Notes:
During the summer of 1947 Peter was in Hoven, South Dakota working for his Uncles on their farms. At a week end dance, Peter spotted Patricia and, what was then considered inappropriate, danced with her the rest of the night. He spent the rest of the summer courting her. Peter returned to Yale University that fall as a Senior. When he started failing classes his professors asked him what was wrong. He told them he was in love with a girl from South Dakota. They adamantly demanded that he return to South Dakota during Christmas break, marry her, bring her back to Connecticut, and return to school. He did ask her to marry him. She said yes and invitations went out. Plans changed though. Only having known this man for 6 months and being frightened at having to move to a big "foreign" city , she called it off. He did return at Christmas break and convinced her to marry him (with a little help from Cecilia, Patricia's mother.) Since the wedding had already been canceled they were married with only their two witnesses in attendance in a little Catholic church in Sioux Falls, SD on New years Eve 1947. In 1997 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and renewed their wedding vows with their five children and spouses, their 10 grandchildren, and a slew of relatives and friends in attendance at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton, Oregon.
Note by Pamela Mumma, mumma6@yahoo.com