We just called her "Grandma Henricks". I am not sure when I learned her name was Vesper. She was a very proper lady married to a Norwegian man named Hans. I never knew Hans. He died in his fifties... a hard working man in a tired worn body.

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Grandma Henricks lived over six decades a mile north of our place on the Henricks Ranch. When I was a boy...my brothers and I were allowed to ride over to her house on occasion just for a visit. A few years later, our sister Lana would join us. I don't remember much of what we talked about. It seemed that her house was very quiet. Kind of what you would assume for a grandma that had lived a true pioneer life on the Dakota plains. I really didn't know her children, except for Cecil who had such cool nickname...Not everyone could be called "Buck".

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One time us kids rode over to see Grandma Henricks and we were greeted by a lady that was sunbathing in a black swimsuit. She was very friendly... but us kids knew that this was not Grandma Henricks. Turned out to Cecil's new wife. He had been a longtime bachelor, but had married a classy lady named Marge. She was very nice.

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This photo is special in that it was taken at Rainbow Bible Ranch's dedication program on Memorial Day 1980. She would have been 92 years old at this time. It was special to have Grandma Henricks... a neighbor... a lady that would have known my brothers in a unique way... lend her support to the beginning of this new ministry of the Reinhold family.

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Grandma Vesper Henricks wrote these words when she was nearing 80 years of age...

"And now..., I thank my Heavenly Father for all the help He has given me. Without it I never could have endured all the trials of my life: sickness, accidents, death of loved ones, hard times. And thanks to our four fine children for their help in all ways, and their loving care. Without them we never would have been able to achieve our goal--a good home on the South Dakota prairies in sight of the Black Hills and Bear Butte. There's one request I've made of the Good Lord, just let me end my days here on the homestead, where all my most precious memories are.

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That request nearly came true... And on an interesting note... The Henricks Ranch Headquarters and Vesper's Home are now a part of the Lonetree Ranch. For I was privileged to purchase that land around 1986.