Elizabeth S. (Bessie) Mongoven was born June 23, 1889, at Staples, Minnesota. She was Steve and Elizabeth Mongoven's first child – and sole surviving daughter. Bessie moved with her family several times during the early 1890s. Such was life for a railroader's family. By April 1899, her parents had established East Grand Forks as their "permanent" home. Bessie attended the Sacred Heart School until the Benedictine nuns discontinued it after the 1900 school year. The Grand Forks Herald ran an article on June 15, 1900, in which the school's closing ceremonies were reviewed. Bessie, about to turn eleven, made a "dainty little fairy queen and sang sweetly," according to the reviewer. The sisters would not return to East Grand Forks until 1912, so this was the last performance of Sacred Heart students for quite some time. After 1900, Bessie and her brothers were enrolled in the city's public schools. The Grand Forks Herald reported on December 22, 1905, that Bessie sang a solo and in a quartet of East Grand Forks public school students in a Christmas program at the Central school assembly hall. It marked one of several such singing performances for Bessie.
Of course, Bessie's life changed forever with her father's death in a railroad accident in 1904. She was destined to take on the role of second "mother" to her younger brothers. Her first paying job was reported in the Grand Forks Herald on June 20, 1906, when she acquired a clerk position in the "Arneson Mercantile Company." She took a layoff from the company at the beginning of August and a week later procured a job in McCulloch's grocery store. In 1907, Bessie belonged to the U.R.C. girls – among other activities, the daughters of the Union of Railroad Conductors occasionally put on dance parties.
Around mid-August 1908, Bessie and most of her brothers moved away from East Grand Forks with their mother. They lived at 1034 North 4th Street in Minneapolis, according to a 1909 city directory. Bessie worked in a millinery store selling all types of hats, and she accepted a position in a St. Paul millinery store at the end of August 1909, according to the Evening Times.
When Elizabeth brought her sons back to East Grand Forks in 1909, Bessie remained in Minneapolis. The 1910 census finds her living as a "roomer" in the household of a Norwegian-born blacksmith, Reinhart Holt, his wife Nora, and their three children at 2622 4th Street. Of course, Bessie still worked in the hat shop, and from 1910 to 1913 she hopped the train periodically to visit family and friends in East Grand Forks. The Evening Times edition of December 2, 1912, stated that Bessie had come home from St. Paul for a vacation and that she was a milliner with "Strong, Warner & Co.," wholesale milliners in St. Paul. This seems to have been her last job in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Bessie returned to East Grand Forks in 1913. Having served an apprenticeship of several years in the millinery business, she felt ready to strike out on her own. On June 21, 1913, the Grand Forks Herald announced that Bessie had purchased the Mullen millinery store in Crookston, Minnesota, about 30 miles east of East Grand Forks. It is not known how she financed the deal – perhaps she used money earned in Minneapolis-St. Paul, or maybe her mother provided a loan, or both. Bessie also had several friends in Crookston and soon met Earl Frederick Burkhardt, a jewelry salesman and native of Crookston. Earl was a junior partner in "The Square Store" in the city. The couple's wedding on the night of May 5, 1915, was announced in the May 8th edition of the Grand Forks Herald. Apparently, it took most people by surprise. Nearly ten months later, on March 3, 1916, the happy couple celebrated the arrival of their first baby, Earl Stephen Burkhardt.
On June 5, 1917, Earl registered for the World War I draft. He was married with wife and child, lived at 824 N. Broadway in Crookston, and was a "jeweler, proprietor" in town. He claimed an exemption from the draft "on account of dependent relations." This may mean that his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Mongoven, lived with the Burkhardts in Crookston. Earl was described by the draft board as being tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The couple had five children: Earl Stephen, Jerome LeRoy, Robert Louis, Lorrayne Alda, and William E. The Burkhardts were still at Crookston as of May 1919, according to newspaper accounts, but soon afterward moved to East Grand Forks.
By the time January's 1920 census was taken, the Burkhardts rented a place at 319 North 4th Street in East Grand Forks. Earl was a watchmaker for Max Rabinovich, a jeweler, as Bessie – busy with three kids under four – had given up her millinery business. They moved a few blocks to 620 Dovry Avenue around 1921 and lived there until the mid-1920s. In addition to their kids, Earl and Bessie had taken in her mother, Elizabeth, who worked in boys' clothing at "Ruetell's" store. Two of Bessie's brothers, Hank and Frank, also lived in the household and contributed to the rent. At the end of the decade, Earl worked for the "Diamond Shop" in Grand Forks, but he soon went into business for himself, moving a block up the street to 117 DeMers Avenue.
The Burkhardts lived at 509 Allen Avenue in East Grand Forks as of the 1930 census. It was April and the Great Depression had descended on America. Earl had his own business and rented their home for $45 monthly. Bessie ran the household and raised her four children, aged fourteen to five. Elizabeth Mongoven still worked in boys' clothing and remained with the family. The 1936 city directory for East Grand Forks shows Earl and Bessie on Allen Avenue. Then they moved across the Red River to Grand Forks and can be found in the 1938 and 1940 city directories. They rented at 310 Skidmore Avenue in 1938, while Earl worked at "Held & Burkhardt Jewelers" at 8 North 4th Street. Two years later he was a watchmaker for "J.A. Rabinovich Jewelry" (formerly the "Diamond Shop") at 209 DeMers Avenue. In both directories, son Earl Stephen was a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railway and son Robert was a student. The Burkhardt's niece, Helen Mongoven – Jack's daughter, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin – lived with them and waited tables at "Zespy's Café."
The 1940 census finds the family at the same location, with Earl at the jewelry store and Elizabeth doing housework. Their four children were also present: Earl Stephen (with one year of college completed) was a railroad brakeman, Robert worked at a local "octane" station, and Lorrayne and William attended school. Helen Mongoven lived with them, but was now a saleslady at a retail chain store. Earl had worked 56 hours in the jewelry store during the week of March 24-30, 1940. In 1939, he was employed for 40 weeks, earning wages of $800. In contrast, son Earl Stephen had been unemployed for 20 weeks that year, yet his wages amounted to $892. As the Great Depression played out, everybody pitched in to help pay the rent – $35 per month.
The 1942 Grand Forks directory informs us that the Burkhardts had left for Mobridge, South Dakota. After a very short time in South Dakota, Earl and Elizabeth permanently settled in Minneapolis. Earl was hired as a watchmaker at "Harry H. Green, Inc.," and their first home was an apartment at 501 East 36th. Bessie's mother, Elizabeth, came to live with them around 1943. Shortly after the war, the Burkhardts and Elizabeth moved to 3645 Grand Avenue, where the aged widow passed away in 1948. The Burkhardt were at the same address when the 1960 city directory was published, although they eventually ended up in a home at 3726 Nicollett Avenue.
Bessie developed what doctors called a "pre-pyloric stress ulcer" – a lower stomach ulcer – by the late 1960s. She entered St. Mary's Hospital to battle a gall bladder inflammation in autumn 1968. After three days, peritonitis set in. She died two days later on October 29, 1968, at age 79. Earl died in Minneapolis nearly eight years later, at 85, on January 31, 1976. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery at Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Of course, Bessie's life changed forever with her father's death in a railroad accident in 1904. She was destined to take on the role of second "mother" to her younger brothers. Her first paying job was reported in the Grand Forks Herald on June 20, 1906, when she acquired a clerk position in the "Arneson Mercantile Company." She took a layoff from the company at the beginning of August and a week later procured a job in McCulloch's grocery store. In 1907, Bessie belonged to the U.R.C. girls – among other activities, the daughters of the Union of Railroad Conductors occasionally put on dance parties.
Around mid-August 1908, Bessie and most of her brothers moved away from East Grand Forks with their mother. They lived at 1034 North 4th Street in Minneapolis, according to a 1909 city directory. Bessie worked in a millinery store selling all types of hats, and she accepted a position in a St. Paul millinery store at the end of August 1909, according to the Evening Times.
When Elizabeth brought her sons back to East Grand Forks in 1909, Bessie remained in Minneapolis. The 1910 census finds her living as a "roomer" in the household of a Norwegian-born blacksmith, Reinhart Holt, his wife Nora, and their three children at 2622 4th Street. Of course, Bessie still worked in the hat shop, and from 1910 to 1913 she hopped the train periodically to visit family and friends in East Grand Forks. The Evening Times edition of December 2, 1912, stated that Bessie had come home from St. Paul for a vacation and that she was a milliner with "Strong, Warner & Co.," wholesale milliners in St. Paul. This seems to have been her last job in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Bessie returned to East Grand Forks in 1913. Having served an apprenticeship of several years in the millinery business, she felt ready to strike out on her own. On June 21, 1913, the Grand Forks Herald announced that Bessie had purchased the Mullen millinery store in Crookston, Minnesota, about 30 miles east of East Grand Forks. It is not known how she financed the deal – perhaps she used money earned in Minneapolis-St. Paul, or maybe her mother provided a loan, or both. Bessie also had several friends in Crookston and soon met Earl Frederick Burkhardt, a jewelry salesman and native of Crookston. Earl was a junior partner in "The Square Store" in the city. The couple's wedding on the night of May 5, 1915, was announced in the May 8th edition of the Grand Forks Herald. Apparently, it took most people by surprise. Nearly ten months later, on March 3, 1916, the happy couple celebrated the arrival of their first baby, Earl Stephen Burkhardt.
On June 5, 1917, Earl registered for the World War I draft. He was married with wife and child, lived at 824 N. Broadway in Crookston, and was a "jeweler, proprietor" in town. He claimed an exemption from the draft "on account of dependent relations." This may mean that his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Mongoven, lived with the Burkhardts in Crookston. Earl was described by the draft board as being tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The couple had five children: Earl Stephen, Jerome LeRoy, Robert Louis, Lorrayne Alda, and William E. The Burkhardts were still at Crookston as of May 1919, according to newspaper accounts, but soon afterward moved to East Grand Forks.
By the time January's 1920 census was taken, the Burkhardts rented a place at 319 North 4th Street in East Grand Forks. Earl was a watchmaker for Max Rabinovich, a jeweler, as Bessie – busy with three kids under four – had given up her millinery business. They moved a few blocks to 620 Dovry Avenue around 1921 and lived there until the mid-1920s. In addition to their kids, Earl and Bessie had taken in her mother, Elizabeth, who worked in boys' clothing at "Ruetell's" store. Two of Bessie's brothers, Hank and Frank, also lived in the household and contributed to the rent. At the end of the decade, Earl worked for the "Diamond Shop" in Grand Forks, but he soon went into business for himself, moving a block up the street to 117 DeMers Avenue.
The Burkhardts lived at 509 Allen Avenue in East Grand Forks as of the 1930 census. It was April and the Great Depression had descended on America. Earl had his own business and rented their home for $45 monthly. Bessie ran the household and raised her four children, aged fourteen to five. Elizabeth Mongoven still worked in boys' clothing and remained with the family. The 1936 city directory for East Grand Forks shows Earl and Bessie on Allen Avenue. Then they moved across the Red River to Grand Forks and can be found in the 1938 and 1940 city directories. They rented at 310 Skidmore Avenue in 1938, while Earl worked at "Held & Burkhardt Jewelers" at 8 North 4th Street. Two years later he was a watchmaker for "J.A. Rabinovich Jewelry" (formerly the "Diamond Shop") at 209 DeMers Avenue. In both directories, son Earl Stephen was a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railway and son Robert was a student. The Burkhardt's niece, Helen Mongoven – Jack's daughter, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin – lived with them and waited tables at "Zespy's Café."
The 1940 census finds the family at the same location, with Earl at the jewelry store and Elizabeth doing housework. Their four children were also present: Earl Stephen (with one year of college completed) was a railroad brakeman, Robert worked at a local "octane" station, and Lorrayne and William attended school. Helen Mongoven lived with them, but was now a saleslady at a retail chain store. Earl had worked 56 hours in the jewelry store during the week of March 24-30, 1940. In 1939, he was employed for 40 weeks, earning wages of $800. In contrast, son Earl Stephen had been unemployed for 20 weeks that year, yet his wages amounted to $892. As the Great Depression played out, everybody pitched in to help pay the rent – $35 per month.
The 1942 Grand Forks directory informs us that the Burkhardts had left for Mobridge, South Dakota. After a very short time in South Dakota, Earl and Elizabeth permanently settled in Minneapolis. Earl was hired as a watchmaker at "Harry H. Green, Inc.," and their first home was an apartment at 501 East 36th. Bessie's mother, Elizabeth, came to live with them around 1943. Shortly after the war, the Burkhardts and Elizabeth moved to 3645 Grand Avenue, where the aged widow passed away in 1948. The Burkhardt were at the same address when the 1960 city directory was published, although they eventually ended up in a home at 3726 Nicollett Avenue.
Bessie developed what doctors called a "pre-pyloric stress ulcer" – a lower stomach ulcer – by the late 1960s. She entered St. Mary's Hospital to battle a gall bladder inflammation in autumn 1968. After three days, peritonitis set in. She died two days later on October 29, 1968, at age 79. Earl died in Minneapolis nearly eight years later, at 85, on January 31, 1976. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery at Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Elizabeth S. (Bessie) Mongoven was born June 23, 1889, at Staples, Minnesota. She was Steve and Elizabeth Mongoven's first child – and sole surviving daughter. Bessie moved with her family several times during the early 1890s. Such was life for a railroader's family. By April 1899, her parents had established East Grand Forks as their "permanent" home. Bessie attended the Sacred Heart School until the Benedictine nuns discontinued it after the 1900 school year. The Grand Forks Herald ran an article on June 15, 1900, in which the school's closing ceremonies were reviewed. Bessie, about to turn eleven, made a "dainty little fairy queen and sang sweetly," according to the reviewer. The sisters would not return to East Grand Forks until 1912, so this was the last performance of Sacred Heart students for quite some time. After 1900, Bessie and her brothers were enrolled in the city's public schools. The Grand Forks Herald reported on December 22, 1905, that Bessie sang a solo and in a quartet of East Grand Forks public school students in a Christmas program at the Central school assembly hall. It marked one of several such singing performances for Bessie.
Of course, Bessie's life changed forever with her father's death in a railroad accident in 1904. She was destined to take on the role of second "mother" to her younger brothers. Her first paying job was reported in the Grand Forks Herald on June 20, 1906, when she acquired a clerk position in the "Arneson Mercantile Company." She took a layoff from the company at the beginning of August and a week later procured a job in McCulloch's grocery store. In 1907, Bessie belonged to the U.R.C. girls – among other activities, the daughters of the Union of Railroad Conductors occasionally put on dance parties.
Around mid-August 1908, Bessie and most of her brothers moved away from East Grand Forks with their mother. They lived at 1034 North 4th Street in Minneapolis, according to a 1909 city directory. Bessie worked in a millinery store selling all types of hats, and she accepted a position in a St. Paul millinery store at the end of August 1909, according to the Evening Times.
When Elizabeth brought her sons back to East Grand Forks in 1909, Bessie remained in Minneapolis. The 1910 census finds her living as a "roomer" in the household of a Norwegian-born blacksmith, Reinhart Holt, his wife Nora, and their three children at 2622 4th Street. Of course, Bessie still worked in the hat shop, and from 1910 to 1913 she hopped the train periodically to visit family and friends in East Grand Forks. The Evening Times edition of December 2, 1912, stated that Bessie had come home from St. Paul for a vacation and that she was a milliner with "Strong, Warner & Co.," wholesale milliners in St. Paul. This seems to have been her last job in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Bessie returned to East Grand Forks in 1913. Having served an apprenticeship of several years in the millinery business, she felt ready to strike out on her own. On June 21, 1913, the Grand Forks Herald announced that Bessie had purchased the Mullen millinery store in Crookston, Minnesota, about 30 miles east of East Grand Forks. It is not known how she financed the deal – perhaps she used money earned in Minneapolis-St. Paul, or maybe her mother provided a loan, or both. Bessie also had several friends in Crookston and soon met Earl Frederick Burkhardt, a jewelry salesman and native of Crookston. Earl was a junior partner in "The Square Store" in the city. The couple's wedding on the night of May 5, 1915, was announced in the May 8th edition of the Grand Forks Herald. Apparently, it took most people by surprise. Nearly ten months later, on March 3, 1916, the happy couple celebrated the arrival of their first baby, Earl Stephen Burkhardt.
On June 5, 1917, Earl registered for the World War I draft. He was married with wife and child, lived at 824 N. Broadway in Crookston, and was a "jeweler, proprietor" in town. He claimed an exemption from the draft "on account of dependent relations." This may mean that his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Mongoven, lived with the Burkhardts in Crookston. Earl was described by the draft board as being tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The couple had five children: Earl Stephen, Jerome LeRoy, Robert Louis, Lorrayne Alda, and William E. The Burkhardts were still at Crookston as of May 1919, according to newspaper accounts, but soon afterward moved to East Grand Forks.
By the time January's 1920 census was taken, the Burkhardts rented a place at 319 North 4th Street in East Grand Forks. Earl was a watchmaker for Max Rabinovich, a jeweler, as Bessie – busy with three kids under four – had given up her millinery business. They moved a few blocks to 620 Dovry Avenue around 1921 and lived there until the mid-1920s. In addition to their kids, Earl and Bessie had taken in her mother, Elizabeth, who worked in boys' clothing at "Ruetell's" store. Two of Bessie's brothers, Hank and Frank, also lived in the household and contributed to the rent. At the end of the decade, Earl worked for the "Diamond Shop" in Grand Forks, but he soon went into business for himself, moving a block up the street to 117 DeMers Avenue.
The Burkhardts lived at 509 Allen Avenue in East Grand Forks as of the 1930 census. It was April and the Great Depression had descended on America. Earl had his own business and rented their home for $45 monthly. Bessie ran the household and raised her four children, aged fourteen to five. Elizabeth Mongoven still worked in boys' clothing and remained with the family. The 1936 city directory for East Grand Forks shows Earl and Bessie on Allen Avenue. Then they moved across the Red River to Grand Forks and can be found in the 1938 and 1940 city directories. They rented at 310 Skidmore Avenue in 1938, while Earl worked at "Held & Burkhardt Jewelers" at 8 North 4th Street. Two years later he was a watchmaker for "J.A. Rabinovich Jewelry" (formerly the "Diamond Shop") at 209 DeMers Avenue. In both directories, son Earl Stephen was a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railway and son Robert was a student. The Burkhardt's niece, Helen Mongoven – Jack's daughter, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin – lived with them and waited tables at "Zespy's Café."
The 1940 census finds the family at the same location, with Earl at the jewelry store and Elizabeth doing housework. Their four children were also present: Earl Stephen (with one year of college completed) was a railroad brakeman, Robert worked at a local "octane" station, and Lorrayne and William attended school. Helen Mongoven lived with them, but was now a saleslady at a retail chain store. Earl had worked 56 hours in the jewelry store during the week of March 24-30, 1940. In 1939, he was employed for 40 weeks, earning wages of $800. In contrast, son Earl Stephen had been unemployed for 20 weeks that year, yet his wages amounted to $892. As the Great Depression played out, everybody pitched in to help pay the rent – $35 per month.
The 1942 Grand Forks directory informs us that the Burkhardts had left for Mobridge, South Dakota. After a very short time in South Dakota, Earl and Elizabeth permanently settled in Minneapolis. Earl was hired as a watchmaker at "Harry H. Green, Inc.," and their first home was an apartment at 501 East 36th. Bessie's mother, Elizabeth, came to live with them around 1943. Shortly after the war, the Burkhardts and Elizabeth moved to 3645 Grand Avenue, where the aged widow passed away in 1948. The Burkhardt were at the same address when the 1960 city directory was published, although they eventually ended up in a home at 3726 Nicollett Avenue.
Bessie developed what doctors called a "pre-pyloric stress ulcer" – a lower stomach ulcer – by the late 1960s. She entered St. Mary's Hospital to battle a gall bladder inflammation in autumn 1968. After three days, peritonitis set in. She died two days later on October 29, 1968, at age 79. Earl died in Minneapolis nearly eight years later, at 85, on January 31, 1976. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery at Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Of course, Bessie's life changed forever with her father's death in a railroad accident in 1904. She was destined to take on the role of second "mother" to her younger brothers. Her first paying job was reported in the Grand Forks Herald on June 20, 1906, when she acquired a clerk position in the "Arneson Mercantile Company." She took a layoff from the company at the beginning of August and a week later procured a job in McCulloch's grocery store. In 1907, Bessie belonged to the U.R.C. girls – among other activities, the daughters of the Union of Railroad Conductors occasionally put on dance parties.
Around mid-August 1908, Bessie and most of her brothers moved away from East Grand Forks with their mother. They lived at 1034 North 4th Street in Minneapolis, according to a 1909 city directory. Bessie worked in a millinery store selling all types of hats, and she accepted a position in a St. Paul millinery store at the end of August 1909, according to the Evening Times.
When Elizabeth brought her sons back to East Grand Forks in 1909, Bessie remained in Minneapolis. The 1910 census finds her living as a "roomer" in the household of a Norwegian-born blacksmith, Reinhart Holt, his wife Nora, and their three children at 2622 4th Street. Of course, Bessie still worked in the hat shop, and from 1910 to 1913 she hopped the train periodically to visit family and friends in East Grand Forks. The Evening Times edition of December 2, 1912, stated that Bessie had come home from St. Paul for a vacation and that she was a milliner with "Strong, Warner & Co.," wholesale milliners in St. Paul. This seems to have been her last job in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Bessie returned to East Grand Forks in 1913. Having served an apprenticeship of several years in the millinery business, she felt ready to strike out on her own. On June 21, 1913, the Grand Forks Herald announced that Bessie had purchased the Mullen millinery store in Crookston, Minnesota, about 30 miles east of East Grand Forks. It is not known how she financed the deal – perhaps she used money earned in Minneapolis-St. Paul, or maybe her mother provided a loan, or both. Bessie also had several friends in Crookston and soon met Earl Frederick Burkhardt, a jewelry salesman and native of Crookston. Earl was a junior partner in "The Square Store" in the city. The couple's wedding on the night of May 5, 1915, was announced in the May 8th edition of the Grand Forks Herald. Apparently, it took most people by surprise. Nearly ten months later, on March 3, 1916, the happy couple celebrated the arrival of their first baby, Earl Stephen Burkhardt.
On June 5, 1917, Earl registered for the World War I draft. He was married with wife and child, lived at 824 N. Broadway in Crookston, and was a "jeweler, proprietor" in town. He claimed an exemption from the draft "on account of dependent relations." This may mean that his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Mongoven, lived with the Burkhardts in Crookston. Earl was described by the draft board as being tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The couple had five children: Earl Stephen, Jerome LeRoy, Robert Louis, Lorrayne Alda, and William E. The Burkhardts were still at Crookston as of May 1919, according to newspaper accounts, but soon afterward moved to East Grand Forks.
By the time January's 1920 census was taken, the Burkhardts rented a place at 319 North 4th Street in East Grand Forks. Earl was a watchmaker for Max Rabinovich, a jeweler, as Bessie – busy with three kids under four – had given up her millinery business. They moved a few blocks to 620 Dovry Avenue around 1921 and lived there until the mid-1920s. In addition to their kids, Earl and Bessie had taken in her mother, Elizabeth, who worked in boys' clothing at "Ruetell's" store. Two of Bessie's brothers, Hank and Frank, also lived in the household and contributed to the rent. At the end of the decade, Earl worked for the "Diamond Shop" in Grand Forks, but he soon went into business for himself, moving a block up the street to 117 DeMers Avenue.
The Burkhardts lived at 509 Allen Avenue in East Grand Forks as of the 1930 census. It was April and the Great Depression had descended on America. Earl had his own business and rented their home for $45 monthly. Bessie ran the household and raised her four children, aged fourteen to five. Elizabeth Mongoven still worked in boys' clothing and remained with the family. The 1936 city directory for East Grand Forks shows Earl and Bessie on Allen Avenue. Then they moved across the Red River to Grand Forks and can be found in the 1938 and 1940 city directories. They rented at 310 Skidmore Avenue in 1938, while Earl worked at "Held & Burkhardt Jewelers" at 8 North 4th Street. Two years later he was a watchmaker for "J.A. Rabinovich Jewelry" (formerly the "Diamond Shop") at 209 DeMers Avenue. In both directories, son Earl Stephen was a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railway and son Robert was a student. The Burkhardt's niece, Helen Mongoven – Jack's daughter, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin – lived with them and waited tables at "Zespy's Café."
The 1940 census finds the family at the same location, with Earl at the jewelry store and Elizabeth doing housework. Their four children were also present: Earl Stephen (with one year of college completed) was a railroad brakeman, Robert worked at a local "octane" station, and Lorrayne and William attended school. Helen Mongoven lived with them, but was now a saleslady at a retail chain store. Earl had worked 56 hours in the jewelry store during the week of March 24-30, 1940. In 1939, he was employed for 40 weeks, earning wages of $800. In contrast, son Earl Stephen had been unemployed for 20 weeks that year, yet his wages amounted to $892. As the Great Depression played out, everybody pitched in to help pay the rent – $35 per month.
The 1942 Grand Forks directory informs us that the Burkhardts had left for Mobridge, South Dakota. After a very short time in South Dakota, Earl and Elizabeth permanently settled in Minneapolis. Earl was hired as a watchmaker at "Harry H. Green, Inc.," and their first home was an apartment at 501 East 36th. Bessie's mother, Elizabeth, came to live with them around 1943. Shortly after the war, the Burkhardts and Elizabeth moved to 3645 Grand Avenue, where the aged widow passed away in 1948. The Burkhardt were at the same address when the 1960 city directory was published, although they eventually ended up in a home at 3726 Nicollett Avenue.
Bessie developed what doctors called a "pre-pyloric stress ulcer" – a lower stomach ulcer – by the late 1960s. She entered St. Mary's Hospital to battle a gall bladder inflammation in autumn 1968. After three days, peritonitis set in. She died two days later on October 29, 1968, at age 79. Earl died in Minneapolis nearly eight years later, at 85, on January 31, 1976. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery at Grand Forks, North Dakota.
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