BENNIE AND STAZIE [FARNIK] DRYAK
Bennie Dryak, born June 3, 1910, was the only son born to Max and
Anna Vesely Dryak. He had one sister, Helen, who was born October
27, 1901, and died July 9, 1986. Bennie lost his mother at the age
of nine years and was brought up by his father and sister Helen.
Bennie and Helen attended Stoney Butte Dustrict 27 School, and
farmed with their father. On April 8, 1936, Bennie married Stazie
Farnik, who was born April 13, 1908. Three daughters were born to
them: Shirley on living, Ellen on living, and
Jean on living.
Stazie is the daughter of Joseph and Anna Dobrichovsky Farnik. She
grew up on a farm in the Pischelville area about three miles from
her present home. Stazie had two half-brothers, Ed and August Wirth,
two half-sisters: Berta Wirth Marshall and Mary Wirth Stoural; four
brothers: Joe, Frank, Art, and Henry Farnik; and one sister, Rosie
Farnik Vesely.
Stazie was educated at Meadow View School District 53 in Knox
County.
Bennie and his family began to expand the family farm by renting
land referred to as the “Thayer place” for 22 years before
purchasing it. Additional prairie hay land was later purchased from
the Mudras, expanding the operation to its present 880 acres of
dryland farming. Emphasis was on corn, hay, alfalfa, and oats. Farm
animals consisted of chickens, hogs, and Ben’s favorite, the cattle.
Shirley, Ellen, and Jean attended Stoney Butte grade school and rode
the school bus to Verdigre to continue grades nine through twelve.
Shirley went on to train as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Pierre
School of Practical Nursing at Pierre, South Dakota. She worked at
the Antelope Memorial Hospital at Neligh for 25 years. She married
Carroll Neuhalfen, born living, on June 7, 1985, and they
reside in Coleridge, Nebraska. Shirley continues to work part time
at the Park View Haven Nursing Home in Coleridge and Carroll rents
out his farm land and is employed in mechanical repair work.
[pg 237 PHOTO The Bennie Dryak family - front row: Brent Miller,
Bennie Dryak, Jill Yakel, Grant Miller, Stazie Dryak, Clint Miller.
Standing: Virgil Miller, Ellen [Dryak] Miller, Jean [Dryak] Yakel,
Gary Yakel, Shirley [Dryak] Neuhalfen, Carroll Neuhalfen, and Aaron
Yakel.
On June 16, 1963, Ellen married Virgil H. Miller of Verdigre who was
born living. The couple resides in Verdigre with their
three sons: Clint, born living, Brent, born living, and Grant,
living. Ellen is a busy housewife working
part time at the Verdigre Livestock Market and at Hardware Hank’s.
Virgil has been employed at Schreier’s Lumber Company for 21 years
and has been active with the Verdigre Volunteer Fire Department for
many years. He was recently appointed Fire Chief and is the Mayor of
Verdigre at this writing.
Jean attended Reece & Sybil School of Hairdressing in Lincoln and
was licensed as a Cosmetologist and Cosmetology Instructor. She
taught and practiced cosmetology for six years. On September 4,
1966, Jean married Gary D. Yakel whose birth date is living. The couple adopted a son and daughter in infancy - Aaron born
living, and Jill, who was born living. They
continue to live in Lincoln where Gary works in lithography and Jean
works in the administrative office at the College of Hair Design.
Pages
237, 238
