I'm Mary from South Dakota. I've lived in South Dakota almost all my life, almost 90 years. It's home for me.
My dad and mom came here from Holland, but my brothers and sisters and I were born here. I grew up here. I went to school here and taught school here.
I got married here, and raised eleven kids here. I'm a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Photo: Sandy Peters
My dad, Emil Brakke, came over from Holland. He left behind his parents, two brothers, and a sister. He didn't come alone though. He came over with two friends.
He landed in Iowa first, and met and married Mom there. He was 25 at the time. I don't know how old she was, but I think she was two years older than he was.
She came from Holland, too, but she had come over with her folks when she was a child. She was like six years old when her mother died and some folks adapted her, or rather just took her into their home.
Photo from Mary's photo album
Mom and Dad's wedding
Dad grew up in Holland and came to the States as a young man. Here are two of my photos of Dad at that time.
In the first one, he's in Holland. He's the one on the right. The one on the left is his brother, Theo Brakke, who stayed in Holland.
The second photo shows Dad arriving in the States. He's on the left in this photo.
Photos from Mary's photo album
Recent Comments