For the Record...: We are family

We frequently got together with our relatives. Mom’s two brothers, Art and Gordon, and their families lived in the Jackson area and farmed. Two of Dad’s brothers, Freel and George, and their families also lived in the Jackson area. Dad’s other brother, Severn and his family lived in Baraboo, WI. Severn’s family usually came to the Jackson area for a visit during the summer and we enjoyed going to Wisconsin to visit them.

Since Mom had no sisters, she enjoyed her sister-in-laws and was very close to them, both on the Hansen side of the family and the Ringkob side.

Hansen relatives
Mom’s brother, Art and his wife, Ruth, had 9 children and her brother, Gordon and his wife, Grace, had 4 children. So with our family of 4 children that made 17 cousins that were close in age and had a great time when they got together. We celebrated holidays and birthdays. The meals were casual with plenty of food - the hostess would fix the meat, potatoes, vegetables and bread and the other two families would bring the salads and desserts. The cousins were encouraged to play outside but if the weather did not allow, we would fill the basements with laughter as we played our games.

Grandpa and Grandma Hansen enjoyed these gatherings. We usually went to their house on Park Street (Jackson, MN) in July to celebrate Grandma’s birthday. The cousins were given strict instructions to not be too loud because we were in town where houses were close together. Luckily there was a park a couple blocks away where we could let off some of our energy!

On the steps of Grandpa & Grandma Hansen’s house (1950)

Cousins on the picnic table at Art & Ruth’s house (1950)

On the steps of Gordon & Grace’s house (1953)

The line-up of cousins (1956)

Easter (1958)

Easter at Tom & Esther’s house (1960)

Esther with her two little brothers, Gordon & Art

Ringkob relatives
The Ringkobs usually got together in the summer when Severn’s family came for a visit. We also got together at Christmas time. This was a more formal meal with plum pudding for dessert. Plum pudding was made from an old recipe of Grandma Rawle’s (Dad’s grandmother) from England. I remember liking it at a young age but most people would say you have to develop a taste for it!

I often stayed with Uncle Freel and Aunt Neva when Mom and Dad took Kathy to the orthodontist in Sioux Falls, SD., every three weeks for 2 1/2 years. I also enjoyed the summer visits when Uncle Severn and Aunt Catherine came with Kris, who was close to my age. Most of my Ringkob cousins were quite a bit older than me.

In the late 1960’s, the Ringkobs began having family reunions in the summer because many of the Ringkob cousins were now married and had families of their own. These reunions have been held in Rochester, Mankato, Jackson,MN, Baraboo,WI, but our favorite destination is Cable, WI at the Lakewoods Resort. My cousin Corinne and her family who live by Lakewoods have done a wonderful job hosting. -Marita