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| Notes for Nancy Benke | ||||||||
| Letter from Nancy Behnke Luther to Paul Benke in connection with plans to attend the Benke/Behnke reunion in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Labor Day 1997. June 28, 1997; Dear Relative, Sorry this is so late, as there really is no excuse for not taking a few minutes and getting this written earlier. We have been busy, as we are on a grain farm, own and rent about 750 acres of which are corn, wheat, and soybeans. I am looking forward to meeting my new relatives, I sure wish we could have met when more of our relatives were still alive. But at least we get to meet ones we never knew we had. My parents were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Benke. Henry Benke, born October 28, 1910, died August 15, 1993; Clara Benke, born August 15, 1912, died April 10, 1995. Henry was the son of Augustine and John Behnke (I never met my grandfather, but do remember my grandmother). My parents had four daughters: Dixie, born October 12, 1936, now living in Sawyer, Michigan; Jean Matthews (husband Billie), born October 31, 1937, now living in Florida; Nancy Luther (myself and husband Dean), I was born February 29, 1940; and Doneita Joyce Benke, born June 9, 1941 and died April 7, 1959. My husband Dean and I were married on August 7, 1965. We have four children (3 girls and 1 boy): - Lynn Ann Luther, born April 7, 1966 (married in 1988 and divorced in 1990), now engaged to be married on September 27, 1997 to Kevin Anderson (Lynn lives in Buchanan, Michigan); - Marcia Kaye Luther Pease, born August 17, 1968 (married in 1990 and divorced in 1993), has two sons; Christopher Allan Pease, born September 1, 1991 and Donovan Lowell Pease, born October 4, 1993). Marcia and sons live with Dean and myself. - Cheryl Lynn Luther, born June 27, 1970 (married in 1992 and divorced in 1995) now living in Niles, Michigan; and - David Luther, born August 31, 1973, married October 5, 1996 to Holly Mauthie, now living in Three Oaks, Michigan. Dean and I were married and lived in an apartment in Sawyer, Michigan for 3-4 months. Our children were raised out in the country all of their lives. We own 255 acres which are all corn, soybean and wheat (with woods on both land parcels) and rent an additional 400 more acres. Our son David has helped us farm for several years now. He drove the tractor and fit ground for planting when he was in high school. For the last 2 or 3 years he has done most of the combining and the last two years has done all of the planting. David works from December to the first of April in Elkhart at B&B Industries where they build wreckers (small to extra large ones). His boss really likes him (he knows what he is doing) and wants him back every year. He even wants him in the summer if David has a few spare days. But, with just getting married, remodeling an older trailer, farm work and his wood, it really keeps him busy. He gets tree tops that have been left from woods being logged out and cuts them up for sale. So you see, we do keep quite busy. Planting season is from April to June or so (weather permitting, we are done in May). Harvesting of wheat and baking straw is done in the fall and combining soybeans and corn usually done by the middle of November (sometimes by the end of October but a few years as late as the week of Christmas). Then its hauling the grain to Burns Harbor in Gary, Indiana. Dean and I have both slowed down some. This year was the first year in 20 years that I have not driven one of our tractors to help fit up ground for planting. Last year David and I did it all by ourselves. Dean was in the hospital for 18 days with nerve problems and he was not able to help. He felt bad but at least we did get it done (David did most of it). As I remember, Dean did combine a few acres of wheat last year. This year, things are going much better; crops are all in, cultivated and sprayed (just finished spraying the soybeans and there are some tall weeds that I hope it kills). We had one and seven tenths inches of rain a week ago. They were little then but due to the rain and HOT weather they (weeds and crops) sure grew. Thats it for now, see you August 31st. Nancy and Family. [234] I don't remember meeting my grandfather, but knew my grandmother. I remember going to their house and eating boiled chicken and seeing live catfish in a barrel, tank or something that they had them in. When you went in the kitchen of the house, it would smell so nice as she was always boiling chicken, and as you know, that smells very good when onions, celery, and carrots are added. | ||||||||
| Last Modified 26 Feb 2001 | Created 7 Sep 2003 by Reunion for Macintosh |