Mildred Irene Schmitke
Born: July 26, 1935 Died: April 11, 2023
Mildred was born July 26, 1935. Mildred shared the following memories: “”The family lived west of Stephen until I was 4 y.o. I remember the trees that lined the driveway. We had a dark blue Willis Knight. Arnold and Otto were my playmates. A large crock sat in the entryway to the house filled with cucumbers and brine. It had a board lid with a stone on top. We kids still managed to ‘sneak’ a pickle on our way outside. A fireplace made of cardboard was put up at Christmas time. Moving day was in late summer and an exciting time for us kids–more places to explore. We moved to a farm north and east of Stephen [Happy Corners].
I loved going to Sunday School. We attended St. Petri’s Lutheran Church. At Christmas we gave a program which involved all the students and often the audience. There was also a Christmas program at the school. Those of us who were too young for school were given a short poem to memorize. I knew the poem, but was too scared to go in front of the class and say it and stayed with mom. I started school at age six, and I was a very frightened little girl. I think I cried every day for the first two weeks. Finally, Agnes (ever the teacher) taught me to sound out words and the vowels. I was the only one in my grade for the eight years I attended Happy Corner school.
Our Christmas gifts were usually socks, coloring books, games, etc. plus apples, nuts, and candy. We joined 4H and each had our ‘projects’ to do. I usually took sewing, but one year I took bread-making. I soon learned the ‘power of yeast’. We all had our chores to do. Mine were mostly setting the table, doing dishes, helping with cleaning, dusting, sweeping, and scrubbing floors, etc. I learned to iron with sad irons that were heated on the kitchen range. It was a hot, heavy job I also filled the wood box and coal bucket. I remember cutting my hair and Dad became very angry with me. He started to give me a spanking and I held my breath. Mom screamed at him to stop. he did and said he would never spank me again.
In 1946 (I think), we got electricity. What a joy! No more kerosene lamps to clean and fill weekly. A refrigerator and electric iron were purchased–more joy for sure. I was confirmed in 1951, the year of the ‘big flood’. Many farmers had to move their cattle to ‘higher ground’. As a confirmation gift, Betty gave me my first new summer coat. It was a red, shorty one. The older ones always went potato picking in the fall to earn money for clothes and school items. The year I started high school, Irvin and I were allowed to go pick potatoes. This job usually lasted about 2 weeks and we were out of school during this time. Arnold said Irvin and I wouldn’t pick 25 bushels by noon. we fooled him and had 25 bushels picked by morning lunch break. We were proud! I remember the Baiers coming to visit, and us going to the Baiers. I played with Dean and Allie the most.” Millie would live with Harold and Doris in Stephen during her final year of high school in order to be closer to school.
“I met Emery [Horien] in Holt. Amy, a friend, and I were going to a dance in Grygla (a town near Holt) on a Saturday night. I soon discovered that they had left without me. Emery was in the cafe in Holt as were several others. I decided to ask Emery to give me a ride home. He said sure. We got into his car (a green and cream-colored Chevy Belair–Wow!). He said, “there is midnight movies at the Avalon theater, would you like to go?” I said yes. So, for over 50 years, we’ve been going!”
Emery and Mildred became engaged the Christmas of 1954. In January 1955, Emery went into the army. He served two years and was discharged as a corporal. They were married March 23, 1957 at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt, MN. Mildred worked a short time in Stephen, and then in May of 1954 began at Northwestern Bell telephone company in Thief River Falls. She worked there for 20.5 years. Emery worked for the Soo Line Railroad for 31 years. He retired in 1988 due to health problems. They did not have any children, but Emery had a brother quite a bit younger who they helped raise. They also greatly enjoyed their nieces and nephews. They are buried in Holt, MN.
