Month: May 2021

Velma Found

Until today, I have not been able to find out anything about Velma Leek, the daughter of Etta Geiman and Leslie Loren Leek. I had information that her parents lived in Mellette County, SD, and that both homesteaded there, and were buried there. But I could find nothing out about their only child, Velma Leek.

So today I drove to White River, SD, where both of the parents are buried. I walked into the Registrar’s office (which took a while to find) and began asking questions, indicating what I knew to Karen O’Brien, the Registrar. Karen went through the records and found the original patents for land for both Etta and her brother, [Pious] Guy Geiman. I learned that Guy sold his first patent to a local, Walter Lunquist, but transferred his second to his sister, now Etta Leek. That land subsequently went to Velma, now Vollmer and Velma’s husband’s will indicated that the Vollmer’s had seven children, all boys except for the last, a girl, Beverly. Karen suggested I talk with Cleon Rasmussen, the curator at the museum, because she was a genealogy nut and grew up around where the Vollmer family lived. Karen explained where the cemetery was and looked up the plot where Etta and Leslie were buried.

I drove out there to take a snapshot of the grave, and while there, Karen showed up to make sure I found the plot. I indicated that the museum was closed, so she called Cleon who agreed to meet me there in 45 minutes. I eat my lunch, drove around town for a bit, then drove back to the museum to find a car parked outside, so I went in and met Cleon. She had a book that included a compilation of remembrances from homesteading families opened on the table to an article titled: Leslie and Etta Leek, written by her daughter, Mrs. Velma Leek Vollmer. She also copied Etta’s obit that indicated that she had seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Again, Karen showed up to make sure we connected – how is that for public service! I turned out that Cleon knew Velma, who was having her 100th birthday party next week. She got in touch with her cousin in Murdo, where I was staying, so I stopped by the bank to see Jackie, who showed me a photo of Velma’s house and gave me direction.

I drove up to the place (which was two blocks from here I’m staying), knocked on the door, and Velma herself opened the door. She invited me in when I told her we were cousins, and sat and chatted with her for about an hour. I explained how we were related and showed her the entry on page 74 with her name. I had her birth date as sometime in 1922, but in fact, she was born on May 19, 1921. What a treat to meet her. Still going strong at 100, mobile and sharp as a tack. I gave her my card and a copy of the Christian Roop book.

If I have this kind of luck throughout the trip, it will be amazing.

A Visit to an Old Friend

I left Bob and Meme’s close to 11 and arrived in Billings before 2 in the afternoon, but got sidetracked and ended up going way further East than I should have. So I pulled into a station, gassed up, and called George for instructions.That got me back on track and I arrived at his house about 2:30. I pulled up to his house and knocked; he answered and we both realized that many years had passed since we had seen each other. I said hello to George and Donna and their OC dog, Riley, then talked George into going to the Barnes and Noble bookstore so I could purchase a road map of the US. On the way back we stopped for beer, then whet back to his place and sat outside drinking our purchases till other folks showed up.

In addition to Donna returning, their daughter, Brandy, came with her two dogs and camping equipment that needed to be cleaned and dried. George and I sat outside drinking beer while dinner preparations and tent cleaning and ball throwing to the OC dog went on through most of the afternoon. Donna joined us for a while; Brandy did the same; when her husband showed up, he came out and said hello. But mostly George and I just caught up. Took a while to do. George had a 30 or so career with government, mostly with the Bureau of Reclamation which manages several of the major dams – Coulee and Bolder – and are responsible for much of the watershed management in the West (and maybe elsewhere). When George first moved from DC in 1979, he did some consulting, then applied for various positions, one of which as with MSU in Bozeman in economics. After applying for that position, he saw a notification of a position with the Bureau and also applied for that position, which he eventually excepted. He was able to transfer his retirement credits from when we worked together at USDA over to his employment with the Bureau. While this catching up was going on, Donna and Brandy were putting together a lovely dinner of salad, pork chops, mash, and Brandy made a beautiful raisin ice cream for dessert. Like the night before, we tarried over dinner drinking wine and talking till it was bed time.

The next morning I got up to turn the coffee that George had prepared for me with the expectation that I could let George and Donna sleep till their regular wake-up time, but Riley started barking as soon as I stepped into the kitchen. So, to my benefit, George joined me and we talked a bit more; again while throwing the ball to their OC Riley. I packed up and left about 7:30.

The 510 miles I drove to Murdo, SD, was easy. With 80 mph speed limits, it doesn’t take long to cover the miles. Followed I-90 all the way, stopping in Spearfish, SD, for lunch and to gas up. I arrived in Murdo before 4 my time, but 5 now that I had entered central time. On the way I was notified (signs on the highway) that state road 83, south from Murdo to my destination White River (the county seat of Mellette County, SD) was torn up and may not even be open. So when I checked into the Best Western in Murdo, I was told to either head East to a road that connected to White River or to go West to do the the same. Checked it out on the map and decided to take the shorter route West tomorrow.

So tomorrow the work starts.

Day One

Drove 550 miles in a little over 8 hours, despite road work all along I-90. Still, I arrived at Bob and Meme Schultz’s place local time a little after 6pm. We did some catching up over a couple of beers, then had a delightful dinner of poached salmon, spinach and arugula salad, and bread, with wine. Sat up talking until well after 11, then hit the sack. It’s been 30+ years since I I last saw Meme, so it was good to catch up with them both.

Bob is semi-retired: working about a day a week, but having shed most of his developmental responsibilities. Meme too is semi-retired, after a career raising flowers for both the fresh and dried markets. During our chat after dinner, Bob mentioned that the fridge that Jane and I gave him when he moved to Montana was still working, and in fact, was where the beer he served came from. The next morning, I got this snap of it that I will post when I figure out how to do that. I pointed out to Bob that when we gave him that fridge, it didn’t work; he had to install a new controller before it could be used.

The next morning both showed me around the place: greenhouse, shop, man cave, flowers still going strong, and equipment. Quite impressive. Wonderful to see them and sorry to leave so soon.

From here I head to Billings.

My Quest Starts on Tuesday

I plan to leave on May 11th, with the intent of arriving at the home of Bob Schultz before nightfall. I’ll spend the night and part of the next day with Bob and Meme before heading to Billings for a visit with George St. George.