"Blessed with a big heart and a sunny smile."

 (Information taken from 50th Alumni Booklet May 1998.  Please send an e-mail to update information at any time.)

Spouse:  Erwin Hennig

Children:  Phillip, Pamela, Alan and Janis

Grandchildren:  Christina; Erin; Lena; Thomas; Laurel; Ann; Seth; Cheyna

     I was born south of Decatur, NE.  My parents were Roy and Myrtle Tippery.  I attended District No. 10 school for eight years  with my twin brother, Vern, and my brothers, Lyle, Elmer and Glen.  At district 10 we walked but when Lyle started High School we would get a ride to school.  High School was in Decatur.  I was the shy one.  I did take part in Choir, Band and Pep Club.  I'll always have fond memories of my High School Classmates, teachers and friends during those four years.  I've lived all my life in the Decatur and Tekamah area.

      After graduation, I remained on the farm and helped out with the milking of 75 cows, as my brothers, Elmer, Glen and Vern, went into the Military Service.  I also did housework for several families.  In April, 1955, I married Erwin Hennig, who was farming in the Riverside area.  We have farmed together for forty two years, and are still living on the farm since our retirement.

      We were blessed with four children, Philip, Pamela, Alan and Janis.  Philip and his wife Sandra (Gammel) have three daughters and a son and farm near here.  Pamela, our oldest daughter, and her husband, Bill Stinson, graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula and now live near Bellingham, WA.  Pam teaches Special Education and Bill is manager of the Sporting Goods Department in a large Coast-to-Coast store in Lynden.  Alan and his wife, Linda (Pickell), have a daughter and he has five step children.  Alan farms and does carpenter work.  He graduated from Northeast Nebraska Technical College.  He also lives nearby.  Janis, our youngest daughter, and husband, Mark Felker, graduated from Kearney State in Commercial Advertising.

       In 1980, I had the opportunity to work in the Tekamah-Herman School, as cook, and in the summer as custodian, getting the school back in shape for another year.  I didn't have much time off before school started again.  I retired in May, 1977.  We took vacations with our children when they were small and enjoyed camping and doing things together.  We are active in the Riverside Baptist Church.  We have been blessed with good health,  for which we have been thankful.  Now that we are retired, we hope to do more traveling, even if it is just to see our children and grandchildren.  How things have changed in fifty years!!!!

Updated: 4/7/09