After checking census records for Ida, the birth year of 1882 on her headstone must be incorrect. All the census records support a birth year of 1883. Her brother, John, was born July 7, 1882, also making it impossible for her to have been born in Dec. 1882.

contributor: Margo Erick, FAG member 48563438

+++

SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, page 118

Peter and Ida (Kathol) Hochstein

Peter Paul Hochstein was born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Foerster) Hochstein on September 13, 1879, on the place homesteaded by his parents. He grew up on the family homestead and went to school for 8 years at the District 13 school. On May 5, 1903, at the age of 23, Peter married 20-year-old Ida Kathol at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley with Father Anthony Birnbach officiating. As an engagement present, Peter gave Ida two religious pictures, one of Jesus and one of Mary.

Ida was born December 7, 1882, to John and Anna (Bruening) Kathol. She grew up on the Henry Bruening homestead. Ida went to school for 8 years at the public school west of the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley. She was one of 14 children.

After their marriage, Peter and Ida lived on the Hochstein homestead. Their first home was originally Joe and Elizabeth Hochstein's home. In 1914 Peter and Ida and five of their children moved into a new home that was built by John Bruening (Ida's uncle).

When the new SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church was built in 1901, Peter helped haul lime from the train. One afternoon he was coming home with a wagonload of lime and a thunderstorm was approaching. He was afraid the lime would get wet, but he made it home before the storm. Peter also remembered the blizzard of 1888; he was 9 years old.

Peter spent most of his life farming. Ida loved music and loved to make quilts. She was always kind and helped and had beaufiful flowers in her home and in her garden. When the couple retired in Bow Valley, she always had flowers in the church winter and summer. Both Peter and Ida loved to play cards and prayed the rosary every evening. Most of their prayers were said in German. They said many prayers when four of their sons, Mark, Emery, Elmer, and Merlin, were involved in World War II.

In 1950, the couple retired to a home west of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley, previously owned by Ida's parents, John and Anna (Bruening) Kathol. Ida died December 7, 1959, at Sacred Heart Hospital. Peter lived his last years with his daughter Blanche and son-in-law Leo Arens in Hartington. Peter died April 18, 1964, at Sacred Heart Hospital. Both are buried in the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery. The couple had 14 children who attended District 13 School also known as Cedar Dale School.

Peter and Ida (Kathol) Hochstein had 14 children.

Blanche married Leo Arens September 16, 1929, at Bow Valley. Hubert died in infancy. Hulda married Frank Becker June 9, 1925, at Bow Valley. Dorothy married Hank Feilmeier April 29, 1929, at Bow Valley. Longinius married Elizabeth Arens May 17, 1938, at Hartington. Mark married Margaret Woodard August 1, 1956, at Hartington. Erna married Art Arens May 14, 1935, at Bow Valley. Stephen married Thecla Burbach on May 8, 1940, at Wynot. Paul married Eveylyn Arens April 9, 1940, at Hartington. Alfred married Sylvia Arens November 26, 1940, at Bow Valley. Adrian never married.

Emery married Lorraine Sudbeck December 27, 1944, at Bow Valley. Elmer married Wilma Kaiser May 6, 1947, at St. Helena. Merlin married Dolores Ann Sudbeck August 8, 1950, at Bow Valley.

Peter and Ida were married at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in May 1953. Seven of their children were married at Bow Valley and nine of their children celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Submitted by Mary Lee Hochstein, the granddaughter of Peter and Ida (Kathol) Hochstein