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.