The following story was read at
the celebration of the wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Modest Neyt.
Fifty-two years ago on July 14, 1910, Angeline Dupree and Modest
Neyt attended a celebration in Bervetiet, Holland. Neither knew the
other, but met at the dance. Here, their courtship started and two years
later on May 2, 1912, they were united in marriage in the Roman Catholic
Church of Bervetiet, Holland. During the following three
years while working in the tulip fields, they planned and saved so that
they might come to America to make their home. On April 14, 1915, their
dreams were realized and they boarded a ship for the U.S.A. Not just
Matt and Angelina, but a daughter, Serminia, who was now almost two
years old.
They landed in New York on April 25, 1915, and soon after, Matt
found employment on the farm of Phil Van Vooren, who spoke his native
tongue, and from whom they learned the English language. There they also
learned the customs of their new world, some of them humorous, as
Angelina related one day. Having never grown a tomato plant, she was
asked to weed the garden and being a good helpmate, she willingly
consented. That evening matt went to observe her work and discovered the
tomato plants
he recently set out, no longer existed. |
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In 1918, after three years in New York, they again
moved to join her sister and brother-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Lippens and their two year old twins, Madeline and Emil.
For the next four years Matt was employed by the railroad. In 1926, Matt
being a farmer at heart, rented a farm and started farming. They enjoyed
many successful years of farming. It was during these years they were
enriched with a daughter, Agnes.
Then came the banks closing, depression, drought and
grasshoppers, forcing many farmers off the farms to seek employment.
Matt returned to his former job on the railroad.
To brighten the depression a son, Ronald, was added to
this union. Matt remained with the railroad until his retirement.
For the past two years, Matt and Angelina have made
their home in Chamberlain and lately, here at the home.
Their fifty years of marriage has been one of the most
blessed and richest. Five children: Mrs. Vernon Jensen of Presho, SD;
Emil Neyt of Pendelton, Oregon; Mrs. Harold Croisant of Ramona, SD; Mrs.
Clinton Lester of Phoenix, Arizona; Ronald Neyt of Oceanside, California
and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren are here today to
commemorate this occasion. |