NameFredrick J. HEID Sr.
Death11 Mar 1959, New Salem, ND
Birth15 Jan 1882, Chicago, Cook County, IL
Misc. Notes
In 1883 Fred Sr. and his parents moved to New Salem, ND. They lived in boxcars at the Blue Grass railroad siding west of town until they moved into a one-room sod house 4½ miles northeast of town. In 1917, Fred and Bertha built a large barn, 34’ x 80’. They hosted many barn dances. The first dance was on their twenth-fifth wedding anniversary in 1935.
The Fred Heid Sr. family had a band, “Dry Weather Rangers.” Members included Fred. Jr. on the accordion, Eckhart on the guitar, Raymond on the banjo and Gerda at the piano. Gerda and Ray often sang and yodeled. When Ray’s voice chanced, Gerda did the yodeling alone.
Bertha and Fred lived on a farm six miles west of New Salem. Bertha's brother, Jacob (Jack Sr.) worked for Fred one summer. Bertha and Fred retired from the farm in 1942 and moved to New Salem. Fred Heid, Jr. took over the farming operation.
Spouses
Death5 May 1985, Glen Ullin, ND?
Birth16 Nov 1891, Otar, Achtachie, Russia
Misc. Notes
Bertha was a farm wife. She loved to bake and had a beautiful flower garden. One of her specialty cookies was springerlies. She also crocheted afghans for each and every grandchild, great grandchild and great-great grandchild.
Bertha attended good schools in Russia and could read, write and speak the Russian language fluently. In late summer, 1906, she boarded the steamship, Bluechert, in Hamburg, Germany, with her parents, brothers and sisters - desitnation USA. The ship docked at Staten Island, NY, on October 20th, 1906. The family then took a train to New Salem, ND. The family homesteaded at Otter Creek, ND.
After Fred Sr.'s death, Bertha moved to the Baptist Nursing Home in Bismarck, ND. When Elm Crest Manor Retirement Home, New Salem, was ready for occupancy in 1969, Bertha moved in. Her grandson, Gary Kreidt, was the administrator of the home and Bertha thought of
herself as the assistant administrator. She crocheted blankets for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She always had hand made crafts to give her great grandchildren when they came to vist. Her memory for birhtdays was unsurpassed - sending cards when the days arrived.
In her last years, her health failed, and she was moved to Glen Ullin, ND, where she continued to have small strokes until her death.
Marriage7 Jun 1910, New Salem, ND