The Elgin Review Thurs. November 29, 1973 — page one
Mrs. Filsinger Observes Her 89th Birthday Anniversary
Thanksgiving Day 1973 had many special meanings for Mrs. Ellen Filsinger, who observed her 89th birthday anniversary on that day. The dinner was held at Concordia Lutheran church basement with well over one hundred relatives attending. There was the special birthday cake baked by a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Westerhoff of Neligh, who also cut and served the cake.
Mrs. Filsinger was born Nov. 22, 1884, to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lymath at Newman Grove. Her parents earlier had come from England. The family which included five children lived in Newman Grove about ten years after Ellen’s birth, then moved into the country on a farm. Her father died when she was just five years of age, so she lived with her grandmother about three years. Her mother married John Heany and they were the parents of four children, two boys and two girls. The two boys are deceased but Alice, (Mrs. James Sanford) now resides in Kingston, Ill. and was present for Thursday’s festivities. The other sister, Ruth Chamberlain, lives at Oklahoma City.
Mrs. Filsinger received her schooling at Dist. 18 southeast of Newman Grove. On Nov. 26, 1902 she was married to Daniel Filsinger. They lived on their farm, 13 miles southwest of Clearwater for two years, then returned to Newman Grove for two years after which they came back to Clearwater for about six years before moving to a farm near Albion where they lived two years. They then lived at Elgin for 12 years.
In 1924 the family moved back to their farm southwest of Clearwater where they lived almost 30 years. Mr. Filsinger died on July 22, 1951. Mrs. Filsinger purchased her present home in 1953 and moved to Clearwater. Her son, Dean, was the only one of her 12 children living at home at the time, and he was with her about five years before his marriage. She lived alone many years. About five years ago, Mrs. Ruth Bennett of Neligh, came as a companion to Mrs. Filsinger. She left in September of this year to live in her home in Neligh and since that time Mrs. Anna Bergman, a friend and neighbor, has been with Mrs. Filsinger.
This little lady may be short in stature, but is long on memory. She relates the years gone by with smiles. She was the mother of 13 children, one dying in infancy. Of the 12 children, the one who lives the furthest away is Mrs. Opal (Clarence) Michael at Boys Town. The others are Edward and Mrs. Ethel Westerhoff, who live in Neligh; Mrs. Laura (Elmer) Maulding, who has been the 4th grade teacher in the Clearwater school a number of years; Violet Thompson of Neligh; Mrs. Wilda (Russell) Anderson of Elgin; Raymond Dean and Harold (Chuck) all of Norfolk; Mrs. Mildred (Lawrence) Rutledge, Clearwater; Mrs. Lois (Vern) Finley, Ewing; Merle, Fremont.
There are 38 grandchildren and 63 great grandchildren. Two great great grandchildren and three great grandchildren are deceased.
All of Mrs. Filsinger’s children except Mrs. Rutledge, who was with her husband, who had undergone surgery in Grand Island.
Towns represented at the combined Thanksgiving-Birthday dinner included: Kingston and Geona, Ill., Sherman-Oakes, Calif., Carroll, Ia., as well as Norfolk, Fremont, Boys Town, Elgin, Neligh, O’Neill, Ewing, Meadow Grove, Clearwater and Lincoln.
~transcribed by L. Ziemann, the Antelope Co. Coordinator