Clara, the Little Girl from the Prairie was born July 4, 1931 in Garfield County, Nebraska. She grew up in the prairie of central nebraska. Farm life, dust storms and the Great Depression are among the forces that shaped her childhood. She has a distinct Danish heritage, her father was born in Denmark and her maternal grandparents were both born in Denmark. These are stories of her early childhood and the changes in her life as she left her home on the prairie to become a "Career Girl". A chance meeting with a young man from Indiana led to an eventual change to "Career Mom". From that chance meeting, they have celebrated 58 anniversaries of their wedding. She raised four sons and has eight grand children and two great grand children.

Clara, the Little Girl from the Prairie

By C. Robert Wolfe

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 C. Robert Wolfe
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-6794-3

Contents

Introduction...............................................................viiChapter 1 Home on the Prairie.............................................1Chapter 2 Danish Roots....................................................13Chapter 3 Then Came the Depression Years..................................17Chapter 4 Life Lessons From the Prairie...................................25Chapter 5 Teen Years......................................................31Chapter 6 The First Days Of Her Life As A Career Girl.....................41Chapter 7 Their Destiny...................................................45Chapter 8 Now The Serious Planning Begins.................................55Chapter 9 Beginning Their Marriage Journey................................61Chapter 10 Now The Two Are Three...........................................71Chapter 11 At Home In Nebraska and At Home In Indiana......................75Chapter 12 Bob and Clara's Family Grows....................................79Chapter 13 Following The Job...............................................87Chapter 14 Career Change...................................................95Chapter 15 The Annual Return to Nebraska...................................103Chapter 16 Realities of Life...............................................107Chapter 17 Transition Years................................................109Chapter 18 The Long Road Home..............................................113Chapter 19 Marie's Retirement Years........................................115Chapter 20 New Generations.................................................119Chapter 21 New Adventures As Grandparents..................................121Chapter 22 Australia Calling...............................................125Chapter 23 Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall..............................145Chapter 24 Lisa and Kristyn................................................151Chapter 25 An Invitation to a Wedding - in Australia.......................155Chapter 26 Retirement......................................................175Chapter 27 Just The Two Of Them............................................185Chapter 28 Free to Travel..................................................191Chapter 29 Canadian Rockies................................................201Chapter 30 Home Is Where the Heart Is......................................221Chapter 31 Indomitable.....................................................227

Chapter One

Home on the Prairie

Much of that portion of the United States of America west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains is known as the Great Plains. It is also known as the prairie. Prairie lands tend to be gently rolling hills with little or no woodlands.

These are the conditions of the central part of Nebraska. Compared to the states east of the Mississippi River, much of the prairie is sparsely populated. Towns are smaller and farther apart from other towns. Lands in between are farms and ranches.

The rolling hills of the prairie have practically no trees on them. Those trees that are seen are those alongside rivers and streams, in cities and towns and usually around farm homes. Trees around a farm home are usually planted as a windbreak. Most often these windbreaks are planted on the north and west sides of the property.

These were the conditions in southern Garfield County, Nebraska when on July 4, 1931 a newborn was received in the Peter and Marie Rasmussen farm home. A neighbor, Mrs. Nelson assisted in the delivery of this child. It had rained and the doctor was bogged down in the muddy country road. When Peter was certain that Marie and the newborn were OK and Mrs. Nelson would stay with them, he proceeded to harness a mule to help get the doctor's car out of the mud. With the help of the mule, Peter delivered the doctor. The doctor examined Marie and the newborn and found everything was well. He left instructions for the coming weeks.

The baby was finally named Clara Belle Mae. She joined her brother Kenneth who was four and a half years old and sister Charlotte who was three years old. Marie wanted to name the baby Patricia, but Peter's Danish accent made it difficult to pronounce that name. Then it was considered to call her Clara Mae. Marie's youngest sister, Clara protested, saying there was already a Clara in the family. Clara Belle Mae was the compromise.

The Rasmussen household had a distinct Danish Heritage. Peter was born in Hundsland Sogen, Aarhus Amt., Denmark August 27, 1886. He immigrated to the USA in 1905 at age

Peter was the oldest child of a large family; he had ten siblings, five brothers and five sisters. His father farmed and also worked as a well digger. Peter grew up in the rural area of Aarhus Amt., near the large port city of Aarhus. Denmark is a relatively small country with a seafaring history. Land was at a premium and the prospect of a young man being able to acquire land of his own severely limited the options.

Each male citizen was conscripted at age eighteen for three years service in military service. This was usually in some distant colonial possession of Denmark. When Peter reached fifteen years of age, he spent long hours thinking of his future. He did not want a military career and prospects of becoming a land holder were most unlikely. Some of his friends had already immigrated to America in search of land and opportunity. The more he contemplated this, the more tempting it sounded to him.

He saw a poster at the post office encouraging young men to sign up for a two year period of working on a ranch in Nebraska in the middle of America. His travel expenses would be paid by his employer in exchange for a two year work agreement.

It meant leaving his family and friends and familiar environment to pursue this opportunity. After much thought he decided he would take advantage of the offer. He signed the contract and embarked on the biggest adventure of his life!

His ship was bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He had heard tales from friends about Ellis Island and he wanted nothing to do with that option. He proceeded from Halifax to Montreal where he changed trains. He entered the United State at Detroit Michigan. After processing there, he resumed his trip to the small town of Elyria, Nebraska. His employer operated a ranch near there known as the Stuttgart Ranch.

Elyria is about ten miles north of Ord, the county seat of Valley County. He found the Bethany Lutheran Church, a congregation made up almost entirely of Danish immigrants. It became his spiritual home and social center.

Marie's parents were Hans P. Hansen, and Kjistine (Oleson) Hansen. Hans P. Hansen was born in 1864 in Denmark and immigrated to Kearney County Nebraska. Kjistine Oleson, was born in 1868 in Denmark. Her family also immigrated to Kearney County Nebraska. H. P. and Kjistine were married in Hildreth, Nebraska in September 1890.

Marie was their firstborn, arriving November 5, 1892. Shortly after Marie's birth, they moved to a farm near Ord, Nebraska. They were living there when this handsome 18 year old Peter Rasmussen began attending Bethany Lutheran Church. H. P. and Kjistine were charter members of that congregation. It was known to all as the Danish Church.

Peter was invited to the Hansen home after church services and it felt good to be in a family setting again. He regularly received mail from...