July 4th seems far off as the area moves deeper into winter. But it's a date that is much on the mind of Bernie Webb. Some time around then, the ashes of his wife, Diana, will be spread on Lake Oahe in South Dakota.
Meanwhile, even as you read this, someone else is thankful for Diana. Because of her, that person is able to read, period.
Air Force gift
Bernie lives in Gettysburg, S.D., but he's well-known in the Carrington, N.D., area, where he and Diana lived for several years and where Bernie was president of the Chamber of Commerce.
He's a native of West Philadelphia, Pa. He landed in the Dakotas thanks to the Air Force, which assigned him to Gettysburg as a radar intercept controller in 1957.
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It was a good move for Bernie, for it allowed him to meet Diana, who lived there.
The two became engaged. But the Air Force threw a monkey wrench into their marriage plans when it assigned Bernie to a base in Alaska.
Bernie was separated from his honey for many weeks. But in December 1960 he received a Christmas gift from the Air Force. The Strategic Air Command would take four of the base's personnel to the continental U.S. for two weeks over Christmas.
Bernie's commander held a drawing to determine who would make the trip, and Bernie's name came up.
So it was that on Dec. 27, 1960, Bernie and Diana were married in the Methodist church in Gettysburg.
Diana went on to carve out a name for herself, becoming state president of the South Dakota Jaycettes and being named South Dakota's outstanding young woman, both in 1971, and she was an award-winning artist.
Bernie did well, too, being named one of South Dakota's outstanding young men in 1972, and becoming president of the state's historical society.
When Bernie left the Air Force, they lived in Carrington, then moved back to Gettyburg.
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They have two daughters, Melody Hanson, Glenham, S.D., and Colleen Webb, Fargo, and three grandchildren.
Explorers
It was Diana's father who introduced young Easterner Bernie to western archeological and historical lore. Bernie became hooked, now is considered an expert on the history of the West and has been the regional vice president of Westerners International, a western history group, for 30 years.
He and Diana loved to explore the countryside, both in the Carrington area and in the Lake Oahe region.
But Diana developed serious illnesses which led to heart bypass surgery.
Then on Nov. 1, 2006, Diana, 65, died of a stroke, about two months short of her and Bernie's 46th wedding anniversary.
But by pre-arrangement, she left her corneas to an eye bank. Because of that, someone else is able to see today.
Then this summer, her ashes will be spread on Oahe, symbolically returning her to the land she loved.
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If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, N.D. 58107; fax it to 241-5487; or e-mail blind@forumcomm.com
