A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

BEN AND IRENE [DUFEK] KOTROUS

Ben C. Kotrous, one of 15 children, was born to John and Anna (Hracky) Kotrous on August 5, 1910, on a farm south of Verdigre near the Verdigre Creek. He attended country school through the eighth grade at school District No. 151. Ben was baptized in infancy in the Catholic Church. In 1922 he moved with his parents to Verdigre and his younger years were spent working for Ben Roubicek in his meat market, thus beginning his fifty-year career in the meat processing business.

On October 1, 1940, Ben was united in marriage to Irene Dufek, born March 17, 1917, and a daughter of James and Katherine (Krofta) Dufek of the Sparta community. (Irene was born in a house on the farm where the Kenneth Vakoc family now lives.)

Ben and Irene were blessed with three children: Daniel Ben on living, Kenneth James and Randall Jay, born living. The family resided in Gregory, South Dakota, until 1942. They then moved back to Verdigre where they leased the butcher shop from Ben Roubicek.

[pg 301 PHOTO Ben and Irene Kotrous during Verdigre’s Diamond Jubilee in 1962]

During World War II, Ben was engaged in farming on the Otto Uhlir farm. In 1945, Ben and J. J. Chalupnik laid the ground work for the building known as the Verdigre Meat and Locker. It was here that he became famous for his homemade sausages which so many people enjoyed throughout the years. His employment took him to area farms to pick up livestock for slaughter meat cutting and, of course, the making of the sausages and jaternice. During his years of employment here, he saw the business change hands many times.

In 1951 tragedy struck the family when illness took the life of their son Kenny at the age of 4 ˝.

In 1972 Ben retired from his full-time job, but remained active with the sausage making. In 1983, Ben and Irene assisted Roger and Julie Sheckler in establishing meat processing at the Bloomfield Lockers. He shared his famous recipes for bologna and jaternice with Roger before he died of a heart attack on March 1, 1984.

Ben was a member of the Verdigre Fire Department for 25 years and also a member of the ZCBJ Lodge No. 5, as was his wife Irene and sons Danny and Randy.

Irene and Ben moved a house from the farm land of Frank Dobrichovsky where Curt Boham now lives and Irene continues to live in that house.

[pg 302 PHOTO Danny and Pam Kotrous and family - from left: Darrell, Dana, Debbie, and Diane [front]

Daniel Kotrous was born in Norfolk. He graduated from Verdigre high School in 1962 and joined the O’Neill National Guard in 1964. He worked for Ludvick and Clara Elis on their farm. Danny and Pamela Crosley were united in marriage on June 28, 1968. For two years they lived on a farm owned by Leonard Haineraich and worked for Danny’s aunt and uncle. On May 23, 1970, Ludvick and Clara moved to Verdigre, and Danny, Pam, and Dana moved to Ludvick and Clara’s farm. Danny has worked at the Verdigre Livestock Market since 1962, first for Don Jensen, then Kenny Koops, and now Dennis Johnson, the present owner. Danny and Pamela are the parents of four children. Dana Sue was born February 28, 1970. Debbie Jane, July 22, 1972. Darrell Ben, August 21, 1978, and Diane Elizabeth on June 19, 1985. Danny and Pam still live on the Ludvick Elis farm ten miles west, three north, and two west of Verdigre. The entire family belongs to the ZCBJ Lodge No. 5 and they are members of the United Methodist Church in Verdigre.

Randy graduated from Verdigre High School in 1972. He attended the University of Lincoln and the Nebraska Methodist School of Nursing, graduating from there with a R.N. degree. He now resides in Omaha and works at the Methodist Hospital.

Pages 301, 302