Carl and I met at Palmer Public Schools in 1961, which we both attended. Carl’s family had just moved to Palmer. Originally they had lived in Meadow Grove and Tilden, Nebraska. His grandparents, Charles and Cora Bell Verplank Beed, were married around the Battle Creek, Nebraska, area. They were descendants of England and Holland.
Carl’s immediate family consists of eight brothers and four sisters. All but two children live in Nebraska. His parents, Charles and Fern Spar Beed, live at Palmer where Charles retired from city police duty.
On February 21, 1969, Carl and I were married by H.H. Utterback at his home in Palmer. We lived in a little apartment in Palmer, as Carl worked for Hartford Service Station. We thought our hopes and dreams of a peaceful married life were shattered when Carl received his draft induction papers in May of 1969. Carl left for the Army on June 21, 1969. He was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before being sent to Augsburg, Germany, in November of 1969.
Our son Matthew Carl was born on November 25, 1969, two weeks after Carl had left for Germany. I spent time at Carl’s parents’ home and at my parents, Carl and Louise Davison’s, in Palmer while Carl was gone.
In April of 1970, Matthew and I flew to Germany to live with Carl. This was a very rewarding experience and a little boy grew to know both his father and mother together. We had to really pinch pennies, but we were happy just to be together.
February 1971 brought Matthew and myself back to Nebraska. Carl’s discharge came in June 1971 and then we were a family again.
Carl started to work at Sperry New Holland in June 1971. He is a welder at the plant and has now been there over nine years.
On July 5, 1971, a welcome addition was made to our family, Michelle Louise was born. Matthew really enjoyed his new little sister. They have grown to be very close.
In 1974 we purchased a home on the north side of Palmer. Moving day was very exciting. The children were very young, but very excited about their own rooms and new home.
The next year Matthew started to school. It was a sad day for mother, but exciting for Matthew. The hardest time yet was the next fall when Michelle started to school.
Our family attends the United Methodist Church at Palmer. Carl and I also belong to the American Legion Post #120 of Palmer. For hobbies, Carl enjoys carpentry work, fishing, and archery deer hunting. He used his skill in carpentry two years ago when we added two bedrooms onto our home. I enjoy doing latch hook rugs and sewing along with my job as a sales clerk for J.C. Penney’s in Grand Island.
Our family truly loves living in Merrick County and in Palmer. The small town is perfect for raising a family and quiet, comfortable living.
Submitted by Bonnie (Mrs. Carl) Beed
Source: Merrick County Historical Society, History of Merrick County, Nebraska (1981), Volume I, Dallas, Texas : Taylor Publishing Company, 1981.