What I know of Gini"s life before we met

Gini was the second child born to Hellen and Leonard Carlson, Bruce being her older brother and Sharon her younger sister. The earliest things I can recall Gini told me was that she had lots of neighborhood friends living near her home on Pusey St. in St. Paul. She grew in a time when kids could play together in a neighborhood without much supervision. Her father was a painter and he painted with his brother Sidney. Maybe here is a good place to give a little history of Leonard and Hellen. Leonard grew up in Sumitt SD. His father Conrad had immigrated from Sweden and homesteaded land. Conrads wife Anna had migrated from Sweden and married Conrad. On this farm they raised about 6 brothers and one girl. The oldest son had gone to St.Paul Bible College for a year. I guess they decided that the ministry wasnt for them and Albin and his wife started painting for a living in St. Paul. Some years later Leonard came to the cities to paint with his older brother. Hellen was a recent graduate of SPBI but was living in the area. She was the daughter of Hubert and Pearl Duerr. Leonard and Hellen met at Simpson Memorial Church which was located then right next to the bible college. They fell in love and were married. For the first years they lived in an apartment building just south of Simpson Church. They were the caretakers of the apartment block. So this is where Gini and older brother Bruce lived the very first years. At some point the moved to their house on Pusy St. Early on Gini was very musical . She and Barb Nelson and Laura Martins began to sing as a trio they called the half notes. They were so small the had to have stools to reach the mikes. They were so good they sang at the Gospel mission and on KTIS. Gini took lessons from a famous piano teacher called Olga Olson. This formed the early piano talent Gini had at the piano. She attended the then called Wilson High.Music was her main interest and played the sax in the then famous Wilson High marching band, who always marched in the Minneapolis Aquatennial.

Back Leonard her father , he painted lots of the older houses in the midway district. His business was based on return business from satisfied customers. Leonard was a leading elder in Simpson Memorial Church.

Some time during Gini's early years she felt called to be a missionary nurse, so after High School graduation she began to study at Hamline Uni which was close by. Here she completed her two years of Nursing Prep courses. She then entered the Nursing program at Midway Hospital also close by. She lived in the nurses dorm but went to her nearby home quite often. After being capped as a RN she continued to work at Midway Hospital in the emergency dept. She loved emergency and thrived on the excitement that came to the dept. Also in about 1956 she started dating a Jim Dunlop. Gini had dated church guys through High School. But she met Jim who an educated scientist who travelled to europe etc. She said later it was stupid from the start but her friends were getting married so when Jim came along he seemed like a catch. But he was from the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints.. He said he had gone forward in a Billy Graham Meeting in France. But he was a detour from her childhood calling to be a missionary. She broke up with him and in 1956 she entered SPBI. She didnt live in the dorm but lived at home nearby and continued to work part-time at Midway hospital. SPBI was famous for their Choral Club. Mr. and Mrs. Tannehill travelled the country as leaders of this singing group. The Tannehills were also family friends of Leonard and Hellen. So Gini focus at the Bible College was the Choral Club and other singing groups. In second semester of that year in January of 57 is when I finally made the break from the farm and my parents and came as a new student to SPBI. Gini and I met at the Phy-ed class held at the Midway YMCA. I actually pushed her in during some pool horse play. Gini said in her Diary "met Orrel Steinkamp today, very nice". Being a country bumpkin I had a hard time finding and getting to my classes on time. I remember that each day arriving late to Prof Tanners "History of Western Civilization" class. As I walked into class I found and empty chair next to Gini. I found out later that Gini would put her books on the desk next to her and when I walked in she removed them and what do you know it was the only open seat. We started writing notes. Then we would end up in the library and talking for hours. The school had a rule that there was to be no dating for 6 weeks for new students. So I would drive to her church in my maroon 46 Ford and simply sit near the front as Gini was the church organist. After the 6 weeks we began dating and on May 12 at 2:30 pm in my 46 ford I proposed. Actually I had made a stupid statement to the effect that if I were to give her a ring she would only give it back as she did earlier to Jim Dunlop. This I saw hurt her deeply and I quickly proposed and she accepted. Then that summer as I was working at Bitzer piano company which belonged to my brother in law Glen Schroeder (Carrol's husband) I got a ring through a whole sale house which Glenn could use..... So after work I went over to Gini's house with it. She was home alone. Her parents had already gone up to their cabin on North Shore Lake Superior. (near Castle Danger). So I came in and announced that I wanted my class ring back. She was startled and I repeated I just wanted my class ring back. Reluctantly she handed it to me in near tears and then I said "thats so you can wear this ring"..... Well her first words were "lets drive up to the North Shore and show it to her parents." We arrived at the cabin at about 2 am. She woke her mother who simply said "I was expecting that".

We both returned to Classes at SPBI in the fall and dated the whole year (57). We planned to be married on Aug 2 the date of our engagement, But it turned out that Aug 1 was available. Sometime in late July we had a bad day. Ginis bridemaids dresses arrived and were not all the same color. But her dad stepped in and worked a solution. But the same day we had a furious fight that could have called it all off. But we overcome that.

July 31 was the rehearsal dinner hosted by my mother and sister Carrol at Carrols house.
Aug 1 was the marriage at Simpson church in the afternoon 4pm. After the reception we headed out to our married life. We stayed at the Cloverleaf motel.... about the only motel in the cities at the time. We left the next morning for the farm. My parents were still the the cities, so we made dinner and watched some tv. At about 3 pm we headed west and arrived in Mitchell SD in time for a swim in the local swimming hole.

Aug. 3 we left Mitchel and drove through the badlands and arrived in Hill City SD.
Aug 4 we drove around Mt. Rushmore
Aug 5 we went to the Cherry Hill Ski lift and from the top at the ranger station we could see 5 states.
Aug 6 we left Hill City and drove hard through the Big Horn Mts and arrived at a cabin in Yellowstone.
Aug 7 we drove around Yellowstone and left for Salt Lake city. We got as far as a little town in Utah and stayed at the Rocky Mt. Motel... During the night we heard drag races right down main st...

Aug 8. On the road by 6 am. Along the way we saw a sign Motel in Salt Lake for 4.75 a night. it had a swimming pool .
Aug 9 we toured the Mormon Tab and saw the temple. At a Mormon museum I managed to get into an arugument with a guide who turned out to be a prof at Brigham YOung Uni. I held my own for I had done a study on Mormon thought and history. we spent about 3 days there.
Aug 12 WE decided to head home and forego a planned trip to CAlifornia. We went up the mts at Rocky Mt.
national park. Then on to Greely Co. for the night.
Aug 13... drove hard and arrived at the farm in the evening. we stayed with my mom and dad for about 3 days. had great fun. They took us to Kandiyohi lake and Gini had a hard time putting worms on a hook. This amused my dad. City girl and all that..

about Aug 16 we arrived at Gini's parent in St. Paul. Stayed there about a week. Jack Creese who was supposed to vacate our apt on Breda ave was late on getting out. But finally we moved in. Leonard did a lot of painting and we had our furniture which my parents had helped us with. And we started together in Breda. WE attemded classes that year and the next summer as we were awaiting Heidi's birth I was layed off by the piano store, so I had to find work. All I could find was working with Accurate Carriers who delivered circulars door to door. I was the one who coordinated these routes. Heidi would be born while we lived here. In fact we lived there until We both graduated form SPBI . Then we were assigned by the Christian Missionary Alliance to Detroit for a 6 month Missionary Internship program. We lived in an apt in Detroit (high crime area). We had an apt about a block from Central church where we were assigned to work for 6 months. This was a program of internship before going overseas as missionaries. We enjoyed the church a lot. T.E. Thompson was the pastor..... After 6 months we returned to St. Paul and lived in the basement of Gini's parents. We were delayed in going to VN. I took some bible classes at bethel and Gini's pregnancy with Jeol further delayed us.... But 3 weeks later we got on board a prop jet and headed to VN. The remainder of this story is further told in "Swanie" I believe.... Well this has been a long entry. But when your are at it you just keep on.

Gini and her mom at the cabin North Shore

Isn't she beautiful? How could a farm boy from Renville County be so lucky. It was the Lord. Gini had had a number of male friends but before she started classes at SPBI in the fall here mom told her the Lord had assured her that someone would be coming second semester that was for her. Gini's mom never told Gini about this till just before our marriage. Yes I left the farm in early january for the second semester at SPBI......

Here we are with Heidi

This is still at Breda apartments, during the school year Gini's mom took care of Heidi every morning. Then in the afternoon if Gini was working at Midway Hospital in the emergency I would watch Heidi and while she slept would do my studies. I worked during the school year some afternoons at the piano company that Carrol's husband Glen Schroeder had in minneapolis. I refinished pianos etc. When the school year was over in May Glenn decided he didnt need me anymore. So I was pushed to find a job. Well I finally found a job with Accurate Carriers. They put circulars door to door. My job was to get the workers on their route and deliver then the circulars. Most of the workers were from Washington Ave skid row, so I had my challenges.

Newly pregnant with Heidi

Here you can get a look at the furniture of our Apt at Breda. Gin must be about 5/6 along making it about feb/march.

Gini posing in the Black Hills

While visiting Rushmore and some of the caves with stalagtites ect, we also rode the cherry hill lift to the top of a hill where we could see five states. We also went to the Passion Play that was on, A funny thing happened. One night it started to rain. We hadnt changed our watchs, and I thought it was ten pm or later so I ran out to see if my car windows were closed and guess what I ran into a women with only my shorts on. The next morning we stopped at a resturant and noticed no one around yet and then looked at the clock and it was 5;30 am. WE didnt take many pictures or I cant find any more on our honeymoon. We headed to Yellowstone and saw the geyser old faithful and stayed a night there. Then we headed to Salt Lake City. We saw a sign on the way of motel with swimming pool for only 4.95 a night. We found it and it was nice. We swam and visited the Mormon museum etc. I got into a big discussion with a morman man at the museum about mormonism which I had done considerable reading. It turned out he was a Dr. of Mormom theology at Brigham Young. Here we changed our mind about going all the way to California. We headed home by way of Rocky Mt. Nat. park. In a few days we landed at the farm. We spent 3/4 days there. DAd took us fishing to Kandiyohi. Gini had a hard time putting worms on a hook. One night there was special . It wasnt about sex but we talked and shared our dreams for missionary work etc and wound up not sleeping all night. We returned to St. Paul to Gini's parents. Our apt at Breda street wasnt vacated yet, but in few days we moved in. Mom and Dad Steinkamp gave us money to buy furniture and in a short time we had our first home together. Actually it was just a few weeks until classes for both of us started up at St. Paul Bible College.

Trying to get a little tan

There was a little lake near by. Gini also is pictured at this site in this blog

The great western horseman

When I tried to get him in the barn I almost got knocked off. The next day we headed for the Black Hills

The beginning of our honeymoon

This motel was located at the first cloverleaf in the twin cities. Today it is where 494 and 35 W intersect. This is just before we headed out toward the farm. We got there and mom and dad Steinkamp had not returned from the wedding yet. We had a cool drink and headed west. It was real hot when we crossed the Minn and SD border. We got as far a Mitchell SD. We got a motel and the owner said there was a nice place to swim a few miles away.
The owner had some horses and wanted us to ride a horse so I did.

What lucky man am I

It seems like yesterday. I am going to post a number of pictures taken on our honeymoon

Having your cake and eating it to

Now follows a number of phots from the wedding that are slides rather than the formal wedding pictures

At the farm

This was taken at the farm on the day the Middle Creek ladies had a bridal shower for Gini. That is Mary Schroeder next to me and then Barbara Schroeder and finally sharon Carlson.

Walter and Stella with the grandkids

This was taken just before we left for VN.

A better picture of Hubert and Pearl Duerr

Walt and Stell

Another photo of Walter and Stella taken at the farm not long before Gini and I went to Viet Nam

Hub

Another picture of Gini's grandfather Hubert Duerr

Walter and Estella Steinkamp

My parents

Hubert and Pearl (Harrington) Duerr

These are the parents of Hellen (Duerr) Carlson. This would be Gini's grandparents

Gustaf and Amand (From) Carlson

This Gini's Grandparents and the parents of Leonard Carlson

Hellen and Leonard Carlson

Gini's parents taken in their home. Not sure of the date

My mother a snapshot at the co. fair

Fred and Louisa's family

Top row: Lena married Alex Barber and lived near Echo till they moved to Los Angles. When she visited the farm when I was about 10/11 she became sick and died in Redwood Falls. She was a member of the "Friends" and didnt believe in flowers at the funeral. My dad sent flowers but the refused them

Next is Daniel. He married emma Streech, they eventually moved to North Sacromento. When my Dad's mother Louisa died in 1919, my Dad rented out the farm a man named Tesch and went and worked in the Railroad yards where Dan worked in North Sacromento. While there he met my mom and they became engaged the day before he left for the farm. Then in October ? my mom came by train from CA to Minot ND. There they were married by a judge murray. Mom's sister and her husband Olaf lived near Kenmare ND and so the newlyweds had a little reception there. My dad became sick. Mom's teased her that getting married made walter sick. They then returned Dawson MN by train where Dad had left his car. They then proceeded to the farm and lived there for decades

Next is Sara: She married a single German speaking pastor who came to pastor the German Methodist Episcopal church that used to be south west of the farm place. They were married at the farm. Louisa was all into this marriage and they had a huge feast. Sara and husband a Mr. Jahn then moved to another church in the Oregon area.

Next is William. He was the oldest son. He married one Mary Arndt. They lived on farms around the Middle Creek area. In old age they moved to Excelsior until they passed away. My uncle will traveled with our family in 1940 when we drove

when we drove to CA to North Sacromento to visit Uncle Dan's family. I was 6 years old.

Second Row:

First is Fred Senior, my grandfather

Second is Walter my Father

Third is Clara.... she married a Gus Bratsch. She was a little slow and when she married Gus Bratsch he was much older. Louisa was against it and threatened to not attend the wedding. They were never close from that day and my father had little to do with the Bratschs.

Next is Fred Jr. He married Edith Schmid. Roland was his son.

Finally there is Louisa, Fred Sr. Wife and my fathers mother