I don’t think anyone was surprised when Jane began dating Linford Stoll after we moved out on our own. Linford’s family attended the South Lawrence Mennonite Church that was located across the road from our farm. We attended the same public school district, and our families had known each other for years. I considered Linford’s younger sister, Karen, my best friend.

Linford’s family lived in the traditional Mennonite tradition where women had long uncut hair and wore dresses. The men and boys didn’t need to follow specific clothing requirements so they didn’t look any different than non-Mennonite men and boys. The one thing that was astonishing to me was that Linford and his siblings were free to express their opinions openly with their parents. They could express frustration and anger as well as joy and happiness.

Linford was a few months older than Jane, and he had been living away from home for a few years while he served his alternate military service. When he returned home, he had a brand new shinny bright orange Volkswagen Beetle.

They were so cute riding in the bright orange Volkswagen. Linford with his thick dark hair, and Jane with her long bright red hair. They were truly soulmates.

When Linford asked for her hand in marriage, he gifted her a dainty gold necklace with a with a cross that had diamond in the middle. The Mennonite tradition did not allow the wearing of wedding bands or engagement rings, so this was his alternative to an engagement ring. Jane was so excited to wear it.

As they made plans for their wedding, Jane agreed to join the South Lawrence Mennonite church. Our family visited the church often as it was located across the road from our family farm, but we were never members of the church.

Linford and Jane began a series of counseling sessions with the local pastor to prepare for the wedding and Jane’s church membership. As I recall, the pastor of the church voiced to them the perquisite for Jane to become a member would be to water baptized in the sprinkling manner that was traditional in their congregation. Jane had already been baptized by immersion and felt that she was in compliance with the requirements.

The pastor also told them that jewelry of any nature was not allowed, and that Jane could not wear the gold necklace. Jane was quite upset, and didn’t agree with those rules. She was committed to becoming Linford’s wife a member of the church, so she placed the necklace in it’s original box for safekeeping. I don’t recall her ever wearing it again.

Jane and Linford were compatible in all ways. Jane was getting tired of working in the office at the casket factory in Ladysmith, and she was planning to quit her job once they married. Linford earned enough money that he was in total agreement that she should enjoy that luxury.

Doris sold Linford and Jane the house we lived in. Doris was already working in her new role as office manager for the Lower Lights Quartet and had moved to Forest Lake, Minnesota. I made arrangements to rent a bedroom from Dennis and Joyce Davenport (who were the leaders of the band). I bought my first car, quit my job at the Ladysmith Insurance Agency and moved to Forest Lake, Minnesota.

In June 1975, Jane and Linford were married in the shade of the trees on Linford’s family farm. It was a beautiful exchange of vows with both families sharing in their love for each other.