“There is love of course. And then there’s life, it’s enemy.”
~Jean Anouilh
Children of hard working immigrants, Abelard Hanks and Kelda Klausen grew up as friends on neighboring farms in western South Dakota. Kindred spirits since childhood, their friendship deepened and soon turned to love. After a brief courtship, they were married in the Dutch Reformed Church in Bluevale, South Dakota on July 17, 1891.
As a wedding present, they were given a small plot of land and their house was raised by family and friends in 11 days. With love and commitment as their common bonds, Abelard and Kelda Hanks were barely 17 when they began their lives together.
Toiling side-by-side throughout their marriage, Abelard and Kelda remained deeply in love–even though many of their years together were not easy ones financially. Remarkably, the harder the circumstances, the more their love for one another grew.
But, as is the case with all great loves stories, the ending alway comes far too soon.
Sadly, just four days before their 47th wedding anniversary, Kelda succumbed to pneumonia leaving Abelard alone for the first time in their relationship.
Lost without his true companion, Abelard fell behind in his work on the farm and his days grew dark and empty. Giving in to the loneliness, Abelard Hanks died just six months later.
He was 64.
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