, Journey to the Homeland, in 1998.

Michael M. Miller, Fargo, ND

Michael writes, "My first visit to the villages of Strassburg and Krasna in June of 1994 is an experience I shall never forget. I was especially touched by the warmth and friendship of the local villagers. I returned to Odessa. I shall never forget the frigid temperatures and the hospitality at the home of Antonina Welk Ivanova in the village of Selz in December, 1995. Traveling now to Odessa, especially to the Kutschurgan villages and to Krasna, is like coming home to the land where my grandparents walked the same streets."

Michael was raised in Strasburg, North Dakota, learning to speak English and German. His college degrees are from Valley City State University and the University of North Dakota. He has been on the NDSU Libraries staff since 1967, where he compiled the annotated bibliography, "Researching the Germans from Russia," published by the North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, NDSU, 1987.

He produced the visual program in 1980, "At Home on the Prairies: the Germans from Russia," for the Germans from Russia Heritage Society. Working with the family of Lawrence Welk, he was instrumental in the family's decision in 1993 to donate the archives of the late bandleader to the NDSU Libraries.

Besides his university work, he is a photographer. His past photography assignments have taken him to the Olympics in Los Angeles, Seoul, Calgary, Albertville, Barcelona, and Lillehammer.

He has visited Odessa in June, 1994; December, 1995; June, 1996; and May, 1997. Michael serves on the committee to review the script for the Germans from Russia documentary produced cooperatively by Prairie Public Broadcasting and the NDSU Libraries to premiere in 1999.

Irene Wahl Neuharth, Long Beach California

Irene Elnora (Wahl) Neuharth was born at Alpena, South Dakota, on a farm on October 28, 1918, to Amelia Sophie (Dietrich) Wahl and John Wahl.

Mother, Amelia Sophie Dietrich, was born in Scotland, South Dakota on January 6, 1894. Father, John Wahl, was born in Emery, South Dakota on April 1, 1891.

My paternal grandfather was Michael Wahl, born June 17, 1861, in Kassel, Ukraine, South Russia. Migrated in February 17, 1880, to Emery, South Dakota, and died March 21, 1944. My paternal Grandmother was Caroline Heckel, born August 16, 1859, in Neudorf, South Russia, and died March 21, 1944 in Alpena, South Dakota.

My maternal grandfather was John Dietrich, born August 14, 1861, in Rosenfeld, South Russia. John Dietrich migrated to USA in 1872 and to Yankton County, South Dakota, on September 26, 1886. He died July 9, 1930. My maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Orth, born in Worms, South Russia, on August 30, 1867. She immigrated to Lesterville, South Dakota, August 1873. She died January 14, 1941, at Alpena, South Dakota.

My great-great ancestors were born in Sinsheim, Eppingen and Baden, Germany, and migrated to various villages in the Ukraine, South Russia.

I attended rural grade school through 8th grade, then attended Alpena High School, Alpena, South Dakota. In 1936, I attended nurses training at Anchor Hospital, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

I married Water D. Neuharth on August 18, 1940, and lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Later I moved to Deadwood, South Dakota where Walter was assistant manager for Montgomery Ward. Walter spent three years in Europe in the US Air Force in World War II. We owned and operated Neuharth's mens wear clothing store in Wessington Springs. I helped organize a 20 bed hospital in Wessington Springs, South Dakota.

We moved to Long Beach, California in 1953, where I worked for McDonnel-Douglas Corp. for 20 years as an industrial nurse, before retiring in 1981.

Currently, Walter and I make jams and jelly to benefit the Shrine Children's Hospital and a Mexican orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico.

We have enjoyed working on family genealogy for more than 25 years. We have traveled to 5 of the many countries of the world and the USA.

One son, Loren, born May 17, 1943, and currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is manager of a television station. We have two grandchildren, Julie, born January 22, 1970, and John, born September 17, 1972.

Walter D. Neuharth, Long Beach, California

I was born in Eureka, South Dakota, on October 19, 1917, to Daniel J. and Christina Neuharth. I married Irene Wahl of Alpena, South Dakota, on August 18, 1940. I served for three years in the US Air Force during World War II.

I owned Neuharth's mens wear clothing store in Wessington Springs, South Dakota, from 1946 - 1953.

I moved to Long Beach, California. After 28 years with the Long Beach Unified School District, I retired in February 1981.

Irene, a registered nurse, retired at the same time, after 20 years as an industrial nurse with McDonald-Douglas Corp.

Having both been world wide travelers, we visited more than 40 countries of the world and the 50 states in the USA. Genealogy of the Neuharth family, in particular, has been our hobby for more than 25 years.

We have worked on a number of philanthropic projects, mainly on Schriner's Childrens Hospital and fund raising projects.

Lola G. Parsons, Tucson, Arizona

My name is Lola Gervae Parsons. I was born at Emmett, Idaho, February 17, 1936, to Louis Gerhardt and Alice (Turner) Hereth, and lived there until going to the University of Idaho in the fall of 1954.

My first marriage was to A. Daniel Freiberg, who was born in LaMoure, N.D. December, 1935. We raised 4 children, two boys and two girls. Dan died of a heart attack and I subsequently married my present husband, Robert (Bob) Parsons.

My oldest child, Tamara, has her Masters in Public Administration and is the Administrative Assistant for Valley County, Idaho. She has two children, Cassandra (Cassie) and Chad. My second daughter, Lisa, has her Bachelor's degree and is a probation officer for Valley County. She has 2 children, Brad and Brian.

My oldest son, Joe, has his R.N. degree and operates a care facility in his home in Ontario, Oregon. He has 2 children, Victoria (Tori) and Daniel. My youngest son, Tony, is a Flight Engineer with JAL and primarily flies from Honolulu to Japan to Bangkok to Honolulu. He has an occasional flight to Australia, Nepal, Singapore or Bali. His home is in Incline Village, Nevada. He has a girlfriend, Mary, and a dog, Annie.

When I was a small child, my grandfather told me that he was born in Bavaria and my grandmother said she was born in Odessa, Russia. As a child that satisfied my curiosity, however after I grew older and after they had both died, I found that I was very interested in my background.

In the past few years I began to ask questions of older family members, but have been disappointed with their lack of knowledge about the Fritz and the Hereth families so have begun to look elsewhere for answers. It was after buying a newer computer that I explored the Internet and found Michael Miller's home page and the information regarding the Homeland Tour. I had planned a trip to Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech and Slovic Republics beginning in early May and discovered that the Homeland Tour fit perfectly with the end of the earlier tour, so I contacted Michael and the rest, as they say, is history.

My grandfather's family history, as I know it, began with the emigration of her forebears from Wuerttemberg in 1819 - 1821. One great grandfather was Samuel Schlichenmaier, born September 6, 1762 at Cottenweiler, Neckarkreis. Another was great grandfather Johann Kaspar Georg, born May 24, 1764, at Schweina, Meiningen. Great grandfather Johann Jakob Conrad, was born March 30, 1776, at Unterweissach. The other great grandfather was Adam Fritz, born 1789, in Messtetten, Balingen.

I am very happy and grateful for the opportunity to join this tour. I didn't think that I would be able to see the village of Hoffnungstal where my grandmother was born. She was the second child of Johann Friedrich Fritz and Elisabeth (Georg) Fritz. She was six years old when her family came to Nebraska, married Martin Hereth and moved to Snohomish, Washington. Then, in 1920, they moved to Emmett where they had a farm. My grandparents had 8 children: John, Elisabeth, Anna, Clarence, Paul, Walter, Louis and Doris. Louis is now 87 and lives in Newman Lake, Washington. Doris is 81 and lives in Lewiston, Idaho.

I spent most of the years from 1957 until 1982 raising my children and involvement with church and civic organizations. From then until the present, I have been a happy grandmother of 6, traveled, learned to play golf, bridge, built a couple of homes and remodeled one. We now have a summer home in Idaho mountains and spend winters in our home in Tucson.

Bob is retired from the produce business. He primarily grew, packed and shipped onions, both his own and for other growers. He is now happily retired and also enjoys travel. However, is a white knuckle flyer and refuses to fly again unless it is an emergency, therefore, I am traveling alone on this tour.

Nomoi R. Filer Reimer, Sumner, Washington

I was born October 5, 1934, in Wenatchee, Washington. We were living in Klamath Falls, Oregon, when my sister Mary Frances Jacobson was born. We are travelling on this tour together.

My parents moved to Toppenish, Washington, in 1943 when I was nine years old. I grew up and graduated from high school there. After high school, I attended St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing in Yakima, Washington, and graduated in 1955. Robert Reimer and I were married in 1961. My career was in nursing until 1980, when I made a change to work in our family lumber business. My husband and I are retired, and spend our summers in the Northwest and winters in Mesa, Arizona.

My ancestral roots of Germans from Russia are on my mother's side. Her parents immigrated to South Dakota in 1901. Mother was born in Ipswich, South Dakota in 1902. All of her siblings were born in Elsass, Ukraine.

Mother's father was Anton Meier, born 1851, and her mother was Rosa Ripplinger, born 1854.

My mother left South Dakota in 1920 with her parents, one sister, and one brother to settle in Toppenish, Washington. My grandparents died when I was in grade school, but I had a grandparent relationship with mother's older brother, Frank Meier, born 1884. My sister is the genealogist in our family and has encouraged me to become interested. I am looking forward to our tour and learning about my grandparents ancestral home in Elsass, Ukraine.

Merv Rennich, Dunlap, Illinois

Merv was born and raised in McClusky, North Dakota, where he lived until he was eighteen. He then attended the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, where he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960. For the next 34 years, he worked in primarily the Service Department for Caterpillar Inc. His work took him to over 90 countries, including a number of years living in Panama, Mexico, and Switzerland. He retired from Caterpillar in 1994 and has since been quite busy with family, genealogy, church, travel, and volunteer work.

In 1964 he married Joy Fleming, a Bradley University graduate with a Masters Degree in Special Education. They have four boys: Michael, a Purdue graduate and a computer systems engineer with Cadence Design Corp.; Steve, a Stanford Ph.D. graduate and a research scientist with MIT Lincoln Labs; Patrick, a Purdue graduate and also a research scientist with MIT Lincoln Labs; and Joel, a University of Illinois graduate and a photo journalist with Booth Newspapers in Michigan.

Merv's father, Carl Rennich, was born in 1904 in Waterloo, Beresan, Odessa District to Karl Rennich (1876) and Christina Engel (1880). He, along with his parents, and sister Amelia, and brother Emanuel came to the United States in 1909. They traveled from Liverpool to Halifax aboard the SS Southwark and then by train to Mercer, North Dakota, where Karl set up a blacksmith shop. Karl's father was Anton Rennich and his mother was Luise Boerkirchert.

Merv's Mother, Louise Kleingartner, was born in 1911 in McLean County, North Dakota, to Balthasar Kleingartner (1887 in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia) and Katherine Hofer (1891 in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia). The Kleingartner line includes the family names of Singer, Walz, Boerkirchert, and Grossmueller. The Hofer line includes the family names of Schlepp, Wahl, Seiler, Laib, Dick, Naaz and Schaible.

Carl Rennich and Louise Kleingartner had five children: Meinhardt (1929-1951), (Loretta 1933-1933), Mervin, Douglas (1944-1990) Bismarck, and Joann (1954).

Merv has been interested in genealogy and researching his family background for the past 20 years. This had lead him to edit both a Rennich and a Kleingartner family newsletters. They have been very instrumental in helping with his family research. He is also Lead Editor of the Beresan District Odessa Newsletter which is now in its second year of publication.

Merv is excited about being a member of the tour and is looking forward to getting as much information and seeing as much as he can about the places where his ancestors lived. He is also particularly interested in gathering first hand information and pictures for the BDO Newsletter.

Duane Retzloff, Mountain View, California

Duane Retzlaff writes, "I was born in Stockton, California, and when I was four years old, moved with my parents near where my father was born to a farm south of Kulm, Dickey County, North Dakota. After that we moved to a farm northeast of Edgeley, North Dakota, and finally to the farm where my father, Emil Retzlaff, still lives 3 miles north of Monango, North Dakota. There I attended school at a one-room country school house in Valley Township until the school was consolidated with the Monango Public School."

"My father's parents, Otto Retzlaff and Louise Brandenburger, were born in the Bessarabian villages of Kulm and Leipzig, respectively, and came to the United States with their parents in 1896 where they homesteaded south of Kulm, Dickey County, North Dakota. From an early age I was fascinated with the stories told me by my grandmother and grandfather of what it was like to live in Bessarabia and the difficulties they encountered in emigrating to the United States and homesteading on the vast, raw open prairies of the Dakotas."

"This interest eventually led me to compile the family genealogy and to publish my grandmother, Louises' memoirs. I recently published a family heritage book on my mother's side and am currently conducting research in preparation for publishing the Retzlaff-Brandenburger family heritage. This trip will provide a priceless opportunity to witness firsthand, photograph, and document the history of the villages where my grandparents were born and to share this with other family members. I was fortunate, with my grandmothers' help, to have established contact in the late 50s and early 60s with members of the Brandenburger family who stayed in Bessarabia and eventually migrated back to Germany in the early 1940s. I look forward to meeting some of these family members again when we arrive in Stuttgart."

"I am an aerospace engineer and currently work for Space Systems Loral in Palo Alto, California. I received my college education in California, graduating from the University of California in Berkeley and Santa Clara University in Santa Clara. Shortly after graduation, my wife, Martha and I were married and we were blessed with three wonderful sons who now make their homes in Provo, Utah. I worked for 29 years for Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale, California, where Martha and I raised our family. I retired from Lockheed in 1993. My wife and I enjoyed four of the best years of our lives together, before she passed away early in 1997. I now find myself back in the work force, joining Loral in September of 1997."

"I look forward to joining my aunt, Vicky (Retzlaff) Kearns, daughter of Otto Retzlaff and Louise Brandenburger on this wonderful tour of our homeland and retracing the steps of our ancestors from Kleinfelfitz, Prussia, to Freduental and Karlstal in Odessa region, to Hoffnungsthal, Kulm and Leipzig in Bessarabia. What an adventure!"

Barbara Jean Roth, Lake Oswego, Oregon

I was born February 2, 1941, in American Falls, Idaho. This is the home of my grandparents, Henry and Christina Roth. They were successful wheat ranchers. There were eleven uncles and aunts on my father's side. My mother, Hilda Schultz, was from Blackfoot, Idaho. Her father, George (Gottlieb), and step-mother, Meta, were farmers. She had two sisters, Pearl and Dorothy. Dorothy was raised by the Knetzers in Colorado, as she was a baby when their mother died in chilldbirth with another child.

There were five children in my family. I was the only girl and the eldest with three younger brothers Roger, Richard and Ronald Roth. Then, God sent us a baby sister, Rebecca, when I was in high school. For the major part of my growing up years, we lived in Walla Walla, Washington. I was raised a Lutheran, confirmed at age thirteen. All of my siblings also received their confirmations.

In the early twenties, I graduated from Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR in 1968 and I received a B.S. Degree in Secondary Education. I was a stewardess for Northwest Orient Airlines. I was married for eighteen years to R. Duane Moodhe. We had two children: Brian Noble and Suzanne Michele Moodhe. We lived in Vancouver, WA.

Divorced in 1983, I moved to Bellevue, Washington, where I was a Loan Officer for several large Savings and Loans. In 1989, I sold my home and a condo in Bellevue and moved to Scottsdale, AZ. I purchased real estate and a home, living there with my two little pooches, Napoleon and Fonzi. I worked as a Loan Officer-Broker. In 1993, I sold my home in Scottsdale and moved to Lake Oswego, OR, where my sister, son and daughter live.

Semi-retired, I explored ideas for starting a new career. In January 1997, I learned in a very unusual way that I was to become a writer. I have written and edited my first book and am just about ready to look for a publisher for my book of Christian Fiction. Utopian in nature, it takes place in Parkersville, Indiana (which does not actually exist). The story centers on relationships between God and man, man and wife, family, church family and the community of neighbors.

This book models the behavior that God has shown us in His Holy Word, to be the way to live our lives. Unlike today's dysfunctional behavior in relationships that resorts to drugs, alcohol, sex, character assassination, this story has problems true to life, however, they are handled according to the teachings of the Bible. I believe this book provides the reader with an example to reach for, it is not implied that this was how life was actually lived in 1948, but simply that it could have been. The pace of life then would have made a good proving ground. In all, God is glorified. I am currently working on a sequel or perhaps the second part to it, "Miracles in May." Hopefully, will be in print before the year is out.

My purpose in going on this Journey to the Homeland Tour, is to further learn about my ancestral roots. I have received materials from members of the Roth family that have done genealogy research over the past years. My great-great-great grandfather, Johannes Roth, was a painter in Plieningen, Germany, just southeast of Stuttgart. He married Rosina Siebenhalter. Their son, Jakob, born February 7, 1757, married Rebekah Hath, April 26, 1780, in Plieningen, Germany. Jakob married three times.

Homer Rudolf, Richmond, Virginia

All of my ancestors came from the Glückstal District, and homesteaded northeast of Zeeland, North Dakota, in the 1880s. They were members of the St. Andrew's Lutheran Parish of five churches and the Neu Kassel Reformed Church. My parents, Daniel and Pauline (Ketterling) Rudolf, were born, baptized, confirmed and married in the St. Andrew's Parish. I am the fourth of eight children, the last to be born on my parents farm which they lost when I was two weeks old.

Our family then moved to Wishek, where I was raised. German was my first language. Although my parents attended rural schools, English did not become a functional language for them and us children until my oldest brother started school. Both my paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother retired in Wishek, which was typical of their generation. English never became a functional language for them.

My paternal grandfather, who immigrated with his parents when he was 19 years old, had received an excellent education in Kassel and could read German, Latin and Russian. Because of his background in Latin, he could also read English. Recently, I was given his small personal library that he left at the time of his death. Several items obviously came with him from Russia, and the oldest had its origin in Germany -- the binding, title page and forward of a collection of poems by Graf Ludwig von Zinzendorff published in 1735. Sewn into that binding is a collection of hymn texts, with a pencil notation that identifies it as "Reichs Leider."

My parents and the two youngest children moved to Fargo in 1962, where my parents lived until their recent deaths. After graduation from high school, I attended Jamestown College where I earned a BA in Music Education. I also completed a minor in German, which helped keep the language alive for me, but made the Swabish dialect harder to speak.

I taught public school music in Minnewaukan, North Dakota for three years, and then attended the University of Southern California where I completed a MA degree in Music History and Literature. Next I worked for two years as the music librarian at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, before going on to the University of Illinois in Urbana, where I completed a PhD in Musicology. My college teaching career began with two years at the University of Texas in Austin, and am now teaching for my twenty-second year at the University of Richmond, a small liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia.

I can still speak formal German with a vocabulary that is unfortunately limited by lack of use; and understand both the Swabish dialect and formal German pretty well. Reading nineteenth-century German script is still difficult for me -- something I need to work on. However, I read gothic script very well. In addition to doing genealogical research, I have done a significant amount of research on the music of the German-Russian settlement of the St. Andrew's Lutheran Parish, and have now expanded the project to include all of McIntosh County.

Beverly E. Reinert Runkle, Billings, Montana

I was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota. My father was transferred to Wisconsin before I was one year old; subsequently transferred every 2-3 years to a number of small towns in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The last transfer was to Bismarck, North Dakota where I graduated from high school before leaving home. My maternal grandmother was German-Russian. I remember seeing her twice.

Married for 44 years we have 3 sons and a daughter, a daughter-in-law and 2 grandsons. This trip is my husband's gift to me.

Rosemary Ripplinger Schwan, Devils Lake, North Dakota

I was born on May 25, 1938, in Pierce County, near Barton, ND, to Peter P. Ripplinger and Mary Eva (Kurtz) Ripplinger. I attended first and second grades of school in Pierce County, in a one-room country school. German was spoken in our home most of the time. Those first years of school were not easy, but sure were fun. I had cousins that were in the same situation. In 1947, we moved to Ramsey County, three miles east of Devils Lake, ND, where I went to public schools and graduated from high school there.

I married Maurice Schwan in 1958 at Devils Lake, ND, living on a farm fifteen miles northeast of Devils Lake, ND. His parents were Denis Schwan and Barbara (Volk) Schwan. We are living on a farm they lived on since 1948, which we took over in 1958, doing small grain farming and raise beef cattle.

We have four children, Allen is married to Donna Fandrich living in Grand Forks, ND. Dianne is married to Samuel Pearce, living in Cody WY. Mark is married to Denise Ponicappo and living at Warwick, ND, and Brian is single, living at home doing the farming. We have 8 grandchildren and 6 step grandchildren. I stayed at home and raised my family and helped with the farm. After the children were all in school, I started working in the Medical Records Department at Mercy Hospital for 25 years. I hope I can keep working for a few more years.

I have two brothers and one sister who are all living in ND. Raymond, married to Patricia Bingham, living on the home farm near Devils Lake. They have four children. Peter M., married to Jeannette Gust living in Jamestown, ND. They also have four children. My sister, Frances, lives in Fargo, ND and is married to Lawrence Walker, and has two boys.

My father, Peter P. Ripplinger, and his parents are Stephan Ripplinger and Maria (Schell) Ripplinger. They were born and married at Elsass, near Odessa, Russia. They immigrated to Canada with Stephan Ripplinger parent's who are Peter Ripplinger and Mary Anna (Kuntz) Ripplinger in 1903. Peter and Mary Anna brought with them from Russia to Canada their 10 children. They are buried at Kendal, Saskatchewan Canada, as are most of their children. Stephan and Maria are buried at Rugby, ND. On Maria (Schell) Ripplingers' obituary in 1963 are listed a brother, Joseph Schell, and sister, Mrs. Dorothy Gatz, of South Russia.

My mother, Mary Eva (Kurtz) Ripplinger, parent's are Michael Kurtz and Franziska (Schmidt) Kurtz. Michael Kurtz's mother died when he was born and was raised by a family named 'Hambel'? He has two sisters, one brother, one half brother and two half sisters. One sister married Andrew 'Bonfest'? They stayed in Russia. Michael and Franziska lived at Orrin, ND and had 10 children.

I belong to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, active in the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and life member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society.

Geraldine (Gerry) Walth Sommer, Mesa, Arizona

I prefer to be known as Gerry (Walth) Sommer. With luck, I could be in Hoffnungstal on Dad's 95th birthday (5-28-03).

I was born in Richardton, North Dakota, to John and Della Walth. My father had immigrated to the United States in 1905 as a baby with his father, Jacob Walth and his mother, Katherina (Hilt) Walth, and his brothers and sisters.

My grandparents died around the time I was born, and I have always felt a great void in my life for not knowing this strong German family. While we were still infants, we moved to Minnesota. I was not fortunate to grow up in a dual language and culture as so many of the other German-Russian families who stayed in the Dakotas.

My husband, Bill, and I retired about six years ago. While sorting through old family photos, I began to get an interest in my "roots". An interest I could no longer say I don't have time for...it really does get to be an obsession. We moved from Chicago to Mesa, Arizona, after our retirement. The only drawback is our daughters all live back in the Midwest.

I am extremely excited about this trip to the towns of both of my grandparents and my father's birthplace. I have many gaps in my genealogy and do hope I can fill in most of them before our trip, and perhaps some of them at the Bundestreffen. I intend to stay one week longer in Germany searching Walths' who have returned to Germany and finding where my Walth family originally lived in Germany.

Janice Huber Stangl, Sterling Virginia

In June 1898, one hundred years ago, my great grandfather and his family immigrated to the United States. Jacob Huber was the youngest child of Christian Huber and Friederick Kaul, who were born in Germany and colonists in Glückstal. He married Rosina Ritter, daughter of Georg Friedrich Ritter and Rosina Barbara (Maier) of Glückstal. Jacob and Rosina were born in Glückstal, as was my grandfather, Jacob J. Huber. Jacob J. Huber married Magdalena Hoff, born near Tripp, South Dakota, to Jacob H. Hoff of Kassel and Magdalena Ladner of Glückstal. My father, Edward, is the third child of Jacob and Magdalena Huber. Edward Huber married Lydia Haberer. She is the daughter of Christian and Barbara (Seefried) Haberer, who were born in Neu-Beresina and Nesselrode. Her grandparents were residents of Alt and Neu Elft [Seefried], Arcis, [Kruckenberg], Friedenstal, Krasna [Froemmerich] and Borodino [Haberer].

I am the oldest child of Edward and Lydia Huber. I attended Bowdle, South Dakota, schools for 12 years before attending Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where I earned an associates degree in childhood education. I married Thomas Stangl of Java, South Dakota, on June 15, 1958. This trip is our 40th anniversary celebration. We have three children and two grandchildren.

I taught full time, part time and privately (piano lessons) until I retired recently. When Tom and I retired, our long time dream of being able to travel became a reality. We usually travel several months a year.

When we are home, our avocation of genealogical research keeps us busy. We are blessed in having an LDS family history center nearby. We often spend several days a week reading and extracting records from films of various German-Russian church records. We also go into the National Archives in Washington, DC to read films of passenger arrivals and census records.

Recently we also have been researching the 1939-1945 resettlement [naturalization] records of ethnic Germans from Russia and Rumania in the Berlin Document Center films at Archives II in Maryland. I look forward to our trip to the Homeland where I hope to place 10 small crosses in the Glückstal cemetery where my great grandfather Jacob Huber had 10 children buried.

Cora Wolff Tschaekofske, Dickinson, North Dakota

"Cora (Wolff) Tschaekofske was born at Golden Valley in Mercer County, North Dakota. My parents were Henry Wolff and Amalia (Flemmer) Wolff. Henry Wolff was born on December 18, 1895, in Blesetski, a small village near Bergdorf. He was the son of Christian Wolff and (Elizabeth Rau Aipperspach) Wolff. Amalia (Flemmer) Wolff was born on June 20, 1903, in Freeman, South Dakota, shortly after her parents Karl Flemmer and Christina (Kasanke) Flemmer immigrated to the United States. Her father, Karl Flemmer, was born in Glückstal on September 10, 1877. Her mother, Christina (Kasanke) Flemmer was born December 7, 1877, in a village near Glückstal."

"I attended a rural school and Golden Valley High School in Mercer County, North Dakota. I attended Dickinson Teachers College, and taught in rural schools for several years, and did substitute teaching in the Golden Valley Public School. I married Otmer Tschaekofske in 1946, we farmed and ranched near Golden Valley for 43 years. Both my husband and I were very active in all community activities, especially in education and in the Lutheran Church."

"Having no children, our hospitality was always open to young people. We hosted two International Farm Youth exchange students: A young man from Germany and a young woman from the Island of Jersey. We hosted many foreign students in our home; these were young men who attended North Dakota State University. We also hosted young people from Germany, England and Japan. I have toured Europe twice, having visited relatives and friends in Germany, and read and speak German well."

"My husband and I retired from ranching in 1989, and moved to Dickinson, where my husband died three years after retirement. I live in our Dickinson home, and look forward to the Journey to the Homeland. I desire to walk in my father's footsteps, and see that walnut tree which he said grew in front of their home."

Ervin C. Vogel, Wichita, Kansas

I was born June 6, 1928, to Fred & Edna (Radke) Vogel on my grandparent's farm between Gackle and Fredonia, North Dakota. I lived with my parents and 3 younger brothers and 2 younger sisters on farms in the Fredonia, Jud and Kulm areas where I grew up and attended country schools.

From 1950 to 1952, I served two years in the U.S. Army, initially with occupation forces in Japan and later, (fifteen months) with a combat division in Korea. Following military service, I attended Dakota Business College from where I graduated in 1955.

In 1954 I married the former Genieve M. (Marvie) Soberg from Winger, Minnesota, whom I met at college. She passed away in 1994 after many years of illness and 40 years of marriage. We had three daughters; Cindy and Debbie who with their husbands live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Pattie, who lives with her husband and two children in Wichita. Kansas, where I currently reside.

My entire working career of 41 1/2 years, following military service and graduation from college, was in the telecommunications industry.

In 1955, following graduation from college, I accepted a position at Bowman, North Dakota with the telephone company. Subsequent to this, I worked for two other telephone companies in Carrington and Ellendale, North Dakota respectively.

In 1968, I moved my family to Kansas where I went to work as a Public Utilities Specialist for REA (now RUS), a Federal Agency, until I retired in 1996. This work required extensive travel, mostly in the midwestern states, but to some extent all over the country.

Prior to my retirement, I made two trips to Europe which included the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, England and Ireland. Other countries that I have been to are: Mexico, Canada, New Zeeland, Australia, Greenland and numerous far eastern countries during my military service.

My father was born in Borodino, Bessarabia and immigrated to the USA with his mother at the age of 4 in 1910. Because he was a naturalized citizen and had very limited formal education, he instilled in his family the importance of a good education, respect and appreciation of the freedom that we enjoy in this country which most Americans take for granted.

I belong to both GRHS and AHSGR.

Marilyn Wilkinson, Sacramento, California

I was born, raised in Southern California and presently live in Northern California. I have been married 22 years and have five wonderful children. I began my family research in 1993 after attending a Genealogical Convention in San Diego, beginning with a folder with some names and dates that my mother had acquired at a family reunion 10 years prior.

My maternal roots are traced through both my grandmother's family and my grandfather's family back