My Ortmann Grandparent's Love Story!

This is a great week to share some love stories so I thought I would share my Ortmann grandparent's love story today. My Grandma shared this story with me a few years before she died.

The year was 1932. My Grandma, who was 20 at the time, was headed from North Dakota to Nebraska for a conference. They stopped for the evening at the home of Frederick Ortmann who happened to have a son named Arthur.  That evening at supper was the first time they had ever met.  Apparently it must've been love at first sight because when the meal was done, Arthur motioned with his finger he wanted to talk to her.  She said she would've refused because she was shy but his sister encouraged her. He said he had some work to do that evening and was wondering if she would ride with him on the cultivator as he worked.  She said she would.

After one round in the cornfield, they stopped and got off. Arthur said, "I've been praying about this for so long. Will you marry me?"  She said yes!! They stopped, knelt down and prayed about it.
Tena didn't tell her parents right away. She figured that was his job. Her brother did notice at the conference that she seemed awful happy about something!

Arthur did write Tena's parents. Her mother was so excited but her father didn't trust him and said he probably had all kinds of girls he'd ask to marry.  Tena and Arthur wrote letters back and forth until the wedding with the parents reading them.

When the wedding week arrived, Arthur came up to North Dakota. This was the second time they had seen each other! On the Sunday he came they announced in church about the upcoming wedding that Wednesday. They weren't even allowed to ride in the buggy together!
May 30th, 1933 arrived! Tena wore a gown that cost $3.00 and some cents. They didn't have bridesmaids or groomsmen but they did have four preachers that all preached a message! The main passage was from Proverbs 31 and every year after that they read it on their anniversary.

For their honeymoon they moved to South Dakota taking his niece with them!  They didn't like that! They moved into the small summer kitchen by Arthur's parents house.

I don't remember Grandpa and Grandma being especially affectionate or romantic with each other but they had a very good marriage until my Grandfather died in 1990.  I miss these two so much and wish I could visit at their table one more time!  Looking forward to seeing them in Heaven someday!