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John LeRoy German was born January 9, 1899 in Grovena Township, Moody County, South Dakota
to John German and Christine (Jacobson) German, John's parental linage is as follows.
John I and Christine German were married on February 3, 1891 in Lee Township, Franklin Iowa. The wedding took place
in the groom's home by a Methodist Minister.
John German Sr. was born in Jackson County Iowa, the son of Angelina Schmidts and Henry German. John died on June
21, 1933 in Agency Township, Roberts County, South Dakota from influenza and was buried on June 23, 1933 at the
Peever Cemetery, Peever South Dakota.
Christine (Jacobson) German was born on April 18, 1873 in Bergan, Norway. She was christened on May 11, 1873 in
Nykirken Bergan, Norway. She immigrated to America with her mother and two sisters on May 26, 1882 from Bergan,
Norway. Christine died at 81 years of age on December 25, 1954 in One Road Township, Roberts County, South Dakota.
John and Christine moved to South Dakota in 1896. They homesteaded in Grovena Township, Moody County. South Dakota.
In 1900 they moved to Agency Township, Roberts County, South Dakota. They were a farming family. They were blessed
with thirteen children, nine boys and four girls.
John LeRoy German and Amelia Weltha Owen were married on September 5, 1931 in Peever, Roberts County, South Dakota.
John (Jack) German was a farmer and rancher, raising cattle and horses.
Amelia Weltha (Owen) German was born on October 15, 1908 in Agency Township, Roberts County, South Dakota.
She was the daughter of Amanda (Ella Tiomanipi House) and Charles Owen. Amelia was employed for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs as a cook for the Old Agency Day School for ten years. She was active in the Ascension Presbyterian Church,
4-H, Tribal Fairs and Ranch Rodeos. She had three sisters and one brother, namely Melinda (Owen) Spider, Rose (Owen)
Starlight, Melinda Rose Owen (deceased as an infant) and Pierce Earl Owen. Amelia's grandfather Earl Pierce Owen
of Canton New York was born on November 15, 1836. He became a member of the 1st Minnesota Regiment at Fort Snelling
when the Civil War broke out. He fought through four years of war. After 1864, at the time of the Indian Uprising,
his company was mustered out and stationed at Fort Abercrombie in North Dakota.
Earl Pierce Owen was a white man and he married Nellie Good Elk, an Indian girl. They later moved to Graceville,
Minnesota. They became the parents of 15 children of which 10 survived. In 1876 they settled around Waubay, South
Dakota. He had the first Post Office in Waubay and he also had a store in the town.
Earl Pierce Owen died on March 17, 1920 at the age of 84 and his wife Nellie died on July 11, 1924 at the age of
72. Their surviving children were Amos Owen, Charles Owen, Frank Owen, Jennie (Owen) Lawrence, Agnes (Owen) Engelhart,
Beaman Owen, Earl Owen and James Owen.
John (Jack) German and his wife Amelia became the parents of five children. They are as follows.
1. Gerald (Smokey) German was born on September 3, 1931, in Agency Township Roberts County, South Dakota. Married
Lorraine Marjorie (Ryan) German on September 1, 1950. To this union were born:
a. Donna Marie German born on April 30, 1951, deceased June 18, 1969 the result of a car accident.
b. Wayne LeRoy German born on March 17, 1951. Married Eleanor Kirk. To this union were born
Wayne LeRoy Jr. and Jadene Lynn German. There are three other children, Desiree German, Chantil German and Heidi
German.
c. Glenn Pierce German Sr. born on April 5, 1953. Married to Jenny Jewel St. John (deceased).To this union were
born Gayla LaFaun German and Brandon Jared German. Glenn later married Carla Barse. To this union were born, Glenn
Michael German, Sharnell German, Lyndsey German Simon, Casey Miles German, and Sherae German.
d. Bruce LaVerne German, Sr. born on March 12, 1954. Married Michelle LaFontaine. To this union was born Donna
Louise German and Bruce LaVerne German Jr. Bruce became deceased on April 15, 1977.
e. Myrna Christine (German) Thompson was born on March 7, 1955. She is now married to Jacob Thompson and has one
daughter Lorene Rose (Brant) Clark, She is the grandmother of three children.
f. John Thomas Jr. Sr. was born on July 25, 1956. He is the father of ten children, Conrad, Justin, Dionne, April,
John Jr., Thomas Ryan, James Samuel, Ryan Scott, Amanda Lee and Ashley Eileen. He was married to Jamie Crawford,
who is the mother of the last six of his children.
g. Ann Louise German was born on September 20, 1958. Ann is the mother of Danny White, Jerry and Jason Eastman
(twins), Kevin Paige and Brittney Faye LaFontaine. Ann was married to Kevin LaFontaine Sr., divorced, married Steve
Farmer Jr., divorced.
h. Nadine Lenore (German) Fredericks was born on December 14, 1959. Nadine was married to Jesse Larsen, divorced
and she then married Nicolas Cadotte divorced. Now she is married to Terry Fredericks and lives near Halleday,
North Dakota on a ranch. She has one daughter Nicole Jaye Cadotte. Her son Jacob Allen Larson died on April 25,
1998 As a result of a car accident.
i. Geraldine Eileen (German) Opsal was born on February 13, 1961. She is married to Troy Allen Opsal and they are
the parents of Dustin Allen Opsal.
j. Lita Noreen German was born on June 30, 1963. She was married to Vine T. Marks Jr., since divorced. They are
the parents of Mariah Victoria Marks.
k. Deann Lyn (German) Huff was born on July 31st, 1965. She was married to Alan Bohn. They became the parents of
three girls, Shanda Marie (Bohn) Rudebusch, Shanel Bohn, and Alexandra Bohn. They have since divorced and Deann
is married to Rick Huff residing near Wilmot South Dakota.
l. Gerald Howard German Jr. was born on October 28, 1970. He is married to Kara Marie Olson and they are the parents
of Megan Marie, Austin Gerald and Taylor James. They are the grandparents of one grand daughter, Ava Marie Zephier.
Gerald and Lorraine are the grandparents of 49 grandchildren and sixty seven great grandchildren. Gerald (Smokey)
German still farms and raises cattle. His wife Lorraine has worked for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate as the Program
Manager for the Community Health Representative Program since 1972.
2. Rosella Faith (German) Heminger was born on November 8, 1933. She married Gerald McKinley Heminger on July 5,
1954. To this union were born Colleen Denise (Heminger) Cordell, Michael Timothy Heminger, Gerald Wray Heminger,
Wanda Hope (Deceased), Crystal (Heminger) DeCoteau, Destry Todd Heminger, and Camelia Rose(Heminger) Ellingson.
Gerald McKinley Heminger died on 6/10/1997. They have 13 grandchildren. Rosella is a stay at home Mom and Grandma
helping to raise her grandchildren while their parents work.
3. Marlene Zella (German) Ironheart was born June 16, 1936 in Agency Township, Roberts County South Dakota. Marlene
married Dwight Ironheart on January 30, 1960 in Granite Falls Minnesota. To this union was born Rhoda Joy (Ironheart)
Rodriguez, Rita Noreen (Ironheart) Stebbing, Rosanne (Ironheart) Bartunek, Rodney Wade Ironheart (deceased), Renetta
(Ironheart) Goeson and Sheila Ironheart. Dwight passed away on September 4, 2003. They have 13 grand children and
4 great grandchildren. Marlene Ironheart works for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate as a community Health Representative
Generalist since 1974.
4. Alta Marie German born April 25, 1942. She never married and has no children. Alta retired but now works part
time for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in the Tribal Court system.
5. Owen Dean German was born on March 25, 1944. He married Florestine Rae Renville. To this union three children
were born. Del Ray German, Scott Delvine German and Gabrielle Blossom German. Owen Dean and Florestine are now
divorced. They have 2 granddaughters. Owen Dean German retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Roads Department.
He now works for Dakota Western Plastic Company owned by the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.
All of Jack and Amelia's children live around the Peever area.
John L. German passed away at 82 years of age on August 24, 1981 in Agency Township Roberts County.
Amelia Weltha German passed away at the age of 84 on January 28, 1982 at Sisseton South Dakota. They are both buried
at the Ascension Presbyterian Church, Big Coulee Roberts County, South Dakota.
JOHN LEROY GERMAN
FROM LEFT..MELISSA SPIDER, PIERCE OWEN, AMANDA OWEN, AMELIA GERMAN, ROSE STAR LIGHT
JACK, AMELIA AND SMOKEY
AMELIA'S MOM, DAD AND BROTHER PIERCE
WITH SMOKEY THE BABY
FOUR GENERATION PHOTO ON GERMAN SIDE
FROM LEFT..SMOKEY, GREAT GRANDMOTHER CHRISTINE HOLDING SMOKEY'S BABY
AND GRANDFATHER JACK
FOUR GENERATIONS ON OWEN SIDE
SMOKEY, GREAT GRANDMOTHER AMANDA, GRANDMOTHER AMELIA AND BABY
JACK AND AMELIA AND KIDS
SMOKEY, ROSELLA, AMELIA, JACK
ALTA , OWEN DEAN AND MARLENE
YOUNGER GERMANS
ROSELLA, ALTA, SMOKEY, OWEN DEAN, MARLENE
SMOKEY ON HORSE
JACK AND AMELIA GERMAN
GERALD (SMOKEY) GERMAN AND LORRAINE RYAN GERMAN
OWEN AND SMOKEY
GERMAN KIDS GROWN UP
WITH JACK AND AMELIA
GERMAN GIRLS
WAYNE GERMAN SR.
THE BRANDING CREW!
BRANDING
COWS
OUR PIONEERS
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