Bismarck, ND House - Abt. 1946

According to John Schumacher (Gerhard's son), Gerhard and Clara retired to Bismarck, ND in about 1946. They lived in this house, 601 16th St., from 1946-1961 except for a time back at the Golva farm. In 1961 they moved to Billings to be close to their two daughters.

Irma, John & Lucille - Abt. 1946

Gerhard, Clara and baby Judy Vetsch (first grandchild )- Abt. March 1945

Emory Vetsch's 23rd & Lucille 's 17th birthday - September 1, 1944

Emory Vetsch & Lucille Schumacher (Gerhard's 4th oldest child).

Lucille & Irma - 1944

Photo appears to be taken next to the Schumacher farm house near Golva, ND.

Front of photo said, " '44 cute eh!"

Angie & Emory's wedding photo - December 27, 1943

Angie (Gerhard's eldest daughter) and Emory Vetsch. They were married on 12/27/1943. However, this photo noted "'44" on the front and "Aug" on the rear.

Angie as a nurse - Abt. 1943

According to her son John Schaff, Jr., Angie originally desired to be an archaeologist. However, she was persuaded and/or decided to pursue nursing which was a more traditional female occupation at the time.

John at country school - Abt. 1942

Per John Schumacher this photo was taken at the Lundin School near the Schumacher's Golva, ND area farm. John is in the front and middle wearing boots. Others in the photo were his classmates at the school.

Dickinson State College - Abt. 1942

Post card of Dickinson State College in Dickinson, ND. This was likely the college where Gerhard's daughters Angie and Leona attended. Angie became a nurse and Leona was a teacher.

Tractor photo on Golva Farm - Abt. 1942

People in photo are unidentified but possibly John Schumacher (Gerhard's son) driving and Emory Vetsch (Angie's future husband) may be watching.

Another of the Schumachers on the farm - Abt. 1942

From left:
Rear - Clara, Irma, Emory Vetsch (Angie's future husband), Lucille and Leona.
Front - John holding baseball and bat.

Young Leona - Abt. 1942

Photo of Leona as a young woman. Per Gene Harn (Leona's husband) this photo was when Leona was in a beauty pageant. Leona was a teacher at a small school in North Dakota and later a mother of six. I Samuel 25:3 NIV describes Leona, "She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband..."

Schumachers on the Golva Farm - Abt. 1942

Pearl Harbor attacked - December 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese on 12/7/1941. At about the same time the Schumachers moved back to Gerhard's homestead farm near Golva, ND from Minnesota. Photo used with permission under the Fair Use Rules of the U.S. Copyright Law. U.S. Navy photo, "Pearl Harbor Naval Base Aflame After the Japanese Attack."

Leona's Senior Year - 1941

Leona, in her high school graduation gown. Commencement was on May 29, 1941 in Buffalo, MN.


A photo of what was then Buffalo High School in 1941, where Leona attended and graduated from high school. Today a new high school has been built outside of Buffalo and this building houses the Junior High School. Below is a copy of the Buffalo High School calendar/activities during Leona's Senior year according to her "Memories" book.






Leona and her high school friends, Lois and Leah Nickels

Gerhard's children in Minnesota - Abt. 1940

St. Michael, MN snow - Abt. 1940

Per front of photo, " '40 St. Michael". Back of photo showed it was developed in January 1941.

Gerhard's daughter Leona at 16 years old - Abt. 1939

Anna Laqua Wise's grave - Abt. 1939

Anna was Gerhard's mother-in-law (Clara's mother).

Minnesota House - Abt. 1938

Gerhard and his brother Herman - Abt. 1937

Farewell Party - Abt. 1937

Schumacher Kids - Abt. 1937

Young John on his tricycle - Abt. 1937

Photo from Muriel Schumacher (Gerhard's niece by marriage to his nephew Ermin Schumacher), the back of photo said, "John Schumacher".

Family photo on the Golva, ND area Farm - Abt. 1937

From left:
Rear - Unidentified (possibly could be a woman named Clara Dehmer), Angie, Lena Wise Yates (Clara's older sister), Leona, Clara Schumacher (Gerhard's wife), Unidentified man (could be a Dehmer).
Front - Irma, John, Lucille.

Gerhard's son John - Abt. 1936

Photo of Johnny Schumacher (abt. age 5) with an engine Gerhard had built. Photo likely taken at Gerhard's farm in the Golva, ND area.

Schumacher Family Vacation - Abt. 1935

Irma, John & Lucille in a wagon on the farm - Abt. 1933

School Picnic - Abt. 1932

Per Pearl Yates Olstad she thought the photo was at a school picnic (perhaps a church picnic) in the Golva, ND area. Per Pearl from left:
Leona Schumacher, Angie Schumacher holding Lucille Schumacher, Irma (later Sr. Michelle), and the right 3 boys were unidentified per Pearl.

Schumacher Girls - Abt. 1932

Family Photo - 1930

Per Pearl Yates Olstad she thought the photo may have been taken at Gerhard & Clara's Golva area farm. Also per Pearl from left: Rear - Lloyd Yates (Lena's husband), Clara Wise Schumacher, Angie Schumacher (Clara's daughter), Mary Wise Campbell (Clara's sister), Pearl Yates Olstad (Clara's niece; Lena's daughter), married young couple, possibly Tom Campbell (Clara's nephew; Mary's son)and his wife, Lena Wise Yates (Clara's sister), Dick Campbell (Clara's nephew; Mary's son). Front - Lucille (aka Lucy) Schumacher (later Hammes; Clara's daughter), Irma Schumacher (later Sister Michelle; Clara's daughter), and Leona Schumacher (later Harn; in front of Pearl Yates.

Farm House near Golva, ND - Abt. 1930

Gerhard's Parent's grave - November 11, 1930

Theodore Wise, Sr.'s grave (Gerhard's father-in-law) - Died April 29, 1928

Closeup of Theodore from family photo taken in about 1916 (See Wise Family Portrait posting, Abt. 1916).


Theodore's grave.

Theodore was Clara Wise Schumacher's father; Gerhard's father-in-law.
Theodore Wise's grave is in the Golva, ND cemetery. The records for Theodore are somewhat inconsistent. His headstone showed a birth date of July 4, 1854, the North Dakota Dept. of Health Public Death Index record showed a birth date of July 4, 1853, and the book "Our Roots in Germany and Our Branches in America, The Laqua Family 1750-1992",(Chart #1-1-5) showed a birth date of May 15, 1845. Both his headstone and the N.D. Dept. of Health showed a death date of April 29, 1928 but the Laqua Family book showed a death date of March 14, 1928. According to the Laqua family (Theodore's wife's maiden name was Laqua) book he died when, "Ruptured while lifting a washtub of wheat. Died on operating table at Dickinson (Stark County), No. Dak." Theodore and his family settled and farmed near Sentinel Butte, ND like Gerhard Schumacher.

Additionally, the following is an article about Theodore from the book owned by Pearl Olstad, "Golden Valley Pioneers", pg. 397:

This article noted a death year of 1930.

Leona & Pearl Yates - Abt. 1926

Per front of photo, "Pearl & I again. What a pair". Per Pearl Yates Olstad, she thought it was either Leona or Angie and herself. Back of photo in Gene Harn's writing "Angie & Leona ? 1926?"

Gerhard, Herman and Families - Abt. 1925

Another of Gerhard's wife Clara and her family - Abt. 1925

Photo likely taken in Sentinel Butte, ND per Pearl Yates Olstad (Gerhard's niece by marriage). From left, per Pearl Olstad: Rear- Mary Wise Campbell (Clara's sister), Tracy "Grace" Wise Waldahl (Clara's sister), Viola Waldahl (Clara's niece), Unidentified girl most likely another Waldahl girl, Clara Wise Schumacher (Gerhard's wife), Lena Wise Yates (Clara's sister), Lloyd Yates (Clara's brother-in-law), Elsie Waldahl (Clara's niece), Anna Laqua Wise (Clara's mother). Front - Dorothy Waldahl (Clara's niece), Donald Waldahl (Clara's nephew)(Dorothy and Donald were twins; Donald had polio and died young), Angie Schumacher (Clara's daughter), Hilda Waldahl (Clara's niece), Leona Schumacher (Clara's daughter), Tom Campbell (Clara's nephew).

Gerhard and New Family - Abt. 1925

Bottom photo is original. The top two photos are closeups of the original. Original photo was likely taken at the Schumacher "home place" in the St. Michael area, MN per Muriel Schumacher (Gerhard's niece by marriage;Muriel is married to Ermin Schumacher). Date estimated based on Leona and Angie's age. From left - Clara holding Leona, Angie (little girl standing), and Gerhard.

Young Angie and Leona - Abt. 1924

Leona (as a baby ) and Angie


Leona as a baby

Gerhard's wife Clara and her family - Abt. 1920

According to Pearl Yates Olstad (Clara's niece) the photo was likely taken in or near Sentinel Butte, ND. Also per Pearl from left: Rear - Clara Wise Schumacher, Tracy "Grace" Wise Waldahl (Clara's sister) holding one of the Waldahl twins (Donald or Dorothy), Lena Wise Yates (Clara's sister;holding the other Waldahl twin), Lloyd Yates (Lena's husband), Mary Wise Campbell (Clara's sister), Ole Waldahl (Tracy "Grace"'s husband). Front - Pearl Yates (later Olstad), Hilda Waldahl, Anna Waldahl, Elsie Waldahl, and Viola Waldahl.