Fourth Generation

47. William J. "Willie" CLINE was born on 27 April 1876 in Wisconsin.^9,11,27 He appeared in the census in 1880 in Sharon Township, Walworth County, WI.⁴⁸ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ William appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁷ He appeared in the census in 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ He was living with his brother Oscar, and his occupation was "Helper." He appeared in the census in 1930 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁰ His occupation was listed as "Farmer, Dairy Farm." William died in July 1938 at the age of 62.⁴⁹ He was buried in July 1938 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ in the Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery.

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William J. "Willie" CLINE and Dora Helen SIEWERT were married in 1924.^49,102

. Dora Helen SIEWERT, daughter of Ferdinand "Fred" SIEWERT and Auguste ERLITZ, was born on 15 September 1899 in Marshall Township, Mower County, MN.^49,103 She appeared in the census in 1900 in Marshall Township, Mower County, MN.¹⁰⁴ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Marshall Township, Mower County, MN.¹⁰⁵ Dora graduated in 1919 in Austin, Mower County, MN.^49,106 from Austin High School. She grew up about 20 miles away from school, and lived in Austin during the week--working for her room and board in a family home. After September 1919 she was a school teacher in Minnesota.^49,106 She taught in schools in Duluth and Lyle, MN. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Fredenberg, St. Louis County, MN.¹⁰⁷ She was listed as a Head of Household, Renting, age 20, Single and her occupation was "Teacher, Grade School." Between 1920 and 1965 Dora was a school teacher in Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁰

. Between 1933 and 1974 she was a correspondent for the Tomah Journal in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ Dora appeared in the census in 1940 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁵ She died on 1 April 1974 at the age of 74 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.^{10,71,103,108}

Obituary Notes: "Dora Helen Cline, a long-time correspondent from the Ridgeville area for the Tomah Journal and Monitor-Herald, died Monday at La Crosse Lutheran hospital (from a heart attack) following a paralytic stroke on March 16.

Funeral services were held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church at Ridgeville. Pastor Martin Lemke officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Cline was well known in the Monroe county area through her teaching at area rural schools, and her participation in many civic organizations. Among those community activities were a charter membership in the Utopian Homemakers; founder and president of the Monroe County Homemakers past officers organization; and president of the Tomah PTA, Tomah Music Mothers, and Tomah Woman's Club.

Her more recent community efforts were with the mentally retarded, social service work through the county welfare office, and providing a home for veterans from the Tomah Veterans Administration hospital. She was a long-time member of the Monroe County Republican Women's Club, and served as its president."

Column entitled "On the Write Side" by John Kenny: "Just about all community newspapaers have their legions of rural correspondents, and the Tomah papers have been privileged to have terrifically dedicated persons who have covered the goings-on in their locales. Many of them have been writing the rural news for decades, and probably the 'dean' of correspondents to the Tomah Journal was Dora Helen Cline. She wrote her last news March 14, two days before she suffered a paralytic stroke.

We probably saw more of Dora Helen than any other correspondent, because she at times wouldn't exactly trust the mail to get her copy here by deadline time; or else she would put the finishing touches on her articles as she sat in the car in front of the office, as she did that last time.

And on those occasions she arrived really 'late' with the Ridgeville news, she'd accompany the news with a bouquet of flowers, or acorn squash, apples, etc., as 'peace offerings.' She'd never stay too long, just moments enough to tell of some beautiful scene on the ridge, or a sighting of the first robin or early martin. They she'd zip out the door and off to some other chore...to see a sick friend at the hospital, or to work in one of the many, many community activities she was so vitally involved in.

Last fall I spent a week in the hospital and was pleased with one of Dora Helen's visits. Unfortunately, I was out of my room meandering about the hospital when she visited, and found a shopping bag of gifts beside the bed. Not the normal candy, but a loaf of home-baked wheat bread, some fresh eggs, and a squash. There was no note attached, but we knew Dora Helen had been there, and we assumed that this was her antidote for whatever was ailing me. I enjoyed the food when I got home, and have been in the peak of health since.

Dora Helen and the Tomah Journal had a 'few words' over the years, too. In her own friendly way, she would call and report how we misspelled something in her column, and I'd reply that if she'd keep words like 'Narcissus' out of her copy, the Journal would maintain a better batting average.

The Journal will miss Dora Helen Cline. There'll never be another. She'll be missed by her readers who enjoyed Dora Helen's unique way of descibing the first spear of asparagus to break through the ground, the first red raspberry in her garden, or her yearly report of the blue birds along her fence line.

She'll be missed by those many, many organizations she contributed so much to through her leadership and participation...and by her friends, of whom she had so many."

Related Article by Ruby Clay: "Only a few weeks ago we were again summoned to reality when word reached us of the departure of another Charter Member of this Organization (The Past Officer's Organization). When asked to prepare a tribute in memory of Dora Helen Cline, I would gladly have passed the responsibility on to someone else, but I gave it some serious thinking, and realized that I had been asked to express what undoubtedly each of us must deeply feel in our hearts...so who was I to refuse the request.

However, in gathering my notes to hold this message together, the first thoughts that came to light were my memories of Dora Helen as an individual. And I wondered for a moment if I had been closely enough associated with her to prepare this memorial. It was then that I realized that Dora was not a person with 'two faces,' one for me, and another for her closer friends. Rather, she was the same Dora Helen, under any circumstances, and to know her was to have her as a friend.

We 'all' loved her, and we'll 'all' miss her...but none of us will feel that she has gone completely from our lives. For Dora Helen scattered deeds of love and understanding wherever she chanced to go; and I doubt that any of us are without a momento of some kind in our home. It may be a plant, a flower pot, or perhaps a clipping of the Ridgeville news column from one of the local newspapers. Perhaps it could be the fond memory of her love of good literature...for in this alone, many of us shared in her good taste, and followed her interest in the beauty of nature around her.

Dora Helen was one of the most versatile persons I have ever known...and she always had time to stop and speak a word of encouragement to those whom others had passed by.

Often, business meetings were already in progress when she arrived. She was late...only because she had stopped to 'smell the flowers' which, perhaps, on the morrow, woujld be gone forever. And because she had taken time out to gather up a basket full of Good Will, to be scattered along the path she trod. The seconds it took her to do these things, as an every day service, gave her life a fulfillment that some folks will never know.

Dora Helen Cline was one of the organizers of The Past Officer's Organization. To her, it was not only important in its existence, it was also dear to her heart, because in the ways it served in bringing moments of pleasure to its members, and because of the functional purposes it served in contributing to the needs of the less fortunate.

On Memorial Day we will again follow the custom of this organization, and place flowering plants on the graves of recent departed members. In so doing, let us not forget how willingly Dora Helen perfomed this duty during her life...and often far beyond the requirements...like planting a lilac bush, setting out tulips, etc., around the Little Red School in Tomah. All this was done in the name of this organization.

In conclusion, may I say this...We can give her no greater memorial than to work together in strengthening this organization. For well we all know, we will each have to take on the responsibility of encouraging past Officers of Monroe County Homemakers to attend meetings, and keep this group growing and active. This alone can become a living memorial for her, as we work to preserve what she and a few others, long ago, had felt was necessary and beneficial to many.

In respect for Dora Helen and all other members who have passed on...may we continue working together, accomplishing the services for which this organization was intended."

. She was buried on 4 April 1974 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^103,109 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

William J. "Willie" CLINE and Dora Helen SIEWERT had the following children: