Emmo and Ricka Kettwig

Emmo (Emil) Jürgens Kettwig (1877-1955) oo Ricka Luken

The history of the Kettwig family can be traced back to the year 1572 in Northern Germany where the family originated. Emmo was the son of Haukelena and Jürgen Kettwig, born in Hesel, Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1877. He grew to young manhood there before coming to America. At this time all young men had to serve in the German army, which Emmo and his brothers did not want to do. One brother John C. and sister Irene came before him. They settled at Daws [Dows], Iowa, where they had relatives. Emmo returned to Germany in 1900 to visit his parents and never saw them again. In 1903 he came to South Dakota where he met and married Ricka Luken Nov. 13, 1907. They farmed in the Hazel area. The Kettwigs moved to Watertown [South Dakota, SD] in 1950. Emmo passed away in May, 1955 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Seven children were born to Emmo and Ricka:

Florence Helena was born in 1908 and died in 1930 ??. She married Jack McAfee and had one son Jack, born in 1935.

Irene Evangeline (1909-1930) married Fred DeBoer. Both girls are buried in the Hazel Cemetery.

Frances Mable married Milton Holt of Hayti Nov. 22, 1930. They farmed for a short time near Hazel. About 1940 they moved to Brandywine, Md [State of Maryland, MD] and later retired to Avon Park, Fla [State of Florida, FL]. Seven children were born to them: Adeline, Thelma, Phyllis, Milo – killed in a motorcycle accident -, Bonnie, Sidney and Linda.

Herman Raymond married Margaret Lantgen April 20, 1937. They adopted a daughter Donna Jean and raised a foster son Kevin Brist. Herman farmed in the Hazel area until 1978, living most of those years on the land known at the Raum farm southwest of Hazel. He built a new home in Hazel in 1978.

Mable Frances married Oliver Baxter Oct. 14, 1936. They raised three children, Thomas Edson and Theone May, twins and Carol Jane. Mable and Oliver lived in Hazel until 1941 when they purchased the William Barrett farm northeast of Hazel, living there until 1972, when trey moved to rural Watertown building a new home five and one half miles west of the city.

Louise Margaret was married to Edward Fiferlick. They had one daughter, LaVonne. In 1944 she married John Rennia and had one son Alan John. John Rennia passed away in Oct. 1968. Louise married LeRoy Bender Aug. 25, 1975. In 1978 they purchased the Wheel Inn Cafe at Watertown.

Jerry Chris married Elaine Kruthoff of Clark, Aug. 5, 1952. They lived in Clark [SD] and Watertown for a number of years, before moving to Auburn, Wash. [State of Washington, WA]. They raised four daughters, Lori, Deanna, Kathy, and Pam.

Source: Hamlin Historical Committee, Hamlin County, South Dakota – 1878 – 1979, provided by Hans-Georg Boyken