Journal entry by Al Negstad — 29 minutes ago
In the land of grief I tend my memories, and my grief, with care. A few posts back I mentioned the deaths of two neighbor children in farm accidents. Grief abounds in so many directions and in situations that dwarf my experience.
Thomas D. Isern is a history professor at North Dakota State University. He writes a newspaper column, 500 words, every-other week...over 250 in all. They are historical/human commentary on people, places and events in North Dakota. Many of these have been gathered into a book, which was gifted me, Pacing Dakota. One of his stories is about the Jacob & Pauline Lang family, German-Russians, (Catherine the Great, the German who ruled Russia, invited German farmers to Russia. After living there for generations Russian turned against them and many migrated to the U.S.) who farmed south of Lehr, N.D. On the night of November 17, 1946, Jacob took a load of cattle to Fargo. While he was gone the farmhouse caught fire and six of their nine children died: Orpha Darlene 13, Arbedella Arlene 10, Darold Delbert 8, Janice Ivela 6, Donna Mae 4, and Bernice 1.
These six, and their parents, are buried at the George Station German Baptist Cemetery, rural Lehr. Isern writes "Despite its beautiful situation and its well kept condition, this burial ground will always be identified with tragedy. Here are the graves of Pauline and Jacob, and a single marker for the six children who died in the fire, along with two others who died in infancy. The family stone bears the legend, 'I am the resurrection and the life.' pp. 91-93
Takk for Alt,
Al
Thomas D. Isern is a history professor at North Dakota State University. He writes a newspaper column, 500 words, every-other week...over 250 in all. They are historical/human commentary on people, places and events in North Dakota. Many of these have been gathered into a book, which was gifted me, Pacing Dakota. One of his stories is about the Jacob & Pauline Lang family, German-Russians, (Catherine the Great, the German who ruled Russia, invited German farmers to Russia. After living there for generations Russian turned against them and many migrated to the U.S.) who farmed south of Lehr, N.D. On the night of November 17, 1946, Jacob took a load of cattle to Fargo. While he was gone the farmhouse caught fire and six of their nine children died: Orpha Darlene 13, Arbedella Arlene 10, Darold Delbert 8, Janice Ivela 6, Donna Mae 4, and Bernice 1.
These six, and their parents, are buried at the George Station German Baptist Cemetery, rural Lehr. Isern writes "Despite its beautiful situation and its well kept condition, this burial ground will always be identified with tragedy. Here are the graves of Pauline and Jacob, and a single marker for the six children who died in the fire, along with two others who died in infancy. The family stone bears the legend, 'I am the resurrection and the life.' pp. 91-93
Takk for Alt,
Al
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