| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/David-Alan-Christianson/FILE/0004text.txt
FRED F. AND ROSENA OBENAUER
Fred and Rosena Obenauer
Fred F. Obenauer was born October 26, 1894, on a farm six miles northeast of
Java, South Dakota. This is where he grew up, attended school and helped his
parents with the farming.
On January 9, 1916, Fred was united in marriage to Rosena (Rosie) Schlepp. She
was born September 12, 1895 to John J. and Helene (Doebele) Schlepp on a farm
seven miles northeast of Java, South Dakota. After their marriage, Fred and
Rosena settled on a farm northeast of Java, near his father's homestead.
When his parents moved to Eureka in 1919, Fred took over the family farm and
lived there until 1927, when he too moved to Eureka. They lived in Eureka for
about five years and then moved to a farm north of Eureka. Farming demanded
long hours and hard work. Much of the field work was done with horses. It was
not uncommon for women to help with the field work. Milking was done by hand, 20
to 25 cows, twice each day.
For fuel, corn cobs and the famous mischt (pioneer lignite) were used. Making
mischt was a chore nobody liked, especially the children. It was smelly when
wet and it was hard work to lift and stack the dried blocks. Making mischt
became a necessity, survival required it. Coal was expensive and was used to
keep the fire going during the night.
Many hardships were endured during the Depression and drought. Dust storms were
so bad the sky would be dark, obstructing the sunlight. The harvest wasn't much
either as there were as many thistles as stalks of grain and grasshoppers were
thick, eating what little grain there was. Because of lack of feed, on orders
of the government, cattle were shot, thrown into a pit and buried. We were
allowed to take one critter to butcher for our use.
After the marriage of their son, Ervin, the elder Obenauers moved to Eureka,
where milking and raising poultry was their livelihood. They retired when their
pasture and land under cultivation was taken over by West Lake Eureka.
Fred and Rosie were the parents of eight children: Ida (See Peter P. Schmidt
history), Hertha, Ervin (see Ervin Obenauer family history), Elsie, Edna,
Violet, Janice, and Leroy.
Hertha was born September 12, 1917, rural Java, married Wallace Hay in March,
1940. Wallace died at sea in the service of his country on November 13, 1942. A
son, Walter Charles Hay, was born May 31, 1942 at Eureka. Hertha and Reuben
Fischer were married May 14, 1947. Reuben was born June 10, 1917 in Campbell
County, South Dakota. A son, Kenneth Fischer, was born December 9, 1949. They
live in Hinkley, California.
Elsie was born October 27, 1921, rural Java. She married Eugene Ellis on August
23, 1943 in California. Their children are Betty Ann, Robert and Rose Marie.
Elsie and Eugene live at Frazier Park, California.
Edna was born July 17, 1923 and died May 2, 1925 at Bowdle, South Dakota.
Violet was born January 27, 1928 at Eureka. She married Ray C. Koerner at
Eureka. They have five children: Jerilynn Kay, Carole Rae, Steven Charles,
Kathleen Rose and James Craig. Ray and Violet live in Buena Park, California.
Janice was born April 17, 1931 at Eureka. She married Elmer Opp at Eureka.
Elmer was born June 17, 1926. They have five children: Karen Ann, Russell Dean,
Janet Rose, Gaylynn Marie and Alan LeRoy. They live in Pittsburg, California.
LeRoy was born November 21, 1937, rural Eureka. He married Lois Peterson on
October 30, 1966 at Aberdeen, South Dakota. They have four daughters: Tammy,
Kerry, Rosina and Daniele. They live at Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Fred died March 16, 1975, at Aberdeen. Rosena died December 8, 1970 at Eureka.
They were members of the Zion Lutheran Church at Eureka.
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