I took a detour on my way back to Pierre to visit the old homestead. The Deibert family had donated the land on which Saint James Catholic Church was built, constructed by family members and neighbors under the supervision of my grandfather, Augustin (August) Deibert.
My parents lived and farmed on the homestead, relying on a two-hole outhouse and hauling water three or four times a day. Together they attended dances at the parish house, where piano, accordion, and fiddle music was provided by the local Fisher family.
The year 1952 proved to be a banner one for John and Bonnie: the arrival of REA brought electric power to the farm; a new barn and grain storage building were constructed using lumber hauled from the Black Hills; and they began their family.
