Part 3, The Trip to the Family Reunion

September 17, 2011September 17, 2011 AuntGem1 Comment

Part of the fun of going to a family reunion is learning things about your parents you never knew before.

For instance, my dad once saved a school bus full of children from near tragedy. Or so his side of the story went.

My aunt Audrey was reminiscing about the time the school bus almost went into a ditch on the side of the country road. She was just six, in her first year of school, and Dad was in his freshman or sophomore year.

Here’s what the two agree on: The road was in bad shape and the bus nearly went into a steep ditch. The bus driver slammed on the brakes to prevent the accident. That’s when the accounts start to diverge.

My aunt says she was trembling at the back of the bus, scared of what was to her a huge jump down to the ground. Dad, for his part, says he quickly and efficiently ran to the back of the bus, opened the back door, ushered all the kids off (saving all their lives in the process), then rushed up the road to the nearest home where he procured two blocks and raced back to the bus to chock up the tires so the poor driver could finally take his foot off the brakes. And then he saved the driver.

When cousin Tim and I heard that story we decided we had to find the exact spot this took place so we could one day place a historical marker. We drove out past the family farm and there was the ditch:

This was the ditch where Dad saved a bus full of children. — It would have been a terrible accident if the schoolbus had plunged into this ditch.

Fortunately, everyone lived happily ever after.

That ditch doesn't look as steep from this angle. Back then Dad and Aunt Audrey were happy to be alive.

Read more about the family reunion:
Part 1
Part 2

Family

Family Reunion, part 2

September 15, 2011September 7, 2015 AuntGem3 Comments

Century Farm sign at the Family Farm in Minnesota — The farm has been in the family since 1889.

A few years back, in 1989 to be precise, the Nobles County, Minnesota, paper featured articles about century-old farms in their area. Our family farm was one of them. (Picture of the farmhouse in the post below, about the reunion.) Today my cousin John and his family live and work on the farm, keeping in the family for another generation.

the family farm — A scene from the farm …

Another scene from the Rust family farm — Looking out from the farm house at the Rust family farm

Beauty · Family · Travel

Home from the family reunion

September 13, 2011 AuntGem2 Comments

Last week we (Mom, Dad and I) spent five days with folks I hardly ever see – my Dad’s three sisters and three brothers. It was time for the Rust Family Reunion.

Dad, his brothers and sisters — All seven of Freda and Herman Rust's kids, gathered at the official reunion dinner at the Royal Fork Buffet in Sioux Falls. Dad's at back left, looking off camera.

We traveled 1,361 miles to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to meet up with everyone. Home base was the Best Western – actually a very lovely place to stay. They let us make our own waffles at the continental breakfast bar.

One morning Aunt Ann and Uncle Bob, two enthusiastic amateur photographers, got up early to catch the morning light – the “golden hour,” as photographers call it. I decided, why not? and trekked to Sioux Falls with them. I’m glad I went.

Why Sioux Falls? Since the majority of Dad’s brothers and sisters still live within a day’s drive of Sioux Falls, that’s where they meet. And since it’s been 25 years since I’ve seen most of these people, I decided to come too.

I got reacquainted with all my aunts and uncles, and several of my cousins, too, including my cousins John and Laura. We drove out to the Rust family farmhouse outside Adrian, Minnesota, about 45-50 minutes from Sioux Falls. John now lives there with his family, on the farmstead the Rusts bought in 1889.

The family farmhouse — The Rust family farmhouse, where Dad was born during a January snowstorm.

There was more sightseeing … here’s the gravestone for the first Rust to come over from Germany, Harm Rust:

Gravestone for Harm Rust — The old gravesite where Harm Rust is buried.

It’s late, so I’ll stop now and break this into multiple posts. But one thing I know: I won’t let another 25 years go by before I see my kith and kin again.