Agnes May Schmitke
Born: August 2, 1929 Died: January 30, 1998
Agnes was born August 2, 1929 in the Otto Stegman home in Neche, ND. Otto’s brother, Edward, was married to Carl’s sister, Marie. When young, the girls would go into a dark, walk-in closet and Agnes would tell scary ghost stories. As they got older, Agnes and Freda shocked the grain (bundled the stalks upright in the field for drying) for the neighbors. They shocked 60 acres of oats and received 20 cents an acre. One summer, Agnes and Freda rode Harold’s brand-new bike to Bible school and Agnes caught her foot in the wheel and wrecked a lot of the spokes. Harold was not happy. However, he and his dad were able to repair it. Agnes was Salutatorian of her high school class. After she graduated from High School, Agnes attended school for 1 year in Warren, MN to prepare to teach elementary school. Later, she would get more schooling, but just starting out this is all she needed in order to teach.
Agnes won an essay award in her district in 1947. The essay was on ‘Clean Water’.
Agnes met Richard Ostrem while teaching. Agnes and Richard were married at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt in Holt, MN on March 28, 1954. They would have four children, one of whom Steven, was stillborn. Agnes enjoyed writing. She, as well as some of the others, wrote poetry. Here is one poem that Agnes wrote.
Take a Walk Through the Valley with God
When troubles do abound, and you see them all around,
Take a walk through the valley with God.
Wash your feet in the morning dew, see the sun rise into view,
Walking through the valley with God.
Let cool breezes fan your face, in this peaceful happy place,
Heart to heart. Friend to friend. Pray this day will never end.
Foamy clouds float in the sky, from their eeries eagles cry
As you walk through the valley with God.
Hand in hand. Friend to friend. Pray this day will never end.
From their eeries eagles cry. They soar now and soon shall I.
Walking through the valley with God.
Agnes died from cancer on Jan. 30, 1998. Richard died August 5, 2010. Agnes & Richard are buried at the cemetery next to the North Prairie Lutheran Church, Lanesboro, MN
1969
