Ruth Weinmann's Life in Michigan and Her Marriage to Dallas Munsell, 1947-1950

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Andy Weinmann's farm was located on Lime Creek Road in Medina Township of Lenawee County.  His wife Frieda spoke no German and did not feel comfortable having Ruth and Andy carry on conversations in German (fearing they might talk about her).  Therefore she insisted that Ruth learn English as soon as possible.  Andy created lists of  English words for her to learn each day and by Thanksgiving she was able to write a letter in English to her Uncle Max and Aunt Emily Weinmann.

Because of her limited ability in speaking English and her German accent, some people would have nothing to do with her as she was viewed as one of the enemy from the recently completed war.

Max and Emily, who had no children of their own, took a special interest in Ruth.  They invited her to visit them in Detroit for a week around Thanksgiving each year.  She and Aunt Emily would shop at the big downtown department  stores and explore the attractions of the big city.  In fact, Max and Emily invited Ruth to come live with them and take classes to extend her education, but her father could not bear to let her leave so soon after he had finally gotten her back.

Ruth did not work outside the home, but did help her father and step-mother with all of the tasks involved with running the family farm.  The family did find time to go to town and to socialize with neighbors and Ruth began to make friends with other young people in the area.  One of these friends was Vera Munsell.  Vera was the 13th and youngest child of John and Emma Munsell of Prattville, Michigan.  Although Vera had the idea of introducing Ruth to one her other brothers, it was her brother Dallas who soon began dating Ruth.  Eventually the two became engaged and they married on August 12, 1950 at her parents' farm.

   
Ruth at her parent's home, ca. 1948; Ruth and her aunt Emily Ludwig Weinmann at Ruth's parents' home, ca. 1948

   
Ruth, her aunt Emily Ludwig Weinmann, and Emily's mother Matilda Hoppe Ludwig, ca. 1948; two photos of Ruth while visiting Max and Emily Weinmann in Detroit, November 17, 1948.

 
Ruth, ca. 1949; her father Andy, ca. 1949

   
Andy Weinmann, Dallas Munsell, Ruth, Vera Munsell, and Clarence "Junior" Shipman at the Weinmann farm, October 1949; Vera Munsell and Ruth, October 1949; Ruth and her step-mother Frieda at the family farm, October 1949

 
Wedding invitation and marriage certificate, 1950

   
Wedding of Dallas Munsell and Ruth Weinmann, August 12, 1950:  Ruth and Dallas; John Munsell, Emma Brown Munsell, Dallas, Ruth, Frieda, Andy; Frieda, Ruth, Andy

   
Wedding of Dallas Munsell and Ruth Weinmann, August 12, 1950:  John Munsell, Dallas Munsell, Emma Brown Munsell; John and Emma

 
Wedding of Dallas Munsell and Ruth Weinmann, August 12, 1950: rice throwing after the ceremony; Dallas and Ruth preparing to leave after the ceremony

Newspaper article about the wedding