Henry & Ella Westphal Meins

MEINS WESTPHAL MANGOLSON DITTMER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 15:03:30

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Henry and Ella (Westphal) Meins
By Ella Meins

Henry Albert Meins was born June 11, 1918, at Goodthunder, Minnesota, to Fred and Elizabeth (Mongolson) Meins. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at an early age. He moved to Akron, Iowa with his parents when a small boy. He received his education in the rural schools at Akron.

Ella Lois Westphal was born June 20, 1916, to Ferd and Betty (Dittmer) Westphal in Battle Township, Ida County, Iowa. She moved with her parents and three sisters to a farm two miles southwest of Cushing, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She received her education in the Cushing Consolidated School, graduating in 1935.

Henry and Ella were united in marriage on November 26, 1941, at Dakota City, Nebraska. They started farming on a farm northwest of Cushing; the following year they moved to a farm southwest of Cushing. In 1952 they purchased the former Schumacher farm six miles southwest of Cushing, which they called home for thirty-six years. While living there, they did a lot of remodeling to the house, adding a family room. They built a new home in Cushing, moving to town December 1, 1978, where they are now retired.

Henry and Ella are members St John Lutheran Church, where they were members of the choir for many years. They both taught Sunday School for a number of years. They both taught Sunday School for a number of years, and also taught Bible School. Henry served on the church council for two terms. Beside helping on the farm, Ella had worked in Vine’s Café and later Marla’s Café for seventeen years.

They have two daughters, Kayana and Vicki. Kayana Rae Meins Hulce was born January 6, 1945. She was baptized in infancy and confirmed at the age of thirteen. She received her education in Cushing and graduated in 1963. She worked at Vine’s Café several years and later worked at Younkers Store in Sioux City for thirteen years. Kayana and Richard Hulce were married on November 23, 1979, at the Lutheran Church at Cushing. They both work at Younkers and live in Morningside, Sioux City. They have a daughter, Jennifer Jo, born May 14, 1981.

Vicki Lanys Meins Nippert was born April 12, 1949, and was baptized as a baby and confirmed at the age of thirteen. She attended school in Cushing and Correctionville, graduating with the first class from Eastwood Community School in 1967. She worked at Younkers for three years. She attended and graduated from Ellis Beauty School in Sioux City. She is now working at Marla’s Café. She has a son, Jason Michael, born January 10, 1970. He is attending school at Eastwood Community. Vicki was married to Eldon Nippert on September 26, 1983. They are in the trucking business, known as Nippert Trucking. They are living on the Meins farm and are going to farm this coming year (1984).

Henry and Ella observed their 40th wedding anniversary November 26, 1981.