Dorette Sophie Eleonore STEIMKE

Sophie came to America approximately 1890, when she was just 18. Shehad cousins living in farming communities south of Lincoln, Nebraska.Initially, she stayed with the _______ family. Her trunk, which is still in the family, has a shipping labelthat says " ________, Gage County, Nebr." Sophie had many friends; several portraits of her with her friendsbefore she was maried remain. Sophie worked as a baker for the prominent Pound family in Lincoln,for several years. It was during this time that she met her futurehusband, Louis Oelkers. She bought some appples he was selling at afarmers market in Lincoln. She had strong convictions about her religeon. Approximately 1915,she had a dispute with the Lutheran church at North Branch and fromthen on, the Oelkers family went to the Mosoursi Synod church inLouisville, Nebraska. This would also indicate that she "wore thepants in the family". After her death, the Oelkers returned to theNorth Branch church. Sophie was active in the womans club of Avoca, Nebraska. She died of emphasema, spending several months in the hospital priorto her death.

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