IN THE BEGINNING
This love story started more than 60 years ago, in Woodworth North Dakota, a small farming community in Stutsman County, 90 miles East of Bismarck. In the 1950s Woodworth was home to 220 people and a small Lutheran Church, where, through confirmation classes, Ed met Janet. They both agree that a church was a solid place to start a friendship, although they didn’t start dating until a couple years later, “because he had so many other girlfriends.”
Janet went to Woodworth High School while Ed completed the 8th grade at country school. Ed used to hang out with Janet’s brother and continued to see her from time to time. Janet light heartedly reminded Ed, “while you were hanging out with my brother, I was home doing all the chores that my brother was supposed to be doing.”
“I’ll never forget one time we were there and I looked up and there she was…up on a hay rack pitching hay….I got to keep watching her, then I asked her to go out.”
Their first date was to see Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii at a movie theater in Jamestown. Ed knew right away that Janet was the one. “You did, really?” Janet asked, a little surprised. With a huge smile, Ed answered, “well pretty much.”
And that was that, it was time for the wedding. Janet remembers going to Jamestown to shop for dresses. Her grandma gave her $15, her aunt gave her $15 and her parents paid $15 - her beautiful long-sleeved lace ballgown cost a total of $45, including the veil.
On September 23, 1961, they got married at the same Lutheran Church where they first met. When Ed saw Janet walking down the aisle, he was happy and excited, “she looked beautiful.” The wedding was simple, a ceremony and a meal at the church, and not very expensive. The flowers came from Janet’s aunt’s garden, the church ladies made a meal and a family friend made a three-layer wedding cake, which cost $15. That fall there was a bad drought, although when they left the church to go to Ed’s parents' house, it started to downpour. To them it was good luck to have rain on their wedding day.
THE EARLY YEARS
In 1963, Ed's parents moved from North Dakota to Colorado. Ed wanted to move his new family to his home farm, but at that time, Ed and Janet didn’t have enough money.
Ed worked a number of different jobs to support his family; he helped build the Woodworth school, then went to work for a farmer near Jamestown, and eventually was employed by the highway department. During that time Ed and Janet were able to put together 50 acres of land, little by little they added more land where they could, even some near Ellendale. Hauling equipment and the family as they farmed each plot of land. Using a two wheeled trailer, Janet and the kids would pick rocks while Ed worked the land. Their youngest daughter was quite little at that time, so they would bundle her up in a snowsuit and lay her in the front of the trailer, having to move her when it was time to dump the rocks.
They both smile when they think of the old red pick-up they would pile into. “We couldn’t afford much, so that was the workhorse and the ‘go to town’ truck.” The kids would cram into the back seat with Melissa standing behind the front seat. “We’d give her so much grief…we’d say she was short because every time we’d hit a bump, she’d hit her head on the roof, and that’s why she didn’t grow.”
That was the same red truck they drove to Colorado for a family trip; two adults, six kids and one baby piled in for an adventure from North Dakota to Colorado. At night they would all sleep in the back of the pick-up. Even though the sleeping arrangements were snug, to Ed and Janet it meant family togetherness.
DANCING THROUGH LIFE
Although Ed and Janet will both say they have always “just been able to dance,” they did take a class in Jamestown with a few other couples. Janet remembers an older gentleman that struggled with the instruction, “he tried so hard to get those steps down and just had the hardest time, it was quite funny.” Those two months of lessons stayed with them throughout their lives…well, except for the waltz. Ed never could quite get that one.
LIFE ON THE FARM
In 1976 when Ed’s parents’ farm came up for sale again, they had saved enough money to purchase it, and moved their family to the place they would call home for the next 45 years.
1976 was another dry year, Ed remembers. They worked hard to get the crop in early that year and had an early harvest. Working together was something they always enjoyed even when they didn’t see eye to eye, because it meant they got to be together. “It is amazing what people can do when they have to.”
They worked 1500 acres of land and about 150 head of cattle. During calving season, Ed and Janet would take shifts checking on the cows. “I usually would have the midnight shift, and that was around the time our daughters had started dating. The boyfriends would pull in around midnight to drop the girls off,” Janet remembers. “Finally, I asked one of the young men if he knew anything about calves, since he was awake and at our house. There wasn’t a reason for me to have to get up also.”
Throughout their high school years the kids played sports as well as worked on the farm. Many of their neighbor’s kids didn’t get the opportunity to play sports, but it was important to Ed and Janet that the kids were involved at school. The kids would say they were worked too hard, but looking back they all admit that they appreciated it. “The kids all turned out good, with a great work ethic.”
It wasn’t all work on the farm though. When Eddie was a freshman he was selected as the best teen driver in North Dakota and given the opportunity to go to Nashville to compete nationally. Hesitant at first, Ed and Janet decided to let him go, knowing there would be extra work with the sunflowers. “There will always be work to be done, this was a neat thing for him.”
The kids are great kids and always got along… for the most part. When Steve and Jeff needed to work in the shop they would race out the door to be able to jump on the lawn mower and ride it to the shop, leaving the other behind to walk.
Melissa had a little wiener dog named Scooter. She would act like Michelle was hurting her so Scooter would run to her rescue. Although Scooter was supposed to be an outside dog, Melissa would sneak him in and allow him to sleep in her room.
When Jason was about 10 years old, he had a Welsh pony named Sandy. One day while Janet was out washing the car, she looked over and was baffled to see Jason laying under Sandy, brushing her belly. She was such a gentle pony, perfect for a young boy.
There was one time when the sheep had gotten out, frantically looking for them, Janet started to “bah” to get them to return. Ed laughed, “she was pretty good at calling for the sheep.”
With six kids and all their friends, the house was always full and welcoming. Ed and Janet were lovingly referred to as “mom and dad” by more kids than just their own.
When all the kids left home, Janet took a job in Jamestown at Newman Signs and then at Agricover. She did this in order to obtain medical insurance. Ed is so thankful for all the years of Janet’s love and support.
After 45 years, Ed and Janet moved off the farm and into town, the house is different but the same feeling of warmth fills their new home in Jamestown. The sun beams in from a big picture window, an electric fireplace keeps it cozy, Janet’s hand paintings along with pictures, quilts and keepsakes fill the rooms. Although it was hard to leave the farm after all those years, Ed and Janet have carried their memories with them. “No matter where you live your memories always live in your heart.” They are happy that a family with young kids bought the house on the farm. “It’s their turn to make memories.”
THEIR EVER-GROWING FAMILY
What started with two young kids in 1961 has grown exponentially throughout the years. Building on a foundation of love and commitment, they share six kids, 21 grandkids and 23 great-grandkids. Their excitement was evident as they spoke about spending time with their grandkids. “It’s something that we love to do, we enjoy time with our grandkids…and the littlest ones have Ed wrapped around their finger.”
Grandkids would stay for weeks at a time on the farm and ride horses with Grandpa, and they even bought a goat so the kids could practice rodeo. Ice skating and inner tube rides behind the pick-up were always a highlight of winter time on the farm. In the spring and summer, Ed would take their old blue ‘77 pick-up out in the field and let the grandkids practice driving, “Sometimes we’d check cows too.”
Eddie once told them, “no matter how tired you were, you always took the time to play cards with us in the evening.” They continue to take time to play cards, and recently their four and a half year old great-grandkid just beat grandpa in a card game and proclaimed “I am a genius!” There are always plenty of donuts to share when the grandkids come by.
LEGACY LOVE
Like any marriage, they have had their ups and downs. Together they faced one of the hardest things, losing a child. The strong foundation they built was what got them through. They leaned on each other and when times got hard for one of them, the other was always there to support and love them.
But no matter what they faced they never thought about divorce. “You just worked through your problems and looking back you don’t remember what the arguments were about, just that you got through them. No matter what, you're going to have some tough times; that's just part of life, stick it out and work through it and it will get better.”
Janet gazed into Ed’s eyes and shared her favorite things about him. “He's very faithful, and he's a hard worker, very hard worker. He worked for the highway department, a farmer and on the weekends would work at a gas station. He worked hard to support the family.” Janet laughed and added “or maybe it was to get away from me.”
With tears in his eyes, Ed looked at Janet and said, "she’s a good cook."
"You just like my cooking?!" Both laughing now.
"She always took care of things, she took care of me…you are good with everything, you are good to me."
