Bernice Rutz was born on January 29th, 1917, delivered by a doctor on a farm 3 miles
west of Enid and 3 miles east of Trinity Lutheran Church to Ted and Alma Benkendorf
Rutz. She was baptized March, 1917 at Glenella German Lutheran Church, west of Enid,
now known as Trinity Lutheran. Her father rented 80 acres and the house in 1917 and his
family lived there for one and half years. Shortly after, her parents, Theodore and Alma,
moved to an 80 acre farm north of Lahoma where they farmed from 1921-1923. In 1924,
the family moved to Eads, Colorado. Mom’s brother Bill was born at Eads at their home,
which consisted of a living room, one bedroom, and a kitchen with a wood cook stove,
and an “outdoor john”.

Mom remembers listening to the local band at the park on Saturday evenings.

The Rutz’s left Eads, Colorado and moved back to Lahoma in 1928 and lived in Grandma
Gerber’s house, a one and a half story 2 bedroom house with the upstairs serving as a
play area. An outdoor cellar was used for storage. Mom baked her first cake here and
learned to start the cook stove. Grandma Rutz was an immaculate housekeeper and used
milk to mop the floors to create a shine. Grandpa Rutz worked for the railroad. Mom
started 1st grade at 6 yrs. and 10 months. They attended Zion Lutheran Church and
school. Mom enjoyed school where they had catechism every day. Dad was one year
ahead, and in Mom’s view was “fat” as well as the tallest kid. He always wore overalls.
At first, they ignored each other.

Mom’s favorite class was arithmetic and she loved diagramming sentences. She disliked
reading literature and giving book reports.

Mom attended 5th and 6th grade in Enid where they lived in a ranch style house at 1400 N
Washington, which featured a porch across the front. Grandpa worked for an ice
company delivering ice to Pond Creek. Mom enjoyed spelling bees, math, and singing
She loved playing “Blackman” and going to the movies, visiting family and friends.
Sometimes she rode the free streetcar. She remembered that her family had lots of
company.

In 1930-31, Mom attended a one room country school, Vernon School, for 7th and 8th
grades. They lived one mile east of the school and walked to school, no matter what the
weather. Grandpa farmed 80 acres of land that he inherited from his mother, Grandma
Gerber. On the farm he had a grainery and a barn which had stalls for two horses. He
used them in farming. He raised milk cows and fryers. Mom’s opinion was that her Dad
was not a very ambitious farmer. Mom had to learn how to butcher chickens and milk
cows. While milking a cow stepped on her foot and broke a bone, resulting in a swollen
foot taking months to heal.

Mom met Dad again the “Graduation Celebration Sunday” in Enid at the end of the
school year after 8thgrade.

Mom wore printed feed sack dresses. Feed sacks were printed in color to be used as
fabric for clothing. Mom learned to sew in the 7th grade and used that sewing machine
until 1955.

Dad would sometimes visit the farm and take Mom to a movie that cost 25 cents. They
dated about twice a month. Since Dad didn’t have a car he had to rely on a friend and
hoped to double date. In the 9th grade, Mom was invited by the captain of the football
team to the football banquet ( NOT Dad). In 9th grade Mom sang in a quartet at school.

In 11th and 12th grades, Mom caught a ride to Lahoma Public School. Dad was in the
class above hers. Her favorite class was grammar and she could sew better than the home
economics teacher. She enjoyed high school and placed on the state honor roll. She liked
socialization and captured the lead role in the school play. At noon, she and Dad would
hold hands and look out a window to the north and talk. She was invited to the
Perebooms for Sunday dinners. Mrs. Pereboom was a great cook and made the best pot
roast using a wood stove. She also made delicious desserts while Grandma Rutz excelled
at bread baking. Mom learned skills from both which was revealed in her great meals
which she prepared.

After graduating in May, 1935, in a class of 17, Mom stayed home and cared for sister
Jeanette and helped with cooking for the harvest crew. She also helped with the milking
an other farm chores. Once a week, Dad borrowed Grandpa’s car to visit Mom. They
would attend Dance-a-Thons in Enid at the convention center The admission was 5 cents.

The Rutz family moved to the “sand farm” in April of 1937.

It was during the “dust bowl” and Dad could not find work. His Uncle Chet and Aunt
Ann owned a liquor store and asked him to come work. He rode out with an uncle.
Mom’s Uncle Leonard was going to California. Thinking she was coming by train, Dad
sent $25.00 for train ticket. So Evelyn Brunken Dad’s sister, and Grandma Pereboom
hurriedly sewed Mom’s wedding dress. She rode with her uncle. They were married in
Chet & Ann’s church. They went to the famous Brown Derby for dinner and a dessert
cart. It was frequented by the Hollywood stars. Ann fixed chicken fried steak and Chet
mixed drinks. Mom memories of her wedding dinner at Chet and Ann’s was that she
became woozy and the steak flipped off the plate and peas rolled off her spoon and
landed on her dress. They lived in an apartment close to what is now Universal Studios,
Chet and Ann’s and the liquor store. After approximately a year, they returned to Okeene,
OK., where Dad began his career in the grain business as manager of the Okeene Mill &
Elevator, Co. where Don was born in 1938.

They lived in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Arkansas before moving back to Enid,
Oklahoma in 1989.

Mom will be remembered for her many talents--sewing, cooking, interior decorating,
house restoration, doll making, & painting. We were fortunate that one of her chief
enjoyments was having a house full of relatives seated around her dining room table
enjoying one of Mom’s delicious meals. No one made fried chicken like Mom. Her pride
and joy was her family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bernice Pauline Marie Pereboom (Rutz), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.