Part 1 of this story introduced Becky Weitzel. A native of the Withee area, until she moved away to southern Wisconsin in 1970. Becky was an adopted daughter of William E. “Bill” Krause. Had Becky remained living in Withee, she would have been part of Owen-Withee Class of 1976.
Continued from Part 1, previous week. In Rebecca’s own words.
“Mom was a bank teller by day; having left the job she had working as Ernie Gay's legal secretary. Mom also headed Girl and Boy Scouts, and taught Sunday School at Holy Rosary Elementary. I had many close friends there, and I had the honor of attending seventh and half of eighth grade at O-W High School. Mom was on the Owen-Withee School Board by the time we moved. I learned to bake cakes and make jam which Mom had me enter into contests every year at the Clark County 4-H Fair. Bill took us fishing, maple syrup tasting, arrowhead hunting, and taught us as much as he could, about the 'old ways' regarding both survival and artistic skills. I was also amazed at his auctioneering abilities. I was the only person that I knew, placed in the slower physical education class, in my group of girlfriends, and overall, unable to keep pace in any way with them. After moving I tired of being so weak and began taking responsibility for my personal health.
“Mom sent Bill Krause and me to Milton ahead of her and all of my brothers and sisters in late 1970. Mom's parents lived in Fort Atkinson, and Grandpa knew of a man in Milton that needed a caretaker for his farm. We brought my last horse there with us. By January of 1971, we were all together at a farm on Hwy 26. I almost remember the name of the farm owner, but not right now.
“When I was 12 (in January 1971), I began school at Milton (Wisconsin) Junior High, with two girls appointed by Principal Garvin to show me around. I spent only one semester at Milton Junior High in a new town, before beginning at Milton High School as a freshman in 1971, graduating in 1976. My grades were excellent from kindergarten through college. I didn't know how to swim, but after a scary hitchhiking trip to Florida, I joined the Milton swimming team, without knowing anything about swimming. I was voted MVP of the year both years on the team, and team captain. I loved and still love swimming. I also began searching for an efficient workout, which I still use to this day, for my personal powerlifting goals. Actually, I borrowed the NASA Nautilus Principles and developed my routine, in the eighties.
“A few things I forgot to mention are that mom was the salutatorian of her Thorp High School class, but it was pretty small. Mom did what every pretty Fifties Era young adult female was expected to do after high school, and had five children, which she cherished. Still, when I asked her if she regretted not finishing college, she immediately said ’yes, very much.’ Her mother Gertude "Gertie" Oberle Larson taught special education and regular elementary, which created Mom's perfectionism. While still in school during seventh and eighth grades, my favorite O-W classes and favorite teachers really shared their skills and most of all love for their specialties. Mr. Chase, the art teacher, gave all three of us older kids a lot of help, no matter our artsy interests. My home ec teacher there was also a favorite. Math did the same for me soon, as well. I think the teacher was Beryl Rowe.
“I added Mr. Chase, the home-ec teacher, and the mathematics teacher Mr. Rowe, because through them, I moved to Milton with skills I had not had before, and became quite good at portraits, sewing, cooking, and decided to major in mathematics. They gave me a passion for those three interests for the rest of my life.”
Thank you, Becky, for sharing your story. And thank you for keeping your heart in Owen-Withee.