Anna Victoria ULMER

Anne was born on the home farm near Fullerton, North Dakota and wasthe third child in a family of seven. She attended country school atYorktown Township School #3 until completing eighth grade, thencontinued her education at Fullerton High School from where shegraduated in 1941. While in high school she participated in band andgirl's basketball. After high school, Anne enrolled at the Normal andIndustrial College (NI) in Ellendale and obtained a teachingcertificate. She taught school for two years before her marriage toTed Stroh. They farmednear LaMoure, then Berlin before leaving NorthDakota and moving to Mesa, Arizona and eventually Escondido,California. After their five children were grown, Anne returned tocollege, then found employment inthe administrative department at thelocal hospital where she worked for 12 years. When Ted retired in1978, they moved to Bullhead City, Arizona where Anne worked for DelWebb's Nevada Club. In 1981 they moved to Valley Center, then toHemet. Ted passed away in 1988 and Annemarried Herb Emde in 1990.Herb passed away in November 2002 in a Nursing Home in Vista,California. Anne followed shortly thereafter in March of 2004 at thesame Nursing Facility just shy of her 81st birthday.

FAMILY MEMORIES:

Son, Thomas Stroh: "Mom loved to tell stories to children. From myrecollection they were very full of detail and dramatical languagewhich utterly captivated us kids as we hung onto every word withunknown expectations. All five of us children would run off and kidebecause we didn't know "who done it." But somebody did."

Daughter, Dianne Stroh Barilotti: "Mom has always been there for thefamily. As children we were fortunate to have her teach useverything. She taught us how to clean, cook and sew. She was alwaysteaching and active with us in our activities. I did girl scouts foryears and she was always there to participate or help out.

Mom enjoyed traveling with dad. After retiring they moved to BullheadCity where she worked part time at a casino as a change girl. She soenjoyed being around people. Dad would fish while mom worked for afewhours a day. They then moved back to Hemet, CA. Both mom and dadloved to go dancing and play cards with their friends. After dadpassed away mom worked at a church preschool to keep busy. She metHerb (who had also lost his wife about the same time as dad). Theybothneeded companionship so they married. Mom and Herb also liked totravel. When mom became ill with Alzheimer's they moved back to SanMarcos, CA to be closer to the children. I can say that she had thesweetest little smile and disposition when you would stop to visitwith her. She was always grinning and her face would light up whenshe saw you. She loved for us to read and sing to her. Not that anyof us cancarry a tune. We were so fortunate that she was happy.
She will always be my inspiration and I thank God every day that Heblessed me with such a wonderful mother."

Granddaughter, Amber Barilotti Altman: "Grammie was always happy andIfeel she truly enjoyed life. She always made me feel very special inregards to my ballet dancing. She was so supportive and I couldalways count on her to be in the audience smiling as I danced."

Daughter, Denice Stroh Hayashi: "I don't know a great deal about mymother's childhood, only that she attended college and became ateacher. She taught for two years in one room schools in North Dakotabefore she married my father after he returned from serving in WWII.Although she had other jobs over the years, teacher sums her up thebest.She taught us how to cook, sew and clean the house and helpedwith school work. Even though she worked, there was always a homecooked meal on the table and good smells in the kitchen. Our familyalways satdown to the evening meal together and caught up witheveryone's day.It is the ritual that I insisted on for my own family.After Mom retired she liked to travel and was fortunate to see partsof the Carribean, Panama Canal, Europe and Russia."

Daughter, Deborah Stroh Powers: "Mom was endlessly cooking ourfavorites (cinnamon rolls) and there was always enough food to goaround. When we were young, Mom and Dad always made time to get us tothe beach (once with Grandma Ulmer) and other family outings. It'samazing to me they could take the time out with so many of us to sharetheir time."

Grandsons, Brendan & Dennis Powers: "We loved to go camping withGrandma and Grandpa. We used to play a lot of card games around thetableand loved the macaroni and cheese that Grandma made for us."

Brother, Benjamin Ulmer: "Anna Victoria, was the third of the firstfour which we later sometimes called "the first family" comprised ofKarl, Anna, Mildred and me. She had the misfortune of following twoolder brothers which sometimes gave her a hard time but she was toughand scrappy and held her own. As with any siblings, there was a lotofteasing and all too often we teased her about her red hair. She wasstrong and responded very effectively!

Anne and Ted were married while I was still in the service, but didnot immediately take their honeymoon but started farming at the "oldStroh Place" near LaMoure. After I returned from the service, sheinvited Millie and I to a "Bunko" party at her house. Some of herfriends from LaMoure were also invited, among them was LeNora Priebe,who later became my wife. I will be forever grateful to her forhaving brought us together. After my discharge from the Army, Ted andAnne invited me to go on their honeymoon if I would drive their car.We toured the black Hills of South Dakota while I drove the car andthey "Honeymooned."

We later visited them several times in California. She was always agood hostess and showed us many new places there. She loved her"Teddy Bear" as she called Ted. One of the last things she said to meat the 1999 reunion was, "I have been very fortunate - My firsthusband was a good husband and my second husband is also a goodhusband." We miss her very much."

Niece, Jean Gebhardt Mahlum: "I have particular fond memories of mydear red-headed aunt, and always wished I had her beautiful hair. Iheard such wonderful things about her from a woman from Glyndon whoseson had her for a teacher in country school (his name was JeromeGordenfrom LaMoure). I saw pictures of him and her at the Ulmer farmas I believe she took him home on weekends. She must have been awonderful teacher for a student to want to go home with her.

I remember her fondly as a flamboyant, loving aunt who was humble aswell as classy and very intelligent. I have always been in awe of theintelligence of the seven siblings, who seemed so aware of so manythings, and had just the right perspective on life, surely a tributeto their parents. Aunt Anna and Uncle Ted were the best host andhostess. Uncle Ted had the most loving eyes I had ever seen. Aunt Annatreated all of us as if we were the most important person on earth,and was the "cookie person" of my youth; you know, the one who wouldgive you the cooky, but not command you to pick up the crumbs. Shejust listenednonjudgementally. My most endearing memory of her is thecologne she wore (was it Estee Lauder?) and her wonderful hugs. I missher so, andam thankful to have had had her for an aunt."

Grandniece, Erin Kirmis: "Aunt Anne: Very trendy and classy lady.Iwould always remember that we would get to see her when she came backto visit from California."

Brother, Milton Ulmer: "Ann, the proper lady. I remember she enjoyedClassical Music and would quite often be listening to it on the radio,and when our bachelor, Uncle Henry, would come in and hear it, hewould say, "Sounds like a chicken with it's head cut off!!" You canimagine Ann's response to that!!!"

Niece, Kathie Ulmer Hay: "I am sorry to say that I am not able toshare as many memories about my Aunt Anne ..... we just didn't get tosee them as much as some of the other aunts and uncles. I am toldthatI spent one winter living with Uncle Ted and Aunt Anne when I wasonly two. I do remember when they would come, though, that we alwayshad the best of times! I thought that California was soooooo far awayand was envious that they could visit the ocean and all we had wastheJames River! I remember marveling at her California "accent" andherwonderful red hair and twinkling eyes! She, like all of hersiblings, enjoyed a good story and shared that same Ulmer smile!"

Nephew, John Ulmer: "Anne - During one summer in the late 1970'stheFullerton school held what turned out to be its final All ClassReunion. As a relatively recent graduate, I made the trip home tospend the weekend partying with all of the other alumni. My futurewife Candace made the trip with me. At the Saturday night dance atthe gym, weran into Ted and Anne. They were about ready to take abreak from the crowd and go out to their camper in the parking lot.They casuallymentioned that we should "stop by" if we got tired of thenoise and confusion. About an hour later, we went outside for somefresh air andnoticed that the lights were on in their camper, so weknocked on thedoor. Anne answered and immediately invited us in. Wesat down at the dinette table and proceeded to spend the next twohours talking, laughing, consuming mass quantities of beer, andgenerally getting to know each other better. The two of them haddriven halfway across the continent to see old friends andschoolmates, yet they took two hours out of the busiest night of thereunion to spend it with us. It was a very gracious gift of theirtime, and I've never forgotten that night."

Nephew, Daniel Ulmer: "I remember Ted and Anne coming to visit intheir camper. I thought it
would be so cool to have a camper like that. Mostly, I remember Anneas a very happy person, she always seemed to be laughing."

Sister, Monica Ulmer Hallerud: "I remember Anne as a big sister wholoved to help Gert and I get all dressed up. She would curl our hairand arrange bows in them. She had a flair for fashion and decoratingand liked everything to be done just so!

Anne was my 7th grade teacher in our country school, so we got to rideto and from school with our teacher. She did a great job. After sheand Ted moved to California, we did not see each other as often as wewould have liked, but we did keep in touch by phone. They alsotraveled to Missouri a few times and took Dave and I along to NorthDakota and back for a visit there."

Niece, Karen Hallerud Moore: "I don't have a lot of memories ofAuntAnna because she lived so far away. The first time I remembermeeting her was at the 1968 gathering for Grandma & Grandpa's 50thwedding anniversary. She always seemed happy and bubbly and loved totalk a "mile-a-minute" with Mom (Monica). When she married Herb, theydrove to Independence in their motor home. She told us all about theirtrips, especially the one to Russia. They both had a great love oflife which they gladly shared with others. "

Nephew, Eric Hallerud: "I recall Anne's red hair and dancing eyes.She was always full of life and she loved to laugh. Unfortunately, Ireally only saw Anne a handful of times at various family reunionsandevents. At a gathering in the 80's, possibly Grandpa's 90thbirthday, she dubbed me "Grizzly Adams" (from the TV show of the sametitle), because of my beard. I was Grizzly Adams from then on.

I remember when she and Ted moved to Arizona and she worked in acasino. Even fairly late in life she was full of adventure.

It was always a treat to visit with Anne. She made you feel specialand was always interested in what was going on in your life. I wishwe had not lived so far apart. It would have been great to gettogether more often."

Sister, Gertrude Ulmer Anderson: "Anne was my oldest sister andwithalmost 12 years separating our lives, I don't remember much aboutherwhen she was young. I do remember she loved music and I recall herplaying the piano and singing at home. She loved Strauss and had awhole music book full of his waltzes. We also had an old pump organat home and I vaguely recall her playing that. After she graduatedfrom high school she took summer school classes and became a teacherat the country school that we all attended. Anne was my fourth gradeteacherand I remember doing a lot of singing in school. There was asong that I particularly liked, called "The Red Fox" and I used tosing it all the time. I thought it was a sad song, as the red fox ranaway andhad no telephone to call home! When our country school closedand was sold, I made a visit there and found the song book that hasthis song. Needless to say, it's still in my possession!

When Anne was in college, I remember some beaus used to come to visit. I could hardly wait until I grew up so I could have some beaus too!When she dated Ted and he was in the service, I remember her receivinglong distance calls from overseas. When Anne married, I was theflower girl at her wedding. Yes, I was kind of an "older" flowergirl, but Anne insisted she wanted her little sister to fulfill thisrole. She made my dress from one of her old formals.

When her family came along, I was hired to work for her, helping totake care of the little ones whenever I was able. I spent a lot oftime with her and Ted over the years and helped with laundry, meals,cleaning house, mowing lawns, planting gardens, making preserves andcanning fruits and vegetables. I also helped to plant trees on thelittlefarm near Berlin, North Dakota.

Anne was a great cook and baker. I gained a lot of "real life"experience working with her. We shared a lot of good jokes, and hadlots of chuckles over the years."

Niece, Gwen Anderson Struble: "As a kid, I was always hearing how Iwas "the only grandchild out of 23 who had red hair." Well, you knowthat came directly from Mom's side of the family because Aunt Annehadthe bright red hair! That alone made me feel I had a special bondwith her.

Childhood memories include:
- Sleeping in their camper in the backyard
- Making S'mores.... Yum!
- Aunt Anne making salmon patties for ourlunch : (
- Thinking it was neat how she called Uncle Ted her "Teddy Bear"

Growing up, I thought Aunt Anne had the best posture ever and once sheeven fitted me for a bra! Whenever I wear lavender, I think of myspecial red-haired Aunt who once said to me, "You know, lavender isyour color." Thank you for being a special part of my life."

Niece, Sandra Anderson Bolduc: "My memory of Anne is from thevisitsto Escondido in the summer time. I loved how she was happy, andher "evil" little giggle, like a little girl that has done somethingwrong. I remember her telling us stories of the "Thunderbird Queens"and how she laughed. I will always remember how lovingly she talkedabouther "little teddy bear", (Uncle Ted)."