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- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/David-Alan-Christianson/FILE/0004text.txt
ANDREW AND EMMA (KREIN) STOEBNER Andrew Stoebner Emma Stoebner Andrew Stoebner is well remembered as one of the most active pioneers of the Eureka community. He was born on the family homestead in McPherson County on April 13, 1897 to Heinrich and Christina (Spitzer) Stoebner. Parents were born in Kassel, Russia and came to the U.S.A. in 1884. In 1885 they settled on a farm eight miles east of Eureka. Sisters and brothers of Andrew are: August, Henry, Adam, Magdalena, Christina, Albina, Lydia and Martha. All are deceased with several others dying in infancy. Andrew attended rural school and Eureka Lutheran College. He married Emma Krein on November 18, 1919. They farmed near Eureka from 1920 to 1927 before moving to Eureka where he became very active in public and civic affairs. He served on the Eureka School Board in the 30's, was a member of the City Council, city baseball manager, 50 year member of the Masonic Temple, State Representative 1952-56, State Senator 1961-64, manager of N. W. G. F. Insurance Company 1927-40, associated with the Eureka State Bank and an insurance salesman until his retirement in 1965. They were members of the Eureka Reformed Church. Andrew passed away February 19, 1979. Emma (Krein) Stoebner was the eighth of fourteen children born to Margaretha (Mehlhaff) Krein and Friederich Krein. The Krein's emigrated from Russia to Eureka in 1885. Emma was born May 4, 1898 in the sod house which they had built on their homestead. It was located about eight miles east and two miles south of Eureka. Life was very hard on the prairie and at a very young age she was helping to herd cattle, milk cows, and doing other farm chores. During her teens she worked with a hand plow, did headering and threshing with horse power, pitched grain on a stack with the threshing crew, and so on. She helped with all kinds of farm work. As a twelve year old she could be left at home to care for the younger children, do the cooking, sew on her mother's machine, wash the clothes by hand, while her parents and the elder children worked in the fields. Sisters and brothers of Emma were: Edward, Julius, Theodore, Maria, Christina, Paulina, Helen, all deceased, Margaretha, Martha, Emil, Fred. Albert died in infancy. One day that Emma recalls with special fondness is her wedding day, November 18, 1919. The groom, Andrew Stoebner, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Heinrich Stoebner left their farm to meet the wedding party at Emma's home in a new black Dort automobile with side curtains. There was so much snow on the road the car became stuck. Andrew had to return to the farm for a team of horses and bobsled. From Emma's home the wedding party and guests traveled in two Ford touring cars, which were higher from the ground than the Dort. Traveling with the bride, the groom, and the Stoebner parents were the best man and matron of honor, Mr. and Mrs. August Stoebner, parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Friederich Krein, and brother of the bride, Mr. Julius Krein. The snow hampered their travel so much that they arrived at their destination, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Friederich Kline in Eureka, three hours later than expected. When the time came to perform the ceremony it was discovered that Andrew had left the marriage license at home on the farm. Since it was impossible to travel the roads again, Mr. Karl Volander of the Eureka State Bank was kind enough to issue a duplicate and the Reverend Gustav Zenk pronounced them man and wife. On June 21, 1923 the first of three sons arrived and was named Clarence Eugene. He married Patsy Ruth Sjobom. Their children are Kip Andrew, Kerry Ruth, Beth Ann, and Sue Christina. Clarence earned a B.S. degree in Business and Engineering at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. He sold insurance and raised grapes in their vineyard at Lodi, California. Clarence passed away suddenly, following a short illness on November 11, 1979. March 19, 1927 brought a second son, Benjamin Elmer, who married Mary Jane McCarthy. Their children are: Benjamin, Edward, Margaret Emma, and twins Elizabeth and Andrew. Ben earned a doctoral degree in Optometry at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon. Ben and family reside in Tehachapi, California where he is in private practice. Their family was complete with the arrival of Darrold Andrew who was born August 16, 1935. He married Carolyn Jensen. Their children are Andrew Alan, Charles Robert, and Sarah Katherine. Darrold earned a doctoral degree in medicine from Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Holding the rank of Colonel, he retired in January of 1984, following twenty-two years of service in the United States Air Force. He resides in San Antonio, Texas. The spitting image of his grandpa Clarence is Clayton Valentine Worfolk, son of Beth Ann Stoebner Worfolk and the first great grandchild of Emma and Andrew. Emma was a staunch supporter of several community organizations. A lifelong member of the Eureka Reformed Church, she is a charter member of the Ladies Aid. She is also a charter member of the Eureka Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, the Royal Neighbor, Eastern Star and the Eureka Garden Club. Her formal education in the farm school was minimal, however, she had a great desire to learn and taught herself through reading the Bible, newspapers, and catalogs at home. She was able to broaden her understanding of people and places in the state of South Dakota and the nation through travel. During the eight years that Andrew served as representative and then as senator in the state legislature Emma's good nature and excellent cooking endeared her to many. Through the years she has renewed these friendships during the many auto trips she and Andrew took from coast to coast and Alaska, to visit sons and families. At the age of eighty-six Emma is thankful to have been blessed with good health and a good life. She extends her best wishes to the people of the community and the city of Eureka on the occasion of its one hundredth birthday.
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1897 - 1979 (81 years)
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