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- [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com).
Helen Kay Dockter Just
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Birth: Oct. 4, 1919
McIntosh County
North Dakota, USA
Death: Aug. 11, 2010, USA
Born October 4th, 1919, Helene Kay (Dockter) Just was the 2nd oldest of ten children born to Heinrich and Katharina (Meidinger) Dockter in McIntosh County, North Dakota.
Birth took place on the rural Zeeland, ND, homestead of her emigrant grandmother, Katharina Heine Dockter. By the time Helene's grandmother, Katharina Heine, married Jacob Dockter in 1893, she held three quarters of land in her own name along Beaver Creek in McIntosh County, ND. In 1918, Katharina and Jacob Dockter retired to Linton, Emmons County, 30 miles north and west of the homestead so their first born son, Heinrich, and his wife, Katharina Meidinger, could have their own home and acreage. Such was the custom among Germans from Russia in those first decades of the 20th century.
Helene was baptized on 11/21/1919 at rural St. Andrew's Lutheran Church along Beaver Creek. St. Andrew's was organized in 1893 by 10 families including Helene's grandparents after they arrived in Dakota Territory from South Russia. Helene's ancestors migrated to South Russia - beginning in 1804 - from rural areas north of Stuttgart and west of the Rhine River in Central Europe. Her ancestors began their migration to Dakota Territory in 1880.
As the oldest daughter, Helene (by now anglicized to Helen) was her mother's right hand, assuming farmyard and household duties at a very early age. Early childhood memories include mixing and punching dough, shaping and baking loaves of bread by age seven; caring for livestock, milking cows, gathering eggs, butchering chickens, gardening, canning, laundry, preparing meals and caring for baby brothers and sisters by the time she was the age of nine so that her mother, Katharina, could work in the fields beside Helen's father.
Helen attended eight grades at rural Strasburg Township School. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Andrew's on June 18, 1933. The rite of confirmation was considered a major step into adulthood in that era. For Helen and her peers, it was rare to have the opportunity to attend high school.
Helen continued to serve as her mother's right hand until her marriage to Julius Andreas Just, in November, 1939. When asked about her family's welfare during the Great Depression, Helene replied, "We always lived frugally, and were self supporting. We children didn't really know there was a depression until my older brother went to work with the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and I became eligible to learn to sew through a program funded by the National Recovery Act (NRA)."
Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Missouri River, meandered through Helen's grandmother's homestead. One part of her homestead acreage was a Timber Culture claim, involving an agreement to plant hundreds of trees provided by the government. Wisely, her grandmother planted her trees along the Beaver Creek. Decades later, that area was the site of many weekend community gatherings; picnics, baseball games, swimming, singing and more. Helene's childhood and young adulthood was punctuated by a vibrant social life in her very backyard. Other social gatherings included barn dances and something called "names day" parties.
Helen was 20-yrs-old when she married 25-yr-old Julius Just. They began their life together on a farm rented from Julius' stepfather, not far from Helen's parents. Two sons, Donald and Myron, were born within two years, followed by a daughter, Marcella. In April 1944, Helen and Julius followed his older brothers, Reinhold and Ephraim, and moved the family two counties east to a farm ½ mile north of Berlin in LaMoure County, ND.
The idea that the acreage they worked was in their name and a willingness to work long, hard hours paid off in wonderful ways. By late 1949, they had replaced many farm buildings and remodeled the farm house to include electricity and running water. With the children, they planted rows of trees around the farmstead and along the fields to slow soil erosion. Fruit trees, along with produce from Helen's large vegetable gardens, provided a cellar full of canned food to sustain the family. Feeding her family and a hired man or two seemed effortless to those watching Helen. She was a gifted cook and a gracious host. Over the years Helen and Julius channeled their hard work into twice the acreage and a large sheep operation.
Julius and Helen raised their five children on that rural Berlin farm, sent them to Berlin Grade School, LaMoure High School and helped them with their post-secondary pursuits. Julius and Helen were denied a high school education, but they happily saw their children pursue advanced degrees. Julius and Helen were active members of the local Farmers Union organization and Trinity Lutheran Church. Helen was a long time member of the Berlin Birthday Club and Trinity Lutheran's Naomi Circle.
After 25 years on their acreage, Helen and Julius turned the farm over to their son, Myron and daughter-in-law Ruth. They spent the next 25 years on the north edge of Berlin where they continued to raise large vegetable and flower gardens, and hosted visits from their children and grandchildren, extended family and friends, and traveled across the US and Europe.
Marriage to Julius Just continued for 63 years until his death in December of 2002. Since May of 2003, Helen has resided at Rosewood Court, LaMoure, ND. The Berlin Just Farm is currently managed by their grandson, Christof, wife Kelli and children, Karly, Katrina and Cole. Nothing could make Helen and Julius happier than the knowledge that their hard work and achievement continues to a third and fourth generation.
Helen lived a life of humility and kindness. She never knew an enemy and modeled grace and understanding to all who crossed her path. She leaves a grateful family:
Children: Don and Laura Just, Myron and Ruth Just, Marcella and Bob Ludwig, Walt and Pat Just, Carol Just. Numerous Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren, Sister: Laverna (Cliff) Kaseman, Brothers: Alfred (Elaine) Dockter and Harry (Agnes) Dockter. Many loving nieces and nephews.
Family links:
Parents:
Henry A Dockter (1893 - 1974)
Katherina Meidinger Dockter (1897 - 1965)
Spouse:
Julius Andreas Just (1914 - 2002)
Siblings:
Helen Kay Dockter Just (1919 - 2010)
Otto Julius Dockter (1921 - 1945)*
Otto Julius Dockter (1921 - 1945)*
Melvin Henry Dockter (1922 - 1992)*
Viola Dockter Aipperspach (1924 - 2004)*
Reuben Dockter (1926 - 1984)*
Alfred Dockter (1928 - 2013)*
Walter Richard Dockter (1933 - 1944)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Berlin Cemetery
Berlin
LaMoure County
North Dakota, USA
Created by: Karen & Bob
Record added: Feb 21, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 125463954
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1919 - 2010 (90 years)