John Tweeten Family John 1886-1977 & Edith (Edythe) 1888-1973
(We’ll list their full families after a short bio on the four sons of John and Edith)
John Tweeten was born July 1, 1886, at the farm home of his parents in Mt. Valley Township. He was baptized and confirmed at Winnebago Lutheran Church. He attended school at Vatna School when it was available and time could be spared from the farm chores. When telling of events from his childhood, he mentioned his mother’s soup kettle. It was a large cast-iron kettle that sat to the back of the wood burning stove in their kitchen. It always contained hot soup, available to man or child coming in from work or play. He would tell of when he was to baby-sit his younger sister Theoline, and decided to give her a fast ride in a coaster wagon down a hill. At the bottom of the hill, he turned the wagon sharply causing it to tip over and spilled Theo out on the ground. A spanking followed for him because he had not been a good baby-sitter.
Jobs and opportunity for advancement were scarce so John and brother Gilbert went to Washburn, North Dakota in 1906. This was also to pay Hans Holtan for money he had given Bendick for ocean passage to the United States. They worked for Hans for two summers, they got $28 a month when they worked for Hans Holtan. Then they first farmed north of Washburn for themselves and later moved to a farm northeast of Washburn. They each bought a quarter and lived on Gilbert’s as it had buildings.
John married Edith C. Johnson November 13, 1909, at Washburn, North Dakota. Edith was born February 25, 1888, at Spirit Lake, Iowa to Mr. and Mrs. Ole Johnson. She grew up in Iowa and at the age of 15, she moved to the Washburn area. John and Edith farmed nine miles northeast of Washburn. Weather was a big factor and tales of narrow escapes in times of blizzards and other storms were interesting. Drought and grasshoppers were a hazard. They experienced prairie fires, however, times were not all bad and the family prospered, a fine farm was built and land and property added.
For many years John had a threshing machine and with his crew, did custom threshing for neighboring farms in the area. John was active in community affairs, serving on the local School Board and on the Church Council for the Lutheran Church. He also served many years on the McLean County Insurance Board. John and Edith led a very close family life. John helped many people in the community besides his family. They made many trips to Iowa to visit their many relatives and friends and John drove himself until Edith was not able to go anymore. He must have been about 85 when they made their last trip. Edith passed away December 14, 1973, at the age of 85 at her home in Washburn that they purchased in 1946. She had been in il health a month and hospitalized at Bismarck one week in November. John continued his interest in farming up to about four years before his death. He passed away June 1977, at almost the age of 91, at the farm home of his son Kenneth. He had made his home with his son and family since leaving the hospital 20 days earlier. John and Edith are buried at Riverview Cemetery near Washburn. They had four sons:
A. Oliver Benjamin Tweeten was born January 5, 1910, at Washburn, North Dakota at his parents’ home. He spent his childhood on the farm of his parents, attending school at the local school in Sverdrup District. He married Alice Kost, October 25, 1932. They started farming on a farm near the home place. These were depression years, the grain market was 25 cents a bushel for wheat. Oliver was a cattle man and grain farmer but he also liked horses. In the early years he would take the cream and eggs to town with a milk team, also get coal from the coal mine by mule team and sleigh. The family bought the former Lawrence Olson farm and moved there in the early forties, about the time the R.E.A. built the first lines in the rural area and rural electricity came into being. This was a big step forward.
In 1945, Oliver contracted rheumatic fever and was seriously ill for quite some time. The war was coming to a close but people still had to use sugar coupons, flour stamps, and shoe stamps to obtain the items. Alice and Oliver were divorced and in 1963, Oliver married Irene Simfenderfer, they continued to live on the farm until his death from a heart ailment on September 1, 1975.
B. Ernest Homer Tweeten is the second son of John and Edith (Johnson) Tweeten. He was born on January 28, 1912, at his parents’ home near Washburn, North Dakota. He grew up with his three brothers at his home and helped with the farming activities. He has been active in farming all of his adult life. He attended country school in the Sverdrup District and was interested and active in community affairs and the Lutheran Church at Washburn. Ernest and Ruby (Nordquist) were married October 25, 1936, and owned one quarter of land with a farmstead joining his parents’ farm. They lived there and built up the farm and added more land until 1977, when they had a new house built in Washburn and moved there. Even though they are retired, Ernest spends quite a lot of time in the country helping with whatever he can do on the farm. His hobbies are wood carving, whittling, and making things with wood. He enjoys sports especially baseball, softball, and basketball.
Richard Ernest Tweeten is the son of Ernest and Ruby Tweeten. He was born March 5, 1945, at Underwood, North Dakota. He grew up and attended school in Sverdrup District and at Washburn. He married Kitty McMaster on June 24, 1964. They farmed with his parents until 1977, when the elder Tweetens’ retired and moved to Washburn. Richard and his family live on the home place and farm his parents land and his own. They are active in many community affairs.
C. Lester Vern Tweeten was born May 16, 1914, at his parents’ home near Washburn, North Dakota. He grew up on the farm with his parents and brothers, attended school at the local school, as a young man he was active in community affairs. He married Leone Nordquist of Underwood, North Dakota, January 29, 1939. They made their home with his parents John and Edith until March, and then moved to the former Oscar Nordquist farm, where they lived for eleven years. March 1950, they purchased the former Charles Nordquist, Leone’s parent’s farm, and moved to that place. Lester, as well as his brother’s, loves horses, farming with draft horses as a young man prepared him for a hobby. During a trip to Canada in 1976, he became interested in Clydesdales because they are smart and agile. He raised several and in 1984, sold one named King, to Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis for a Bud Light Commercial. Sadly, King’s career as a TV star was cut short, about eight months after he was sold he died of colic. Lester and Leone still live on the same place.
D. Harold Kenneth Tweeten is the youngest son of John and Edith Tweeten and was born December 29, 1919, at his parents’ home near Washburn, North Dakota, where he still lives. He married Martha Mehrer, September 8, 1941. He farmed with his father until they moved to their home in Washburn in 1946. They moved into the John Tweeten home and he and his family continued to live and farm the home place. Kenneth and Martha make many kind of crafts and Martha does a lot of sewing. She calls herself the “Country Lady”. Their address is R.R. #1, Box 47A, Washburn, North Dakota. Text from the Tweeten Family Book,
A. Oliver Benjamin and Alice Kost Tweeten have four daughters:
a. Fern Frances Tweeten Lelm Carley was born December 26, 1933. She married Allen Lelm in 1952. They have three sons:
(1) David Allen Lelm was born November 23, 1954, in Oklahoma.
(2) Wayne Gordon Lelm was born June 27, 1956, in Oak Dale, California.
(3) Mark Todd Lelm was born October 27, 1959, in Oak Dale, California. Mark married Tracy Lind. They have one son:
(a) Nicholas Allen Lelm
Fern and Allen were divorced and Fern married Jack Carley, 1963. They have one daughter:
(4) Jacqueline Carley was born April 9, 1964.
b. Shirley Marion Tweeten Heinle was born August 13, 1935. She married Waldenmor Heinle, July 3, 1954, at Carson City, Nevada. They live at 8262 Peter Avenue, Midway City, California. They have five children:
(1) Robert Ray Heinle was born May 9, 1955, at Sacramento, California. He married Cynthia Licudine, February 2, 1976. They have three children:
(a) David Alexander Heinle was born May 23, 1976, at Westminster, California.
(b) Melanie Faith Heinle was born February 1, 1979, at Huntington Beach, California.
(c) Brittany Lynn Heinle was born January 11, 1985.
(2) Debora K. Heinle was born October 9, 1957, at New Port Beach, California.
(3) David L. Heinle was born October 7, 1961, at Westminster, California. He married Tania Soldano November 15, 1980. They have one son:
(a) Nicholas Lee Heinle was born April 13, 1981, at Huntington Beach, California.
(4) Andreas J. Heinle was born July 18, 1963, at Westminster, California.
(5) Michael A. Heinle was born March 22, 1967, at Westminster, California.
c. Betty Lou Tweeten Schlafmann Peterson was born July 11, 1945. She married Burnete Schlafmann March 18, 1962. They are the parents of three sons:
(1) Brian Dean Schlafmann was born March 26, 1963. He married Lisa Ketterling. They have one daughter:
(2) Brent Jay Schlafmann was born March 3, 1964.
(3) Blaine Darnell Schlafmann was born September 15, 1969.
Betty and Burnete were divorced and Betty married Lee Peterson, March 29, 1974. They are the parents of two children:
(4) Jonathan Lee Peterson was born June 15, 1975, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
(5) David Seth Peterson was born October 17, 1976, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
d. Edith Katherine Tweeten Bower was born December 12, 1948, at Bismarck, North Dakota. She married James Bower, May 4, 1970. They have two daughters:
(1) Jennifer Kim Bower was born May 8, 1975, at Fountain Valley, California.
(2) Stephanie Jill Bower was born February 12, 1980, at Jamestown, North Dakota.
B. Ernest Homer Tweeten and Ruby Nordquist. Ernest and Ruby had three children:
a. Jean Joann Tweeten/Lechner, eldest child of Ernest and Ruby Nordquist/Tweeten, Washburn, North Dakota, was born September 28, 1937, at Underwood, North Dakota. She married Curtis Dale Lechner of Washburn on November 7, 1955. They now live at 1808 North 22nd Street, Bismarck, North Dakota. Curtis is an Education Coordinator at North Central Data Cooperative, Mandan, North Dakota. Jean is a full-time college student at Bismarck State College. In May, 1990, she will graduate with an A.A.S. Degree in Management. She is also employed part-time at Dan’s Super Valu as a Bakery/Deli Clerk. Jean and Curtis have two grown, married daughters and one grandson:
(1) Monte Ray Lechner, was born October 30, 1956, and passed away October 31, 1956.
(2) Teresa Jean Lechner/Fish, eldest daughter of Jean and Curtis Lechner was born July 22, 1958, at Bismarck. She married Jeffrey William Fish, Fort Hood, Texas at Bismarck June 15, 1984. They now live at 6708 Abby Road, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Teresa is an Analytical Chemist at Applied Automation in Bartlesville and is currently working on a Masters Degree in Chemistry and a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Jeffrey is a Utility Worker at National Zinc Corporation and is working toward a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering at Rogers State College in Bartlesville. They have one son:
(a) Dustin Ray Fish born August 25, 1984, at Fort Hood. He now attends kindergarten at Hoover Elementary.
(3) Tamera Sue Lechner/Eckroth, youngest daughter of Jean and Curtis Lechner was born March 7, 1967, at Bismarck. She married Michael Ernst Eckroth of Mandan, North Dakota on September 2, 1989. They now live at 2301 East University Drive, #23491, Mesa, Arizona. Tamera is Food and Beverage Controller at the Clarion Resort at Scottsdale, Arizona. Michael is an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic with America West Airlines at the Phoenix International Airport.
b. Janice Tweeten Vonderheide was the second daughter of Ernest and Ruby Tweeten granddaughter of John and Edith Tweeten. She was born April 14, 1940. Janice grew up on her parents farm and attended school in Sverdrup District, Washburn High School and Jamestown College. She married James Vanderheide August 22, 1959, and they lived in Dubuque, Iowa; Madrid, Spain; Waterloo, Iowa; and Moline, Illinois. Her husband James was employed by the John Deere Company during this time. They were active in the Baptist Church. They had two children, a girl, Susan, and a son, Scott. Janice became ill with cancer in 1988 and died April 6, 1989.
1. Susan Kay Vanderheide Hills is the daughter of Janice Tweeten Vanderheide. She was born at Dubuque, Iowa on June 3, 1961. She attended school and college and married David Hills at Waterloo in August 1984. David is assistant pastor of a Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana. They have one daughter:
(a) Nicole Susanne Hills was born January 17, 1988.
2. Scott Dean Vanderheide is the son of Janice Tweeten Vanderheide. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa on March 13, 1963. He attended schools and college and is employed with the John Andersen Accounting firm in Houston, Texas.
c. Richard Ernest Tweeten is the son of Ernest and Ruby Tweeten. He was born March 5, 1945, at Underwood, North Dakota. He grew up and attended school in Sverdrup District and at Washburn. He married Kitty McMaster on June 24, 1964. They farmed with his parents until 1977, when the elder Tweetens’ retired and moved to Washburn. Richard and his family live on the home place and farm his parents land and his own. They are active in many community affairs. They have two children:
(1) Rick Dean Tweeten is the son of Richard and Kitty Tweeten. He was born November 19, 1964, at Bismarck. He grew up and attended local schools and Bismarck Junior College and North Dakota State University. He married Laura Wacher in Washburn on November 6, 1987. They live on their farm joining his parents and grandparents and great-grandparents farms. Laura is a school teacher and teaches at Wilton, North Dakota. They are active in community affairs and are members of the Methodist Church in Washburn.
(2) Tana Rae Tweeten is the daughter of Richard and Kitty Tweeten. She was born on January 31, 1970, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota. She attended local schools and Moorhead State College and North Dakota State University. She is majoring in Interior Decorating. She is a member of the Lutheran Church and many organizations. She was a player on the State Basketball team during High School. Active in 4-H and other clubs.
C. Lester Vern Tweeten and Leone Nordquist. They had seven children:
a. Carol Marie Tweeten Nelson was born November 14, 1939, at Underwood, North Dakota. She married Ronald Nelson of Minot, North Dakota, May 27, 1961. She works for the State Education Department and lives at 1810 North 9th Street, Bismarck, North Dakota. They are divorced. They have two children:
(1) Laura Lynn Nelson was born June 7, 1967, at Minot, North Dakota.
(2) Michael Ronald Nelson was born February 28, 1971, at Minot, North Dakota and passed away March 1, 1971.
b. Clinton Orville Tweeten was born December 23, 1941, at Underwood. He married Sharyll Zingg of Turtle Lake, North Dakota. They have three children:
(1) Barbara Gail Tweeten Stute was born September 4, 1960, at Turtle Lakes, North Dakota. She married Gust Stute, February 14, 1986. They have one child:
(a) Cayce Stute was born June 23, 1986.
(2) Robert Shane Tweeten was born April 25, 1962, at Turtle Lake. He married Bonnie Reiser November 30, 1985. They have two children:
(a) Clay Robert Tweeten was born March 11, 1988, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
(b) Luke Clinton Tweeten was born June 30, 1989, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
(3) Chad Shawn Tweeten was born May 15, 1970, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota.
c. Gerald Glen Tweeten was born August 29, 1943, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota. He married Arlis Laib of Turtle Lake, North Dakota. They have five children:
(1) Rebecca Tweeten Benedict was born February 22, 1964, at Fargo, North Dakota. She married Curtis Benedict on April 21, 1984. They have one daughter:
(a) Nicole Benedict was born June 15, 1984.
(2) Gerald W. Tweeten was born March 21, 1965, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota.
(3) Troy L. Tweeten was born August 12, 1966, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota. He married Jody Anderson, November 26, 1988.
(4) Darin D. Tweeten was born July 19, 1967, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota. He married Christi Hirschkorn, July 22, 1989. They have one daughter:
(a) Jacklyn Rae Tweeten was born February 1, 1986, at Minot, North Dakota.
(5) Quana L. Tweeten was born January 7, 1971, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota.
d. Judith K. Tweeten Bonnett was born July 16, 1944, at Washburn, North Dakota. She married Marvin Bonnett, May 10, 1965, of McCluskey, North Dakota. Her husband’s last name has two “t’s”, his father’s only one, this is an error on the birth certificate. Judy and Marvin have one son:
(1) Blaine Alan Bonnett was born June 28, 1966, at Minot North Dakota.
e. James Lester Tweeten was born August 15, 1945, at Washburn, North Dakota and passed away August 20, 1945.
f. Donald Rodney Tweeten was born April 19, 1951, at Bismarck, North Dakota. He married Cheryl Anderson of Mandan, North Dakota, June 5, 1970. They have four children:
(1) Jill Jaylene Tweeten was born December 9, 1970, at Minot North Dakota.
(2) Kristi Leone Tweeten was born November 23, 1973, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
(3) Joni Marcel Tweeten was born October 23, 1979, at Bismarck, North Dakota.
(4) Kelli Raynel Tweeten was born August 13, 1981, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota.
g. David Charles Tweeten was born June 28, 1955, at Turtle Lake, North Dakota. David lives at home and is engaged in farming.
D. Harold Kenneth Tweeten and Martha Mehrer had five children:
a. Robert LeRoy Tweeten was born June 26, 1942, and was killed by a pony accident July 13, 1958.
b. Jeanette Edyth Tweeten Wagner was born March 14, 1944, and married Duane Wagner, September 15, 1964. Duane works at the “Bank of North Dakota”. His job is “Farm Loan Officer”. Jeanette works at the “Geological Survey”. She has worked there 26 years. They live at 908-29th Street, Bismarck, North Dakota. They have two children:
(1) Barbara Lynnette Wagner was born June 23, 1968. Barbara is going to college in Fargo, this is her fourth year. She is engaged to Brent Schank.
(2) Robert Duane Wagner was born September 4, 1970. He is going to college in Bismarck. He is a whiz at computers. When he is not in school, he works at “Dennys” restaurant and Sundays he is clown for the “Ground Round” restaurant.
e. John Bendick Tweeten was born October 23, 1948. He married Blanche Pfenning June 20, 1969. They were divorced and he married Debbie Fisk, February 14, 1982. John is graduating from “Mary College” in Bismarck with a degree in “Business Administration” on April 27th. Debbie works at “Mary’s College” and also goes to school there. John and Debbie live at 633 1/2 South Anderson, Bismarck, North Dakota. John and Blanche had two children:
(1) Tracy Lynn Tweeten was born April 5, 1970. Tracy goes to college in Bismarck. She has one daughter:
(a) Shelby Lynn Driscoll born July 9, 1989.
(2) Kathy Lynnel Tweeten was born December 1, 1973. Kathy is a junior in high school. Debbie had two children by her previous marriage:
(3) Robert Haas Fisk was born January 1, 1973.
(4) Paul Haas Fisk was born April 2, 1975.
John and Debbie have one child together:
(5) Jeannie Marie Tweeten was born January 24, 1984. Jeannie is in kindergarten.
f. Karen Ann Tweeten Wheeler was born September 17, 1956. She married Leon Philbrick, October 10, 1975. They were divorced and Karen married Bruce Wheeler, March 19, They both have a degree to be pastors. They have a church called “Living Waters”. They are busy with their church and family. They live at 3936 Sugar Lane East, Bloomington, Indiana 47401. They have three boys:
(1) Jason Wheeler was born January 1, 1985.
(2) Ryan Wheeler was born November 22, 1986.
(3) Derek Bruce Wheeler was born July 4, 1989.
g. Harold Kenyon Tweeten was born June 23, 1963. He is living at home with Kenneth and Martha and farms and raises pigs. He has gone two years to college in Fargo. Last winter he went to college in Minot.