Marvin and Esther Shoger are long time residents of Riceville. They moved into Riceville in 1967 from a farm located ½ mile west and 1 mile south of town (section 35, Jenkins township). They rented Rev. Hershel Hawf ‘s home on Pine Street for six years. In 1973, they moved their present home at the corner of West Main and Forest Street, which they purchased from Dean Lubbert.

Marvin & Esther Shoger Taken at Esther’s 80th birthday party at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville in 2005.

Marvin Shoger was born in 1933 at his maternal grandparent’s (Ray and Ina (Jeffries) Carter) farm located seven miles west of Osage on Highway #9. Marvin lived the first three years with his parents, Clifford and Lulu (Carter) Shoger, on his paternal grandparent’s (Cornelius and Nettie (Johnson) Shoger) farm located eight miles west and four miles south of Osage. In 1936, he moved with his parents, to the Adella Norby farm located 5 miles west and 6 miles south of Osage. In 1941, he moved with his family to a farm located 4 miles north and ½ mile east of Riceville (Oakdale township, section 30, Howard county). He attended rural country schools in Rock Grove township, Floyd county and Oakdale township, Howard county. He graduated from McIntire High School in 1952. While in attending high school, Marvin was active in sports, participating in baseball and basketball. After graduating high school, he worked as a hired farm hand for Jim Jordan near Bailey, Iowa. On October 15, 1953, Marvin entered the United States Army. He attended basic military training at Fort Lenard Wood, Missouri where he was assigned to the 6th Armored Division Training School were taught how to operate heavy equipment. In 1954, he was sent overseas to Mannheim, Germany where he was assigned to 530th Engineer Company and worked on a panel bridge crew. In July 1955, he was assigned to 79th Headquarters, 11th Engineer Group. Marvin spent a year and five months in Germany. He was promoted to Specialist 3rd Class in July 1955. Marvin was separated from active duty on September 29, 1955 and honorably discharged on September 30, 1961. While in the army, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and Sharpshooter (carbine) ribbon.

After Marvin returned home from the army, he worked as a hired hand for Virgil Schumann, north of Riceville. In January 1956, he got a job in Cedar Rapids, Iowa working for Iron and Steel Manufactoring where he was laid off six months later. In July 1956, he got a job at Waterloo with John Deere Manufactoring where he was again laid off after six months. So he went back to work for Virgil Schumann . In the winter of 1958, Marvin bought a milk truck and began hauling milk for the Little Cedar Creamery.

On April 1, 1961, Marvin and Esther were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran church in Osage, Iowa by Rev. Obert Hoven. Attendants were Mary Lou Milhan sister of the bride and Keith Eastman, friend of the groom. They became the parents of a son, Larry.

Esther was born in 1925 on a farm located 5 miles south and 1 ½ miles east of Riceville (section 29, Afton township) to Arthur and Agnes (Bunston) Milhan. She lived with her parents on her grandma Milhan’s farm until 1932, when her parents moved to the Frank Marr farm located 3 miles south and 2 miles east of Riceville near Acme. Esther attended country schools in Afton township (Afton # 4 and Afton#11). After graduating 8th grade, she worked for a few Riceville area families. She kept house for Ernie Annonson, David Goodbrand and William Dynes families. Esther worked at the egg plant in Osage until it closed and then worked for at the chicken factory in LeRoy until it closed. On November 20, 1947, Esther was married to Wayne Rassman at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They became the parents of four children – Betty, Dorothy, Dennis and James. Esther and Wayne lived on the Gertches farm north of Riceville, later moving to a house near the Riceville Sales Barn, and on the Ottis Lubbert farm south of Riceville. In 1952, they moved to a farm near Claremont, Minnesota. Later that year, Esther and Wayne divorced and she moved back to Riceville with her four small children.

Marvin Shoger Family (l to r) James Rassman, Esther (Milhan-Rassman) Shoger, Marvin Shoger, Betty (Rassman) Bruesewitz, Larry Shoger, Dorothy (Rassman) Parson, Dennis Rassman. Taken during Kevin & Janette (Parson) Martens’ wedding reception in Des Moines, Iowa.

Marvin and Esther began their married life together in Riceville. They moved to the Dewster farm located about 3 miles west of Riceville (section 28, Jenkins township). In February 1962, Marvin sold his milk truck and began working for Virgil Schumann again. So they moved the family to a farm in Oakdale township located a mile or so east of the Schumann farm. In 1964, Marvin began working for Chris Schwarck so the family moved to the Seavy farm located ½ mile south and ½ mile east of Riceville. In 1966, they moved to the Weber farm located ½ mile west and 1 mile south of Riceville. In 1967, Marvin got a job at the Farmer’s Feed and Grain in Riceville where he worked for 30 years. After his retirement, Marvin has worked part time for the Farmer’s Feed and Grain and has helped David Eastman with work on his farm. Esther worked occasionally at Pettit’s Café.

Marvin has been active in the community for many years. In 1979, he was elected as a write-in candidate for city council. He has served on the city council for many years. Marvin is also an active member of American Legion, Roy Gue Post 244. Marvin and Esther are active members of St. Peter’s Lutheran church where Esther is a member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid.

Marvin and Esther’s children are all graduates of the Riceville Community Schools. They were all baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran church in Riceville. Betty lives in Rosemount, Minnesota and works for the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Dorothy lives in Charles City where Dorothy works for Charles City Credit Union. Denny lives in Forest City and works for Union Pacific Railroad. James lives in Mankato, Minnesota where he is employed as a carpenter. Larry lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he works for the government as an adversary tactics analyst.