The Story of Our Romance

July, 1960 at the Wilber Carnival. My sister (Elaine Schlichtemeier Keller) and Willy (Willa Dean Keller Fritz) introduced him - Lawrence Ourecky - to me. Commenting he’s a nice guy for Ruth. Since I wasn’t dating, he asked to take me to a party at Willy’s later.
The winter before, however, he was with the group and ended up at Sonny’s (Leon Keller) for lunch. I was baby sitting for Sonny’s.
After Willy’s party he asked me for a date. I refused. The reason. He’s too pushy and 25 while I was 18. We met again at Blue River Lodge August 31. He asked to take me home, Friday nite, a date - until I accepted. Finally he succeeded only if Sonny and Elaine went along. Labor Day.
Came home from a show in Lincoln and, you guessed it, I refused. However, that same month around the 28th, we were dancing to a polka at the Sokol Hall in Wilber. I made plans to attend school in Minneapolis and he would come to see me at school while on a cruise (in the Naval Reserves) the end of October. It didn’t work out. Bad weather.
Lawrence’s aunt Mildred Freeouf from Minneapolis called and told Ruth the bad news. She actually felt bad. Lawrence and Ruth wrote letters occasionally.
Ruth’s cousin Pat was married during Thanksgiving vacation. Yes - Lawrence was at their dance at Blue River Lodge. But, Ruth was flighty and wanted to be independent. Lawrence was disgusted and drank too much. Some how, they ended up together the next evening.
Ruth and Lawrence wrote more and more and once Lawrence signed a letter - “ with love ”. Ruth just needed that signal and from then on her heart pounded every time a letter came.
During Christmas vacation, she saw Lloyd and Doris at Gateway (shopping mall in Lincoln). Not realizing Lawrence was an identical twin, she was jealous, she played hard to get at the Wilber dance. Lawrence invited her to Willy’s New Year’s Eve party, she couldn’t say yes or no. But wrote him a note the next day and accepted. They had a wonderful time. Lawrence was a gentleman. They parked and talked. He mentioned that his folks wanted him to marry. Ruth’s heart jumped up and she tried to say calmly, well you still have a chance.
The next evening - they introduced Chick (Lambert Slepicka) to Dee (Deloris Pomajzl) - By the way - they are to be married October 6, 1962.
Ruth finished school and started to work for Dr. Grant.
Ruth wrote Lawrence a week after she was in Lincoln. Lawrence came down to see her. They dated regularly once a week - twice a week - and three times a week. One night, they parked on their way home and talked again. Lawrence - said “what would you say if I gave you a diamond”. Ruth was startled, couldn’t say a word. Finally chocked out “I guess I would take it”. Lawrence seemed so sure and Ruth was serene.
Lawrence gave Ruth a white gold solitaire, by the way , a sister - in - law to be chose it. Ruth received it May 11, 1961 a month after he proposed. They made plans. Ruth met his folks Psalm Sunday and Doris and Lloyd. Lawrence knew Ruth’s folks but, he was invited to her house for Easter. Attending church for the first time with her.
After much discussion they decided to be married in Wilber’s Lutheran Church. Since, Ruth was spending week ends at Doris and Lloyds they attended church at Wilber. Love seems to grow with time. They found that out. God certainly had a hand in their meeting.

This was taken from Ruth Schlichtemeier Ourecky’s Wedding Book. This was typed as it was written in her own hand. The items in the parentheses were added for clarity.

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