Summers are for family reunions. We haven't been to one in about 25 years, and we live too far away from extended family for me to be the host of any such endeavor. My mom's cousins used to host one every summer near the old family farm, and her mom's side used to have one in a city park periodically. The most recent one I remember on my dad's side was in the early 80's in Sioux City.
We had a picnic near town where I remember meeting my Uncle Dick, who was already suffering from the effects of Parkinson's (as I recall). We met at Uncle Dave's son's home, and us teens were out front playing football, and I remember his son Danny getting a ball to the face and a bloody nose.
I hadn't become enamored with the family hunt for ancestors yet, and I haven't seen most of those people since. I have emailed with a few over the years, but the below is what a few of those family reunions looked like in days past:
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TEN KLEY FAMILY REUNION - Wednesday, Aug 18 marked the 73rd wedding anniversary of the late Mr. and Mrs. Derk Ten Key of Sioux Center. For several years it has been the custom of the children to hold a reunion on this date. This gathering is usually held at Rock Rapids, but this year in order to enable the family members from N. Dakota to attend, they chose Hartford Beach on Big Stone Lake in S. Dakota.
Those attending from Westfield, N. Dak. were Mrs. Minnie Int Veldt, Geo. Wester, Henry Wester and family, Wm. Wolf and family and Alfred Vander Vorst and family. From Edgerton, Minn., were Gerrit Ten Kley and family. From Sheldon, Albert Ten Kley and family, Clarence Brink and family. From Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Winkel and Richard Zimmerman and family. From Sioux Center, Mrs. Maggie Boeyink and daughter, and from Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dykstra and Fred Krommendyk and family.
The day was spent boating, fishing, and bathing. A big family dinner and supper were enjoyed by all in the evening after a short business meeting. The group was entertained by a snappy and interesting program. After a good “fill” on ice cream and cake. - Sioux Center News Aug 26, 1937
Big Stone Lake
Perkins News - Mrs. Fred Krommendyk - Ten Kley Family Reunion - The annual reunion of the members of the D. Ten Kley family tree was held as usual on Wednesday and Thursday of last week at the beautiful summer resort on Hartford Beach situated on the S. Dakota border side of Big Stone Lake some 200 miles north of Perkins Corners.
Six furnished cottages were rented to accommodate the group of 55. All the children were present with the exception of three. Mrs. Dena Bolster of Plentywood, Mont., Dick Ten Kley of Sheldon, and Henry Ten Kley from Hull, N. Dak. Those present were Mrs. Minnie IntVeldt and her family members from Westfield, N. Dak. Mr. Geo. Wester , Mrs. Gerrit Huizenga, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wolf and daughter Phyllis, and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Vander Verste and daughter Twylah, Mrs. Jennie Berkompas from Holland, Mich., Mrs. Maggie Boeyink from Sioux Center, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ten Kley and their family members from Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. John DeBoer, daughter Nellie and son Raymond; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ten Kley, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Brink and son, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Ten Kley and daughter Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. John Ten Kley, Henry, Marie and Willmar; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Winkel from Sioux City and daughter, Mrs. R. Zimmerman and son Dennis; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dykstra from Perkins and their family members; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Krommendyk and Bernard, Willard and Harriet; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dykstra, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Ten Kley of Edgerton, Minn., and family members; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Ten Kley. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wensink and daughter Cora, Marvin, Adrian, Gerrit, Clarence and Carol.
The hours were spent in fishing, boating, roller skating, swimming and visiting. The group enjoyed a family dinner together on Wednesday afternoon. That evening an interesting program consisting of group singing, musical numbers, dialouge, and readings was carried out in the roller skating rink. After the program a business meeting was held. Peter Winkel from Sioux City was elected president and Fred Krommendyk was elected secretary-treasurer. A free will offering was taken for the Sioux Center Cemetery. After this meeting. After this meeting ice cream and cake were served.
On Thursday afternoon the group dispersed, each family to its respective home. - June 29, 1939
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