Henry Berns and Edna Heiden began dating while he was working on the
Dixon Rd. farm of her parents,
William Carl and Mary
(Rambow) Heiden,
during the fall of 1916. He bought a new carriage robe for his buggy
and took her to the basketball game at
Dundee High School for their
first date.
The two were married May 11, 1918, in
St
Matthew Lutheran Church by
the Rev. Carl Kaminska. Her mother’s brother and sister, William and
Minnie Rambow, were the witnesses.
A family dinner will be served Sunday to note the golden wedding
anniversary at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Hall, Ida.
Walter and
Lavern Berns of Monroe, Mrs. Richard (Linda) Miller of
Birmingham, Mrs. Dale (Laura) Shoemaker of Manistee and Mrs. Dennis
(Eva) McCarthy of Sterling, Ill., their five children, are making
the plans. There are 17 grand-children and 2 great-grandchildren.
Henry’s sister, Mrs. Lavern (Minnie) Hall, shares the Berns home.
Carl, Leo, Lester, Arthur and
William Frank Heiden; the Misses Helen and
Norma "Jeanie" Heiden and Mrs. William (Wilma) Bicking, all of Monroe; Mrs.
Herbert (Helma) Nickel of Ida; Mrs. Morris (Marie) Tommelein of
Milan and Mrs. Virgil (Hilda) Fuller of Battle Creek, Mrs. Berns’
brothers and sisters, all are expected for the event.
Frederick and Marie Berns were the parents of Henry, 73, born Sept.
4, 1894, in the family homestead in
Dundee Township. His six
brothers and two of his sisters have passed away. The family moved to Tecumseh for six years while his father worked
on celery farms. They returned to the homestead about 1914. He
started working for the Heidens, friends of his family, when he
finished his schooling.
After a four-day honeymoon trip to
Shephard they returned to the
Heiden’s where they lived until January of the next year. He farmed
in the region coming to the old Fred Weilnau place at 7460 S. Custer
Road. in 1944.
Although he retired in 1961, he still keeps a flock of sheep and has
about 20 colonies of bees. Tending the bees and gardening are his
hobbies. His son, Lavern, works the acreage.
Mrs. Berns, 69, was born Sept. 23, 1898, in the family home on
Dixon
Rd. in Raisinville Township. One sister has passed away.
The two are members of the
Prince of Peace Church. They belong to
the Ida Farm Bureau and a local social club. She is a member of the
Rachel Circle at their church.
