It was a cool night in November 1944; just another Saturday night in Freeman, South Dakota. A young man named Gideon, and a young lady named Mabel Alice met, and it was love at first sight. Her red hair and freckles caught his eye, but that gold tooth took him over the hill.
I love the story of Mom's gold tooth, not so much how she broke it, but when she had it fixed. It was at the dentist's office that my grandmothers met: Grandma Tschetter, and Grandma Bertsch. I don't believe Grandma Bertsch said anything, but she had this thought she shared later, "That pretty red headed girl would make a good wife for my Gideon." She never knew she was a prophet!.
My dad always knew what he wanted, and once he did his shopping, the next thing to do was the buying. He met mom in November, and by February they were Mr. and Mrs Gideon Bertsch, and 9 months and 11 days later they were mom and dad.
Let me tell you about their wedding day:
February 2nd, 1945 was a special day. The fatted calf had been butchered, and the cooks were selected, for that evening the wedding supper would be served. But first the wedding! There were three pastors who took part in the ceremony: Pastor Koren, Pastor Platte, and Rev. D.W.Tschetter, who was also the father of the bride! I often wondered why there were three pastors. I guess they wanted to tie a tight knot. The knot was tight they were married for 57 years, and 9 months. They had 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and many great, and great-great grandchildren. (Mom passed away Oct. 30, 2002.)
The wedding supper was braised beef, sauerkraut, and potatoes. That's all I was told (I wasn't there), but I would suppose there were fresh buns, and wedding cake. The cooks were two women, both named Mary. It was a grand time with family and friends, and I think there were approximately one hundred and twenty five guests.
My Dad's dad had a rule that he wouldn't sign a wedding license for a son. They had to be twenty one. Well he did break the rule with dad! Dad would turn 21 in May, and Mom in August.
My dad always said that the 2nd of February was always nice weather, and he was right again. But because it was so nice on their wedding day, they spent their honeymoon scraping mud off the floors at Grandpa Tschetter's house.
My dad started celebrating Valentine's Day in 1945, and hasn't stopped yet! I'm thankful that God gave me Mabel and Gideon for my mom and dad. They have been a blessing to me.
I love you, Dad!
I love the story of Mom's gold tooth, not so much how she broke it, but when she had it fixed. It was at the dentist's office that my grandmothers met: Grandma Tschetter, and Grandma Bertsch. I don't believe Grandma Bertsch said anything, but she had this thought she shared later, "That pretty red headed girl would make a good wife for my Gideon." She never knew she was a prophet!.
My dad always knew what he wanted, and once he did his shopping, the next thing to do was the buying. He met mom in November, and by February they were Mr. and Mrs Gideon Bertsch, and 9 months and 11 days later they were mom and dad.
Let me tell you about their wedding day:
February 2nd, 1945 was a special day. The fatted calf had been butchered, and the cooks were selected, for that evening the wedding supper would be served. But first the wedding! There were three pastors who took part in the ceremony: Pastor Koren, Pastor Platte, and Rev. D.W.Tschetter, who was also the father of the bride! I often wondered why there were three pastors. I guess they wanted to tie a tight knot. The knot was tight they were married for 57 years, and 9 months. They had 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and many great, and great-great grandchildren. (Mom passed away Oct. 30, 2002.)
The wedding supper was braised beef, sauerkraut, and potatoes. That's all I was told (I wasn't there), but I would suppose there were fresh buns, and wedding cake. The cooks were two women, both named Mary. It was a grand time with family and friends, and I think there were approximately one hundred and twenty five guests.
My Dad's dad had a rule that he wouldn't sign a wedding license for a son. They had to be twenty one. Well he did break the rule with dad! Dad would turn 21 in May, and Mom in August.
My dad always said that the 2nd of February was always nice weather, and he was right again. But because it was so nice on their wedding day, they spent their honeymoon scraping mud off the floors at Grandpa Tschetter's house.
My dad started celebrating Valentine's Day in 1945, and hasn't stopped yet! I'm thankful that God gave me Mabel and Gideon for my mom and dad. They have been a blessing to me.
I love you, Dad!
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