BEN AND WILMA [PROKOP] VONASEK
Ben, son of Zdenek and Millie Vonasek, and Wilma Prokop, daughter of
Thomas and Marie Prokop, were married at O’Neill, Nebraska, on
August 18, 1931. Ben had always been a farmer and Wilma had been a
country school teacher for five years.
Their first home was a rented farm west of Verdigre (presently the
Neil Uhlir farm) and their first child, David Ben, was born there on
living. Soon after, they moved to the Ben Roubicek farm and
that is where Janet Marie was born on living. That same
year they bought a farm in Holt County (where Walter Phillips had
been living) and gradually developed this sandy grassland along the
North Branch Creek, and adjacent tracts of land which they
purchased, into a small ranch. This included 80 acres that Ben’s
father had previously owned. Ben managed these 1760 acres, along
with 320 acres of school land, usually with the help of a hired man,
of whom there were several during the years.
[pg 454 photo Ben and Wilma Vonasek wit family - left: David, Janet
and Ruth front]
Ben and Wilma suffered the pains of the thirties, just as everyone
else did - sand storms, droughts, grasshoppers and poor economy.
They milked cows by hand and sold cream and eggs to the Verdigre
Creamery and local grocery stores to make a living. Ben started out
with some mixed stock cows and a few hogs, but around 1945 they
bought their first herd of 20 Angus cows with calves at side and
soon after, another 20 head. From then on they used Purebred Angus
bulls and built up their Angus cow herd which was their pride and
joy for the rest of their lives.
On living, Ben and Wilma had their third child, Ruth Ann,
completing their family. They had become acquainted with most of
their neighbors by now and were fond of their community and home.
Ben and his brothers, sisters, and families worked together through
the years for harvesting, hay making, silaging, and constructing
buildings. They also relaxed together at holiday dinners and Sunday
picnics by their own North Branch Creek or farm ponds and creeks in
the pastures of other relatives.
Ben had an accident in the spring of 1948 when a manure loader fell
on him, crushing several vertebrae. Then in July of that year, their
son David was killed during a hay-making accident. That seemed to be
the end of the world for Ben and Wilma, but caring relatives,
friends, and neighbors, helped carry them through.
Soon nature had a surprise for everyone - the blizzard of ‘48-’49-
when everyone was “snowed under.” It began early in November and
country schools were closed off-and-on all winter - sometimes for
several weeks at a time. Hay bales for cattle, groceries and
supplies were dropped from airplanes and helicopters. Mail came to
the Star Post Office about once a month and Ben would trudge through
three or four feet of snow on his saddle horse to get the mail.
Better years followed. Janet and Ruth both attended Wayne State
College after graduation to get teaching certificates. Janet went
two summers and attended community study courses in Verdigre,
Center, Niobrara, and O’Neill to get a three-year certificate. Then
she taught at the home school for two years and Ben was a member of
the school board. Ruth attended Wayne State College for one full
year to receive her certificate and then taught four years - at
Stoney Butte, two years at the home school called Cedar Corner, and
one year at Pischelville.
On June 26, 1956, Janet married Alvin Pavelka and six children came
from this union: David Charles, born living; Emy Jean, born
living; James Alvin arrived living; Kay Marie,
living; John Thomas, living; and Patrick Alan was born
living.
Ruth married Dennis Farnik on September 3, 1960, and their children
are Rebecca Jo, born living; Gregory Scot, living;
and Beth Michele, born living.
Ben and Wilma spent their later years at home working, gardening,
traveling, visiting, and taking an active interest in their
grandchildren’s activities, including sports. Ben passed away
suddenly in the Creighton hospital on September 28, 1972, after
having chest pains off and on for several months. Wilma stayed on
the farm where she had all the good memories of Ben and tried to
recover from the shock; however, in 1974 she decided to buy a small
home in Verdigre and move off the farm. Her oldest grandchild, David
Pavelka, then moved into her farm home and he still resides there
with his wife Terri and their children, Robyn and Adam.
Wilma spent the rest of her life quite comfortably, but the
loneliness never went away. She was stricken with cancer and passed
away on April 15, 1986, in the Creighton hospital after fifteen
months.
Pages 453, 454
