Was wondering whether or not the history of , and plight of the Germans living in Russia from the 1700's to the 1940's is taught today in the schools in Germany ?I have spoken to 3 or 4 people from Germany fairly recently, & believe it or not, they never heard of the German colonies in Russia !! Could they be an exception to the majority ?I should have asked them this question, but didn't think of it at the time. Charles Parcels ( Weibert aus Messer ) --------------------------------- Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

Reporter Herald Loveland, Colorado 07-29-2007 Mildred A. SPARKMAN *SPARKMAN*, Mildred A., of Loveland. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Allnutt Hunter Chapel. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, at Allnutt Hunter Chapel. Private family interment at Resthaven Memory Gardens. Publish date: 7/26/2007 *Mildred A.SPARKMAN* , 88, of Loveland, passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2007. She was born on March 29, 1919, in Loveland, Colo., to John Zeiler and Mary Walker. She was a lifelong resident of Loveland. She graduated from Loveland High School in 1937. She was confirmed and baptized at the First Congregational Church in Loveland. Mildred was married to Woodrow G. Sparkman on Aug. 25, 1939, in Dallas, Texas. As a resident at Loveland's Good Samaritan Village for nearly 10 years, she was beloved for her generosity. She assisted and entertained her fellow residents, welcomed new residents and was a wonderful storyteller, pianist and good-natured humorist. Her spirit and thoughtfulness will be missed by her family, her fellow residents and the staff at Good Sam. She loved to play the piano and work crossword puzzles. Mildred is survived by her sister, Ruth Lichtenwaldt and husband Henry of Fort Collins, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Zeiler; her husband, Woodrow G. Sparkman; three sisters, Lydia Sauer, Christina Niswender, Esther Lloyd; and numerous nieces and nephews from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas and Utah. Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Allnutt Hunter Chapel. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 30, at 11 a.m. at Allnutt Hunter Chapel. A private family interment will be held at Resthaven Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to Loveland Good Samaritan Village or Hospice of Larimer County in care of Allnutt Funeral Service. Please view the online obituary, send condolences and sign the family guest book at www.allnutt.com. -- http://www.ancestrylocator.com/ A new website to connect the past to the present. A photo gallery and a forum for you to post your surnames and photos. Come join in, and make a connection.

Sylvia Lieberg, If you get this e-mail please contact me. You copy of the "Chapter Leaders Newsletter" has been returned because of the address. Thanks! Kevin Rupp Chapter Newsletter Editor -- Kevin Rupp 2301 Canal Blvd Hays, Ks. 67601 krupp@ruraltel.net www.volgagerman.net volgagerman@ruraltel.net

Clare, Just a note to say thank you for posting your trip info to Saratov. I found it very interesting. My husband's relatives are from Saratov and Polychana (?). Their name was REIFSCHNEIDER however when they reached the US it's now just SCHNEIDER. Thank you, Cindy --------------------------------- Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

I'm afraid this is a very long email, but I want to tell you about the wonderful trip my husband Karl and I made to Saratov in May to find out more about Karl's Volga-German ancestry. His father, Gottfried Brandt, came from the village of Kraft. His wife and children were all deported to Kazakhstan in 1941, but Gottfried served as a translator in the German army. We don't know how or why. He settled in the west after the war and remarried, believing his family were dead. He had two sons, one being my husband. We live in London. We had intended to join John Klein's tour in Moscow, but when that could not run, we decided to go on our own as we had already booked our flights to Russia and back. The London travel agent who booked our hotels and arranged visas asked why on earth we wanted to go to Saratov! I bought the Lonely Planet guidebook and a Russian phrasebook, did lots of internet research, and hoped we would manage to arrange things on arrival. We consulted David R. Shultheiss's article, "Kraft - My birthplace and hometown as I remember it" (AHSGR Journal Vol.10, No1, Spring 1987) and David Bowland's account of his visit to Kraft in 1995 from www.webbitt.com, both fascinating. Ten days before our departure I emailed Vera Bjelkova-Miller, whom I "knew” from this list, asking for any contacts. She put us in touch with Saratov travel agent Vladimir Manykin and archaeologist Dmitri Barinov. Vladimir arranged our train tickets from Moscow to Saratov and met us at the station. Our room in the Hotel Slovakia overlooked the Volga and the bridge between Saratov and Engels, which was thrilling. Vladimir translated and explained the significance of some documents we got from relations from Kazakhstan, now living in Germany. These indicate that Gottfried and family left the Volga-German area some time between 1930 and 1934 for a village near Rostov-on-the-Don. So straight away we discovered that information about how Gottfried joined the German army would not be found in Saratov. We visited the Saratov museum on our first day, including the section on German local history. The next day we drove 150km with Dmitri and our excellent translator Oksana Kandrashkina to Kraft. The two articles on Kraft mentioned above were very useful, and David Shultheiss's map really helped. It was moving for my husband to walk the streets of his father's village and sit at a desk in the school his father attended in the early 20th century. David Shultheiss described a thriving village of 4,000 inhabitants in 1926; now it has about 600. It appeared that most were away working somewhere else. The teachers in the school were very helpful and showed us various documents about past pupils and took us to find German residents. One man was too deaf to hear what we were saying and the others had originally lived elsewhere before the war or were too young to remember the village, but it was still good to talk to them and hear their stories. We were told that earlier V-G returnees to Kraft had since migrated to Germany. It would have been good to know which house Gottfried and family had lived in. Dmitri showed us the entrance to ice-houses and other archeological details. After an enjoyable picnic lunch we went to the cemetery and saw some post-war German graves, including those of two women with the surname Brandt - probably a distant relation of ours. We saw that the earlier German graves had had their headstones removed. Our experience of the now poor and run-down village was very similar to David Bowland's. On Tuesday Vladimir took us to meet charismatic Mrs Erina of the Volga German archive in Engels. We were fascinated to hear how she has preserved and built up the archive. She showed us the records for Kraft village in 1763 with the name Jurgen Brandt, son of peasants, who married Maria Magdalena Rodberg - presumably Gottfried's ancestors. We spent Wednesday with Vladimir in Marks. The Lutheran cathedral now holds services again. Inside we met a woman who spoke German with an accent that my husband recognised as being eerily like the strong Frankfurt accent he spoke as a child. She was six in 1941, and kept reading the bible so as not to lose her mother-tongue. She said the congregation is now a few hundred - some V-G returnees, some Ukrainians. We walked around this once bustling town with its multitude of wooden-shuttered German houses and came upon one brick house whose interior was being decorated. The man and his wife allowed us in, and we were pleased to see all the original brass window fittings and removable inner window frames still intact. In the cemetery we saw large numbers of V-G graves and family vaults whose headstones had been removed or knocked down, though we were able to read some. Marks and its cemetery reinforced the feeling of a lost culture that has been almost erased from history. . . Vladimir has a PhD in Volga German dialects and a wealth of knowledge about V-G history, which really enhanced our visit. He told us that about 20,000 returnees had come back to the Volga after 1976. The German government was willing to put huge investment into the area to encourage the returnees to stay, e.g. setting up a Volkswagen plant to provide employment. But it didn't happen, partly because a terrible xenophobic campaign was whipped up against returning V-Gs and so the drift to Germany began. I think this is how Vladimir became a travel agent, helping whole families to migrate during the 1990s. That evening we were privileged to be invited to dinner at home with the family of our translator Oksana. They had become interested in our story. This memorable meal was one of the highlights of our visit! We tried to meet Professor Pleve, but he was unavailable at the time. The rest of our time was spent visiting other sights in Saratov, including a short boat trip on the Volga and an organ concert at the Conservatoire. We became really fond of the city and disagreed with the (historically inaccurate) guidebook's estimate that it was worth only one day's visit. We also had two fascinating days each in Moscow and Volgograd and St Petersburg. Our research now has to move to Rostov and perhaps German army records. We have a lot of people to thank for help in making our trip so wonderful. I want to thank John Klein for inspiring us to go in the first place. Start saving your pennies right now if you are thinking of taking his tour next year! I would like to thank Vera for her invaluable suggestions. We would like to thank Vladimir and Oksana from Primavera Travel Agency (www.primavera-tk.ru) for their excellent arrangements and would recommend them to anyone needing their services. Thanks to Dmitri for helping us connect with Gottfried's world. Thanks to Mrs Erina for preserving an endangered history. My husband is German (and we are in contact with relatives from Kazakhstan who have migrated to Germany) but we live in London and my German still needs improvement. Signing up to the GER-Volga list about 18 months ago opened the whole world of the Volga Germans to us. So I would like to thank everyone involved with maintaining and contributing to the list, to the associated research, to the AHSGR, volgagermans.net, webbitt.com, the writers of books, maps etc. which we have ordered as a result of all the information found in these various sources. It seems to me amazing and wonderful that uncovering Russian-German family history from England has taken us via America! Clare Cowen-Brandt

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 25 Jul 2007 Marie Clause, 88, of Billings, passed away July 24, 2007, in the Horizon Hospice House. She was born Feb. 20, 1919, in Morrill, Neb., a daughter of Jacob and Alice Mills Strecker. She grew up and received her education in Nebraska. Marie married Phillip Clause on Dec. 1, 1935, in Scottsbluff, Neb. The couple moved to Hardin and farmed in the North Valley. They later retired and moved to Laurel before settling in Billings. Her husband, Phillip; daughter Peggy Ann; sisters Anna Kautz and Elizabeth Stricker; granddaughter Margo Ferderer; and brothers Fred, Jake, Alex, George and Edward Strecker preceded Marie in death. She was avid quilter, putting her personal touch on many items for her family. She was a member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church. Survivors include her daughters, Peggy Clause of Washington, Loretta Clause and Phyllis (John) Randolph of Colorado; two sons, Phillip (Shannon) Clause of Missoula and Roy (Betty) Clause of Billings; a sister, Frieda Keller of Wyoming; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, July 27, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Hardin Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Horizon Hospice, 1019 Neptune, Billings, MT 59107.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 24 Jul 2007 POWELL, Wyo. - Ruth Helen Hein Reichert passed away, surrounded by her family, Sunday morning, July 22, 2007. The daughter of George and Mary Hein, Ruth was born at home, west of Billings on Feb. 5, 1926. She lived on the family farm and attended both Elder Grove Elementary and Billings Senior High Schools. Ruth married Jacob Reichert on Jan. 29, 1944, in Laurel, Mont. In 1952, they purchased a homestead and moved into a Heart Mountain Relocation Center barracks on the Heart Mountain Project west of Powell. They cleared 160 acres of sagebrush and rocks to build an irrigated farm. In adulthood, Ruth was primarily a homemaker and loved playing cards with friends. Her hobbies included hunting arrowheads, raising bum lambs, painting and growing flowers and vegetable gardens. She was a hard worker and wanted the best for her family. Her father and mother; sisters Lena Glantz, Rose Schleining, Millie Weigand, Lydia King; and brother George Hein preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Jacob Reichert of Powell; and brother William Hein of Worden, Mont.; her four children, Lynnette (LeRoy) Feusner of Cheyenne, Jack (Sandy) Reichert of Johnson City, Texas, Patti (Steve) Reichert-Dalby of Libby, Mont., Timothy (Carrie) Reichert of Billings; and family pets, Ridge and Czar (little sweetie). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Kristi (John) Warden of Las Cruces, N.M., Katreena (Joe) Mullican of Huntsville, Ala., TyAnn Robinson of Round Rock, Texas, Dustin Reichert of Johnson City, Texas, Heidi (Brad) Lane of Kalispell, Mont., Adam (Erika) Close of San Diego, Alisha (Elie) Soueidi of Billings, Zachary Reichert of Denver and Bethany (James) Wiesner of Billings; and nine great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place in Billings. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, Cary Street and Avenue H, in Powell, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. Interment will be at the Crown Hill Cemetery. The family wishes to thank the staff at Powell Valley Hospital and St. Vincent Hospital in Billings. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hope Lutheran Church in memory of Ruth Reichert. "Until we meet again."

*Greeley Tribune Greeley, Colorado 07-24-2007 Clara Croissant * Jan. 24, 1929 - July 22, 2007 Age: 78 Residence: Evans Tribute: Clara Mae Croissant was born in Hillrose to John and Frieda (Kissler) George. She attended school in Brush. Her family moved to Evans. Mrs. Croissant's first job was at Woolworth's in Greeley. After her children were grown, she worked at Markay Portrait Studio, UNC Bookstore and Aims Community College. On July 3, 1947, she married Harvey LeRoy Croissant. They raised two boys on the farm by Pleasant Valley. She was a homemaker, loving wife and mother. She was active in Pleasant Valley School, where her sons attended grade school. She sponsored fundraisers at College High School, where her sons attended school. She loved cooking, sewing, decorating, drawing and listening to old country western music. Mrs. Croissant died Sunday at Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado inpatient unit. Survivors: A son, Doug and his wife Deb of Greeley; sisters, Eleanor Vogel of Evans, Lenora Snook and husband Ron Snook of Mesa, Ariz., Shirley Vogel and husband Vern Vogel of Greeley; three grandchildren, David Croissant and wife Jaqui of La Salle, Amy Wehrman and husband Ryan Wehrman of Kersey, and Sarah Croissant of Greeley; four great-grandchildren, Cael and Coel Croissant and Abbey and Trevon Wehrman; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: Her parents; her husband, Harvey; a son, Ron Croissant; and brothers Henry, Harry and Robert George. Services: A private family inurnment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Note: Memorial gifts may be made to the inpatient unit of Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado, 2726 W. 11th St. Road, Greeley, CO 80634.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 23 Jul 2007 Sebastian Stroh FAIRVIEW - Mass of the Christian Burial for Sebastian "Seb" Stroh, 90, of Fairview, will be at 10 .m. Wednesday, July 25, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Fairview with Father Greg Staudinger as presider. Wake services are 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Sebastian "Seb" Stroh was born Jan. 15, 1917, to Raphael and Klementina (Keller) Stroh. He was raised on a farm west of Manning, N.D., with nine other siblings. On Jan. 25, 1943, Seb and Tillie Jordan were married at Hirshville, N.D. To this union two children were born, Marlene and Raymond Adam. Seb used to stucco houses around the Killdeer, N.D. area until they moved to Igloo, S.D., where he worked at an Army Depot. They later moved to Fairview and he became a sharecropper with Ole and Alvina Sundheim. Seb and Tillie later moved into Fairview where Seb worked as a mechanic for Booke Automotive. Two years later he became a bartender for Orville and Christine Martin at Martin's Bar. Seb purchased the bar from the Martins in 1957, which became know as Stroh's bar, today being Waterhole #3 in Fairview. Seb and Tillie owned and operated the bar until 1977, when they retired. Seb started a saw sharpening business out of his garage and did some handyman work for friends and St. Catherine's Catholic Church until his health deteriorated. Seb and Tillie had two grandchildren, Lisa and Michael. He also has a great-grandson, little Sebastian, who was in Seb's eyes, the best great-grandson that anyone could ever have. Seb and Tillie belonged to the square dancing club, which was a mutual enjoyment for both. Seb belonged to the C.C.C.'s from 1937 through 1939, located at the north entrance of Roosevelt Park. He was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Fairview Lion's Club for 37 years earning him the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian service. He spent many years working on the planning of the Fairview Festival and was a councilman for the city of Fairview. Seb died on Wednesday evening, July 18, 2007, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility. Seb is survived by his daughter Marlene (Arthur) Frank of Sidney; granddaughter, Lisa of Billings; grandson, Michael (Kelly) of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandson, little Sebastian of Anchorage; brothers, Martin and Peter; sisters, Josephine, Eleanor, Louise, and Eva, all of Dickinson, N.D.. Seb was preceded in death by his wife Tillie; son, Raymond; his parents, one brother and two sisters.

I've been reading about the various German POW camps you all are mentioning. I just wanted to add the following; Idaho had two camps, one was Camp Algoma, location unknown and Camp Rupert near Rupert, Idaho. The web site below has pictures and history of the camp I thought you might been interested in. I'm looking for any info about Bauer, Russia; Neu-Bauer, Russia and Frank, Russia. The family names is Rahnert then changed to Rohnert after they settle in Scottsbluff, Ne., according to the 1920 and 1930's census reports. Gerald (Jerry) Rohnert http://home.arcor.de/kriegsgefangene/usa/camps_usa/camp_rupert.html<http://home.arcor.de/kriegsgefangene/usa/camps_usa/camp_rupert.html>

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 22 Jul 2007 MORRILL - Ricky James Huber, 57, passed away July 17, 2007 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 21, at Faith Lutheran Church in Gering with Pastor Richard Neugebauer officiating. Inurnment will be at 10 a.m., Saturday in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill with full military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard. Memorial contributions made in Rick's name will be directed to the American Cancer Society and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements. Rick was born June 8, 1950 to Mark and Merna Huber at Lynch Neb. He was the eldest of five children. He attended K-12 schools in Sioux City Iowa and Chadron Neb. While attending Concordia College, in Seward Neb. Rick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1968 as a Radioman. Rick served on the USS Rehoboth, USS San Jose, at the Naval Communication Station on Rough and Ready Island in Stockton Calif. and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He married Petty Officer 2nd Class Rose Brooks, January 1972. During a tour of duty at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, their first child Mark was born in October of 1976. Rick had served nearly 9 years when he was honorably discharged as a Radioman 1st Class and was transferred directly into the Naval Reserve in July 1977. The family returned to Denver where he attended college and worked for AT&T. In June of 1981 their second child, daughter Ariel was born. Rick and his family moved to Morrill in June 1983 when he, his parents and brother, Dan, purchased Barrett's Produce in Morrill. He retired from the Naval Reserve in July 1983 and enlisted in the WY Army National Guard in December of 1983. He served with the 960th Maintenance Co. in Torrington Wyo. until he was transferred to Detachment 2 (Training Site) in Guernsey Wyo. He later transferred to and retired from the 115th Field Artillery Brigade in Cheyenne Wyo. in October 1997 with a rank of E8/MSG. Rick served a total of 28 years, 6 months in service to his country. During this time he was awarded two National Defense Service Medals; one for Vietnam and one for the first conflict with Iraq. He was also awarded a good conduct medal in the Navy, two National Guard Outstanding Service Ribbons, an Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal and Army Commendation Medal Rick was married to Joy Bridge in March of 1994. Their son Noah was born in December 1994 and Kadan in March 1997. Survivors include his parents, Mark and Merna Huber of Morrill; brother, Tony and Mary Huber of Tucson Ariz., Dan and Laurie Huber of Gering; sister, Marie and Robert Rader of Gering; children, Mark and Anna Huber of Terrytown, Ariel Huber and her fiancé Justin Derr of Kearney, Noah and Kadan Huber of Harrisburg; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. Preceding him in death was his maternal and paternal grandparents, and youngest brother Elmer Lee.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 21 Jul 2007 Fred Michael, 92, of Billings, passed on to his heavenly home early Thursday morning, July 19, 2007. Fred was born in Billings on Oct. 14, 1914, to George and Mary Michael. He was raised and attended school in Hardin and, on Aug. 20, 1937, married Mollie Stricker. They resided in Hardin until 1940, when they moved to Billings. Fred worked in various positions until 1952, when he began working as a pipefitter and welder until his retirement in 1976. He enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger years and always enjoyed good German food. Fred was very social, one of those people who could start a conversation with anyone, and he never met a stranger. Nothing was more important to him than his faith and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mollie; two sons, Freddy Allen and Robert Dean; and siblings, George Michael, Henry Michael, Amelia Julius, Elizabeth Steinmetz, Mary Richards and Esther Michael. Survivors include two children, Sharon (John) Pearson and Calvin (Debbie) Michael, both of Billings; three grandchildren, John M. (Pam) Pearson of Billings, Tricia Pearson of Alexandria, Va., and Suzanne Michael of Billings; two great-grandchildren, John Wm. and Jordan Pearson of Billings; two sisters, Katherine Smalley and Martha Milhausen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday, July 22, from 2 to 8 p.m., at the Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. West, and prior to the service on Monday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 23, at the Smith West Chapel, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church or a charity of one's choice. The family wishes to thank the employees and residents of Aspen View Retirement Residence for befriending Dad during these last few months.

Billings Gazette Billings MT 20 Jul 2007 RIVERTON, Wyo. - Dennis Schumacher, age 61, of Riverton, passed away on July 19, 2007, at his home in Riverton, surrounded by his family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, at the Davis Funeral Home. Pastor Aaron Justice will officiate. According to his wishes, cremation will take place after the service. The Wyoming Army National Guard will provide military honors. Dennis Duane Schumacher was born Oct. 23, 1945, in Dawson, N.D., to Ben and Elsie Marie (Schettley) Schumacher. Dennis attended schools in Streeter, N.D., and later Billings Automotive School. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Riverton; son, Josh and wife Reva, Claremore, Okla.; daughter, Jodi Mootz and husband Loren, Riverton; four granddaughters, Kaleigh Shaye Schumacher, Melissa Jo, Kodie Marie and Katelyn Dawn Mootz; brothers, Gerald Schumacher and wife Suzon, Grand Lakes, Minn., Ron Schumacher of Helena, Mont., Bob Schumacher and wife Jackie of Terry, Mont.; sisters-in-law, Rosemarie Birgenheier, Billings, Judy Belcher and husband Ken, Billings; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, John and Rachel Kysar; brothers-in-law, Archie Birgenheier and Dick Kysar; and nephew Scott Belcher. Online obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com. Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 20 Jul 2007 TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Carl M. Rupp, 88, died Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at his home in Torrington. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, July 23, at the Torrington First Congregational Church with Pastor Matthew Gordon officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m., and the casket will be open at the funeral service. Those who wish may direct memorial contributions in Carl's memory to the First Congregational Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com Carl was born on May 6, 1919 in Scottsbluff the son of David and Marie (Spahn) Rupp. He grew up and received his education at Hillcrest School near Scottsbluff. He married Marie Backer Jan. 7, 1945 in Scottsbluff in the Salem Congregational Church; the same church that he had been confirmed in as a young man years earlier. Carl and Marie then farmed briefly in Nebraska and in 1950 they moved to their farm near Huntley, Wyo. Carl never completely retired. He always had a keen insight for land conservation and improving his farm. He loved farming and the livestock business. He had a great sense of humor and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a caring and giving person and was good to his extended family as well. Carl was a member of the First Congregational Church in Torrington. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Carl F. and Margaret Rupp of Torrington, Wyo.; daughter and son-in-law, Amelia and Robert Hytrek also of Torrington; sister, Esther Schreiner of Nampa, Idaho; grandchildren, Catherine (Sam) Mirich of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Carla (Todd) Patterson of St. Louis, Mo.; Caren (Joe) Speckner of Lingle, Wyo.; and Anna Hytrek of Torrington; and great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Nathan Mirich; Natalie Speckner; and Josie Patterson. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Marie; brother David Rupp, Jr; and sisters, Lydia Herdt, Mollie Morris, and Martha Popp.

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 19 Jul 2007 TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Leo H. Herdt, 82, died Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at his home in Torrington. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 20, at the Torrington First Congregational Church with Pastor Matthew Gordon officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. and the casket will be closed at the funeral service. Memorial donations may be directed to the family to be distributed later. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com Leo was born Dec. 11, 1924 in Gering the son of David and Marie (Zeigler) Herdt. He moved with his family to Torrington where he attended school. The family then moved to the family farm at Huntley, Wyo. where Leo continued his education and worked on the farm. He then entered the US Army and was stationed in Hawaii. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to the family farm. Leo married Marlene Estes on January 14, 1951 in Torrington. The couple then lived in Mitchell before moving to Torrington in 1952 where Leo farmed several farms in Goshen County. He and Marlene moved into the town of Torrington in 1995 and Leo retired in 1997. He continued to work with his sons until 2005. Leo was a devoted Rockies and Denver Broncos fan. He liked to visit with people and he loved spending time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed playing cards and to Dutch Hop. Leo was a member of the First Congregational Church and of the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Marlene of Torrington; sons, Galen Herdt and his wife Kathy of Veteran, Wyo., Larry Herdt and his wife Margaret, and Doug Herdt and his wife Susan all of Torrington; sisters, Helen Maul of Torrington, Esther Neider also of Torrington; brother, Eddie Herdt and his wife Merle of Torrington; grandchildren, Cory Herdt, Malissa Meyer and her husband Chad, Leslie Herdt and Erin Herdt, Natosha Herdt, and Eric Herdt; and great-grandson, Cameron Meyer. Preceding him in death were his parents; an infant child; sisters, Freida Keller and Eva Heckman; and brothers, Alex, Ruben, and David Herdt.

Hello Listers, Would there be any members of this list living in Germany that can speak both English and German? If you are available, I could use your assistance with communication. Respectfully, Clay Spomer Rocklin, California, USA

Site Manager: Login <http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/login.cfm?return_url=/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o%5Fid%3D130433%26fh%5Fid%3D10851%26s%5Fid%3D3156A4FD14AAB1F742B61FDAA430F16F&fh_id=10851&s_id=3156A4FD14AAB1F742B61FDAA430F16F> Heer and Jolliffe Mortuary Fort Morgan, Colorado 07-18-2007 *Elizabeth Cook* (Died July 17, 2007) *Sign Guest Book* <http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/tribute.cfm?o_id=130433&fh_id=10851&s_id=3156A4FD14AAB1F742B61FDAA430F16F> * | * *Send Private Condolences* <http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/condolences/home.cfm?o_id=130433&fh_id=10851&s_id=3156A4FD14AAB1F742B61FDAA430F16F> Elizabeth “Betty” R. Cook, 81, longtime Fort Morgan resident, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at the Valley View Villa Nursing Home in Fort Morgan. She was born October 5, 1925, in Morgan County, to Henry & Elizabeth Cook. She graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 1943. and was married in 1944. He memorable employment years were with Clark Mfg., making tachometers and fiber optic lamps, serving as the dining room manager of the Bookcliff County Club in Grand Junction, where she was in charge of hiring and training staff, and managing social activities including luncheons, buffets, and weddings. She later worked for 14 years for the Hewlett-Packard Company in the Integrated Circuits Department at Fort Collins. She enjoyed reading and watching the Denver Broncos. She was a member of the Christ Congregational Church. Survivors include her children, Tim Weimer, and his wife Jeri, and Sandra Westhoff, and her husband Jack, all of Fort Morgan; 2 brothers, Victor Cook of Fort Morgan and Herman Cook of Brush; 1 sister, Rachael Bath of Fort Morgan; 6 granddaughters, Kathy Westhoff, Becky Powell, Laura West, Shondel Weimer, April Weimer, and Cami Weimer; and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Weimer;an infant son, Alexander Weimer Jr; 1 great grandson; 2 sisters, Hannah Hoffman and Pauline Burback; 5 brothers, John, Carol, Fred, Harold and Alex; and her parents. A private family memorial service will be held. Arrangements are entrusted to the Heer Mortuaries & Crematory in Brush and Fort Morgan. Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Harrigan Center for Dialysis in Sterling, CO or to the American Kidney Foundation c/o Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron Street, Brush, CO 80723.

*Greeley Tribune Greeley, Colorado 07-17-2007 William "Bill" Brethauer* July 25, 1912 - July 2, 2007 Age: 94 Residence: Yuma Tribute: William "Bill" Brethauer was born to Volga German immigrants, John and Mary Katherine Kister Brethauer of Walter Colony, Russia. He was born in a sod house on the historic Boyd Ranch northwest of Greeley. On Feb. 8, 1938, he married Marion Schmaling in St. Paul's Congregational Church in Greeley. When he began working on his father's farm as a youngster, he farmed with horses. He farmed south of Kersey with his three brothers until 1943 when he moved to Wiggins where he farmed until 1968. They then moved to Yuma and he farmed there with his son, William D. Brethauer, until he retired. Mr. Brethauer was the oldest member of Old Threshers in Yuma as well as an exhibitor. A member of the lapidary club in eastern Colorado for many years, he made many beautiful pieces of jewelry for his family and friends. He and his wife Marion spent their winter months in their second home in Zapata, Texas, for more than 25 years. He was an avid reader and never lost his love of storytelling or his delight in playing his harmonica. Mr. Brethauer died July 2, at Yuma Life Care Center. Survivors: His wife, Marion; a son, William D. of Yuma; daughters, Lauren and husband Donald Brantner of La Salle and Jeanette and husband James Anderson of Greeley; eight grandchildren, Julie Brethauer Strand of Akron, Donette Brantner Artenie and husband Romulus of Columbia, Md., David Brantner and wife Leslie of La Salle, Sheryl Brethauer Schroth and husband Rick of Greeley, Cindy Brethauer Held and husband Tim of Denver, Krista Anderson McBride and husband Jeff of Greeley, Holly Anderson Cahoon and husband Micah of Thornton, and Eric Anderson and wife Kara of Westminster. He also is survived by 22 great-grandchildren and a sister, Esther Miner of Centennial. Preceded in death by: His son, John Robert Brethauer; brothers, John, Jacob, Fred, and George Brethauer; sisters, Lola Walters and Rachel Lanning; and his parents. Services were held July 6 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Otis. Interment followed at Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley. Note: Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Evangelical Church in Otis. Arrangements were under the direction of Baucke Funeral Service in Yuma.

Olinda C. Lorenz 1913-2007 Olinda Christine Lorenz, 93, of Cheyenne, formerly of Weld County, Colo., was welcomed in the arms of the Lord on July 16 in Cheyenne. She was born Oct. 9, 1913, in Loveland, Colo., to Henry and Sophie Reichert. Olinda and her husband, Paul were married on Feb. 14, 1935, and dairy farmed in Weld County, Colo., for many years. She was a devout Christian and was a member of the Christian Church of Greeley, Colo. She is survived by her daughter, Norma and her husband, Kenneth Malmborg of Cheyenne; one brother, Raymond Reichert of Spearfish, S.D.; three grandchildren, John and wife, Sherena Langley of Wichita, Kan., Jeneane and husband, David Buresh of Cheyenne and Jan and husband, Thomas Loftin Jr., also of Cheyenne; eight great-grandchildren, Ashlie Housand, Brock Buresh, Heath and wife, Jennifer Loftin, Garth Buresh, John T. Langley III, Christopher Langley, Cragen Buresh, and Stephen Langley and two great-great-grandchildren, Christopher T. Housand and Natalie R. Loftin. She was preceded in death by husband, Paul C. Lorenz in 1982; son, Marvin Lorenz; parents and by two brothers, Wilmer Reichert and Herb Reichert and one sister, Nora Libsack. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Greeley with John Langley officiating.

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 17 Jul 2007 Jean Margaret Haas, 79, of Scottsbluff, died Saturday, July 14, 2007, at the Golden Living Care Center in Scottsbluff. Her Funeral will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 18 at the First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff with the Reverend Nancy Tomlinson officiating. A Graveside Service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, July 20, at the Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Boy Scouts of American or the United Methodist Women's Circle. Friends may call at the Jolliffe Funeral Home at Scottsbluff, from Noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 17. Her obituary may be viewed at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com where condolences may be left. Jean was born May 9, 1928 in Le Mars, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Edith (Walker) Langendorfer. She graduated from the Le Mars High School with the Class of 1946. She began working for the Bell Telephone Co. for 4 years. Jean was united in marriage to Donald F. Haas, Dec. 16, 1950 in Le Mars. While Don was in the Army completing his tour of duty they lived in California. After his discharge, they moved back to Le Mars, where Don began work in the telephone construction business. They then moved near Dodge City, Kan., then to Florence, Kan., to Noblesville, Ind., to Freeport, Ill. and in 1959 back to Le Mars. In 1960 they moved to Scottsbluff and have resided here since that time. Jean worked after their sons graduated from high school as a legal secretary for the Boy Scouts and the Nebraska Panhandle Station where she retired. She was a member of the Church. Survivors include her husband Don; sons, Jim and his wife Toni of Artesia, N.M., Steven of Escondido, Calif.; grandchildren, Preston Greenwaldt and his wife Kristin, Lauren Moses and her husband Aaron, and Mary Ellen Greenwaldt all of Texas, Drew, Hayden and Zane Haas of Artesia, N.M.; and sister-in-law and her husband, Lorene and Albert Fisher of Frazee, Minn. Her parents preceded her in death.