Marking National Parents Day

In honor of National Parents’ Day on July 24, our residents shared photos and memories of their parents. It’s so interesting to learn more about their background and the wonderful parents who raised them.

Bonnie Anglewicz

Parents’ names: Roy & Mickey Overton

My Mom and Dad were very upbeat and loved by all who knew them! Mom was the serious one, and my Dad was always funny and had a smile on his face as he regaled a “funny” or a joke. They always held hands, and people could always tell it was Mickey and Roy as they both had white hair, and much to Mom’s dismay they were the same height. In later years, they would still go out holding hands (even in Walmart) They were wonderful parents…hee-hee look how I turned out)

Shari Rolph

Parents’ names: Agnes & Louis Heist

Lou had a huge garden. He raised tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and many other vegetables in huge quantities. Agnes preserved them, freezing and canning. They filled their basement pantry and shared the surplus with many others.

Janet Elliott

Parents’ names: John & Martha Scherbenske

October 18, 1931 Rural Tuttle, North Dakota

After the wedding ceremony, the reception was held at the groom’s parents’ house. The tables were set up outside and the neighbor girls, ages 10-14, provided table service. The menu included: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, German hot dishes, vegetables and wedding cake. The men were served first, followed by the children, and finally the women. Clean up was done by everyone.

Evelyn Bergmann

Parents’ names: Hugh & Velma Bowman

When my Dad was four, his parents went to Oklahoma and lived in a sod house for a while, until they built a house. I think they were some of the people who got free land when they homesteaded there. Eventually, they moved to Kansas. My Dad was a farmer like his Dad. But, after two generations, none of the children were into farming.

Mary Wilmoth

Parents’ names: William & Julia Uttley

William and Julia were married on July 12, 1916 and had two sons in 1917 and 1919. When the boys were in their teens my parents had a second family of three: My sister in 1921, then I was born in 1924 and another boy born on their 20th wedding anniversary, 7/12/1936. We were very poor in the depression years, but it was amazing how GOD took care of us and met our needs. I am RICH in things that money can’t buy.

Bonnie Morgan

Parents’ names: Harold & Ethel Swickhamer

When Daddy bought his new Farm All Tractor, the whole family was so excited. We lived on a farm with no electricity and the tractor even had lights on it to use at night.

Ed Reynolds

Parents’ names: Harold & Ruby Reynolds

Harold Edward Reynolds and Ruby Lorene Merritt were high school sweethearts and married right after graduation. They had three children, Harold “Ed” Reynolds, Margery Belle Reynolds and Lara Lee Reynolds.

Janice Kelly

Parents’ names: Roy & Julia Polfer

My parents were high school sweethearts. They married on November 29, 1933 and celebrated 57 years of marital bliss! Early in their marriage they were young entrepreneurs and operated a service station and the Night Hawk Café at the current junction of K-7 and 83rd Street in Lenexa. When they started their family, Roy traded the business for his first farm, which he operated until 1979. He retired after 50 years of farming in Johnson County.

Oleta Garvic

Parents’ names: Auddie & Paul Huetis

Grandparents’ names: Van & Carrie Parmer

Great Grandfather’s name: Martin Van Parmer

My great grandfather, Martin Van Parmer (nicknamed Tobe) was a Texas Ranger and fought for Texas independence from Mexico. He lived with my grandparents the last six years of his life. He was born in 1832 and mustered in as a lieutenant to Confederate service in 1861.  His autobiography does not mention any battles, only defending settlers against Indian raiding parties.

I was raised by my grandparents following the death of my mother when I was six months old. I would visit my father and his family often in town but lived with my grandparents and aunts on a stock farm in the country, Eastland Co., Texas. My grandmother was a good cook! We had biscuits twice a day, for breakfast and dinner. She taught all her girls to cook. My grandfather drove a Ford and we went into town (10 miles) four times a week; Sunday morning and evening for church, Wednesday evening for prayer meeting and Saturday for shopping. My grandfather paid me $1.00 per day to pick cotton. One day there was a baby rattle snake at the foot of the cotton stalk!