File:1972 - Marie Streich Jones memories.jpg

source: RN Baur estate

25th Anniversary Notes by Marie Jones.

It is with great pleasure that I share the program for your 25th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to you Ralph, and to you Lyla.

I've been asked to share a story or two about Ralph with you today, and really, this is long overdue!

Your wife and your children really never heard of your life B.L. ( oh, that's “before Lyla”). Do you know why this has happened? There really was no one to tell the story without brothers or sisters to fill in those good times.

Now that's precisely the link - Our families were always very close in feeling and in mileage since you lived in New Ulm and we in Sanborn. We saw you often. We also were the only cousins on the Baur side of the family for quite a number of years so that too might account for the closeness.

Our mothers were friends, and later sisters-in-law. Another strong link.But most of all, you had no brothers or sisters and we Streichs had no brother. So it really was a natural. We've always felt like your sisters, Ralph. There's Ruth, Norma, Margaret, Elly and myself.

Our summer vacations usually dove-tailed every year. The first I can remember was at Cedar Mills when you were about 7.

Aunt Clara often practiced on the church pipe organ and Ralph and I supplied the power by pumping up the bellows. It took both of us! We learned that we could pump the organ up extra full, duck out the door a few feet away, run around the outside of the church, and be back in time to continue Aunt Clara's hymn without her realizing we were gone from our post.

A favorite vacation spot was Grandpa and Grandma Baur's home at Fort Ridgely where we usually spent two weeks of vacation time together.

Already at age 9, we knew you'd make a fine minister. Our favorite haunt was the church where we held “services.” You, delivering the sermon and I, playing the organ and being the congregation. We loved to sing. Even Spiffy joined in.

At bedtime we dutifully said goodnight to Grandpa Baur in his study. This was a special ceremony since we weren't allowed in the study lest we disturb him. The ceremony consisted of a good night kiss which was rewarded with a lemon drop from the candy sack he kept in his top desk drawer. Because Grandpa was fully bearded, this was a difficult maneuver. One night Ralph made a special trip downstairs just for the lemon drop.

Favorite foods were made by Grandma and the Tantes. We had buttered macaroni, spaetzle, sour lettuce with bacon specks, German potato salad, string beans with sweet-sour dressing and bacon specs, and even lettuce with sour milk. We liked all these things and the apple-kuchen, apple dumplings, apple butter, and apple pancakes. The orchard was productive, giving us good foods, lots to eat “raw”, and a place to hide in our games of hide and seek.

Then came the summer your mother wanted you to take German confirmation lessons from Grandpa. We were considerably older by then, playing less and reading more. The hammock was a good place for that.

The lessons were given in Grandpa's study and “all” was done in German. It was rather fun for me since I was just a listener and my German wasn't fluent enough to pass Grandpa's ears. I remember telling you an answer in English to relay to Grandpa in German.

Confirmation Day came for both of us on the same Palm Sunday in 1936. After services in Sanborn, my dad took us to your house at New Ulm for the afternoon and dinner. In the evening Aunt Clara made a delicious meal in our honor. The centerpiece was a lamb cake with coconut fleece made by the lady downstairs.

You sometimes vacation at our house too. We got into trouble the evening we played football with a slipper in our living room. When I returned the kick I lost my balance and tipped over Mom's big fern. I'm sure your involvement saved me from the spanking I deserved. The fern looked sick with only two leaves remaining.

There were other summers we were at Uncle Ted Baur’s farm. Polly and Dolly, the big buckskin horses were the main attraction. You loved to ride and did everything you possibly could on the horse. When we herded cows I was on foot (with my book) and you were on horseback. At threshing time you managed to be out with the machinery and men, but I got to stay in with the dishes and lunch making. We also pulled mustard out of the flax field. What long rows that 80 acres had!

Soon it was graduation time from high school, from college, and then graduation from Thiensville - the Seminary for you.

I attended your graduation and remember the lusty singing the seminary men expounded. I heard that same kind of singing again at Kathryn and Paul's wedding reception.

Thanksgiving at Broken Bow was a big moment. We had a fine service with the festive music played by a student home for the holiday from DMLC. That student now teaches at the college and is still a close friend of the Baur family. We also went to the Hirsch farm for the turkey dinner that day.

I have only two recollections of Moltke, the first - longer ago than I wish to relate - was an occasion when Grandpa Baur preached for Mission Festival there and I was there with Grandpa and Grandma. The Pastor in charge was telling the other ministers about the plight of having to dig a new well and not being able to find water. The ministers each tried the “divining stick” looking for water. It was “Papa Albrecht” who made the stick bend, detecting water in the cemetery.

The other recollections of Moltke took place 25 years ago when I attended your wedding. It was a wonderful ceremony, the reception was great, and the after-dinner speeches much fun. It repeated itself in Kathryn’s wedding which was also tremendous. I took special note of all the things pertinent to a wedding since I planned to be married the next summer.

The following June, Pastor Ralph Baur tied the knot when I and Kenneth were married. What a hot evening that was - even a drop of sweat hung from the groom's nose during the service.

Kathryn and Paul - relax! Have a good time. Your Dad's knots stay tied for at least 24 years. We know!

Kathryn made it to my wedding being the youngest in attendance, and that's why we just had to come to her wedding. Don't aunts usually attend?

Now, for the Baur side of the family. I wish to congratulate each of you couples - the Jauses, the Baurs, and the Scharrers! May you have God's richest blessings for many more years of happy wedded life together.

God bless you all on this special day,

May He always be with you along life's way,

And may all your hopes and the things you have planned,

Be blessed by the touch of God's loving hand.

Thank you

Marie Jones

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