Day 28

Back home.


Me - enjoying sitting in my living room with



Tim, Geilo



and Rusty

Day 27

We are on the last leg of our research journey. We have had a great time meeting new and wonderful people and seeing new places. We have had some challenges with the weather and today was not a lot different. In Montana we found snow on the ground just before Bozeman. It did not cause any driving problem as it was not on the road, was beautiful to look at but was the topper for all the different weather we encountered over the month. The only thing we did not have is a tornado this trip. We are counting our blessing for that.









I want to thank everyone that was so kind to meet and welcome us. We appreciate all the sharing everyone did with photos, information and kindness. I feel I have made many new friends and look forward to keeping in touch.

























THANK YOU TO EVERYONE

As my friend Carol shared with me on face book; Like Dorothy says, "There's no place like home." Home is where we will be tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to being there with Tim our dogs, cats and my own bed. I love going on research trips but miss home when I am gone for so long.

Day 26

Tonight we are in Billings Montana just one more night and we will be home. The drive today was miserable. It was windy and rainy. The rain I could live with but the wind was a nightmare. The weather report said the wind was 35 to 45 mile an hour. Trying to keep the van in its own lane was a a big job. Hope the drive is better tomorrow.

Some photos in Montana after the weather seattled down.

Day 25

I want to thank Bernie and Marlene for their generous hospitably they showed us today. We had a great time spending most of the day with them, meeting their family and Bernie’s cousin’s wife Raye. The fed us well and taught us many things about farming. This city girl found it very interesting and fun. We watched them harvest onions and potatoes. We came home with fresh onions, patatos and turnips. It is amazing how great the fresh onions smell and now so does the car. (not a bad thing) They also took us back to the cemetery so I could find a greave I expected to find yesterday and did not. OK, I had found it but just missed a couple stones that were right under my nose the whole time. Then they took us to another town to find a cemetery we look for yesterday also but could not find and sure enough we passed the road that it was on. Many of the roads in the area are not paved and we were not sure it was ok to go down them so we did not.

Again we have found family members that are good people that we really enjoyed getting to know. It is sad to think we all live so far from each other that we will be keeping in touch by email or postal service and not be able to see once in a while.

Day 24

Today we are in Oakes North Dakota to meet more Vculek family members. We got in town in the afternoon, checked into a very quaint little motel that is a throwback from the 50’s. After we check into the motel we went out to the cemetery to walk around to see who we could find. Oakes is a small town with a large cemetery. The 3 of us took different sections and read every headstone. We did find some Vculek’s buried there and the headstones answered some questions. Tomorrow we meet with a couple of people that live here. They have offered to help with some information I am missing.

Pictures from North Dakota

Day 23

A day of driving from Coralville Iowa to Sioux Fall South Dakota. When we got up this morning it was cool and windy. The wind held up all day and was a challenge a couple of times on the interstate. I hope it stops for tomorrows drive. The big thing we did today is have the oil changed in the van. Oh Fun!!

Here are a couple pictures I took while mom was driving.

Day 22

Spent the morning and afternoon in Amana walking around for a time then to Brandi’s apartment for a game of Mexican Trains. I got the most points and you can figure out if I won or lost. Then off to a late lunch early dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. Good food. Had to say goodbye to Brandi tonight as we leave in the morning fro South Dakota and she has to go to work. Will miss her until we see her again at Christmas. Love you Brandi.

My baby girl Brandi Lynne. OK, not a baby any longer, but always one to me.


Amana Store that Brandi manages





Amana Colony Museum where Brandi is the Program Director.






A home in Amana


A building in the town of Oxford Iowa