As many of you know Dianne and Leighton were very involved in finding and restoring the Sons of Jacob Cemetery in Devils Lake North Dakota where our family homesteaded and began their lives in this country. In 2017 Sons of Jacob Cemetery was put on the National Historic Register. They got involved because they had met some folks in Devils Lake on one of their visits and Hal Ettinger, of blessed memory, contacted as many family members as he could find and committee was formed.
Leighton did the original website many years ago and Ellen re-did the website in 2017
Descendants, family and friends from around the world have traveled to Devils Lake, North Dakota to visit the area and Sons of Jacob Cemetery surrounded by beautiful prairie land, the only physical reminder of the Ramsey County Jewish farming community and the oldest Jewish homesteader cemetery in North Dakota.
Sons of Jacob Cemetery was recently featured in a video made for the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest 35th Anniversary Celebration held this September hosted by Dean Phillips and Ari Shapiro from NPR. View the video!
Sons of Jacob Cemetery sits in the middle of two farms. It took Dianne and Leighton three trips from Devils Lake to locate it on their first trip there. Whoever gave them directions said no problem, its on the right etc. and of course everything was a farm. There were just 12 grave markers that seem to be in the middle of nowhere. Today the cemetery has been restored and there is a beautiful monument honoring the 104 original Jewish homesteaders of Garske County.
Mike Connor is the wonderful man that takes care of the cemetery, greets all the visitors who travel to see their ancestors and welcomes them into his home. Mike’s farm was adjacent to the property where the monument was to be erected and he immediately became involved in the project.
Mike tells a very emotional story of how his young sister had a serious eye problem and needed to see a specialist in Chicago for which the family did not have enough money. He was walking along the street and a Jewish shop owner called him in and said why do you look so sad and worried. Mike’s father told the story and the shopkeeper said he could help. He called several friends in Chicago, told Mr. Connor who to call and gave him a blank signed check. He asked the shopkeeper how he could be repaid. The answer was, your parents helped my parents and now it is my turn to help you. Now Mike looks after the cemetery, and along with his wife Ellen greet and extend the utmost hospitality to all that visit as if we are all family.