My Father started out in a one room school in North Dakota in the 20’s, served in a South
Dakota school in the 30’s and in Nebraska in the 40’s & 50’s, teaching the one room
while also serving a parish in each state. His beginning teacher salary in ND was $ 65.00
a month. He experienced many hardships during these years and served as a doctor to 21
patients during the flu epidemic, experienced the drought and loss of resources during the
Depression, and lost his first wife in childbirth.
After losing his wife, he remarried and raised a family of six, making certain that all were able to attend college. While teaching at Immanuel Lutheran School in northeast Nebraska, we experienced a record breaking blizzard. My Father watched the barometer faithfully and saw it was dropping drastically, called parents to come and get the children but the storm moved in too rapidly and only a few could reach the
school. He was able to get all 15 still in school safely across the road. He had everyone form
a line and holding hands, led us to safety where he and Mom could care for and feed the
remaining children for a few days until parents could get to the parsonage to rescue their family members. That major blizzard of ‘49 is still in my memory, snowbanks so high and firm we could walk over the top of telephone lines.
Life took its toll and his health started to fail in the early 50’s. The school was forced to close when they could no longer find a teacher to fill the vacancy. My Father had several surgeries and lived another 20+ years to the age of 92.
My Mother also taught in a one-room school in South Dakota before marrying my Father who was serving as pastor of the church
she and her family attended in rural northeast South Dakota. Her father was a farmer and after high school, encouraged her to attend
college. She received her Primary Certification degree in Vermilion, SD and was one of the few girls encouraged to enroll in college in
those years. After most of the children were raised, she attended Wayne State College and finished her Bachelor’s degree, taught a few
summer classes at Wayne State and went on to teach in the public schools for a few years before moving from Nebraska.
Both of my parents strongly encouraged education and wanted all six of their children to go on to college and pursue higher education
degrees. One became an accomplished musician and teacher; one a pastor; one a registered nurse; another a faculty member in
education. My parents accomplished much with little. I am proud to honor them with funds to help provide scholarships for other
future teachers..
Submitted by Reverend Buehner’s daughter,
Geraldine Stirtz
Dakota school in the 30’s and in Nebraska in the 40’s & 50’s, teaching the one room
while also serving a parish in each state. His beginning teacher salary in ND was $ 65.00
a month. He experienced many hardships during these years and served as a doctor to 21
patients during the flu epidemic, experienced the drought and loss of resources during the
Depression, and lost his first wife in childbirth.
After losing his wife, he remarried and raised a family of six, making certain that all were able to attend college. While teaching at Immanuel Lutheran School in northeast Nebraska, we experienced a record breaking blizzard. My Father watched the barometer faithfully and saw it was dropping drastically, called parents to come and get the children but the storm moved in too rapidly and only a few could reach the
school. He was able to get all 15 still in school safely across the road. He had everyone form
a line and holding hands, led us to safety where he and Mom could care for and feed the
remaining children for a few days until parents could get to the parsonage to rescue their family members. That major blizzard of ‘49 is still in my memory, snowbanks so high and firm we could walk over the top of telephone lines.
Life took its toll and his health started to fail in the early 50’s. The school was forced to close when they could no longer find a teacher to fill the vacancy. My Father had several surgeries and lived another 20+ years to the age of 92.
My Mother also taught in a one-room school in South Dakota before marrying my Father who was serving as pastor of the church
she and her family attended in rural northeast South Dakota. Her father was a farmer and after high school, encouraged her to attend
college. She received her Primary Certification degree in Vermilion, SD and was one of the few girls encouraged to enroll in college in
those years. After most of the children were raised, she attended Wayne State College and finished her Bachelor’s degree, taught a few
summer classes at Wayne State and went on to teach in the public schools for a few years before moving from Nebraska.
Both of my parents strongly encouraged education and wanted all six of their children to go on to college and pursue higher education
degrees. One became an accomplished musician and teacher; one a pastor; one a registered nurse; another a faculty member in
education. My parents accomplished much with little. I am proud to honor them with funds to help provide scholarships for other
future teachers..
Submitted by Reverend Buehner’s daughter,
Geraldine Stirtz