Anniversaries and Weddings

Mom and Dad celebrated their wedding anniversary on October 2nd. I read in their daily record book that on their 5th anniversary in 1940 that twelve couples had a surprise party for them at their farm and gave them a table lamp. Sometimes if they were busy with the fall harvest on the farm, it would just be the two of them. Dad liked to give red roses to his sweetheart, Esther.
Their 25th wedding anniversary was a very special day in 1960. An open house was held at the farm on Sunday afternoon, October 2nd. The fall weather was delightful that day and over 200 people signed the guest book. Tom and Kent, both students at Iowa State University, came home for the week-end. Kathy was in high school and I was a 6th grader at the country school.

Tom & Esther 25th Anniversary (1960)


Mom and Dad celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary with an open house at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson. It was held on June 29, 1980, because it was easier for Tom and Kathy’s families to come in the summer because of school schedules in the fall.



Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 2nd, 1985, with a dinner for family and close relatives at the Country Manor, Jackson, MN. The received many cards and good wishes in the mail from friends and family. ..............
Tom and Paula Bort were married on August 24, 1963 at a Methodist Church in Evanston, IL. The rehearsal dinner the night before the ceremony was held at Paula’s grandparents home on the shores of Lake Michigan. The reception after the wedding was held at Paula’s parents home in Evanston. Tom and Paula met when they were both students at Iowa State University. Their first home was in Columbia, MO, where Tom was a graduate student.



Kathy and Jim Starrs were married on June 7, 1969, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson, MN. Jim’s parents and brother from Wyoming came for the wedding. The rehearsal dinner was held at the Three Fountains restaurant in Jackson and the reception after the ceremony was in the church basement. Their first home was in Casper, WY, where both Kathy (home economics) and Jim (English) taught.



Marita and Gene Rouse were married on June 20, 1970, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson, MN. Gene’s parents, grandparents, and brother came from Olivia, MN, for the wedding. Their rehearsal dinner was also held at the Three Fountains restaurant in Jackson and reception in the church basement. Their first home was in Ames, IA, where Marita was a student at ISU and Gene was a graduate student at ISU.



Kent and Debi Boelman were married on September 4, 1971, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN. Debi’s parents farmed near Luverne and their rehearsal dinner was held at the Blue Mound Inn. Their first home was in Luverne, MN, where Kent was the Rock County Extension Agent and Debi worked in a bank.