| Summary: | paralysis was discovered in Marion and the community was quarantined so all activities were called off. May 19, 1919—An organ was purchased from the Greenland school. July 23, 1919—A choir was organized under the direction of Mrs. L. W. Meyers. June 29, 1920—The first wedding took place between Martha Sarbaum and James Hallinan of Pomeroy. Iowa. Bertha DeCramer and Fred Sarbaum were the attendants. October 8, 1920—The church was dedicated by His Excellency Most Rev. James O'Reilly of Fargo, after which a class of seventeen was confirmed. April 26, 1922—Father G. J. George became the new resident pastor at Litchville with mission at Marion. May 28, 1922—A five day mission was planned with Father Stanton as missionary. June 1, 1922—The cement walk was laid in front of the church by the young men of the parish. March 12, 1923—The funeral of Mrs. Karl Leopold of Marion was the first held in St. Francis of Assisi Church and she was the first to be buried in the Catholic Cemetery. March 20, 1923—The interior of the church was redecorated. June 12, 1924—The funeral for Henry Sarbaum was held. The Mass was offered by Father Leo Dworschak, who is now Most Rev. Leo Dworshak, our Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Fargo. January, 1924—Father G. J. George passed away at St. John's Hospital, Fargo, N. D. November, 1925—A three day bazaar was held in the Woodman Hall. The young people of ihe church and community presented the play "Windmills of Holland" on each evening to a packed house. The coach was Father Hubert Van Meer. Mr. H. W. Flugga's band with Mrs. H. H. Behlmer at the piano furnished the music. 1926-1942—In 1926 Father Hubert Van Meer left the parish because of ill health and Father Owen P. O'Neill succeeded him as pastor in St. Ann's Church of Litchville until 1934 when the church was closed. Bishop O'Reilly then attached Marion to Dickey as a mission where Father Peter Bannon was pastor. In 1936 Father Bannon was transferred to Alice, N. D., when Father J. A. Cormier succeeded him at Dickey. In 1940 Father J. A. Cormier was transferred to Tapnen, N. D., and Father Myron Schuh took over the Assumption Church at Dickey. 1934—Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pillaert had the pleasure and honor of their daughter Mary entering the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, Omaha, Nebraska. Mary, who is now Sister Mary Owen, is a nursing Sister at Mercy Hospital, Valley City, N. D. August 6, 1935—The people of the community gathered at our church to pay their last respects to a family of three, Mr. Martin Sarbaum, his wife Mary and 11 months old son Darwin. Their three children, Duane 9, Loraine 8, and Gertrude 4, were left to mourn this tragedy. Father Peter Bannon offered the Requiem Mass. 1917-1950—Death has visited our parish of St. Francis of Assisi taking Mr. Francis Melanson, Mr. Sam Sperger, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sarbaum, Mr. and Mrs. John Scheineker, Mr. Fred Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Leopold. Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt, and Mrs. William Sheehan. 1942—Sunday, Julv 12. 1942, marked a historical date in the progressive little city of Marion, North Dakota, when The Rev. Frank T. Hannaher was on that day installed as the first resident Catholic priest. St. Hubert's Parish of Montnelier was attached to Marion as a mission. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edward Geraghty of Jamestown, who was Father Hannaher's former pastor, presided over the beautiful and impressive ceremony of installation. He was assisted by Rev. Thomas Hendrickson and Rev. David Boyle. A large number of Father Hannaher's priest friends were in attendance. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Howard Smith was organist and directed the priest choir. John Sarbaurn and Louis Karl were Altar boys. After the ceremony a parish dinner was served by the ladies of the Altar Society. Following the dinner a reception was held at the rectory for Fathei Hannaher and his guests. February 16, 1947—Sunday, February 16, 1947, was a happy occasion in St. Francis Church when Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hurley celebrated their Golden Wedding. An anniversary High Mass was celebrated at 9 o'clock at the church with Father Hannaher the celebrant. Dinner was served for the family and relatives at the farm home, after which a public reception was held in the church basement. Entertainment was furnished by relatives and friends. The Legion Auxiliary served refreshments. During the eight years St. Francis' and St. Hubert's churches have had a resident pastor many improvements have been accomplished. In November 1942, the mortgages for St. Francis and St. Huberts were burned, after which Father Hannaher's cousin, Betty Jane • Bernier, and Melvin Johnson were married. There the first High Mass of the new parish was sung by the newly organized choir. A rectory was purchased and furnished. New roofs were put on both churches as well as redecorating the interiors and painting the outsides of the churches. A new oil furnace was installed at the rectory and also in St. Francis' Church. The kitchens, walls and floors were fixed in the basements of both churches. On August 9, 1949, Mrs. Barbara Sperger celebrated her 83rd birthday. She keeps house for her three sons: and is the oldest member of the parish. The other members of the St. Francis parish are as follows: Father Frank T. Hannaher, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pillaert, Henry and George; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hurley; Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Hurley, James, Lloyd, Loretta, Margie, David and Patrick John; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sarbaum, Robert and John; Mrs. Barbara Sperger, Arthur, Andy and Sam; Mr. and Mrs. John Trzpuc and Patricja; Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kronebusch, Rosemary and Elizah«th Ann; Mr. and Mrs N. W. Schommer and Charlotte; Mrs. Edvin E. Lillehoff and Andrew; Mrs. George Lillehoff, Thomas, Loreen and Curtis; Mr. and Mrs. James Trzpuc, Duane, Bernard and Mary Lou; Mr. Francis Trzpuc, Del Ray and Flourene; Mr. and Mrs. Pete Bax, Bernard and Richard; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Glass, Billy, Christine, Virginia and Francis; Mr. and Mrs. George Blake and Mary Catherine; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kosse and Donavun; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Melanson and Corene; Mr. and Mrs. George McCarthy, Mary, Lowell and George Gene; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Leyendecker; Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Flach, Dale, Lois, Gerald, Bonnita and Barbara; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schall, Leo Jr., Joyce^and Doris; Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy; Mrs. Margaret Olaf- son, Lavonne and Burnell; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sarbaum, Marcia, JoAnn, Lonny and DeLoy; Mr. and Mrs. John Matt, Luella, Larry and Patty Lou; Mrs. Morris Peterson and Barbara; Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Weber and Robert; Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Weber, Ross and Morris John; Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Beechie, Eugene, Brian and Gary; Mrs. Oscar Belling and Joseph; Mrs. Clarence Hanson, Donna, Lennore, Colleen and Louisa. At present Mr. R. H. Beechie and Mr. Erwin Weber are the directors. This history was compiled by Mrs. John Trzpuc. 17 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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