Leurine Sychra married Dale Hofmeister on May 11, 1942.
This photo is dated July 4, 1942 so they were newlyweds. This might have been taken at one of their parents houses because there are yard chickens in the background. Leurene never told me the the details about this photo but weren't they a handsome couple!
They first met at a dance out to Williamson. I think they watched each other awhile and finally managed an introduction and danced together the rest of the time. Before the night was over, Dale asked, and got permission to take Leurine home. The rest, they say, is history.
They fell in love and married during the Second World War. Dale first worked in an aircraft plant in Kansas City. Leurine joined him there in a small apartment and from the little Leurine told me, it was a very happy time. They had a motor scooter and zipped around the city. They socialized with friends, laughed and enjoyed their marriage and each other.
Dale entered the US Army on April 15, 1945. Leurine and their 18-month old son, Larry, went back to stay with Gramma Sychra while Dale attended flight school. Dale wrote some letters while he was there -- to his folks, his sister and his brothers but the love letters he wrote to Leurine were seen only by her.
I first met my new inlaws on my wedding day. I had dragged their son out to my folks a few times but he had never "taken me home" to meet his parents although Lanny's Mother caught us on the street once in Creston and I was introduced to her there! I'm sure they must have been surprised when Lanny brought me into their home and said "this is my wife". Maybe, he said "this is my wife, Nancy" !! There were congratulations all around and I'm sure a few questions, but not many. I was bashful and a little uncomfortable and we didn't stay long and we were soon back in the car and driving towards my new home in Sioux City.
But the introduction, the welcome and the unflappablity of this wonderful couple set the tone for our relationship in the years following. They were always warm and hospitable, calm and caring, responding with help and advice when asked but never critical or complaining. They admired and loved our babies, took us in without hesitation when we showed up on the doorstep unannounced for the weekend. Leurine washed baby faces, gave baby baths and powdered their little behinds. Dale walked little ones around the yard and sat them on tractors, lawn mowers and boats.
The folks helped us move many a time and Leurine always made sure the beds were made up that first night in a new home, with clean sheets. Dale helped shingle, made a coat rack for the preschool, threatened to spank the older girls when they wouldn't leave "Tanks" and would meet us at Williamson at 10 p.m. when Johanna wanted to stay with Gramma and Grampa but couldn't quite do it.
Now, this October, Dale has been gone 5 years and Leurine almost 10 years. Those years have flown by -- it seems as though it was just yesterday that lovely, smiling Leurine reached out her hands for a baby . . . and proud Dale held Morghan Grace on his lap and saw newborn Jack in the hospital.
Leurine set a high standard -- but if I can do one thing, I hope that I can be the same kind of parent-in-law that Leurine and Dale were for me.
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