From a Letter to Peter's first Great Grandchild from his son Richard:
Peter Albert Novy was my father. Your Great Grandpa Novy was born on June 5, 1920 at Schrunk Township, North Dakota. His parents James and Mary (Marek) Novy were both immigrants, born in Czechoslovakia in 1879 and 1882 respectively. Great, Great Grandpa Novy came to America in 1885 and Great, Great Grandma Novy came to America in 1900. Peter was raised on a farm north of Wing, North Dakota. He had a twin brother named Paul, four other brothers and five sisters. It was a big family. Life on a farm in North Dakota was pretty hard, especially during the Depression of the 1930's when Great Grandpa Novy was a young lad. Your Great Grandpa Novy only attained an eighth-grade education.
At one point during the Depression, Great Grandpa Novy worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a government jobs program to help people who couldn't find work in their home towns. Great Grandpa Novy helped to build roads and parks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from where you were born.
Your Great Grandpa Novy served in the United States Army at the end of World War II. He entered the Army on December 1, 1945 and was discharged on March 31, 1947. He was a Military Policeman. His rank was Private First Class. In Germany he served in Company C, 397th Military Police Service Battalion which was part of the occupation forces that started the rebuilding of Germany after their defeat by Allied Forces. As a Military Policeman in the Army, his job was similar to the one your father has with the Security Police in the Air Force.
Peter married Donna Lucille Suby on August 9, 1947 at Wing, North Dakota. The wedding was held in St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Peter and Donna had three children. They were Peter Albert, Junior, born January 1, 1949, Susan Marie born on July 15, 1954, and I. I was "the middle child" born on February 3, 1951.
At the time of my birth, my parents lived on a cattle ranch where I was raised until I was 12 years old. Great Grandpa Novy worked at the ZX Ranch near Wing, North Dakota. My family lived in a house about 100 yards from my Grandma and Grandpa Suby's house. Our house was smaller. We did not have a telephone or a television in our house on the ranch. However, Grandpa and Grandma Suby had both at their house nearby. We did have a radio and phonograph. Grandpa Novy liked to listen to them.
My earliest memories of my father are associated with farming activities on the ZX Ranch. I rode many, many miles sitting on his lap as he drove tractors to and from field sites. And even more miles back and forth across those fields as he plowed, planted, cut hay or hauled manure from the barns to the fields. I can still remember the smell of freshly turned sod mixed with the diesel smoke from the Minneapolis Moline tractor that he plowed with. And I remember being almost hypnotized by watching the blur of the treads on those huge tractor tires as they spun around and around while we drove along on that tractor. The greatest thrill was when I was allowed to drive the tractor.
In 1963, we moved from the ZX Ranch to another ranch in Morton County, north of Mandan, North Dakota. This was the Wachter Ranch. We only lived there a year, but it was an interesting year. (I'll write you a letter about that some other time.)
We moved into Mandan in 1964. We lived in a brick house at 1300 Sunset Drive, Mandan, North Dakota. At the time, that house was on the edge of town. Across the street was pasture land and prairie. Now there are houses in much of that pasture. Great Grandma Novy still lives at that house. You have been there.
My father had several jobs after moving into town. He worked for a construction company building fences along the interstate highways of North Dakota. And he worked as a guard at the "Industrial School". The Industrial School was the reform school for delinquent children. He also worked as a janitor in a motel for a period of time.
For many years, until his death he was employed at Kist Livestock Auction, where he received animals being delivered for sale at the weekly auctions. Danielle, your father remembers many trips out to spend time with Grandpa Novy working with those critters at the auction barn. Grandpa especially enjoyed this job I think because he could work with farm animals and meet the farmers as they dropped off or picked up their livestock.
I left home in 1969 when I went into the Army. When I departed, I left behind my pet dog, Mike. After I was gone, Grandpa Novy and Mike would go for long walks into the pastures across the street from the house.
Grandpa Novy's favorite recreation in his later years was to walk several blocks down the hill from his house on Sunset Drive to the Community Center. There he watched the neighborhood children swimming, playing basketball and other games. He was a fixture among the folks that frequented the Community Center.
As a result of my service in the Army, and our travels to many different assignments, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy made quite a few trips to visit our family. They came to Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alaska, California, Washington and New York.
For a few months, your father and his brother (your Uncle Rob) lived with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy. That was October 1978 to June 1979. Your father was in the first grade then.
Peter A. Novy died on August 10, 1997, at the age of 77. He lived a long life, but he may have lived much longer if not for cancer of the esophagus. I believe he contracted cancer because of many years of smoking and chewing tobacco. Although you were born almost four months before he died, Grandpa Novy never saw you, Danielle. And despite being very ill when you were born, and not meeting you in person, he knew that you were his Great Granddaughter. You attended his funeral with your mother and father and the rest of the family.
Your Great Grandpa Novy's funeral was held at Christ the King Church in Mandan, North Dakota, on August 16, 1997. He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Mandan.
Great Grandma Novy still lives at the house at 1300 Sunset Drive in Mandan. And at the time that I write this, all of Great Grandpa Novy's brothers have passed away. He has four sisters still living. His father (your Great, Great, Grandpa) James Novy died in 1957 and his mother (your Great, Great Grandma) Mary (Marek) Novy died in 1979.
I hope this letter helps you to know a member of your family who left this life right after you arrived. You would have liked Great Grandpa Novy….and he would have liked you.
Richard T. Novy
Peter Albert Novy was my father. Your Great Grandpa Novy was born on June 5, 1920 at Schrunk Township, North Dakota. His parents James and Mary (Marek) Novy were both immigrants, born in Czechoslovakia in 1879 and 1882 respectively. Great, Great Grandpa Novy came to America in 1885 and Great, Great Grandma Novy came to America in 1900. Peter was raised on a farm north of Wing, North Dakota. He had a twin brother named Paul, four other brothers and five sisters. It was a big family. Life on a farm in North Dakota was pretty hard, especially during the Depression of the 1930's when Great Grandpa Novy was a young lad. Your Great Grandpa Novy only attained an eighth-grade education.
At one point during the Depression, Great Grandpa Novy worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a government jobs program to help people who couldn't find work in their home towns. Great Grandpa Novy helped to build roads and parks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from where you were born.
Your Great Grandpa Novy served in the United States Army at the end of World War II. He entered the Army on December 1, 1945 and was discharged on March 31, 1947. He was a Military Policeman. His rank was Private First Class. In Germany he served in Company C, 397th Military Police Service Battalion which was part of the occupation forces that started the rebuilding of Germany after their defeat by Allied Forces. As a Military Policeman in the Army, his job was similar to the one your father has with the Security Police in the Air Force.
Peter married Donna Lucille Suby on August 9, 1947 at Wing, North Dakota. The wedding was held in St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Peter and Donna had three children. They were Peter Albert, Junior, born January 1, 1949, Susan Marie born on July 15, 1954, and I. I was "the middle child" born on February 3, 1951.
At the time of my birth, my parents lived on a cattle ranch where I was raised until I was 12 years old. Great Grandpa Novy worked at the ZX Ranch near Wing, North Dakota. My family lived in a house about 100 yards from my Grandma and Grandpa Suby's house. Our house was smaller. We did not have a telephone or a television in our house on the ranch. However, Grandpa and Grandma Suby had both at their house nearby. We did have a radio and phonograph. Grandpa Novy liked to listen to them.
My earliest memories of my father are associated with farming activities on the ZX Ranch. I rode many, many miles sitting on his lap as he drove tractors to and from field sites. And even more miles back and forth across those fields as he plowed, planted, cut hay or hauled manure from the barns to the fields. I can still remember the smell of freshly turned sod mixed with the diesel smoke from the Minneapolis Moline tractor that he plowed with. And I remember being almost hypnotized by watching the blur of the treads on those huge tractor tires as they spun around and around while we drove along on that tractor. The greatest thrill was when I was allowed to drive the tractor.
In 1963, we moved from the ZX Ranch to another ranch in Morton County, north of Mandan, North Dakota. This was the Wachter Ranch. We only lived there a year, but it was an interesting year. (I'll write you a letter about that some other time.)
We moved into Mandan in 1964. We lived in a brick house at 1300 Sunset Drive, Mandan, North Dakota. At the time, that house was on the edge of town. Across the street was pasture land and prairie. Now there are houses in much of that pasture. Great Grandma Novy still lives at that house. You have been there.
My father had several jobs after moving into town. He worked for a construction company building fences along the interstate highways of North Dakota. And he worked as a guard at the "Industrial School". The Industrial School was the reform school for delinquent children. He also worked as a janitor in a motel for a period of time.
For many years, until his death he was employed at Kist Livestock Auction, where he received animals being delivered for sale at the weekly auctions. Danielle, your father remembers many trips out to spend time with Grandpa Novy working with those critters at the auction barn. Grandpa especially enjoyed this job I think because he could work with farm animals and meet the farmers as they dropped off or picked up their livestock.
I left home in 1969 when I went into the Army. When I departed, I left behind my pet dog, Mike. After I was gone, Grandpa Novy and Mike would go for long walks into the pastures across the street from the house.
Grandpa Novy's favorite recreation in his later years was to walk several blocks down the hill from his house on Sunset Drive to the Community Center. There he watched the neighborhood children swimming, playing basketball and other games. He was a fixture among the folks that frequented the Community Center.
As a result of my service in the Army, and our travels to many different assignments, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy made quite a few trips to visit our family. They came to Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alaska, California, Washington and New York.
For a few months, your father and his brother (your Uncle Rob) lived with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy. That was October 1978 to June 1979. Your father was in the first grade then.
Peter A. Novy died on August 10, 1997, at the age of 77. He lived a long life, but he may have lived much longer if not for cancer of the esophagus. I believe he contracted cancer because of many years of smoking and chewing tobacco. Although you were born almost four months before he died, Grandpa Novy never saw you, Danielle. And despite being very ill when you were born, and not meeting you in person, he knew that you were his Great Granddaughter. You attended his funeral with your mother and father and the rest of the family.
Your Great Grandpa Novy's funeral was held at Christ the King Church in Mandan, North Dakota, on August 16, 1997. He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Mandan.
Great Grandma Novy still lives at the house at 1300 Sunset Drive in Mandan. And at the time that I write this, all of Great Grandpa Novy's brothers have passed away. He has four sisters still living. His father (your Great, Great, Grandpa) James Novy died in 1957 and his mother (your Great, Great Grandma) Mary (Marek) Novy died in 1979.
I hope this letter helps you to know a member of your family who left this life right after you arrived. You would have liked Great Grandpa Novy….and he would have liked you.
Richard T. Novy
From a Letter to Peter's first Great Grandchild from his son Richard:
Peter Albert Novy was my father. Your Great Grandpa Novy was born on June 5, 1920 at Schrunk Township, North Dakota. His parents James and Mary (Marek) Novy were both immigrants, born in Czechoslovakia in 1879 and 1882 respectively. Great, Great Grandpa Novy came to America in 1885 and Great, Great Grandma Novy came to America in 1900. Peter was raised on a farm north of Wing, North Dakota. He had a twin brother named Paul, four other brothers and five sisters. It was a big family. Life on a farm in North Dakota was pretty hard, especially during the Depression of the 1930's when Great Grandpa Novy was a young lad. Your Great Grandpa Novy only attained an eighth-grade education.
At one point during the Depression, Great Grandpa Novy worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a government jobs program to help people who couldn't find work in their home towns. Great Grandpa Novy helped to build roads and parks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from where you were born.
Your Great Grandpa Novy served in the United States Army at the end of World War II. He entered the Army on December 1, 1945 and was discharged on March 31, 1947. He was a Military Policeman. His rank was Private First Class. In Germany he served in Company C, 397th Military Police Service Battalion which was part of the occupation forces that started the rebuilding of Germany after their defeat by Allied Forces. As a Military Policeman in the Army, his job was similar to the one your father has with the Security Police in the Air Force.
Peter married Donna Lucille Suby on August 9, 1947 at Wing, North Dakota. The wedding was held in St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Peter and Donna had three children. They were Peter Albert, Junior, born January 1, 1949, Susan Marie born on July 15, 1954, and I. I was "the middle child" born on February 3, 1951.
At the time of my birth, my parents lived on a cattle ranch where I was raised until I was 12 years old. Great Grandpa Novy worked at the ZX Ranch near Wing, North Dakota. My family lived in a house about 100 yards from my Grandma and Grandpa Suby's house. Our house was smaller. We did not have a telephone or a television in our house on the ranch. However, Grandpa and Grandma Suby had both at their house nearby. We did have a radio and phonograph. Grandpa Novy liked to listen to them.
My earliest memories of my father are associated with farming activities on the ZX Ranch. I rode many, many miles sitting on his lap as he drove tractors to and from field sites. And even more miles back and forth across those fields as he plowed, planted, cut hay or hauled manure from the barns to the fields. I can still remember the smell of freshly turned sod mixed with the diesel smoke from the Minneapolis Moline tractor that he plowed with. And I remember being almost hypnotized by watching the blur of the treads on those huge tractor tires as they spun around and around while we drove along on that tractor. The greatest thrill was when I was allowed to drive the tractor.
In 1963, we moved from the ZX Ranch to another ranch in Morton County, north of Mandan, North Dakota. This was the Wachter Ranch. We only lived there a year, but it was an interesting year. (I'll write you a letter about that some other time.)
We moved into Mandan in 1964. We lived in a brick house at 1300 Sunset Drive, Mandan, North Dakota. At the time, that house was on the edge of town. Across the street was pasture land and prairie. Now there are houses in much of that pasture. Great Grandma Novy still lives at that house. You have been there.
My father had several jobs after moving into town. He worked for a construction company building fences along the interstate highways of North Dakota. And he worked as a guard at the "Industrial School". The Industrial School was the reform school for delinquent children. He also worked as a janitor in a motel for a period of time.
For many years, until his death he was employed at Kist Livestock Auction, where he received animals being delivered for sale at the weekly auctions. Danielle, your father remembers many trips out to spend time with Grandpa Novy working with those critters at the auction barn. Grandpa especially enjoyed this job I think because he could work with farm animals and meet the farmers as they dropped off or picked up their livestock.
I left home in 1969 when I went into the Army. When I departed, I left behind my pet dog, Mike. After I was gone, Grandpa Novy and Mike would go for long walks into the pastures across the street from the house.
Grandpa Novy's favorite recreation in his later years was to walk several blocks down the hill from his house on Sunset Drive to the Community Center. There he watched the neighborhood children swimming, playing basketball and other games. He was a fixture among the folks that frequented the Community Center.
As a result of my service in the Army, and our travels to many different assignments, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy made quite a few trips to visit our family. They came to Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alaska, California, Washington and New York.
For a few months, your father and his brother (your Uncle Rob) lived with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy. That was October 1978 to June 1979. Your father was in the first grade then.
Peter A. Novy died on August 10, 1997, at the age of 77. He lived a long life, but he may have lived much longer if not for cancer of the esophagus. I believe he contracted cancer because of many years of smoking and chewing tobacco. Although you were born almost four months before he died, Grandpa Novy never saw you, Danielle. And despite being very ill when you were born, and not meeting you in person, he knew that you were his Great Granddaughter. You attended his funeral with your mother and father and the rest of the family.
Your Great Grandpa Novy's funeral was held at Christ the King Church in Mandan, North Dakota, on August 16, 1997. He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Mandan.
Great Grandma Novy still lives at the house at 1300 Sunset Drive in Mandan. And at the time that I write this, all of Great Grandpa Novy's brothers have passed away. He has four sisters still living. His father (your Great, Great, Grandpa) James Novy died in 1957 and his mother (your Great, Great Grandma) Mary (Marek) Novy died in 1979.
I hope this letter helps you to know a member of your family who left this life right after you arrived. You would have liked Great Grandpa Novy….and he would have liked you.
Richard T. Novy
Peter Albert Novy was my father. Your Great Grandpa Novy was born on June 5, 1920 at Schrunk Township, North Dakota. His parents James and Mary (Marek) Novy were both immigrants, born in Czechoslovakia in 1879 and 1882 respectively. Great, Great Grandpa Novy came to America in 1885 and Great, Great Grandma Novy came to America in 1900. Peter was raised on a farm north of Wing, North Dakota. He had a twin brother named Paul, four other brothers and five sisters. It was a big family. Life on a farm in North Dakota was pretty hard, especially during the Depression of the 1930's when Great Grandpa Novy was a young lad. Your Great Grandpa Novy only attained an eighth-grade education.
At one point during the Depression, Great Grandpa Novy worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a government jobs program to help people who couldn't find work in their home towns. Great Grandpa Novy helped to build roads and parks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from where you were born.
Your Great Grandpa Novy served in the United States Army at the end of World War II. He entered the Army on December 1, 1945 and was discharged on March 31, 1947. He was a Military Policeman. His rank was Private First Class. In Germany he served in Company C, 397th Military Police Service Battalion which was part of the occupation forces that started the rebuilding of Germany after their defeat by Allied Forces. As a Military Policeman in the Army, his job was similar to the one your father has with the Security Police in the Air Force.
Peter married Donna Lucille Suby on August 9, 1947 at Wing, North Dakota. The wedding was held in St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Peter and Donna had three children. They were Peter Albert, Junior, born January 1, 1949, Susan Marie born on July 15, 1954, and I. I was "the middle child" born on February 3, 1951.
At the time of my birth, my parents lived on a cattle ranch where I was raised until I was 12 years old. Great Grandpa Novy worked at the ZX Ranch near Wing, North Dakota. My family lived in a house about 100 yards from my Grandma and Grandpa Suby's house. Our house was smaller. We did not have a telephone or a television in our house on the ranch. However, Grandpa and Grandma Suby had both at their house nearby. We did have a radio and phonograph. Grandpa Novy liked to listen to them.
My earliest memories of my father are associated with farming activities on the ZX Ranch. I rode many, many miles sitting on his lap as he drove tractors to and from field sites. And even more miles back and forth across those fields as he plowed, planted, cut hay or hauled manure from the barns to the fields. I can still remember the smell of freshly turned sod mixed with the diesel smoke from the Minneapolis Moline tractor that he plowed with. And I remember being almost hypnotized by watching the blur of the treads on those huge tractor tires as they spun around and around while we drove along on that tractor. The greatest thrill was when I was allowed to drive the tractor.
In 1963, we moved from the ZX Ranch to another ranch in Morton County, north of Mandan, North Dakota. This was the Wachter Ranch. We only lived there a year, but it was an interesting year. (I'll write you a letter about that some other time.)
We moved into Mandan in 1964. We lived in a brick house at 1300 Sunset Drive, Mandan, North Dakota. At the time, that house was on the edge of town. Across the street was pasture land and prairie. Now there are houses in much of that pasture. Great Grandma Novy still lives at that house. You have been there.
My father had several jobs after moving into town. He worked for a construction company building fences along the interstate highways of North Dakota. And he worked as a guard at the "Industrial School". The Industrial School was the reform school for delinquent children. He also worked as a janitor in a motel for a period of time.
For many years, until his death he was employed at Kist Livestock Auction, where he received animals being delivered for sale at the weekly auctions. Danielle, your father remembers many trips out to spend time with Grandpa Novy working with those critters at the auction barn. Grandpa especially enjoyed this job I think because he could work with farm animals and meet the farmers as they dropped off or picked up their livestock.
I left home in 1969 when I went into the Army. When I departed, I left behind my pet dog, Mike. After I was gone, Grandpa Novy and Mike would go for long walks into the pastures across the street from the house.
Grandpa Novy's favorite recreation in his later years was to walk several blocks down the hill from his house on Sunset Drive to the Community Center. There he watched the neighborhood children swimming, playing basketball and other games. He was a fixture among the folks that frequented the Community Center.
As a result of my service in the Army, and our travels to many different assignments, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy made quite a few trips to visit our family. They came to Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alaska, California, Washington and New York.
For a few months, your father and his brother (your Uncle Rob) lived with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Novy. That was October 1978 to June 1979. Your father was in the first grade then.
Peter A. Novy died on August 10, 1997, at the age of 77. He lived a long life, but he may have lived much longer if not for cancer of the esophagus. I believe he contracted cancer because of many years of smoking and chewing tobacco. Although you were born almost four months before he died, Grandpa Novy never saw you, Danielle. And despite being very ill when you were born, and not meeting you in person, he knew that you were his Great Granddaughter. You attended his funeral with your mother and father and the rest of the family.
Your Great Grandpa Novy's funeral was held at Christ the King Church in Mandan, North Dakota, on August 16, 1997. He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Mandan.
Great Grandma Novy still lives at the house at 1300 Sunset Drive in Mandan. And at the time that I write this, all of Great Grandpa Novy's brothers have passed away. He has four sisters still living. His father (your Great, Great, Grandpa) James Novy died in 1957 and his mother (your Great, Great Grandma) Mary (Marek) Novy died in 1979.
I hope this letter helps you to know a member of your family who left this life right after you arrived. You would have liked Great Grandpa Novy….and he would have liked you.
Richard T. Novy
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