In Touch with Prairie Living April 2017 By Michael M. Miller Germans from Russia Heritage Collection North Dakota State University Libraries, Fargo

I want to extend a Happy Easter writing this makes me emotional!” martyred after some years in the Gulag in German “Frohe Ostern” to you and Cindy will travel with her sister, Rose of Magadan (Asia). I want to walk the your families. We are blessed that Deck, to visit their ancestral villages homeland of all these people.” our ancestors decided to emigrate of Kandel (Kutschurgan District), Helen (Zerr) and Lorne Knowlton, from Russia to the United States, Josefstal and Peterstal (Liebental Olds, Alberta, write: “Ancestry has Canada, Argentina and Brazil so they District). always been a great hobby, but when I could celebrate this important religious Jerry Voeller, Coon Rapids, MN, saw this trip, it was a must experience of holiday. shares: “My grandparents were born a lifetime. Both my paternal and maternal As I write the April column, I in the Catholic Kutschurgan villages ancestors originate from Germany and prepare for the 21st Journey to the (today near Odessa, Ukraine). I feel a Russia so to experience this journey and Homeland tour to Odessa, Ukraine and strong connection with both generations wander through Odessa, the Black Sea Berlin and Stuttgart, Germany, May born there as well as the previous villages and farmland to see where my 17-27, 2017. As we plan this trip, I have generations born in Alsace (France). grandparents were born in Franzfeld and fond memories of our first Journey to This will be a unique opportunity to the Alsace area of France, then to visit the the Homeland Tour in May 1996 – 21 visit the sites where all these previous resting place where Bishop Anton Zerr is years ago. generations were born, lived, and buried in Selz, is almost dreamlike. This May 2017 tour members will visit some emigrated. This is a wonderful will be a remarkable trip made especially these Black Sea German villages: Landau opportunity to see something of what for Zerr, Leibel, Weber and Wandler and Speier (Beresan District); Kassel, they saw.” families in Saskatchewan.” Hoffnungstal (Glueckstal District); James and Cheryl Weigel, Calgary, While in Stuttgart, Germany, we Johannestal, Kandel, Mannheim, Selz, AB, comment: “We liked the homeland will visit the Bessarabiendeutschen Strassburg (Kutschurgan District); tour in May 2013, and thoroughly Heimatmuseum (Society of Germans Franzfeld, Grossliebental, Josefstal, enjoyed ourselves to the extent that we from Bessarabia Museum). We will be Peterstal (Liebental District). For the wanted to return again in May 2017. I greeted by Deacon Guenther Vossler, Bessarabian German villages they will sometimes experienced a feeling that I head of the Society, who visited North visit: Alt Elft, Leipzig, Neu Elft, Paris, was returning home when we toured the Dakota in July 2012 visiting his relatives Tarutino. surrounding villages of our ancestors. at Alfred and Gackle, ND. This years’ tour members are My sister, Mary Ann (Weigel) Flug, We will take a one-day tour to from Arizona, California, Colorado, Medicine Hat, AB, will join us and Alsace, France, along the Rhine River. Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, I want to witness her reaction when Many of the German families departed Montana, North Dakota and Washington she sees Odessa and the surrounding between 1804-1808 during the time of the as well as Alberta and Ontario, Canada. villages, and gets to meet some of the Napoleonic War to immigrate to South Cindy (Deck) Pulskamp, Hillsboro, friendly people in those villages.” Russia, today near Odessa, Ukraine. ND, writes: “My father talked about how Father Al Bitz, University of If you would like more information great it would have been to be able to Mary, Bismarck, native of Napoleon, about the 22nd Journey to the Homeland have made the trip to Odessa. Part of ND, comments: “I had a long desire Tour to Germany and Ukraine (May, this trip is a tribute to my father, as he to get to my ancestral homeland, 2018); or would like donate to the GRHC is no longer with us. I am privileged to Kandel (Kutschurgan District). I heard (family histories and photographs), make this trip in his honor. Many times my grandparents talk of the beautiful contact Michael M. Miller, NDSU in my career in agriculture, I often farmland and orchards that they left Libraries, PO Box 6050, Dept. 2080, wonder what it took my ancestors to behind. I heard of their movement from Fargo, ND 58108-6050. (Tel: 701-231- make farming a way of life. I reflect on Germany to the Odessa region. I have 8416); Email: [email protected]; what it will feel like to possibly stand on deeply appreciated the stories of Bishop website: www.ndsu.edu/grhc. the same ground my great-great-great Alexander Frison who is a cousin of grandparents risked their life, and that my Grandmother Magdalena (Frison) April column for North Dakota and South of their family’s future, to make a better Bitz. He was martyred in 1937. His Dakota weekly newspapers. life for themselves [in America]. Even niece who served as his helper was also