FECHT FAMILY IN MISSOURI

L to R
top : Jack, Dorothy Fetterhoff, Phil Shire, Mildred Fecht, Lawrence & Bill Fecht
center: Virginia Dixon, Effie Fecht, Genevieve Rebbe, Anne Shire, Lena Fecht
front: Gerald Fecht, Frank Fecht & JoAnne, William (Billy) Fetterhoff, Larry Fecht, and Thomas (Tommy) Fetterhoff.
Picture # 20

ROBIN PERYSIAN

This is a photoshopped snapshot taken of Robin Perysian on Sunday Jan. 27 2008. Robin and her husband Dale live in Oregon.

GERALD FECHT - "BLOG MASTER"

I thought you might like to see a picture of the guy who is working on this Family Photographs blog. I am Gerald (Jerry) Fecht, the youngest son of William (Bill) and Mildred Fecht. My wife Janne and I live in Tarzana, California.

Refer to Picture # 20

BILL AND MILDRED FECHT'S EARLY FAMILY

Bill Fecht's family and Elizabeth Fecht his mother.

This photograph was taken when Bill and Mildred Fecht's family was young. At the top left is Grandmother Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) Fecht and Mildred and Bill Fecht. The girl is Dorothy and the little boy is James (Jimmie). The photograph was cropped but the buildings were left in, since they give an idea of what the rear of the "home place" looked like.
Mildred was often bewildered by the large Catholic, southern family in which she married. Grandmother Elizabeth Fecht was pure Irish and was the matriarch of the family. Fortunately, she was also kind and generous to her young daughter-in-law from North Dakota.

Refer to Picture # 19

SONS OF WILLIAM CHARLES FECHT

Fecht Brothers - Collection of Gerald Fecht
Elizabeth Ann (Walsh) and her husband William Charles Fecht had four sons. They are shown here according to their ages.
L to R: John (called Jack), William (called Bill), Laurence (called Buck) and Francis (called Frank).
This photograph may have been taken at the time of their father's funeral, since all four are in suits. The house in the background was the "home place" where their parents lived.
Hierarchy was an important social factor in the family. The oldest daughter, Annie was the most influential of the Fecht children, then Jack etc. This was a matter of frustration to younger family members, especially to younger inlaws.

Refer to Picture # 18

FAMILY MYSTERY PHOTO

This family photograph was in the collection of Bill and Mildred Fecht.
What good is a family pictures blog, if there isn't a good mystery involved.
If you know who these folks are, email Jerry at gfecht@sbcglobal.net or leave a comment below this posting.

Refer to Picture # 17

BILL FECHT AND HIS HORSE WILDCAT

For modern descendants and kinfolk of Bill Fecht, these images of Montana homesteads must seem almost fictional. Yet, around 1915 to 1917, many members of our Missouri and Iowa families migrated to Montana and North Dakota to try their hand at Horace Greeley's advice, "Go West young man!" it is also important to recall that Theodore Roosevelt added real fire to the idea of mastering the rugged prairies. Bill Fecht had fond memories of his years as a young cowpuncher.
He wrote on the back of this photograph, "Wild Cat my horse & my self."