Caryn Decker

Ralph J Nunziato of Menlo Park, San Mateo County, CA was born on September 19, 1920 in Kings County, New York United States, and died at age 67 years old on April 13, 1988 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, CA. Ralph Nunziato was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery Section H Site CA-132 1 Lincoln Blvd - Presidio Of San Francisco, in San Francisco.

Regina Goellz was born in 1917. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Regina Goellz.

Dorothy's father was George W. Ferguson and her mother was Nancy Marguerite (Boggs) Ferguson, both of whom were born in Kentucky and moved to Whatcom County, Washington circa 1900.

Elaine Marguerite Kroetch was adopted by the Bell family when her mother died (she was age 8). Since her younger sister was also adopted (by the Dahlquist family) and her brothers Fred (who lived with his Aunt Wea) and Frank (who lived for a time with his Aunt Thelma) were sent to live with family, even at the young age of 8 Elaine insisted that she and her siblings see each other often. And they did. They always told stories of the mischief they got into as kids. As a result, they were close all of their lives and so were their children ("the cousins"). Although only Frank and Elaine lived in Washington state as adults (Norma lived in San Diego and Fred lived in Dayton Ohio), they spoke on the phone often and visited often. Fred died first (lung cancer), then Frank (cardiac arrest), then Norma, then Elaine. Although her mother's family didn't like our grandfather and therefore obtained an order from a (family friend) judge to keep him from the children, they did see my grandfather as adults. My dad (Frank) and Fred saw him often. The girls still held a grudge against him.

August Zemidat was born in 1875. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember August Zemidat.

Mamie Woodruff was born on January 5, 1895. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mamie Woodruff.

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert J Grant.

Howard John Ruge was born on August 7, 1918, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA. His parents were Charles Franz Ruge (1882-1942) and Alma Helen Kister (1882-1964). He had five siblings: Mabel Mattie Evelyn (1910-1987), Roy Paul William (1912-1913), Charles Otto Andrew (1915-1984), Lillian (1917-1917), and William Warren Ruge (1920-2011). Howard grew up in Chicago and worked at Universal Casting Co. when he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at the age of 22. Two years later, on September 10, 1942, he enlisted in the Army in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 24. He was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA, and served as a Private in the Selectees (Enlisted Men) component. In September 1944, Howard was admitted to a medical facility for acute or unqualified otitis media. He was discharged from the Army on December 9, 1945. The following year, Howard married Veronica Ada Mansell (1919–2018) on January 11, 1946, in Chicago. They went on to have five children. Howard John Ruge passed away on October 1, 1988, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA following a two week illness.

Oscar and Belle (Brittain) Hanson were married on June 3, 1917, and lived their fifty-eight years of marriage in or near Elsie. They both came of pioneer stock and were proud of their heritage. Oscar was the oldest of four children born to Ola and Betsey (Olson) Hanson who came from Sweden in the early 1880's. They came to Perkins County in 1885 to homestead about one and a half miles southeast of Elsie. Oscar was born there on December 27, 1886. He attended school in Elsie, usually only during the winter months when there was no farm work to be done. He tended his trap line on the way to school and since skunks were the main trapees, sometimes he was sent home again. Belle was the daughter of the postmaster, John F Brittain and his wife Theresa (Smith). Belle was born on the family homestead in Lincoln County in Somerset, on January 6, 1895. They moved to Elsie in 1903. She at tended the ten years of schooling offered then went to Curtis for a summer of "normal training". She taught several years in the Miller and Glunz schools then in town. Oscar and Belle lived three and a half miles west of Elsie during their active years. They worked hard raising chickens, hogs and cows to supplement the farm income. The lean 30's saw them economizing with the rest of the dust bowl residents, enjoying simple pleasures like Saturday nights in town, community softball games (played in the area just south of the Methodist Church.) County Fairs (I never knew them to miss one) and the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah Lodges. They both joined the Elsie Methodist Church early and remained faithful members as long as health permitted. Oscar and Belle knew hard times, bad crops, hail, wind, grasshoppers, drought and blizzards, but there were the good times and their good friends. They never wished for more than the "good life" on the Nebraska plains. Oscar died in 1975 and Belle in 1986 having lived long and productive lives. They were the parents of five children; Esther (Mrs. Willard) Harbeson, Pauline (Mrs. LaVern) Johnson. Emil, Dale and Edith (Mrs. Sam) Hunter

Willard and Esther Harbeson have spent their entire lives in and near Elsie. Esther is a third generation native, and Willard is a second generation. Willard was born on the place where Gunner Eckberg now lives on October 17, 1915. His parents came from Custer County in 19O7. They had nine children who grew up in this area, only Willard is still living . Esther was born on the place where her brother Dale Hanson now lives on April 18, 1918. Her parents were Oscar and Belle (Brittain) Hanson. Oscar was born on the family homestead east of Elsie in December 1886, and the Brittains moved here from Somerset in 1903. Brothers Emil and Dale still live in this vicinity, and her sister Edith Hunter lives in Omaha. Willard and Esther raised four boys. Gene lives in Oakland, N.J. with his wife Joan. Earl and Sheri live in Ca. Duane and Heidi live in Ca., and Donald and Joan live in Elsie Willard's nephews, Harold and Leland spent several years with them and attended school in Elsie. The Harbesons farmed for several years, but moved into Elsie in 1946 where they operated a creamery and feed store. In 1950 they bought the "drug store". This business was also the social gathering place of the town, for both the young people and their parents. The soda fountain was the chief attraction. Here .05 cokes and phosphates were quickly made. The peanut busters were famous, costing .25, as did the thick milk shakes and malts. The high school kids delighted in thinking up new flavor variations and seeing if you could remember long enough to make them and serve them. Bottled pop was also .05 at first, and when it went to .10 in about 1952, people swore they would never drink another bottle of it and for a couple of years the pop case didn't have to be filled very often. But business at the fountain boomed—drinks were still .05 there for the regular 6 oz. glass. There must have been a million cups of coffee served across that bar starting in early morning when the school bus drivers came in before they went on the routes and never stopping before midnight when the "night" people had their last one before going home. Coffee was also .05 until about 1960 when it became necessary to have .10 for it. Esther and the boys ran the store most of the time as Willard started working for the Burlington Railroad. He retired in 1980 after 30 years first as a section laborer, then as an equipment operator. During this time Willard also repaired radios and TV's during the evenings and on weekends. Their hobby is traveling, and they have been in all states. They also made it to Singapore and Hong Kong while Earl was living there. Willard and Esther had been married 50 years — April 14, 1986. They have three grandchildren — Heather (Earl's) and Chris and Paul (Donald's), and a step grandson, Andy (Duane's). They also had 2 great grandchildren