For the Record...: Four babies born in the 1940s

Esther and Tom were thrilled at the arrival of their son, Thomas Paul. He was born the day after Easter, March 25, 1940, at 9:15 am at the Halloran Hospital in Jackson. He had dark hair and eyes and Esther thought he resembled his daddy.

Thomas Paul - 3 months

Little baby Thomas Paul was definitely a “ray of sunshine” in their lives. They bought their first movie camera shortly after his birth. With World War II raging in Europe, they closely followed the news of the war on the radio and in the newspaper. Esther and Tom kept busy on their farm with their crops and livestock - sheep, cattle and hogs. In 1940, they put in a bathroom in the upstairs of their farmhouse, built a machine shed, made improvements on the barn, built a garage, and planted more pine trees and honeysuckle hedge.
July 18-25, 1940, the temperatures were 100 degrees and over every day - during this heat wave, they were threshing oats, barley and flax. One can only imagine how hot it was cooking on an old cook stove for the men. They were thankful to have electricity so they could run a fan to move the air a little. Esther got her first vacuum cleaner in November 1941 - “Magic Air” - wonderful for cleaning.
In early December 1941, Tom and Esther bought a 1942 Ford at Fairmont for $727. They decided to take the new car for a little trip to Humboldt, South Dakota, to visit friends, the Herman Hunters. When they arrived the Hunters informed them that the Japanese had bombed our navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The war was escalating. It was during this trip that Esther was feeling queasy and began to wonder if she was pregnant again.

Kent Arthur - 3 months

Kent Arthur was born on August 10, 1942, at 11:58 am, at the Halloran Hospital in Jackson. He was baptized at the church parsonage a month later on September 9th. The next day, Esther’s brother, Art Hansen, reported to Fort Snelling for military service. This was a difficult time for families as loved ones left for military service. Sugar, gas and coffee were being rationed to support the war effort.

Kent Arthur was a good natured baby and smiled easily. Tom and Esther were so thankful to have two healthy sons. They kept very busy on the farm with their crops plus lots of livestock chores - cattle, sheep and hogs. 1942 was the year that they planted the evergreen grove - a protection from cold winter winds, a beautiful addition to the farmstead, and many wonderful memories of cutting the family Christmas tree from our grove. Esther had over 1000 chickens and a large garden. Esther was also happy to get an General Electric stove ($172) to replace the old cookstove. She made good use of the new stove as she prepared meals for the family and hired men - plus canning produce from the garden. She also did frequent entertaining by inviting relatives and friends for a home-cooked meal.
As the war continued, Esther and Tom supported it by buying war bonds, collecting money for Red Cross, and writing letters to loved ones in the military. Esther’s brother, Art Hansen, was married on September 4, 1943, to Ruth Larson from Jackson in Savannah, Georgia, where he was in the US Army’s officer training program. Esther’s other brother, Gordon, was married earlier in the year on March 21, 1943 to Grace Sether. Gordon and Grace began farming north of Jackson after they were married.
In October 1944 and again in January 1945, Tom was very sick and in the Mt. Lake hospital with pneumonia. Luckily, the relatively new antibiotic, sulfa, was effective in treating him. The doctor in Jackson was serving in the military, so the family sought health care in Mt. Lake.
On a beautiful day, June 23, 1945, Kathleen Esther was born at the Bethel Hospital in Mt. Lake. Esther said that of her five birthing experiences, Kathleen was the easiest delivery and she really appreciated the good care of the Mennonite nurses at the hospital.

Kathleen Esther - 3 months

Esther’s sister-in-law, Ruth Hansen, and her young son, Arthur Jr., lived with the Ringkobs for six weeks in May and June of 1945. Ruth’s husband, Art, was an officer in the US Army and he was serving in Asia. VJ Day was declared on August 14, 1945 - World War II was over. The official proclamation was at 6 pm and they went to Jackson that evening to celebrate. The following Sunday was Peace Sunday and observed in all the churches. Art came home from his military service in November 1945. He and Ruth started farming in Belmont Township and it was at this time that Esther’s parents moved to town - a house on Park St. in Jackson.
1949 was the Centennial of Minnesota as a territory. Tom and Esther resurrected a covered wagon using wooden bows used by Grandparents Rawle (Tom’s maternal grandparents) in 1877, when they came to Jackson County from Hastings. Esther made long centennial dresses and sunbonnets for herself and Kathleen. The covered wagon with Tom and the children inside the wagon was in parades at Jackson (5/28/49), Trimont (6/23), Fairmont (7/4), and Tracy (9/15). Esther did not ride in the covered wagon but assumed her role as the family photographer!
On October 14th, the “Big Blow” with winds clocked at 82 mi/hr at the airport flattened ripe corn in the fields and the ears dropped to the ground, part of the barn roof came loose, and several windows were broken. The men and boys kept busy picking up corn in the fields and repairing the buildings.

Kent, Tom, & Kathy (1946)

Marita Kay was born on November 11, 1949, at the Halloran Hospital in Jackson. Esther was very sick at this time with gall bladder problems. Kathleen was heard to say that she wanted her mother to come home from the hospital but they could leave the new baby there! But they did bring Marita home and Tom & Esther’s old farmhouse was filled with 4 children plus Harris Danielson, the hired man. -Marita