MY HUSBAND AND I recently traveled to Santiago. Not Chile. Minnesota.
There we gathered on a 2 ½-acre parcel of land in Sherburne County northeast of Becker to reconnect with family for what will become an annual summer reunion of the Tom and Betty Helbling family.
The rural Buckman home where my husband grew up after his family moved from St. Anthony, N. D. The farm place was sold after Randy’s mother died and his father remarried. We drove past the home place en route to the reunion last Saturday. It’s changed with the house resided, the barn roof sagging.
Betty, my husband’s mother, died nearly 19 years ago at the age of 59. And, as anyone who has lost a mother too early in life knows, maintaining family ties after that takes extra effort.
Thanks mostly to Randy’s sisters, his family (seven remaining siblings and their families and his dad and stepmother) has continued to gather each Christmas as able.
My eldest daughter, Amber, and great niece, Meghan. Some family members slept in tents, others inside the house and yet others were close enough to drive home and return the next morning. Three extended family members also traveled from Center City, North Dakota, for the reunion.
But, as years passed and nieces and nephews married and had children, the family has reached a size where we can no longer all fit under one roof on a snowy Minnesota holiday. Thus the shift was made, just this year, to a summer reunion.
It’s a good change—no more worrying about snowstorms or icy roads—which should allow others, besides those with big enough houses, to host the reunion. Randy and I will take our turn eventually, but perhaps not for awhile as the reunion likely will fall on the same date as the son’s college move-in, like it did this year. And activities and noise will be more limited by our location on a small lot in a small city with neighbors right next door.
My brother-in-law, Jerry (in his out-law t-shirt), and my nephew’s wife, Heidi, tossed bean bags after supper.
Niece Kristina and Corey hosted this year’s gathering on a picture perfect Saturday, except for evening rainfall which forced us into the garage. But there were no complaints about the much-needed moisture.
My brother-in-law, Roger, is a the target for balls aimed by his granddaughter, Kiera.
My brother-in-law, Marty, took a spin on the bike and wiped out before I ran in the house and grabbed my camera.
Instead, there was laughter and reminiscing; plenty of smart talk; memories shared and made; quick zips around the yard on a mini motorcycle; bean bag tossing; ball throwing to the dogs and at grandpa; LEGO building; and cuddling the newest family member, three-week-old Kate.
And then the announcement: We’ll gain more family members in 2013 with the expected birth of two babies, plus the baby due in November of this year.
My niece, Jocelyn, with her three-week-old daughter Kate, the newest member of the Helbling family.
My mother-in-law Betty would be happy, oh, so happy to know her family is still growing and still gathering.
So sad to see the barn caving in on the former Helbling farm south of Buckman.
I have many wonderful memories of family gatherings at the Helbling home place.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Sad to see a nice old barn go; Enjoy the ones that you have left. In Missouri we have precious few old barns left standing, and even fewer in decent repair. If you can’t park a tractor in it, it’s left to rot.
Yes, I agree, so sad that barns are allowed to fall into disrepair and then eventually a heap of rotted wood. I see by your twitter page that you are relocating to Minnesota, Zumbrota specifically. It’s a beautiful area. Welcome to Minnesota.
What a special time and it’s so good that everyone makes the effort. I agree that with that many people and the roads being so dangerous during the colder months, that a summer reunion makes a lot more sense. Love the photo of Amber xx
Not all family members were able to attend the reunion. But it’s easier trying to get everyone together in August than December.
I love that pic of Amber and Meghan, too.
You are right that mom would be so happy to see the family growing and that we find ways to stay connected. Lindsey started knitting again (she did some when she was very small). You Tube videos have to provide instructions since Grandma can’t help, but I know she would have loved to pass on that skill of hers to the next generation.
Now we need one of you sisters to bake caramel rolls and prepare your mom’s famous chicken for the reunion.
Tell Lindsey I’ll expect to see her knitting projects.
Baked chicken for 30-40? Hmm….. Not it!
Well, if each of you sisters brought some… And, no, I would not even attempt to make chicken like your mom did.
Lovely Audrey, and I love the barn, sagging or not….My Mother died 16 yrs ago at the age of 57, so I can relate to this post so much….this Oct will be the 3rd year we have hosted a Halloween/Fall day out here at our little place….my mother also would be so excited to see how the families have grown…she would never stop ribbing me that I had 5 kids!!! 🙂
An annual fall gathering sounds perfect as you would not have heat and humidity and mosquitoes to deal with at your gathering. So sorry you lost your mom at such a young age. I was pregnant with our son when she died of a heart attack. She had been so looking forward to the birth of her grandson…
Such a great old barn, I don’t even know it and I’m sad to see it sagging! Some day when it’s gone you’ll be glad to have the pictures. Looks like a lovely time at the reunion, and wow…lots of babies going on 🙂
And the sad thing is that I did not appreciate that barn like I should have when my husband’s father still owned the farm. I was busy with my babies and preschoolers and not caring then that much about the barn. Well, with age comes wisdom and I now appreciate old barns, especially those with a personal connection.
As for those babies, all three will be the grandchildren of my sister-in-law Cheryl and my brother-in-law Roger.