Document - Historical information/data - Ringhofer and Pfeifer and McCrady Families - 12/1/20031'lt1T ujC14
Norb & Natalie (The -lady -of -the -red -hat) McCrady, 2003
Larry and Liz Ringhofer Witt, 2000
59
CLOCKWISE: Maria and Rudolf in front of his
Messerschmitt's tire, recovered in 1986 and now
hanging in their garage. Photo, 2003
Two walls of Rudolf's garage have paintings of
German war planes flown in the war.
Maria & Rudolf, 1999
"Maria Rudolf
Eileen Ringhofer & Mac McCarthy, Newlyweds in 1946.
They celebrated 30 years in 1976. (Eileen died
of cancer in 1981 and Mac died of a heart
attack in 1999)
61
Eileen Ringhofer McCarthy sent Mrs. Bob Hope a note
when she learned that Mrs. Hope had cancer. Bob sent
Eileen the signed photograph, 1981.
Bob Hope entertaining service in the South Pacific, 1945
Rudolf Ringhofer's Writing
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Dabei sollte auch sein beruflicher Werdegang nicht vergessen werden.
63
Die Lebensgeschichte der Grofimutter
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65
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. THE STORY OF AMERICA IN PICTURES
by Alan Collins, 1953
2. THE WARTIME SCRAPBOOK from Blitz
to Victory 1939-1945. Compiled by Robert Opie,1995.
3. GRANDMA'S WARTIME KITCHEN - World War II
and the way we cooked. by Joanne Lamb Hayes
4. HISTORICAL ATLAS published by Hammond Inc. 1958
5. THE VERSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
Frank Rowsome, Jr. 1965
MEMOIRS
Bob* and Barb (Jasinski) Ringhofer
Berniece (Ringhofer) and DueLloyd Casperson*
Carol (Ringhofer) and Dick Evans*
Bob and Dorothy (Stransky) Steinbauer
Dorothy (Pfeifer) and Bud Pribyl
Chuck Ringhofer
Eileen (Ringhofer) and Mac McCarthy*
Norb McCrady*
Larry Ringhofer
Liz (Ringhofer) Witt
Rudolf* and Maria Ringhofer
* servicemen
Michaela Ringhofer translated the memoirs of her grandparents,
Rudolf and Maria Ringhofer. She also compiled, with Maria's
help, and sent to Minnesota, a treasured album of her family.
Compiled and edited
by Liz Ringhofer Witt
December, 2003
RINGHOFERs
PFEIFERs
WORLD WAR II
RINGHOFERS & PFEIFERS - WORLD WAR II
Pearl Harbor was a defining event in history for the
Charles and Christena (Pfeifer) Ringhofer family.
While we were emerging from the Great Depression,
other world powers were wreaking havoc on their
neighbors. Ultimately the winds of global disturb-
ances wafted into Owatonna in early 1941.
The following pages contain the wartime memories,
more or less in chronological order, of:
Cap & Berniece (Ringhofer) Casperson
Norb McCrady (`Adopted' member of Lefty Ringhofer family)
Bud & Dorothy (Pfeifer) Pribyl
Mac & Eileen (Ringhofer) McCarthy
Bob & Dorothy Steinbauer
Dick & Carol (Ringhofer) Evans
Rudolf & Maria Ringhofer (Mullendorf, Austria)
Bob & Barb Ringhofer
Chuck Ringhofer
Larry Ringhofer
Liz (Ringhofer) Witt
1
WORLD WAR H IN THE MAKING
In the mid 1930s, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party signed a pact with Benito
Mussolini, Italian Fascist Leader, calling for a united front in Europe.
The Anschluss soon followed and Austria was under Germany's control....
Italy invaded Albania.... Germany invaded and conquered Poland, Den-
mark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France. They were poised to enter
Britain by December of 1940.
Japan invaded China and soon set her sights on Southwest Pacific islands
and countries. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
in the Hawaian Islands. The United States lost hundreds of men and
many ships - a devastating blow to our armed forces. The Japanese si-
multaniously attacked Hong Kong, Singapore, Guam, Wake and the
Phillipines.
But, by mid-1942, there were hopeful signs of a turnaround The U.S.
won the battle of Midway despite the loss of its huge ship, the Yorktown.
Japan suffered heavy damage and loss of carriers, cruisers and battleships
Two months later, the United States began its first offensive - on Guada-
canal and the Solomon Islands. The Marines established and held their
beachheads and finally defeated the Japanese, thus securing shipping
lanes to Australia and New Zealand At year's end the British and
U.S. troops landed to West Africa to take on the Germans It is here
that the active duty of the Owatonna, Minnesota Red Bull Division
became a reality.
NOTES =FROM RED BULL DIVISION
40TH REUNION, FEBRUARY,1981
On February 10, 1941 Company F and- Headquarters Co. consisting
of boys from the Owatonna -Waseca area left for Camp Clairborne,
Louisiana. A rigorous, long-term training program was set in motion
and culminated with the greatest: peace -time manuevers in the history
of the United States. Because of its advanced state of training, the
34th (Red Bull) Division was the first American contingent chosen to
enter the European arena.
In January, 1942, the troops moved to Ft. Dix to await embarkation.
They sailed to North Ireland to train for the invasion of North Africa.
Algiers was the first to surrender and the race for Tunisia started.
Dwight Eisenhower set up Allied Headquarters in Algiers and General
Ryder moved on to Oran to await the rest of the Division from Ireland.
It was here that one month, of intensive training and manuevers became
the order of theday to prepare for the Tunisian campaign.The 34th was
badly mauled at.Faid Pass and Fondouk, but at the battleof Hill 609, the
Red Bull gained revenge for its earlier setbacks.
The 34th took a well deserved rest during the Sicilian campaign, and
then sailed for Salerno. During the 20 months of fighting in Italy, the
34th set new records. For 76 days the 34th maintained contact with
the enemy, finally pushing into the outskirts of Cassino. On the day
the Abbey was bombed, the 34th was withdrawn from the city and no
less than five divisions hammered into Cassino.
The Red Bulls moved on to .the Anzio beachhead, broke through there
in May, 1944, marched through Rome and overran many cities. They
finally bumped into the Bothic Line and stayed there four months. In
February, 1945 the Fifth Army launched an all out attack; the weary
34th reached Bologna and moved out through the Po Valley.
It was a proud division that embarked for home from Naples, Italy
in October, 1945, proud too, that more days of combat were accredited
to the 34th than to any other division of the army. The price of victory
was high, but the 34th Division stands high on the scroll of honor among
the great fighting units that ever carried the Stars and Stripes into
battle.
3
DueLloyd Casperson, age 20 - 24, during war years
Berniece (Ringhofer) Casperson, age 19 - 23, during war years
DueLloyd 'Cap' Casperson was a member of Company F Headquarters
Co. and remembered when they were mobilized in February, 1941.
We had 15 days to take final health exams, do our hiking and drilling,
and brush up onmilitary manuevers and ethics. The day we left. we
marched to the train depot, escorted by the Elks band and members of
the American Legion.
In Ireland, fishermen took us out with them when they pulled up the nets -
whether for protection, friendship or muscle, I'm not sure. In Italy we
were invited to family homes for spaghetti dinner. Everyone at the table
had to drink a bottle of wine before dinner.
I was in charge of the motor pool delivery supplies to the front every
night. One night we wanted to treat the boys and put a gallon of wine
in the jeep. They got caught in an attack'and hid in a ditch. The wine
jug was riddled with bullets and the wine drained away.
I caught a bullet in my right leg near Naples, Italy in November,1943.
After several surgeries, I was sent back to the U S on a hospital ship.
The ship landed in South Carolina on July 10, 1944 and I was scheduled
to marry Berniece Ringhofer on July 31.
BERNIECE PICKS UP THE STOR YAT THIS POINT
Cap and I were engaged before he went overseas. I wrote him every
day that he was gone. We planned to get married when he got back, -so
when he landed he called and said he was coming home to get married.
He told me to make plans and he would be home in three days, with a
30 day leave.
My family and I mobilized! I arranged for a wedding date at Sacred
Heart Church with Father Kasal. Mother took Nadine (Cap's sister),
Carol and me to Winona where we went to a wedding shop and bought
my wedding dress and formals for the girls. My gown was satin, with
a train, and cost $19.95. Ev Ringhofer and Libbie Peterson made a
DueLloyd Casperson and Berniece 122i gholer wedding, July 31, 1944
Ross McMahon, .Bob 12rnghofer, 'Cap' Casperson, Berniece Casperson,
Carol Ringhofer ,Evans, Nadine Casperson Ihrke, Tom C- Ted Ringhofer,
Mary Jo Ringhofer.
5
Bernie & Cap Casperson
duplicate dress for Mary Jo Ringhofer who was the flower girl.
Grandma Christena Riighofer"crocheted the head pieces and gloves
for the girls. Eva Steinbauer made silk shirts and ring pillows for
Tom & Ted. Mother's friend, Mrs. McGrath made the wedding cake.
Cap got home and we went to see Father Kasai who stated, " "I can
make a good Catholic outrof a Lutheran." He visited with Cap twice
that week to tell him about, confession, communion, etc. Cap had
been baptised in the Lutheran church with four sponsors (DueLloyd
Donald Francis). Father, said he needed conditional baptism so mother
and dad went to the church with., us. Father said that thename was
not a good name so he baptised him William.
And so we were married^on,July 31, 1944. We borrowed Dad's
Plymouth and spent the weekend in Minneapolis for our honeymoon.
After Cap's 30-day Leave -was up he reported to the V A hospital
in Clinton, Iowa. He was then sent to Hot Springs, Arkansas for
R & R, and then reassigned to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Cap was in charge of the Motor Pool there and assigned drivers who
took German POWs to work in the fields. Berniece was secretary to
the Information & Education Officer. They lived in a two room
apartment in Sparta, Wisconsin. One room had an iron bed and two
chairs. The other room had a table, two chairs, a gas plate and an
icebox. They shared a bath with another couple. The/did spend time
at the club at Camp McCoy for partying, dancing, etc.
Cap was discharged on August 5, 1945 and they returned to Owatonna.
He learned the butcher trade at Ringhofer's Meat Market, bought a
used Chevrolet and settled in to postwar married life.
During her teenage years Berniece worked weekends and summer
vacations at Ringhofer's Meat Market. She recalled worked 14 hour
days on Saturday .... Customers would go to the band concert in Central
Park and then come to Ringhofers to pick up their groceries. Bernie
took phone orders for groceries which the `boys' delivered all over town.
Bernie Casperson
Bernie graduated from -high school in 1940. She then went to Minne-
apolis Business for Legal Secretary training. She rode the train back
and forth to Minneapolis., After completing the training she went to
work for the County Attorney. In 1942, Bernie went to work for the
War Manpower Commission.. in Winona, as Secretary to the Manager.
Again, she rode the train back and forth to Winona.
Bernie noted that gasoline rationing began on December 1, 1942. If you
had an 'A' sticker you were;entitled to 4 gallons a week; a `B' sticker got
a supplementary allowance and a 'C' sticker indicated essential driving
and received additional allowances. Ringhofer's received extra coupons
from farmers who didn't=use them. There was an office in the
courthouse which handled all rationing.
AFRICAN INVASION
AFRICAN INVASION. The British and Germans fought mightily for
North Africa and by October, 1942, British General Montgomery was
poised to defeat German Field Marshall Rommel's Afrika Korps. On
November 8, American and British troops landed in Algeria and
Morocco. The Americans were led by Lt. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.
Americans swam ashore from landing boats at Surcouf and debarked
from a larg transport at Casablanca. Rommel's army was destroyed.
The Americans moved on to. Sicily and Italy in July, 1943. Mussolini
resigned and Italy surrendered Rome, the first great capital of the
Axis powers to be occupiedby the Allies, did not fall until June, 1944.
7
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SCALE OF MILES
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EUROPEAN THEATRE
CAP & NORB ,RED BULL DIV. 0
1. Ireland
2. Casablanca, Morocco
3. Oran, Algeria
4. Tunisia
5. Sicily
6. Naples, Salerno, Italy
7. Anzio & Cassino, Italy
8. San Remo, Italy
RUDOLF A\
1. Hamburg,Stade, Germany
2. Graz, Austria
3. Vienna, Mullendorf, Austria
PHOTO right -
Snow halts U.S. Infantry,1945
4
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s
NORB McCRADY has long'been considered a member of Lawrence
`Lefty' Ringhofer's family. When Norb was a young boy his Dad, Harry,
had to go to a tuberculosis sanitarium. His mother, Laura, had to get
fulltime work to care for °them and Norb had lots of time to fend for
himself. He spent much of his time at Dartt's Park where Lefty was
often busy with ballfield and game preparation for the Owatonna Aces.
Lefty put Norb to work shagging balls, picking up empty bottles„
hanging the canvas fence, operating the score board, to name a few
of the jobs Their friendship: -became closer with each passing year.
When Norb, just shy of his:18th birthday, and the 135th National
Guard Unit were mobilized and sent to Louisiana, Lefty felt he was
sending a son off to war.
Norb enlisted in the Reserves when he was 15 years old in May, 1938.
In February, 1941 his unit was sent to train at Camp Claiborne,
Louisiana. Immediately after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl
Harbor, most of the unit was moved to the `Southern Coastal Defense'
to guard against invasion from the Gulf of Mexico. The Battalion was
stationed at Lake Ponchartrain;Recreational Area on the north side of
New Orleans. Signs were posted at the swimming pool - NO DOGS,
NEGROS OR SOLDIERS ALLOWED. After Pearl Harbor, the
Louisianans did an about-face and invited soldiers into their homes
and to parties.
At year's end, the 34th was sent to train at Fort Dix, New Jersey -
about an hour by train from New York City.Most of the guys were
thrilled to go to the 'Big Apple' and went to events at Madison
Square Garden, roamed Times Square at midnight and took in
shows of popular big bands - The Dorsey Brothers and Glen Miller.
In April, 1942 they boarded a troopship , the former Aquatania Liner,
and headed for a stopover in Newfoundland. A massive convoy was
formed and the 34th was on its way to the North Atlantic, passing
Greenland, Iceland and landing at Glasgow, Scotland. They transferred
to smaller vessels and went to Londonderry, Ireland where they guarded
against sneak attacks by outlaw Irish Republican Army. Strenuous
training was in order including 40 mile -a -day hikes and climbing the
highest hills of Ireland.
9
Norb McCrady
The next move, in December, 1942, was to Liverpool, England, and then
on to Oran, Algeria.The Battalion commander was former Owatonnan
Lt. Commander C. Jess Lee. Commander Lee asked Norb if he would
be a Battalion Scout. Norb said he would be honored to accept even
though he had no clue as to the duties of a battalion scout.
Norb continued: Nothing we had learned in training adequately pre-
pared us for •combat against the seasoned Axis troops. We were able
to force the enemy to evacuate by sea from a port in Tunisia, but our
casualties were high. During that campaign I' learned what a battalion
scout did. When the battalion was on the move, I was out front, maybe
500 yards to spotthe enemy. Even though I had been assured that the
enemy didn't shoot the lead scout as it would tip off the troops that
followed, I continued to lave chills run up and down my spine while
out there with only God as :my companion.
When the battalion was in a:stationery position, such as on a.defense
line, I spent the night alone .on an outpost where I could observe
friendly and enemy action. At daybreak, I moved down the back of
the hilltop where I'd spent the night, and was debriefed by the colonel.
With the North Africa campaign successfully completed,we were to
Iand on a beach near Salerno,; Italy. We spent several days on that
beach as the Allieshad only marginal control of the air over the
Salerno -Naples area, and we were strafed and bombed all too fre-
quently.
Our first job was to convince the Italians that the Allied forces were in
charge. They, the Italians, were unhappy that ;we'didn't supply them
immediately with foodand: medicine. We demonstrated our `might'
by holding a parade. The military moved through with their 'Long
Toms' and howitzers, then came the infantry, and then the tanks
roared through again to give the impression that we had twice as
many tanks as we actually did.
We slogged our way up the Italian `Boot' until we were at Monte
Cassino, a monastery which was being used as a fortress by the
Germans. Our company bore the brunt of the attack on Monte
Norb McCrady
Cassino to the point where we had only 37 men out of an authorized
strength of 205. (Cap Casperson was wounded here)
We regrouped and I was sent to Cannon Company and was stationed
on the Italian Riviera at San Remo. The Axis surrendered and we
were transported by truck to Naples and a Re -Placement Depot.
From there I was flown to Casablanca on a B17. And, finally, it was
my turn to board a C46 for the trip home via the Southern Cross
route - the west coast of Africa, to Rio de Janerio, Argentina to
Florida. I then boarded a train for Minnesota.
All infantrymen, foot soldiers, went before a medical team after 100
days of combat to determine if we should continue in combat or sent
back to the U.S. Mainland. After the battle of Monte Cassino, I was
declared to be `combat fatigued' and was to be sent home as soon as
replacements were sent up to the line. For a variety of reasons, I
never was sent back . When the allies surrendered, I had approximately
640 combat days.
Norb McCrady,Battalion Scout
11
DOROTHY PFEIFER PRIBYL, age 17 - 21 during war years
BERNARD 'BUD' PRIBYL; age 18 - 22 during war years
Bud was drafted in 1941 but flat feet kept him from passing the physical.
He felt terrible at the time,:as all his friends, classmates and cousins
were either drafted or enlisted. '[In 1948, he was reclassified, drafted,
and spent 2 years at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was in the Reserves
during the Korean War]
Dorothy and her younger brother, George, lived on the August Pfeifer
farm. They had chickens,cows, pigs, and a huge garden so there was
always plenty of food.Dorothy worked in town but helped with farm
and household chores. Martha, her mother, was a fantastic baker and
baked 5 loaves of bread twice a week. Rather than yeast she used a
potato starter. She baked prune, poppyseed or apricot filled biscuits
that rivaled Christena Ringbofer's yummy creations.
Dorothy remembers the visits that Barb Ringhofer and her children
made to the farm. She said, the boys were always dressed in white
shirts, ties and long black pants.. One time, after they'd been in the
barn for awhile, they came out laughing. It seems the baby calves
sucked on their ties.
Dorothy (Pfeifer) & Bud Pribyl
George Pfeifer & his dad, August
cousins: Bob & Rich Ringhofer
c. 1944
FARM LABOR: All overthe nation there was a drastic shortage of
farm labor. Friends, neighbors and relatives were all recruited to
plant and harvest the foodstuffs needed to sustain our military and
civil population.
Bob Steinhauer, age 20 - 24 during war years
Dorothy Stransky Steinhauer, age 21 - 25 during war years
Bob was not allowed to enlist for active. duty during World War II.
His war duty was to maintain the family farm and grow grains and
vegetables for servicemen and civilians. Many of Bob's friends and
relatives were drafted, leaving him with an enormous workload.
Relatives, young and old, tried to help with canning and threshing,
but Bob had .the main responsibility for maintaining the family farm.
Dorothy finished her school years and went to work as a secretary
for the U. S. Department of Agriculture. She also helped Bob and
was involved in `Homefront'. efforts to `patch clothes, forego silk
stockings, save items needed for the `cause' and honor all rationing
regulations. She was mostly impacted by gasoline and tire rationing.
When the war was finally over, Bob & Dorothy decided to get `hitched'.
They married June 18, 1946 in Owatonna.
13
ARNOLD 'MAC' McCARTHY, age 18 - 22 during war years
EILEEN RINGHOFER McCARTHY, age 11- 15 during war years
Mac McCarthy joined the Submarine Service on July 11, 1942 at age
nineteen. (He noted thatthe Submarines paid more than the Navy.)
He went to Submarine School in New London, Connecticut and then
assigned to the U.S.S. Bluefish .. Construction on the Bluefish was
not yet complete and Mac: noted that many women were doing the
welding on the ship. The xBluefish was commissioned in June, 1943
and then sailed to and through the Panama Canal, and on to
Brisbane, Australia.
The Bluefish did war patrol in the South Pacific Ocean making stops
at Darwin, Australia, Guam, Saipan and Borneo. The sub carried
24 torpedos and . Mac slept in a bunk right below one of them. He
said he couldn't lift his head more than one foot or he'd hit a torpedo.
Mac said that a Japaneseconvoy loaded with airplane fuel was :blown
sky high.
They returned to Perth, Australia for supplies and overhaul. Perth
was the home base for the next two years, but more time was spent
near the bottom of the ocean to avoid Japanese depth charges. However,
on the fourth war patrol, the Bluefish took considerable damage and
the crew took it back to San Francisco for repair. Then it was back
to the South Pacific where the crew rescued several B29 flyers who'd
been dumped into the ocean after being shot down during bombing raids
over Tokyo.
Mac completed seven war patrols and was sent back to the states in
1945. He was assigned to a new sub just as the war was winding down.
Happily, he was discharged in January, 1946 and his career as a Seaman
Cook First Class was over. He returned to Minnesota and found a job
as a bread baker at Central Bakery in Owatonna.
Eileen made one observation of the war years. She was thirteen and said
her dad worked three nights a week in addition to six -day weeks.He was
draft exempt in his position as Managing Editor of the Owatonna Daily
People's Press, but other press employees were not. He had to do the
work of several people with a printing press that broke down regularly.
Mac & Eileen McCarthy
It wasn't until the factories could switch back from war to peace time
production that a new press finally arrived - in 1950.
At approximately age 15, Eileen started writing to local servicemen
on active duty. One soldier sent her a whole box of Hershey candy bars.
As chocolates were not available to civilians, Eileen became the most
popular in the:neigorhood. She also wrote to a boy from
P person �,hb,...:,
the country of Wales and "their'cor-respondence kept up for over 30
years, until her death. They shared "goins-on" of their lives, through
marriage, parenting, grandparenting, and careers but they never met
face to face.
Eileen kept a scrapbook of war action photos and headlines. It was
very well organized and complete. Unfortunately, she trashed it some
where along life's way.
She went to work at Central Bakery when she was 15 years old, and
waited on customers. It was at the bakery, in early in 1946, that
Eileen met Mac, the new baker. It was L-O-V-E and they married
the following December.
Seaman Cook First Class
Arnold 'Mac' McCarthy
Eileen Ringhofer, age 12, 1942
15
Eileen (Ringhofer) & Mac McCarthy
Seaman Cook First Class
Arnold 'Mac' McCarthy
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17
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---1942
INVASION OF SAIPAN Early in June, 1944, U S troops made a
surprise landing in Saipan, one of the Marianna Islands. This was
the first direct allied invasion: of territory belonging to Japan prior
to war's outbreak. There was extremely costly and bloody fighting
as the terrain made it near impossible for naval guns or air bombing
to be effective The Americans prevailed and by early July had esta-
blished an sairfield within bombing distance of Tokyo.
The capture of Saipan was quickly followed by an attack on Guam.
The Allies were taking back much of the Japanese held area. Now
Japan, itself, would be subjected°to an aerial bombardment just
like Germany was experiencing. On October 19, 1944, General
MacArthur made good onh is "I SHALL RETURN" pledge to the
Philippines
INVASION OF SAIPAN
Air Crews Are Vaal For Victory
YOUNG MEN, 18 TO 26 INCLUSIVE, CAN BE
AVIATION CADETS FOR AIR CREW TRAINING
I AS BOMBARDIERS, NAVIGATORS AND PILOTS.
APPLY AT ANY U.S. ARMY RECRUITING AND INDUCTION STATION
CAROL RINGHOFER EVANS, age 16 - 20 during war years
DICK EVANS, age 18 - 22 during war years
I was in high school when war broke out. I worked at the shop
(Ringhofer's Market) on Saturdays. After graduating, I went
to Minneapolis Business College in Minneapolis. When I finished
there I went to Louisville, Kenturky to get married to Dick Evans.
Dick had been drafted on March 18, 1943, after one semester at
St. Olaf College. He was sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for
basic training in the U.S. Army Tank Corps. He switched to the
Air Force , which was part of the Army then, and was sent to
college in New York, to Biloxi,' Mississippi, and to Salina, Kansas.
Several times he had been • drafted into a' program and then the
Air Force closed it.Finally, he got trained as a cryptographer in
Champaign, Illinois. He wassent to Hawaii for a few weeks and
then to Saipan where •he was stationed until the war ended.
Dick wrote several letters_a week but the mail was heavily censored.
Lines, paragraphs, sometimes whole parts of the letter were blackened.
His was probably censored more than others because of his job which
gave him more `classified' information. Dick also did some gardening
and surfing. in the ocean when, they weren't being straffed by the Japs.
The planes that our pilots flew had quite a variety of names
some pretty `racy' Miss Lace, Passion Wagon, Constant
Nymph Teaser, Bedroom. Eyes to name a few.
19
Dick & Carol Evans...,
Bernice and Carol, 1942
Dick & baby Judy, 1943
Dick in his army uniform.
He later switched to the
army air force.
Dick and his buddies did some gardening and some surfing
in the ocean when they weren't being straffed by the Japanese
planes.
Pacific Air Force Base
in Saipan.
Dick Evans
21
Dick & Carol Evans
When Judy was born we lived with Dick's family. He got a furlough to
come home to see the baby. I did get a chance to go to Salina, Kansas
while Dick was stationed there. The train was packed with servicemen.
It was difficult to get reservations...There were no meals. The train
stopped for short periods along the way where people provided fruit
and sandwiches at each stop. The best memory of Salina is having a
canoe ride with Dick doing the paddling while I rode. It was cool!
Judy and I moved in with my folks and I went to work at Federated
Insurance. Our neighbor sold her house when her son went into
service and she moved in with us and helped with housework and the
kids. Bill & Carrie's household now included Billy, Tom.Ted, Hondle,
Judy and me.
Little Judy got a lot of attention as she was the only grandchild.
Grandpas Bill Ringhofer and Bob Evans Sr. started the Grandfather's
Club. It might still be in existence with many more members. A
bottle of 'Old Grandad' was the center of the celebration.
One of the things I remember is doing the wash for our large household.
On Monday morning I got up very early before work. Dad's shop
aprons had to be boiled in a big oval tub atop a gas stove in the basement.
Then I sorted clothes into:: piles by color, washed them in the machine,
put them through the ringer and then into another tub for rinsing,
through the ringer again and into a clothes basket. I carried them out-
side to hang on the clothesline, regardless if snow or frost was in the air.
Then I went to work!
For entertainment, several of us `service wives' would get together a
couple of times a month and play bridge. Dick wanted me to learn as it
was a game he truly enjoyed and was very good at. He was already
playing while in high school. Our group did play a lot so I not only
learned, I was able to teach others. I also bowled and played in a
women's softball league at Morehouse Park.
Dick & Carol Evans
When the war was over, Dick hitched a ride on a B-52 for a flight over
Tokyo. He took photos but couldn't really see what was there as they
were too high up. Dick was discharged in November,1945 and made
it home in time for Thanksgiving. Dick lost two of his best friends -
Bill Sauer and Jack Shaw. One was a navigator and the other a tail
gunner on a B-52. Those were difficult times.
Dick & Carol resumed their life as a family, living in Owatonna before
they moved on new challenges in other cities and other states.
Looking back, Carol said she learned about Pearl Harbor when she
heard it on the radio. She observed that most of the war news was
`heard on the radio'. She remembers spending a lot of time in front
of the big old Philco radio listening to the news....Now why they sat
there in front of the radio when there was nothing to see still puzzles
her.
V
CMQC.LESS TALK
COSTS LIVES
Another odd reality of WWII was the
pervasive condition of silence - "Loose
lips sink ships", "Careless talk costs
lives". It was hard to imagine how
our talking about the war in Owatonna
could adversely impact our servicemen
in Europe and the Pacific. However,
we all complied because we didn't want
our boys to get hurt.
23
Our Austrian `cousins' were caught up in war they didn't create.
The Germans took over Austria in 1937 and ordered that all
Austrian men would serve in. the German armed forces. Seventeen
year old Rudolf Ringhofer was ordered into the German military
in 1943. The wartime memories of Rudolf and Maria Ringhofer
are included to give us a.sense of what was happening to those
on the `other side of the pond'.
RUDOLF RINGHOFER Sr. age 16 - 20 during war years
MARIA (S(,'IiLOGL) RINGHOFER, age 17 - 21 during war years
RUDOLF After my graduation from Commercial College, to acquire business skills,
I worked in a grocery store togain practical experience for my later profession. But
on January 11, 1943, the Germans ordered me to go into the military. I was seven-
teen years old. On February"1, allmen who were 5'4" and taller were brought to
Prague. Military education was physically very hard and I had little enthusiasm for
it.
July 12, 1943 brought a big change in my `military career'. I suffered from a sore
throat and reported that I was ill.. I was sent to a military hospital and notified
their staff of my illness.. A Private asked me what my profession was as they were
looking for a typist. So - after Icompleted my sick leave I returned to be a typist.
My duties were to write down all new soldiers in a list and give them their identity
disc numbers. I chose my own disc number - it was 777.
Our company of 740 men (an all-time high) was situated in the Technical University
of Prague. I went to work everyday at 8 a.m. and then carried the mail to the
military cabinet. As I was very curious. I look through the mail even though there
were usually secret documents in the. envelopes. One day I was ordered to find
young soldiers who had experience in gliding flight. About 50 people came in
and wrote their names down on the list. I took a chance and asked them as much
as possible about gliding flight. On my military identity card I wrote down that
I had passed two exams in gliding flight, and asked the Private if I could set my
name on the list. Just a few days later I was transferred to another company and
gliding flight.
Rudolf Ringhofer
My flying education started in Graz, Austria and I had no knowledge of gliding
plane flying. All soldiers started with the basics in flying and as I had a good
feeling for a plane, nothing could stop my career as a pilot. Ten months later
I passed all my exams in acrobatic, blind and night flight. On June 8, 1944 I got
my flying license. It was stated that the flying fitness of two others and myself
had never been tested. So we were brought to Munich, Germany, a distance of
almost 300 miles, and then returned to Graz without any medical checkup.
I had further education as a fighter pilot on the Messerschmitt BF109. The
training was long and not very successful as there was always a lack of petrol.
Some days before the war was over I was flying over Hamburg, Germany at
22,000' and was shot down by an American pilot who was flying a P51 Mustang.
My leg was badly hurt and I saved my life with a parachute jump. It was the
beginning of a 20 month -long ordeal.
I was promptly rescued by a soldier and a woman named Frau Maak. She was
the owner of a big farm south of Hamburg. They gave me first aid and I lost
consciousness for five days. The war had ended May 8. 1945.
Rudolf as a soldier, 1944
Rudolf Ringhofer
Rudolf and other war -fighters (pilots), 1945
25
Rudolf Ringhofer
My recovery process was very long as there was usually a lack of medicine. I
had a very high fever for weeks; and lost over 50 pounds. Finally, I was able
to get out of bed and sent to the North Sea,Germany. There were 1400 men
here and never enough to eat. We survived by fishing. It was a horrible time.
I was returned to Hamburg in October. My wounds had not healed and I got
the high fever again. I was in the hospital for six further weeks. Fortunately,
on December 23, 1945 we were taken by military hospital train to Graz. On
February 16, 1946.I was set free from the military but had to wait until May
before I could return to Austria to continue recovery in a military hospital
there. [Even though Rudolf had been a German pilot, he was never a Nazi,
and the Austrians took care of their own ]
During a short visit to my parents in Mullendorf, Austria, I broke my thigh
on the amputated leg. I was brought back to the hospital for another six weeks.
I was allowed to leave the hospital at Christmas, 1946. I walked on crutches
for months until I learned I coul'dwalk - and dance- on my artificial leg. The
first year was painful but then Imdeveloped good feeling for the situation. I was
lucky that I never experienced phantom pain..
In October, 1947 my relationship with Maria became serious. We have known
each other since childhood in Mullendorf. I asked her if she would mind sharing
her life with a handicapped man but this was no problem for her. I don't think
she experienced any disadvantage due to my handicap. With ambition and hard
work, we made our grocery and little winery successful. Our children Rudolf,
Friedrich and Elisabeth grew up without any big problems. We are very proud
of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I try to keep fit and Maria and
I go to a spa in the mountains of Austria for three weeks annually. I look to
the future with optimism and hope to grow as old as my mother who lived to
be 100.
MARIA Oral family legends say that when I was a baby I screamed the whole
day long. I was given tea made from the poppy seed plant but managed to
survive without any damage. My very first day of school started a week late
as I was visiting my aunt in Neunkirchen, Austria and nobody had time to
bring me home. During these visits to my aunt's, I learned the difference
between city and small community life. I had many clothes which were
mainly worn in the city and•the•other girls admired my white shoes and silk
clothes. After eight years of grammer school I worked on my parent's farm.
At the age of 14, I began taking classes at Commercial College to acquire
practical training. However, the war completely overshadowed my youth.
There was great fear as nobody knew what to expect. Young men had to
Maria Ringhofer
go into the military; women and children ran away to the countryside to
be safe. There were restrictions concerning clothing and eating. In cities,
women worked in factories to produce weapons. We, in the country, were
responsible for the nutrition - the state got our crops and corn. There were
a lot of bomb attacks, especially in the cities and there were many people
killed and wounded everyday. Nobody knew when the war would be over.
In 1945, Russian tanks came to Mullendorf and we ran away to a bunker
which my father had made in the woods. The end of the war came closer
and we were the losers. Slowly, young soldiers returned from prisons or
military hospitals. One of these was a young pilot who had lost his leg.
He often visited my father and we became good friends. This friendship
ended in our wedding on November 21, 1948.
RUDOLF, 1986 My plane had crashed into the woods, a little over a mile
from my airstrip. On November 2, 1986, parts of my Messerschmitt was found
over 16 ` in the soil. I was found with the help of an advert, my story and the
stories of an eye witness who saw my plane crash. In the middle of 1987,
I attended our annual meeting of WWII pilots in the north of Germany. I met
Mr. Soltau, a former pilot, at Stade (near Hamburg) where my plane is
exhibited at a museum. As a gift, I received the tire from my plane. It is on
display in my garage.
Maria at first holy communion
Young Maria
Young adult Maria
27
LEBENSMITTEL
RUDIOLF F.INGNQEER
Rudolf Ringhofer grocery store
Rudolf in his vineyards.
new Ringhofer store, outside -
Home, in Mullendorf
and inside
Excavation site where Rudolf's plane was unearthed.
BOB RINGHOFER, age 23-27 during war years
BARB (JASINSKI) RINGHOFER, age 25-29 during war years
December 7, 1941
The first week in December ;I:<was into flying a: Piper. Cub plane. The
only instruments the plane had was a compass, an altitude meter and a
gas gauge - that was all
It began to snow really hard and in a few minutes I
couldn't see the ground. I headed the plane north and
after a few minutes of flying, I started to go down. All
at once I saw a barn roof! I quickly headed back up,
turned slightly to the left,.then started down again. I
flew between the two siloion the Alexander farm, cleared
the high -line and landed down wind. I made a ground loop
and came back to the h'anger.The next day John Granowski came into
the meat market and was telling how an aeroplane flew over his barn
about 10 feet over the roof.
Ray Buscoviak, a man from the gas company, and I bought a piper
cub plane in Austin. On Saturday, December 6, Ray, the other partners
and I went to pick it up. Early on. Sunday morning, I went to the airport
which was on Bridge St. across from the Alexander farm on Terry
Cashman property. When I got to the airport I• saw this piper cub
standing by the hanger. I looked it over, got in, turned on the switch, got
out and spun the propeller. The plane started right off.
I got in, warmed it up and taxied down the runway. Then I opened the
throttle and took off to the south. Up in the air, I cleared the high line
wires and the motor stopped. So I glided down between two hay stacks
and made a good landing. I walked back to the airport, got in my car
and drove home. About ten a.m. I went back out to the airport. Ray
and Jerry were there, and I said, "Where is the plane?" . They thought
I had it. Jerry got all excited and was going to call the cops. So I had to
tell them what happened. We discovered I .hadn't turned the gas all the
way on and when the plane was at full throttle, it just ran out of gas.
Lucky for me, it got high enough to clear the high line.
29
Bob Ringhofer
I enlisted on March 9, 1944. I. spent 2 weeks at Ft. Snelling and came
home 3 times. I was sent to Camp Barkley, Texas. This camp was
called the hellhole of army ;.camps. I was lucky to be picked as a cook.
I'll never forget one night theguys were out on bivouac and I stayed in
the kitchen to get their return meal ready. They gave us a menu to
fix and no one knew how to make turnovers. So I called Barb long
distance and she gave me a 'resipy' that turned out great. After
basic training was finished I came home for three days on my way
to California. [I was best man for Cap and Berniece's wedding]
Then it was on to California where I spent the first three weeks
working in a cannery canning peaches. I thought I was going to stay
there so called Barb and :asked, her to come and bring the kids.
She not only drove alone but stopped in Cheyenne,Wyoming to pick
up Shirley Short and her two .daughters:Barb was pregnant, had
Bob, Rich and Bonnie, and a baby helper, Violet Born, who was a
school girl. There were 8 in the 1937 Chevrolet, along with clothes
and a crib tied on top of the car.
After two short weeks in California enjoying my family, I got the
call to go overseas... I'll never forget that day. Barb and I, with
the kids had driven up to <L -A to visit Barb's sisters, Bernie and Lolo.
They had taken us out to see the sights. We got back to their place
about 5:30 p.m. There was °a message on their answering phone service
from my buddy George Short He said I was to hurry back as we were
about to be shipped out. "I'll answer for you on roll call, but I'm not
taking your shots". I helped load the car and we were on the road by
7:00 p.m. When we got to Stockton, I stopped at a motel/restaurant.
There was a truck driver coming out the door and I asked him where
he was headed. He told me Marysville and why did I want to know.
I told him my story and asked if I could have a ride with him and he
said I could. I ran back to the car, gave Barb all the money I had,
which wasn't much, gave hugs and kisses and said good bye. The kids
were sleeping so I just `disappeared into the night'. That was the last
1 saw or heard from Barb for two months. [I never had a mailing
address for six weeks]
Bob Ringhofer
I got to camp at 5:00 a.m. the next day - I had to walk the last mile.
By 6 a.m.. everyone was up. We got our shots, packed our bags, got
our rifles (but no ammo) and we loaded on a truck heading for the
ship. The bunks aboard ship were three high and 'I got a bottom one.
The first day out I was topside all day and about 4 p.m. I had to go to
the can....What a mess. About 90% of the guys were heaving their guts
out. It didn't take long before I joined them.. I .went to my bunk and laid
there for 2 days. I heard them call my name but I was too sick to
answer. Finally, on the second night, someone from the kitchen spotted
me and told me I was supposed to be working in the kitchen. He took me
there and gave me sauerkraut juice to drink. It was awful, but did the
job, and by next morning..; I. was okay and went to work. I remember
crossing the international date line on November 30, 1944 so had two
Thanksgiving. dinners. Turkey was served both days.
The ship landed in Luzon ;andstayed there for two weeks. I was
supposed to go to Sydney, Australia to be a butcher, but I waited .3 days
for a ride that never came.On the 4th day my outfit moved out so I
went to Manila, Phillipines with them and that was my last chance for
Australia.
When we got to Manila, George Short and I and a sergeant were as-
signed to the 227th station hospital. [Our papers read ' by.land,sea
or air'] I'll never forget that day. Everything we owned was in a pack
on our back. They took away our rifles and gave the three of us a ride
to the main road. What a deal. The first truck that came along was
going to the front line with a load of blankets. We got in the back
with the blankets. About one hour later, the driver was shot by a
sniper and the truck overturned. We flew out and George and I ran
for cover. We didn't know if the driver was killed or not, and the
assistant driver and the sergeant ran the opposite way. The next three
days, George and I went from camp to camp looking for the 227th
station hospital. On the fifth day we got a lead to where it was located.
After breakfast at another camp, we hit the road. The first command
car to give us a ride was the mail car from the 227th station hospital.
We told him that's where we were going and he said that's where he's
from, so back to camp we went. The commander called us into the
office the next day and wanted to know where we had been. We gave
31
Bob Ringhofer
him a big long story. We also told him how they'd taken our rifles
away and gave us a ride to the road. He laughed and finally welcomed
us to our new unit - the 227th station hospital.
The first letter I got was from Mark Alexander. Then the second letter
was from Barb. This was two weeks after I arrived at the 227th station
hospital. Then the third week, I got a load of mail, all old, and mostly
from Barb. It took me half a day to get it all read.
One day I was sitting on my bed, looked across the road and saw a fire
in the kitchen. A man on fire came running down the road. I grabbed
my blanket off my cot and ran to him. I tackled him down and
smothered out the fire with the blanket. The poor guy was burned pretty
badly, but at least he got to go home.
When I was in the islands before coming to Manila, I was one of only
15 GIs to get to go to a native wedding. These were people not far
removed from cannibals. They had rings in their noses and spears for
weapons. I saw a native woman nursing a pig. These women had babies
at age 13. It was a mess!
Soldier Bob at ease
Bob & Barb
Bob Ringhofer
War Rationing
Through Ringhofer's Meat Market we had plenty of meat stamps which
were good trading stock. Ray Johnson, at Phillips 66, across the street
on the corner, had plenty of gas stamps, so we didn't lack for anything.
I remember going up to Lake Millelacs to fish. We took bologna sand-
wiches and two bottles of ketchup along. On the way we stopped at
Princeton to eat and ordered steak and potatoes. Then we went out to
the car and got a bottle of ketchup. The restaurant owner offered us $3
off our meal for the ketchup that was left in the bottle.
Because we did our own butchering, we had plenty of meat. On
Saturday we would let 20 people in the front door, wait on them, and
then let them out the side door. We'd fill the counters again, then let
in 20 more customers ...We.kept_some of the hard -to -get items under
the counter. Some customers would say;'"If you have anything under
the counter, I'll take it."
I'll never forget Martha Pfeifer. She stocked .up on sugar before
rationing took effect and :never stopped baking during the war.
When the war was over, Ringhofer's bought back five 100# sacks
from her!
August and Martha Pfeifer were extra good to Barb and our kids
while I was in service. They always welcomed them to the farm
and gave them lots of good things to eat. August always helped
Barb with whatever needed to be done. Their generosity and
friendship kept us all going during that time.
JAPAN SURRENDERS
The• U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and soon
thereafter, the Japanese unconditionally surrendered on August 14, 1945.
There was a solemn ceremony aboard the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo
Bay on September 2nd General MacArthur received, on behalf of the
United Nations, the surrender signature of Japan's Foreign Minister,
Momoru Shigemitsu. It was the first defeat in Japan's 2000•year history
33
Bob
Bob & friend, George Short
Bob Ringhofer
When I got out of service
On the way home via a.troop.ship, I got the top bunk. We were
in a bad storm with rough waters and high waves. I fell out of
my bunk, landed on the deck and hit my back on a souvenir rifle.
My back still hurts from that incident. I could hardly walk, but
wouldn't turn myself in. because I was going home and I didn't
want to be held up.
I got my discharge at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. I'll never forget
the morning I got up and was free to go home. I got a ride to the
main road in a truck. The driver dropped me off as he was headed
east. The first car that came by stopped to pick me up. I learned
he was a salesman from Waseca. When we got to Owatonna, I told
him to leave me off on Main Street by Pillsbury Academy. But he
gave me a ride to 906 South Grove.
When I entered the house, I was surprised to find Barb upstairs
taking care of two sick kids. She was so thin and pale. I gave her
a big hug and a few kisses. We both cried for a few minutes and
then I started to help her with the kids.
I stayed home for two weeksand hadn't planned on going back to
the meat market. But, I was out of money. Brother George
called to tell me there was a job for me at Ringhofer's and I should
be at work by 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. So I went back.
It should be noted that Barb and the children. received $37 a month
while I was serving overseas.
35
WWII MEMORIES - CHUCK RINGHOFER
I was 9 years old when WWII started in Europe. I remember articles
in the paper about the German Army invading Poland. Later there was
the invasion of France and Great Britain, who had a great colonial
empire, entering the war. France fell and Great Britain barely got their
troops back to England atDunkirk.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. I was home
that Sunday, and a friend of mine who had a paper route, called me and
wanted to know if I'd .go with him to sell "Extras", that told about the
attack. I was in the 6th grade and going to school at St. Mary's
Academy. The grade school had scrap drives for the war effort. The
kids that brought in themost scrap won a prize. They wanted paper and
tooth paste tubes (which were made of tin and other metals). I found a
WWI German helmet in :the scrap pile and took it home. (I still have it)
In 1942, when I was in 7th: grade, the delivery boy at Ringhofer's Meat
Market was drafted into the army. Most young men were getting into
the military by thattime. Dad ,(George `Judd' Ringhofer) had to come
up with a new plan for delivering groceries and meat. He asked me if
I wanted to do it. Wow! Who wouldn't want to drive the truck when you
were only twelve years old. Dad took me out in the country, told me
what to do - move shifts-, gave me the keys and off I went. He got a
permit from the police department and I delivered groceriesduring the
summer and after school.. Ringhofer's Meat Market also began hiring
women clerks. Up until then women didn't work at places like meat
markets.
Ringhofer's handled ration coupons and tokens for meat, coffee, and
butter. There was also a shortage of cigarettes, so Dad had them hidden
behind the counter in the back and sold them only to regular customers.
There were also ration books for gasoline. Since Dad had two trucks for
the market and a personal car, he always had enough gasoline.
Everyone was very patriotic and tried to conserve things, as well as buy
savings bonds, purchased with 10 or 25 cent stamps glued into a special
stamp book. Farmers were able to butcher their own pigs and cows and
have meat that way.
U S Defense Savings Bonds were sold via 10 cents or 25 cent albums in
the schools. Boys and girls would bring their coins and exchange them
for similar value stamps. A completed 10 cent album would be worth
$18.70. It was then turned into the post office, along with a nickel, and
a Defense Savings Bond was issued After ten years it would have a value
of $25.00. A completed 25 cent album, when completed, would be worth
$37.50, and after ten years, $50.00.
•
".ioo:ii•.t ri
DEFENSE SAVINGS BONDS
UNITED STATES
$4.30
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$4.40
$4.50
c
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STAMP
ALBUM
gitetpillekle
, ,,D,
\ . ,•
9
s SAVINGS BO%DSW
$4.60 $4.70 $4.80
$4.90
37
Chuck Ringhofer
In 1942, my cousin Ralph Bailey was drafted and my aunt and uncle
were very worried about him He trained in an army infantry division
and was scheduled to be in the' Omaha beach invasion of Normandy.
However, he got the mumps and missedthe first few days of that
invasion. He was sentto,another outfit and fought in France and
Germany and was never wounded. It was during this. period that
Dick Evans (later husband of Carol Ringhofer) was in the Air Force,
Bob Ringhofer was in the 'army;and Arnie 'Mac' McCarthy was in
the Navy - Submarines.
Mother was active in preparing compresses - bandages- for the Red
Cross and our troops. During this time the movies were promoting
the war and generally didn't show the reality of people getting blown
apart. I remember the first soldier from Owatonna to die - Buck
McDonald, who had.. a gas=station: before he got drafted Those that.
didn't have to go into the'nilitary werelooked down upon
By the time I was in 9th :grade I wondered if the war would last
long enough so that I would 'be drafted. Fortunately, the war in Europe
ended in. May of 1945. Japan surrendered after atomic bombs were
dropped on Hiroshima andT'Nagasaki in August of 1945.
In 1945, several boys who were seniors were -allowed to join the navy,
so that people who had been on active duty for a long time could come
home. The down side of this for me was they came back to school in
1947 and were on OHS. sport teams. Us younger kids didn't get a
chance to play in a few cases.
My cousin, Ralph, came home in 1945 and gave me some patches from
his army unit and some German stamps with Adolph Hitler on them
for my stamp collection.
There wasn't the celebration in Owatonna like the one in New York,
but everyone was relieved. All of the Ringhofer Meat Market employees
came back and got their jobs back. I remember Johnny March telling
me that he never got very close to any Germans but when it was thought
some were nearby, the US troops would shoot first and look later. He
got wounded in the hand as he dove into a fox hole.
LARRY RINGHOFER,age .9 - 12 during war years
I remember mother telling me••in.the .kitchen, beside.the.ice box,
that Japan had attacked PearlHarbor. Just 3 days shy of my
9th birthday, I had no idea what that meant, but knew it was
important as mother was in tears.
As part of the war effort
* We collected grease left over from cooking and brought
it to Ringhofer's Meat Market . It was to be used to
make bombs.
* Owatonna practiced city-wide blackouts in case of enemy
attacks. Dad was ourxbiock>warden and made sure we all
complied with the blackouts.
* Howard Liane and I joined Rev. Roliertson's Associated
Boys Club and:. collected used newspapers. We used the
profits to go to a summercamp for boys in Drummond
Wisconsin. We rode_a school bus there and got sick from
reading comic books on the bus. [I don't know where they
got gasoline supplies during rationing, but someone must
have pulled strings]
There would be a weeklyupdate on the war at the movie theater.
The government would give the war's progress on both fronts -
Europe and the Pacific.
On V-J day I was at an Owatonna Aces ball game at Dartts Park
when an extra edition of the Peoples Press was sold. It provided
all the known details of the Japanese surrender.
Red (for meat) and Blue (for canned goods) ration tokens
39
ELIZABETH RINGHOFER age 7 -11 during war years
I knew that bad things were happening somewhere but it wasn't until I
was stationed at my listening post under the dining room table, that I
heard Mother scream and start to cry. It was the day the Japanese
bombed Pearl Harbor. `The newspapers and news reels were full of
war news from that day onI even -had recurring nightmares that
German soldiers were coming down Pearl Street, rifles in hand.
It was a very scarey time for an almost eight year old.
It was also at this time that Grandpa & Grandpa Ringhofer said they
would buy us a house as our duplex was not large enough to accommo-
date our soon -to -be larger family. In April, 1942 we moved to the
corner of Pearl and North:Grove Street and sister, Mary Lou, was
born that October.
I recall one `event' that :probably took place in 1943. Dad and Mother
wallpapered the kitchenand it was quite an undertaking. Mother would
cook flour and water to form a paste. The pan of paste was then set in
the sink to cool. Dad used5-inch paint brush to paste up the paper,
which was stretched across the kitchen table. Dad then climbed a
ladder, holding the paper by the corners, and trying not to touch
anything as he climbed up the rungs. Mother guided his progress,
admonishing him every step of the way, "Lefty, you're not matching
up on the right side. You've got a bubble in front of you. You don't
have enough paste in a couple of spots." I think the wallpapering took
a couple of days and I marveled that they were still speaking to each
other when they were done.
We had a double lot on the corner and one lot served as our Victory
garden. [We always had a garden, but during the war it was patriotic
to have a Victory Garden] Mother hired Buck Farrow and his mule
to plow the garden. It was then time for Dad to get out the stakes and
a ball of string to mark the rows. We planted corn,peas, green and
wax beans, radishes, carrots, onions, kohlrabi, cabbage, cucumbers,
lettuce, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, asparagus and pumpkin. We also
had a raspberry and strawberry patch. We kids would help weed,
pick and can the `crop'. The end of the harvest yielded rows and rows
of jars laden with food for winter eating.
Elizabeth Ringhofer...
Because it was wartime, citizens were allowed to raise chickens in town.
Dad put up an enclosure behind the garage and installed about 40 chicks.
He fed and watered those,chicks and they grew into nice, plump
chickens. Then came butchering day.
Dad had a stump and a sharp axe. He would grab a chicken, lay it
across the stump and whack off its head. He then threw the decapitated
bird unto the grass for my brother, Larry, and I to grab by the claws,
dip into boiling water and pluck the feathers. We sooned learned the
meaning of the phrase, `running around like a chicken with its head cut
off'. Those headless birds flopped all over the yard, splattering blood
everywhere. It was a gory job but we did it. Once the feathers were
off, we carried the plucked chickens to Mother and our sister, Eileen,
who cleaned and canned :them. Happily, raising chickens was but a two
or three year venture and I was glad to see it end.
Rationing and shortages: From a child's perspective, times were tough.
There was no chocolate, bubble gum or bananas (which I craved). Sugar
and butter were rationed. We turned in red tokens to get our allotment
of meat and blue tokens for canned goods. I think that one pound .of
butter was alloted per week, and we were strongly discouraged from
using butter on bread, rolls, potatoes, or any other normal uses. To
this day. I use little butter.
We saved grease from pork, bacon and ham in a `Crisco' shortening
can. Ringhofer's paid 25 cents for each full can. The few tin cans we
had were cleaned, delabeled, flattened and turned in for the `war effort'.
Mother made bar soap and ketchup during the war years.
Coffee was rationed, so it was served only when there was company.
[This is another lesson from childhood, I never did acquire a taste for
coffee] Shoes were rationed to one pair per year and Dad would go
without new shoes for several years so his kids could get shoes to fit
their growing feet. Dad would put cardboard in the bottom of his
shoes to cover the holes in the soles. There was no elastic so we had
to use string to hold up our panties. Every so often I was embarrassed
when the string became untied or broke.
41
Elizabeth Ringhofer...
We did not have a car so didn't experience gas or tire rationing. About
six times a year, Dad would use Ringhofer's truck to haul accumulated
trash to the city dump. He'd borrow Grandpa Charlie's car about once
a year so we could visit my Mother's sister. near Newport.
My sister, Eileen, had anArmy penpal and once he sent us a full box
of Hershey candy bars. It was better than Christmas! Alas, there was
no bubble gum until after the war.
When I was eleven my sister, Eileen, got me a. job at Central Bakery
on Saturdays. I scrubbed the big mixing kettles. I wrapped weiner
and hamburger buns and assembled boxes for bakery goods. I think
I earned 25 cents an hour.
Entertainment We walked everywhere -.to school, the library,
downtown, the gravel pit (ye old swimming hole), ball games, parks,
etc. We played many games in the neighborhood - kick -the -can, No
bears out tonight, AnnieAnn. ie over and more.
We'd listen to the radio - Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy,
Comedians Jack Benny, Bob Hope, George Burns & Gracie Allen,
and Fibber McGee & Mollie. Mother listened to soap operas
Ma Perkins, Helen Trent and Our Gal Sunday.
On the weekends we'•d go to the State, Roxy or Tonna theater to see
Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tarzan or Superman serials. The main
attraction - often a war movie- plus 'The World at War' newsreels,
completed our weekly movie fare. Twenty-five cents would get us a
movie, popcorn and a box of candy.
I also spent a lot of time at Dartt's Park where the Owatonna Aces
played. I would help Dad chalk the baselines and hang the tarp
fence around the outfield. I picked up empty bottles and got a nickel
for each case.
Elizabeth Ringhofer...
I'Il never forget the day the war ended - V-J Day. Dad had a bet with
Bob Evans Jr (Carol Ringhofer's brother-in-law) as to just when the war
would end. Bob was closer to the mark and Dad had to be the `horse'
and pull Bob in a cart all over the fair grounds. This was while the fair
was in full swing and everyone was celebrating the end of the war. I was
eleven years old and remember that crazy, wonderful day!
Changes wrought by war Women assumed a larger role within the
family and community. I remember that Mary Walbran was appointed
County Attorney to serve in her husband's stead when he went off to
war. It was difficult economically and emotionally to be a single parent.
It was probably difficult to sort out roles once the veterans returned
home.
DIG FOR VICTORY
lE
10.1
.p
r their r /:6
GROW YOUR OWN
VEGETABLES
Larry Ringhofer, 1943
ELIZABETH RINGHOFER
1942
43
THE HOMEFRONT
While our young men were serving in the armed forces, their families,
friends and neighbors were active on the homefront A heartfelt feeling
of Patriotism blanketed all of us! The national slogan was: Use
it up, wear it out, make it do, do without. Many citizens did with-
out cars and did a lot of walking. Worn-out shoes were repaired
again and again as you were rationed to one pair a year. Clothing
was patched and repatched Clothing patterns were very specific
as to skirt length. There were no pleats, cuffs or vests. Corn
syrup and honey were used as sweeteners instead of sugar. Tin
was conserved for the war effort by eating fresh, rather than
canned, fruits and vegetables. Blood donations were strongly
encouraged and recognition was given to those members of the
`Gallon Club'.
We were admonished to take
care of ourselves - to eat
right and avoid catching
viral diseases. The cartoon
suggests we always use a
handkerchief to 'trap
the germs'.
Coughs and sneezes
spread diseases
1
Trap the germs by using
your handl:e.r(hier
f OR SALVAGE
iIiTED �,�
r
PACKAGES FOR OUR ARMED FORCES OVERSEAS
SEPLI5-OCT1 IS
Address correctly
Wrap them securely.
Weight Emit-5 lbs.
Site i it 15 in. long
—36 in. length and
girth combined
R'eaY fats Page
Christmas cards
most be in sealed
envelopes bat can
be mailed any time
U. S. ARMY AND NAVY POSTAL SERVICES
A soldier and a sailor await
Christmas gifts from a world away.
Packages had to be mailed by
October 15th for overseas delivery.
No package could exceed 5 lbs. or
be larger than 36" in length and
girth. As difficult as mail service
was to maintain during the war, it
played a tremendous role in
boosting the morale of our armed
forces.
There was a constant stream of mail to
servicemen all over the world, and at
Christmas time it was particularly heavy.
The Army and Navy postal services
urged senders to mail packages by
October 15.
The card below could have been sent
by our Owatonna men serving in
North Africa.
i:, May you have
BAGS OF GOOD LUCK
and no SAND in your eye this
orCHRISTMAS
45
BURMA SHAVE SIGNS
Burma Shave signs made. road trips more fun for US motorists and they
had their start in 1927 on Highway 65, near Albert Lea, Minnesota.
The signs were advertising -that: the public really enjoyed. Not only did
they sell a product; they:also featured good driving tips. There were
also timely signs to reflect -the war years
LET'S MAKE HITLER
AND HIROHITO
LOOK AS SICK AS
OLD BENITO
BUY DEFENSE BONDS
BURMA SHAVE
TO MOST BRUSH SHAVERS
IT'S QUITE CLEAR
THE YANKS AREN'T
COMING
THE YANKS ARE HERE
USE BRUSHLESS
BURMA SHAVE
SHAVING BRUSH
IN ARMY PACK
WAS STRAW THAT BROKE
THE ROOKIE'S BACK.
USE BRUSHLESS
BURMA SHAVE
'AT EASE' SHE SAID
MANEUVERS BEGIN
WHEN YOU GET
THOSE WHISKERS
OFF YOUR CHIN
BURMA SHAVE
BUYING DEFENSE BONDS
MEANS MONEY LENT
SO '1'HEY
DON'T COST YOU
ONE RED CENT
BURMA SHAVE
SLAP
1'HE JAP
WITH
IRON
SCRAP
BURMA SHAVE
MAYBE YOU CAN'T
SHOULDER A GUN
BUT YOU. CAN SHOULDER
THE COST OF ONE
BUY DEFENSE BONDS
BURMA SHAVE
WHEN THE STORK
DELIVERS A BOY
OUR WHOLE
DARN FACTORY
JUMPS FOR JOY
BURMA SHAVE
TRAIN APPROACHING
WHISTLE SQUEALING
PAUSE!
AVOID THAT
RUNDOWN FEELING
BURMA SHAVE
DON'T LOSE
YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
BURMA SHAVE
WE CAN'T
PROVIDE YOU
WITH A DATE
BUT WE DO SUPPLY
THE BEST DARN BAIT
BURMA SHAVE
SLEEP IN A CHAIR
NOTHING TO LOSE.
BUT A NAP
AT THE WHEEL
IS A PERMANENT SNOOZE
BURMA SHAVE
ALTHO WE'VE SOLD
SIX MILLION OTHERS
WE STILL CAN'T SELL
THOSE COUGHDROP BROTHERS
SPRING
HAS SPRUNG
TN'H: GRASS HAS RIZ
WHERE LAST YEAR'S
CARELESS DRIVER IS
BURMA SHAVE
DRINKING DRIVERS
NOTHING WORSE
THEY PUT
THE QUART
BEFORE THE HEARSE
BURIVIA SHAVE
ALTHO INSURED
REMEMBER, KIDDO
THEY DON'T PAY YOU
THEY PAY.
YOUR WIDOW
BURMA SHAVE
DON'T LOSE
YOUR N 1CAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
BURMA SHAVE
`TWOULD BE MORE FUN
TO GO BY AIR
IF WE COULD PUT
THESE SIGN UP THERE
7
DRUNKEN DRIVERS
(
DID YOU KNOW
l
GREAT BANG
(FROM LITTLE
(3URIVIA sHAW)
i
47
VICTORY PUDDING
2 cups milk ,; 1 tsp. ginger
2/3 cup cooked rolled wheat flakes or
old fashioned rolled oats 1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup light molasses plain or whipped heavy cream,
I large egg, lightly beaten - optional
Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Bring milk just to a boil in a heavy saucepan
over low heat, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, lightly grease.a 1-quart casserole or baking dish.
Combine cooked rolled wheat, molasses, egg, ginger, and salt in a
heatproof bowl. Gradually beat in hot milk into wheat mixture.
Transfer to the casserole:
Bake until center is set, 35 - 40 minutes. Cool 20 to 30 minutes, then
serve warm with cream, if desired.
Homely Savoury Dishes
adapted to nor conditions
for Families & Canteens
!In N-r.1 4701,-,11. I Olt 111,1 TI1 1-nt.1,TION
APA •• WC,: LONOus, w
KITCHCN
Fao NT
121 VdARTIM...E' RECIPES
broadcast by Froder.ck Crtscwood.
Mabct Constanduros and others. speck
aUyselected by O. Ministry of Food.
.'XR.7EG5� s '
n. �1
A week's ration mid -war:
2 oz. tea, 8 D.Z. Fiigar, 4 oz. jam,
3 Oz. sweeets, 2 oz. lard, 2 oz. butter,
2 oz. margarine, 4 oz. cheese,
4 oz. bacon, 3/4 Ib. meal, and
one egg (sometimes)
hrifty War -Time Recipes
bborow
6r rA�
Mlxrsrgr
of F000
yy
Red (for meat) and Blue (for canned goods) ration tokens
t envelope gelatine
1 tbsp. cold water
3 tbsp. boiling water
1/3 cup evaporated milk
WARTIME SPECIAL
Butterless Butter
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 Ib. margarine, softened
Soften gelatine in cold water; add boiling water and stir until dis-
solved. Stir in milk, then mayonnaise and salt ; chill until thickened.
Beat softened margarine. Gradually beat in mayonnaise mixture;
spoon into a covered container and refrigerate.
49
WHEN THE LIGHT GO ON AGAIN 1942
[All over the world]
When we have our victory
and we've added to our history;
It will be right there to see
How sweet and simple live can be.
When the lights go on again all over the world
And the boys are home again all over the world
And rain or snow is all that may fall from the skies above,
A kiss won't mean goodbye but hello to love;
When the lights go on again all over the world
And the ships will sail again all over the world
Then we'll have time for things like wedding rings
and free hearts will sing
When the lights go on again all over the world.
The music and lyrics of the war years
reflected that lonely,melancholy time.
Movies were often about war. Many
major movie stars enlisted, and other
were active in the USO (United Ser-
vice Organization). The stars were
either entertaining the troops or
selling war bonds.
I'LL BE SEEING YOU 1938
Cathedral bells were tolling and our hearts sang on,
Was it the spell of Paris or the April dawn?
Who knows if we shall meet again?
But when the morning chimes ring sweet again
I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces all day through
In that small cafe, the park across the way
The children's carousel, the chestnut trees, the wishing well.
I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day,
in everything that's bright and gay, I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you.
1rcr +he
WALT DISNEY
MOTION PICTURE
BYARRAHGEMENT WITH
14tel
51
IN M
}}
CAP {!
i
-
IN MY ARMS 1943
V
His cousin had sent him a sweater and his sister wrote a letter
But he wanted something much better, this boy who was sailing away
For his buddies were there with their sweethearts
Now he'd never had any sweethearts, and over and over he'd say:
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a girl in my arms?
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms?
Comes the dawn, I'll be gone
I just gotta have a girl holding me tight,
You can keep your knittin' and your purlin',
If I'm a gonna go to Berlin,
Gimme a girl in my arms tonight.
His grandma had sent him some candy, and as he chewed on the candy
He said, 'My morale is just dandy, and there's still a tear in my eye.
For his buddies were there with their sweethearts,
Kissing bye-bye with their sweethearts.
Now he'd never had any sweethearts, and over and over he'd cry:
:7
if
Feorureo •ne
METRO.GO:DWVN MA•E;
mOtiOn
SEE hEg(
RRi✓.tf€ agoatc
t lO rr g,
ROBERT WALKER
DONNA REED
r
•
Pesky Jerry Ringhofer
was a preschooler who
loved to draw beards
and mustaches on his
sisters' sheet music.
They were not
pleased
fr
.c-coxf (Pie
a* tit WO Gr I
Jeclicczted to th& SSEA.SEE5
Cor2srructivr7 and f=ightrnMen
o f fhe 1J N/ FED 57-A I—E5 VA v�'
/9Vz
The Navy wanted men. That's where we came in.
Mister Brown and Mister Jones, the Owens, the Cohen's and Flynn.
The Navy wanted more of Uncle Sammy's kin,
So we all joined up, and brother we're in to win.
We're the Seabees of the Navy. We can build and we can fight.
We'll pave a way to victory and guard it day and night.
And we promise that we'll remember the seventh of December
We're the Seabees of the Navy, the Bees of the Seven Seas.
The Seabees were part of the U S Navy
and responsible for construction
projects. (Their duties are now part
of Navy Seals and Coast Guard
functions]
The song of the Seabees - Dedicated to the Seabees
Construction and Fighting Men of the United States Navy 1942 53
OWATONNA-WASECA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN,
COMPANY F, 135TH INFANTRY &
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT,
SECOND BATTALION
departed for training at Camp Claibourne,
Louisiana, on February 10, 1941.
CAPTAIN
Hugh H. Soper
LIEUTENANTS
Clarence J. Lee, 1st Lt.
Glenn L. James, 2nd Lt.
Joel M. Lewison, 2nd Lt.
Carl G. Bestler, 2nd Lt.
Stephen Springer, 2nd Lt.
FIRST SERGEANT
Harold P. Mittelstadt
SERGEANTS
Harry G. Arndt
Leonard Arndt
Thomas C. Butsch
Max J. Manthey
Joseph S. Racek
Paul A. Truhlar
John Zack
CORPORALS
Burnett L. Bailey
Kenneth J. Fichten
Christian P.J. Hald
Truman A. Jorgenson
Joseph B. Kvasnicka
Ernest H. Rosin
Theodore J. Warzinski
Hubert T. Wodarczak
PRIVATES, FIRST CLASS
John A. Bedney Jr.
Robert J. Brick
Thomas J. Conelly
Ronald M. Ellerman
Richard T. Fichten
Rudolph R. Hager
William A. Holecek
Robert J. Klemmer
Edwin C. Larson
Jake M. Larson
Norbert A. McCrady
Sylvester J. McFarland
Maynard J. Mens
Robert R. Myrick
James L. Rasmussen
Jerome E. Rooney
Donald H. Russell
Raymond J. Stepanek
Walter H. Wagner
PRIVATES
David B. Arndt
Leland M. Atkinson
Robert T. Barden
Donald E. Bathel
Elmer W. Blume
Lowren F. Blume
Carlous J. Boeke
Francis C. Collins
Leo J. Collins
Glenn V. Conelly
Robert J. Dehnert
Donald A. Denny
Lyle C. Dodge
James D. Dugan
Marvin F. Ellerman
Amos A. Graham
Raphael T. Gross
Roy D. Handwerk
Lester C. Herrington
Herbert E. Hatle
Mervin T. Heacock
Ralph Horecka
Roy J. Iverson
Paul J. Jensen
Burnett E. Johnson
Orville R. Johnson
Albert A. Karow
James W. Keane
Kenneth C. Keller
Henry I. Kubista
Raymond O. Larson
Valin C. Larson
Donald R. Lorenze
Evan L. Lorenze
Paul A. Lynch
Warren D. Madigan
James E. Manthey
Owatonna
Robert A. Martin
Charles J. McGrath
Paul Michalko
William K. Mitchel
Neil N. Moha
Richard R. Neumann
John E. O'Neill
Lawrence J. Pachl
Richard G. Pachl
Marlin R Patch
Harry T. Pavek
Ralph T. Pavek
Emery H. Peterson
Glen A. Peterson
Paul J. Peterson
Martin Pirkl
Fred K. Ripka
Dale L. Russell
Evan. J. Rysavy
Clement K. Schisler
Fred W. Schrom
Leo J. Schulz
Lyle J. Schulz
Raymond D. Schultz
Burnett J. Sellner
Henry M. Sey.kora
Harold B. Shaw
Sylvester D..Singlestead
Burnett L. Slater
Albert J. Stydl
Walter H.P. Summer
John M. Wacek
Donald J. Wanous
Valentine J. Wolf
Donald Yule
Joseph Zack
Robert W. Zimmerman
aseca National Guardsmen
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT
2nd Batallion, 135th Infantry
LIEUTENANTS
Henry L. Slezak, 1st Lt.
Jacob J. Springer, 2nd Lt.
Joseph A. Slezak, 2nd Lt.
SERGEANTS
Leonard L. Lewison, Tech. Sgt.
Gerald J. Gregor, Staff Sgt.
Norman A. Skogseth
CORPORALS
Leonard E. Hissam
George W. Slezak
Arthur E. Wessos
PRIVATES FIRST CLASS
DueLloyd D. Casperson
Jerome L. Dugan
James R. Gaveske
Sylvester L. Gaveske
Ross J. McMahon
PRIVATES
Lyle F. Anderson
Vincent E. Cashman
Lloyd A. Ditlefsen
Carroll O. Hansen
Harold C. Hillestad
Melvin D. Hissam
Edward J. Hruska
Osborne J. Martin
Merle Richardson
Alfred J. Skalicky
55
POSTWAR YEARS
Bernie & Cap Casperson,Carol Evans and Tom Ringhofer
Barb Ringhofer, Carol Evans, Cap & Bernie Casperson,
Bob Ringhofer c. mid-'90s.(Dick Evans was out on the
golf course.)
Ev Ringhofer on her 99th birthday, March, 2003,
with her children: Chuck & Helen Jeanne, Mary Jo
and Roy Minter, GeorgeAnn Ryerse. (Ev passed
away November 4, 2003)
Bob Ringhofer and children: Fair Week, 2003
Rich, Bonnie, Donnis and Bob Jr.
57
Tom Ringhofer, Liz Ringhofer Witt, George Pfeifer, 2000
Dorothy (Pfeifer) & Bud Pribyl family, 1998
Some people come into our lines
and quickly go.
Some stay a while, leave footprints
On our hearts. and we are never,
ever the same.
Come help us bid a fond farewell
To a cherished friend and co-worker
LIZ WITT
IS RETIRING
Festivities will be held on Thursday,
August 28, 1997
At the City of Eagan Community Room
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan. MN. 55122
From 3:00 to approximately 5:30
The party will then travel to:
The Party Room at Al Bakers Re3taurant
3434 Washington Drive
Eagan, MN.
Hope to see you there'
Please RSVP to Linda Fink by 8/1/97
881-4618
3830 PILOT KNOB ROAD
EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55122-1897
city of ecigan
10A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current/Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1997
Board to ask for renewal of 1991 support from voters
By Amy Barnett
Minnesota Sun Publications
Property owners in School District 191
will have two choices when visiting vot-
ing polls Nov. 4: to renew the excess levy
referendum they approved in 1991, or
deny.continued funding.
The Board of Education approved
Sept. 4 asking voters to continue the ex-
cess levy for a period of eight years. Offi-.
cials and staff say the money is needed to
make up.for, state- funding that fails to
keep up with inflation. Over the past two
years, funding has increased 1.5 percent
to.2 percent: Expenses increase about 4
percent a year, said Business Manager
Carter Christie.. . - - •
• With or without renewal, the district
will experience a deficit,
Christie said. But if vot-
ers fail to approve the ex-
cess levy, the future for
District 191 schools will
be even bleaker, he said.
One question on the
ballot will ask voters to
provide $276.44 per pupil unit until
2005. That figure is the same as approved
in 1991 and paid by taxpayers until this
year. Levy limitations imposed by the
.Legislature took effect in 1997, however,
and reduced the -amount -the district
could collect through the excess levy to
$164 perpupil unit.. The impact of the
change was substantial;•Christie said, re-
ducing the total-taxes.collected from $3.5
million to $1.4 million.
Through this fall's special election,
however, District 191 has the opportuni-
ty to recoup the full amount of $276 per
pupil unit, if voters agree it is needed.
Pupil units are ratios assigned to stu-
dents depending on what grade they are
in, and used to determine funding for
school districts.
The district contemplated issuing a
ballot that contained two questions;
one asking to renew the $164 per pupil
unit paid this year and another to re-
store the $112 that was taken away
from the district through legislative ac-
tion. - •
Instead, the board opted to go.with=one
question asking for the entire amount
"We desperately need those additional
funds," Christie said. "If we don't receive •
them, we. will be experiencing serious
deficits." -
If voters fail to renew the excess levy,
the district will face a deficit of $4.9 mil-
lion next year, he said.
If approved, the excess levy will pro-
vide $3.6 million dollars above what is
provided through state funding formu-
las. Yet, the district will still experience a
deficit of $1.3 million in 1998, Christie
said.
Changes in tax laws approved last
spring make conveying the impact of the
excess levy on taxpayers somewhat diffi-
cult. Residents are already forming a
campaign group to inform property own-
ers of the need for the money, as well as
how approval will affect them.
Taxes will now be measured by mar-
ket value of a property, rather than by net
tax capacity. The result of the shift is that
residential properties will carry more of
the tax burden, with commercial and in- -
dustrial properties paying less.
'If approved, the district would.phase
in the shift on a portion of the levy to
make it more palatable. The shift must •
be. complete by 2001.;
The impact of the renewal on a •
$125;000•home would be a $73 increase
in 1998, which includes a few extra dol-
lars resulting from the taxing change.
The excess levy bill would go from the $82
paid in 1997 to $155 in 1998.
•A resident with a $200,000 home
would pay $86 more next year. -The.,
owner of commercial/industrial property
of the same value would pay $36 more.
A group of 20 residentswere gathered
to discuss the excess levy referendum be-
fore it went to the board for approval. Co-
chairs for the group said all were in sup-
port of renewing the full referendum vot-
ers first approved in 1991.
COMMUNITY LINE
Stephanie Elmer and Mark Koski,
both from Apple Valley are helping.bring,
"The Diary of Anne Frank" to the stage at
The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson,
Wis. Sept. 12-27. Elmer appears as Miep in
the production, while Koski works behind
the scenes as scenic designer, technical de-
signer, and stage manager.
• Jana Johnson of Apple Valley has
been named to the board of directors for
the Boys & Girls Club of St. Paul. John-
son is currently the vice president of
contracted operations and managed
care systems for HealthPartners.
Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current/Wednesday, Sept. 10 1997 9A
At Witt's end
Eagan's 63-year-old administrative assistant retires, but will still volunteer
By Sue Hegarty •
Minnesota Sun Publications
Liz Witt may have retired from her
job as Eagan's administrative assis
tant, but the city isn't quite through
with her yet.
Witt, who retired Aug. 28, plans to
continue volunteering for the city's His-
torical Society. Her work will include
corning up with new ideas for -the dis
play cases at City Hall. Her ideas ,for.
displays outnumbered her days left
working for the':city. •
But all that will have"to wait while
the Mendota Heights resident takes
time off to enjoy her newfound life of
leisure. She's.. had .a busy month with
retirement celebrations and the recent
wedding of her son.
"Things won't settle down. for me
until October," Witt •said. There's no
doubt in her inind.that her decision to
retire at age 63 was the right one. "I'll
love it." •
Witt was no stranger to city govern-
ment when she began working for
Eagan in 1984. As a former member of
the Mendota Heights Parks and Recre-
ation Committee during the 1970s, she
didn't like what she saw, so she ran for
City Council and was elected in 1979.
That led her to pursue a public admin-
istration degree at Metropolitan State
University, though she already had a
degree in psychology. In 1982 she be-
came an intern for the city of Eagan
under the direction of City Adminis-
trator Tom Hedges, all the while serv-
ing on the Mendota Heights City Coun-
cil.
"She brought a perspective and de-
meanor no other employee had, as an
elected official. She had served local
government from both perspectives. I
learned from her and she learned from
me," Hedges said. •
Witt saw her dual role as an Eagan
city employee and a Mendota Heights
council member as advantageous, too.
"That was very helpful..I could un-
derstand issues very well. I could. un-.
derstand the council's requests and as
a council member .I could appreciate
what staff does;" Witt said.
Wearing two hats wasn't .always
viewed favorably by others though.
"When Eagan became one of two°possi-
• ble sites for a racetrack in the 1980s,
she was criticized for working for Ea-
._gan's council who..suppo.rted the track
in Eagan while her Mendota Heights
constituents asked her not to support
the other location in Shakopee. Some
thought her vote would be a conflict of
interest, but she didn't view it that
way.
One of her main duties as assistant
city administrator has been to organize
elections. That job required training up
to 250 people and seeing to it that bal-
lot counting machines were in working
order. Her most memorable election
was the 1990 gubernatorial campaigns
of John Grunseth and Arne. Carlson,
when Carlson launched a write-in cam-
paign using stickers. •
"Our machines won't take stickers.
They gum it up," Witt said: They had to
• switch to paper ballots and stayed up
past 5. a.m. counting by hand through
the night.
"I lost my voice for five days," she
said.
Besides her work in Mendota
Heights and Eagan, Witt has served as
a board director for the League of Min-
nesota Cities (LMC). Following her re-
tirement, she plans to become an am-
bassador for the LMC. •
I "Liz has had a multitude of hats
she's worn," said Hedges, who called
her a "cornerstone" of the League.
She will be missed at City Hall, say
coworkers.
.`She's the glue that holds things to-
gether," said Kristi Peterson, an Eagan
staff member. •
Witt laughed when she heard that
and said, "By the way, you'll be order-
ing your own glue and paper clips from
now on — I'm retiring."
Jan Abbott/Minnesota Sun Publications
Liz Witt dons a cap during her retirement
party Aug. 28.
3830 PILOT KNOB ROAD
EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55122-1897
PHONE: (612) 681-4600
FAX: (612) 681-4612
0
ELIZABETH WITT
Administrative Assistant
city of eagan
Family, job, city council, committees
comprise active way of life for Liz Witt
By JEFF BURRILL
Liz -Witt admits her housework
doesn't always get done.
"At least not until the
weekend," she explained.
"That's when the kids and I
tackle the in depth cleaning."
If free time to handle some of
life's routines occasionally
evades Witt, it's a small wonder.
In addition to her duties as
assistant finance director,
deputy clerk and purchasing
agent for the City of Eagan, she
serves on the Mendota Heights
City Council. And those
functions are shared with
participation on a variety of
committees and organizations.
"Some of my extracurricular
involvements are job related;
some deal with the city council;
some are organizations I belong
to for personal reasons," -Witt
continued.
Well, take a breath, for
coupled with her job and council
activities, Witt: is a member of
the League of Minnesota Cities'
board of directors; assists
Eagan's Advisory Parks and
Recreation Commission; is a
member of the Minnesota
Association of Urban
Management Assistants;
belongs to the Minnesota Women
in City Government; is a
member of the Leadership
Forum for Professional Women
in Dakota County; is. the Eagan
city staff liaison to the
Burnville-Eagan Cable
Commission; and is a member
of the Northern Dakota County
Cable Commission.
No wonder she doesn't have
time to make her bed in the
morning.
"I enjoy what I'm doing,"
Witt said, "and I get a lot of
support and help from the kids
at home."
Involvement in city and,,,.
the particular subject being
studied. There were a lot of
finance and management
classes involved."
Witt completed her studies in
early 1982 and at the suggestion
of Mendota Heights City Ad-
ministrator Orvil Johnson, she
contacted Eagan City Ad-
ministrator Tom Hedges about
possible work as an intern.
"I worked as an intern in
Eagan from February, 1982, un-
til August, 1983, which is a lot
longer than most intern pro-
grams run," Witt said. "But
Tom was in the process of
reorganization and I was asked
to help with that, which stretch-
ed out my time. Tom provides
an outstanding training ground
for interns because he gets you
involved in practically
everything he's involved in."
After her internship finally
ended, Witt was hired as a per-
manent staff member for the Ci-
ty of Eagan, and is using that
experience for what she hopes
will someday be put to use in
her role as city administrator.
"I would very much like to be
a city administrator at some
point," Witt continued. "Right
now it's a male dominated field,
but I feel that will change. Of
course I'd favor a job opportuni-
ty in the metropolitan area, but
there aren't any openings at this
time. And with kids still at home
and in school, I wouldn't con-
sider relocating for quite a
while."
Witt, 49, is a divorcee. One
daughter, 20-yearold Becky, is
living in California, while five
regional government was not the
direction Witt's career path
immediately followed. A native
of Owatonna - where her father
edited the city newspaper for 50
years - Witt left home at 18 to
attend the University of
Minnesota.
"At 'the U,' I majored in
business, then earned a master's
degree in psychology," Witt
stated. "I found college to be a
wonderful experience and
thoroughly enjoyed the campus
life. '
After college, Witt worked as
a research analyst for the state,
then performed similar duties
for the University of Minnesota
in the psychology department.
"The Nixon funding cutbacks
took care of my job at the
University," Witt said, "so I
turned some of my time toward
serving on various committees.
I also became more involved
with my children's activities. I
was a 4-H leader, Girl Scout
leader, involved in church work
and took the kids to their games
and other events."
Before long, Witt was working
for the state Department of
Transportation in planning and
programing, followed by a job
with the state Welfare
Department in standards and
licensing.
In 1975, she officially began
her government career by
chairing the Mendota Heights
community celebration. From
there she was named
chairperson of the city's park
and recreation commission, an
experience which led her to run
for city council.
"I ran for council because I
felt it wasn't responcyng to the
needs of the park and rec
commission," Witt said. "It
seemed to have no interest in
our meetings or requests, so
what better way to get the
other children are at home in
Mendota Heights. There is Gret-
chen, 24, Greg, 17, Jamie, 13,
Matt, 11, and Suzie, 9. Matt and
Suzie are a niece and nephew
who became welcome members
of the Witt household following a
death in the family.
"With my schedule, the kids
really help out a lot around the
house," Witt reaffirmed. "It
takes a great deal of organiza-
tion, but there are designated
wash days, assigned cooking
weeks and the thorough Satur-
day cleanings."
Organization at home and
organization at work appear to
run a similar course for Witt.
And she appreciates the oppor-
tunity to be employed where she
is.
"I feel fortunate to work with
the administrative staff in
Eagan," she observed. "I'm in-
volved with a dynamic group of
individuals who are very
knowledgeable and professional.
I have learned so much from
these people, and it is enlighten-
ing to observe the respect they
display for one another.
"Without a doubt, working in
city administration has helped
make me a better city council
member. And vice versa. The
insight I've developed working
on the council has definitely
been beneficial to me with my
job.
And I feel fortunate to be
working in Eagan. It's exciting
to be involved with such an ag-
gressive, growing community.
I'm in a situation I thoroughly
enjoy."
LIZ WITT in her office at the Eagan Municipal Center. As a member of the city staff,
Witt is administrative assistant to finance director Gene VanOverbeke. She is also
a member of the Mendota Heights City Council and serves on a variety of city and
county governmental committees.
council interested than
attempting to join it."
Three people ran for two va-
cant council seats in the 1978
election, and Witt was one of the
successful candidates.
"It was quite an eye-opening
experience," she related. "I
knew very little about trunk
storm sewers, assessments, or
other routine matters handled
by the council. Some people may
not believe this, but for the first
couple years I didn't say much
at the meetings. I just listened
and learned. But being on the
council is what got me in-
terested in a career in city ad-
ministration work. The more I
found out about city government
work the more I wanted to
know. I'll probably be a student
all my life."
j[n order, tugga1iy fo5 employ-
THfs WE1\--) �j/�
- oZ� 6 "�'
ment in city administration,
beginning the fall of 1981 Witt at-
tended class during evenings
and on weekends through
Metropolitan State University.
"What I had to complete were
16 'competence courses,' " Witt
explained. "In other words, I
had to achieve competency in
Witt, see p. 10
Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current/Wednesday, Sept. 10 1997 9A
At Witt's end
Eagan's 63-year-old administrative assistant retires, but will still volunteer
By Sue Hegarty
Minnesota Sun Publications
Liz Witt may have retired from her
job as Eagan's administrative assis-
tant, but the city isn't quite through
with her yet.
Witt, who retired Aug. 28, plans to
continue volunteering for the city's His-
torical Society. Her work will include
coming up with new ideas for the dis-
play cases at City Hall. Her ideas for
displays outnumbered her days left
working for the city.
But all that will have to wait while
the Mendota Heights resident takes
time off to enjoy her newfound life of
leisure. She's had a busy month with
retirement celebrations and the recent
wedding of her son.
"Things won't settle down for me
until October," Witt said. There's no
doubt in her mind that her decision to
retire at age 63 was the right one. "I'll
love it."
Witt was no stranger to city govern-
ment when she began working for
Eagan in 1984. As a former member of
the Mendota Heights Parks and Recre-
ation Committee during the 1970s, she
didn't like what she saw, so she ran for
City Council and was elected in 1979.
That led her to pursue a public admin-
istration degree at Metropolitan State
University, though she already had a
degree in psychology. In 1982 she be-
came an intern for the city of Eagan
under the direction of City Adminis-
trator Tom Hedges, all the while serv-
ing on the Mendota Heights City Coun-
cil.
"She brought a perspective and de-
meanor no other employee had, as an
elected official. She had served local
government from both perspectives. I
learned from her and she learned from
me," Hedges said.
Witt saw her dual role as an Eagan
city employee and a Mendota Heights
council member as advantageous, too.
"That was very helpful. I could un-
derstand issues very well. I could un-
derstand the council's requests and as
a council member I could appreciate
what staff does," Witt said.
Wearing two hats wasn't always
viewed favorably by others though.
When Eagan became one of two possi-
ble sites for a racetrack in the 1980s,
she was criticized for working for Ea-
gan's council who supported the track
in Eagan while her Mendota Heights
constituents asked her not to support
the other location in Shakopee. Some
thought her vote would be a conflict of
interest, but she didn't view it that
way.
One of her main duties as assistant
city administrator has been to organize
elections. That job required training up
to 250 people and seeing to it that bal-
lot counting machines were in working
order. Her most memorable election
was the 1990 gubernatorial campaigns
of John Grunseth and Arne Carlson,
when Carlson launched a write-in cam-
paign using stickers.
"Our machines won't take stickers.
They gum it up," Witt said. They had to
switch to paper ballots and stayed up
past 5 a.m. counting by hand through
the night.
"I lost my voice for five days," she
said.
Besides her work in Mendota
Heights and Eagan, Witt has served as
a board director for the League of Min-
nesota Cities (LMC). Following her re-
tirement, she plans to become an am-
bassador for the LMC.
"Liz has had a multitude of hats
she's worn," said Hedges, who called
her a "cornerstone" of the League.
She will be missed at City Hall, say
coworkers.
"She's the glue that holds things to-
gether," said Kristi Peterson, an Eagan
staff member.
Witt laughed when she heard that
and said, "By the way, you'll be order-
ing your own glue and paper clips from
now on — I'm retiring."
Jan Abbott/Minnesota Sun Publications
Liz Witt dons a cap during her retirement
party Aug. 28.
One of a kind
Eagan's administrative assistant to retire
By ERIN HEMME FROSLIE
Liz Witt sits in her office
facing Eagan's Civic Arena
and describes the boxes and
boxes of Eagan's history that
remain in the basement of the
Municipal Center.
"There's a box of transporta-
tion information and maps and
letters, and that stuff down-
stairs really needs to beorgan-
ized, but there isn't time for
that now," she says and then
laughs somewhat gleefully.
"I'm going to retire."
For 13 years and seven
months (or 15 years, if you
count her internship, which
Witt does), Witt, 63, has
graced the city of Eagan with
her endless energy, unique ex-
perience and equally unique
sense of humor. She retires at
the end of August; it's a new
life adventure she is not dread-
ing.
City Administrator Tom
Hedges remembers hiring Witt
as an administrative intern in
1982. Witt came to the city
with a somewhat unusual
background. Not only was she
making a career change after
working for the University of
Minnesota and raising a fam-
ily, but she was a council
member in the city of Mendota
Heights.
"I wondered 'how will this
work?' " Hedges said. "We'd
never had someone work for
the city who was also an
elected official."
But Witt's experience proved
valuable. "She could see
things from the point of view of
the elected officials as well as
the administration," Hedges
said. "Her insight was special
to the city."
Due to Eagan's rapidly grow-
ing population, the city hired
Witt as an administrative as-
sistant in 1984. Since then her
responsibilities have included
licensing, managing city rec-
ords, coordinating purchases,
and one of her favorites — or-
ganizing elections.
"During a presidential elec-
tion, the work starts in June,"
Witt said. "We recruit and
train judges, reserve equipment
and coordinate polling places.
You just wouldn't believe all
the work."
The one election that stands
out in Witt's mind is 1990,
which she dubs the "election
from hell." Uncertain guberna-
torial candidates, an expected
write-in vote supporting Arne
Carlson by using stickers, and
the fact that her assistant was
on maternity leave equaled
(See Witt, p.26A)
Witt
(Continued from front page)
stressful chaos.
"It was awful," Witt said. "I
lost my voice for five days af-
ter the election." But in 1992,
"It went like clockwork."
Among her improvements to
the election process in Eagan
is the recruitment of local high
school students to serve as
judges on election day.
"It's so important for them to
see their government in ac-
tion," she said.
An award winner
Taking a sip of Diet Pepsi,
Witt pulls out one of several
scrapbooks she keeps. She
doesn't consider herself a
packrat, but as an amateur his-
torian she keeps the important
things. This scrapbook ac-
counts one of her prouder pro-
fessional moments, when, in
1993, she was awarded the first
League of Minnesota Cities
Leadership Award.
"It was so cute," said Mayor
Tom Egan. "She wasn't plan-
ning on going (to the conven-
tion) that year, but we told her
to come. No one knew if it was
a surprise to her or not. She
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LIZ WITT, Eagan's administrative assistant, will retire at the end of August after 15 years
of service. Photo by Erin Hemme Froslie
won't tell."
But Witt says she was sur-
prised. "Oh, I had no clue,"
she said. "It was pretty funny."
In the month before she was
honored with the award, Witt
had been traveling in China. "I
didn't even know they had cre-
ated this award," she said.
Looking at her resume,
there's no doubt she deserved
the honor. She has extensively
volunteered in local, county
and state organizations.
"The city did a very good job
of nominating ;her for the
award," Egan said. "We were
all thrilled for her.
People first
Professionally, Witt is a
jewel, but most people first
describe her as a people person
with a sense of humor.
"She makes you believe
you're more capable than you
think you are," said Karen
Hangebrauck, a receptionist
under Witt's supervision.
"Then when you succeed she
stands back (with her thumbs
up) and smiles."
Among Witt's favorite
memories of working for the
city is a friendly, competitive
lunch hour game. "A bunch of
us would get together and play
Trivial Pursuit over lunch," she
said. "We did it for over 10
years."
But her colleagues will re-
member her for her ability to
find humor in almost anything.
During her internship, Witt
"anonymously" published
"Internal Combustion," a sa-
tirical newsletter that often
poked light fun at the people
and the eve yday activities at
Egan said he will miss hear-
ing her stories about her many
travels. Her office is filled with
postcards and framed posters
from Greece, China, Australia
and other destinations.
"There isn't a time I can pass
by her office and not learn new
stories about her old or new
adventures," Egan said.
Hangebrauck says its hard to
place what's special and
unique about Witt.
"She's just such a presence
here," she said. "She's in-
volved with people, not just •
positions."
Moving forward
Although Witt says she'll
miss the people around the
city, she's ready to retire.
"Everyone who's retired says
I'll have no time left and I'll
have to learn to say 'no,' " she
said.
Witt will continue to work
with Eagan's Historical Soci-
ety and Mendota Heights' ca-
ble commission. She'll also
serve as an ambassador for the
League of Minnesota Cities.
In addition, she has volun-
teered to work with the Steele
County Historical Society,
since she was raised in Owa-
tonna and her family was in-
volved in the city politics and
the local newspaper.
And she's going to travel.
She already has trips to Wash-
ington, D.C., Italy and the
Steele County Fair planned.
"No, I'm not afraid to retire,"
she said. "I'm just looking for-
ward to what's ahead."
For Liz Witt, 2 cities are like day and night
Liz Witt, a second -term councilwoman in Mendota Heights, now also is deputy clerk in Eagan.
Witt
Continued from Page 1SW
part-time for two psychologists until 1972.
Around then, Witt began her political career as an irate citizen. Meier.
to Heights wanted to turn her street, Mane Avenue, from a dead-end auto
a through street; then it wanted to put in sidewalks. She cot on tbe., parts
commission because she felt the city wasn't serious enough about D and she skirmished with Administrator Orvil Johnsott about a proposed
bus stop she thought would be dangerous.
In 1978 Witt was elected to the council, and she promptly found she
didn't know as much as she thought she did.
"When I participate in something, I really want to know what's going
on, and there were an awful lot of things I didn't know," she said. "Some
people think they know everything — as Orvil says, 'Some are appointed,
and some are anointed.' That certainly wasn't my case. I thought, 'Holy
buckets, I don't know what they're talking about.'
She became more and more interested in the delicate job of the city
administrator and in the machinations of the Mendota Heights council, of
which, she likes to say, she is the only conservative amid ultra -conserva-
tives.
"It was a time in my life when I needed to do something," she said.
'"My marriage was foundering, and I couldn't get into research again
because there weren't any jobs. So I took a chance."
In the fall of 1981 she entered Metropolitan State University in St. Paul
to study public administration, got a job as an intern to Eagan Adminis-
trator Tom Hedges a few months later, and graduated last spring. That
summer she was made "temporary administrative staff" in Eagan and
two weeks ago was made deputy clerk. She has a third role that Eagan
activists consider an asset: Witt is on the board of directors of the League
of Minnesota Cities.
"She's been super for us," Hedges said. "She's able to wear both hats
independent of each other. At first I was concerned about that, but she
never confuses the two issues."
The peek into city hall has made her a more sensitive council member,
Witt says. For example, she found staff members routinely shuffle what
they consider dumb or vague council directors to the bottom of their lists,
so she determined to become less vague.
"I do my homework better so I know what's involved," she said. "I can
ask more intelligent questions, for one thing: be o I didn't know enough
When Witt becomes a city administrator, she will be one of very few
female administrators in Minnesota. Her age is perhaps an asset — she is
old enough to remain unperturbed by minor crises, she says, and young
enough to be adventuresome.
She has absorbed many lessons. From. Hedges and Eagan she is getting
technical knowhow — "There's so much going on here, if you don't get a
smattering of everything, that's your own tough luck," she says. From
four -city veteran Orvil Johnson she has learned other valuable things
about being a city administrator, which is a job with a rather short aver-
age life span.
"What you have to be able to be is humble," Witt said. "Orvil and I
chuckle about it, but it's so true. You have to be able to deal with the
public, do what the council directs, and deal with your staff. You really
have to tread a fine line."
/ E Heci2 S So t: /,7 cL .2-5
/. 9 d ,/v r C/? f/`7/q e 55
Brian Peterson
By Beth Gauper
Staff Writer
For Liz Witt, going from her night job to her day job is like
shuttling between a Boston men's club and the Wild West.
Witt, a second -term councilwoman in staid Mendota. Heights, has
just been appointed deputy clerk of booming Eagan, where develop-
ers are fixtures at City Hall and meetings go on from 7 in the
morning till after midnight.
"The two cities are so different," Witt said. "I always say that
when I want to relax I go up to Mendota Heights, because it's too
wild down here. And when I'm in Mendota Heights it's too quiet, I
want some action."
Witt has already been accused of conflict of interest by Mendota
Heights residents who do not want a horseracing track built across
the border in Eagan. But Witt, a researcher by trade and tempera-
ment, replies that when the residents "get back from , their mob
hysteria" and look at the facts, they will see the track in a more
favorable light.
"In a situation like that, when people are up in arms, they think
they know all the answers and you can't tell them otherwise," she
said. "You just listen and proceed with your business."
Witt's dual roles are only the latest in a lifetime of civic involve-
ment. She grew up in Owatonna, where her father, Lefty Ringhofer,
was editor of the Owatonna Daily People's Press, now the Owaton-
na Press. After college she worked for eight years as a research
analyst, first with the state highway department and then with the
state welfare department, began raising four children and worked
part-time for two psychologists until 1972.
Please see Witt/2SW