WHITESIDE COUNTY IL MARRIAGES

To The
WHITESIDE
COUNTY
MARRIAGES

John Lewis & Bessie (Stanley) Deets
Contributed by King Deets

A pretty wedding was solemnized last night at 8 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Stanley of Genesee township in which the lives ofJohn L. Deets of Hopkins township and Miss Bessie Stanley were united in the bonds of matrimony. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Mr. Marlow, pastor of the Christian church of Coleta, in the presence of about 125 invited guests. Teh couple took their places under a canopy of smillax in the parlors of the home as the wedding march was played by Miss Nellie Stanley, a sister of the bride. The couple were unattended. The bride was attired in a handsome gown of white and carried roses. The usual congratulations were offered following the ceremony, after which a wedding spent in having a delightful social time. The couple received numerous and varied presents to remind them of the occasion.
The bride is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stanley of Genesee township. She was raised in that township, where she attended the public schools and after leaving the schools remained at home, where she was taught that most useful of all the arts, housekeeping. She is a prominent member of the Christian church of Coleta, and is highly regarded by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. She is possessed of a disposition that is attractive and a character that is beautiful. The groom is one of the enterprising young farmers ofHopkins township. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Deets of Emerson and is well known and highly respected by the community in which he resides. He is industrious and well-to-do, and is possessed of a good business education and has before him a bright future. Mr. and Mrs. Deets will not take a wedding tour but will go to housekeeping on a farm near Emerson.
50th Wedding Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Deets of north of Emerson will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Sunday, March 9 with their family. No special observance is planned. Bessie Stanley and John Deets were married by the Rev. C. W. Marlow of the Christian Church of Coleta in the bride's home on March 11, 1908.
Eleven children born to the couple are Milton Deets of Bettendorf iA, Mrs. Christian (Hazel) Haberer of Polo, Chester Deets of Malvern, Mason Deets of Sterling, Mrs. Laurence (Dorothy) McDermon of Mt. Carroll, Mrs. S. (NEllie) Stewart of Milledgeville, Lloyd Deets of Waco TX, Mrs. Perry (Bessie) Snitchler of Sterling, Mrs. Charles (Marian) Mangan of Galt and Clark Deets and Mildred of Sterling.
60th Wedding Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Deets of Sterling, R.R. 3, will observe their 60th wedding anniversary on March 11, 1968. They request that there be a guiet observance of the event with a family gathering Sunday March 10. However, instead of an open house a letter and card shower is being planned for Mr. and Mrs. Deets.
The couple was married in the home ofMrs. Deets' parents in Coleto. All of their married life has been spent on the farm north of Emerson where they reside. Mr. Deets rents out the farm land but maintains an active interest in the farm work.
Mr. and Mrs. Deets were the parents of 11 children, Milton Deets of Bettendorf Iowa; Mrs. Christ (Hazel) Haberer of Polo; Chester Deets of Morrison; Mason Deets of Sterling; Mrs. Lawrence (Dorothy) McDearmon ofMt. Carroll; Mrs. Myrl (Nellie) Stewart of Milledgeville; Col. Lloyd Deets of Universal City TX; Mrs. Percy (Bessie) Snitcheler of Sterling; Miss Mildred Deets of Sterling; Mrs. Charles (Marian) Mangan of Galt and Charles Deets of Sterling. There were 39 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
70th Wedding Anniversary
The sign above the house of John and Bessie Deets, rural Galt, could read “Deets Marriage Counselors — Visitors Welcome.” Though there is no such sign on the Deets property, if there was one, it would be appropriate. The Deets’ probably know as much about married life as anyone, having celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Wednesday [03/15/1978].
Married since 1908, where they were joined in matrimony near Coleta, the Deets’ still manage to stay active, keeping track of their 10 children. Though the Deets’ have help taking care of the house and property and heavy housework, they both pride themselves in caring mostly for themselves. John, 92, enjoys working with the yard surrounding his farm house and taking care of the wildlife there. “I enjoy wildlife and always have. I’ve always enjoyed the country,” he says.
Bessie, 91, still prides herself in doing her own housework and proudly will tell you she also does her own cooking. Not only have the Deets’ mastered the art of marriage and getting along with one another, they seem to be pretty proficient at getting along with strangers. Never has there been a stranger turned away from the Deets front door.
“Hoboes used to come by her and have had nothing to eat. We would give them food and sometimes they would spend the night. We would never turn them away,” John relates. “On several occasions people have been stranded on the road in snowstorms and come knocking on our door. It happened this winter. A young girl came to us and she was stalled in one of those bad storms. We invited her to dinner and she stayed until the snowmobile people came,” he said. The Deets’ have had 11 children, six girls and five boys. They are: Milton, Bettendorf, Mrs. Chris (Hazel) Hober, Polo, Chester Deets, Morrison, Mason Deets, Sterling, Mrs. Larry (Dorathy) McDearman, Mt. Carroll, Mrs. Merl (Nelie) Stewart, Sterling, Lloyd Deets, Wimberley, Tex., Mrs. Percy (Bessie) Snitchler, the late Mildred Deets, Mrs. Charles (Marian) Mangan, Galt, Charles Deets, Oregon. (Article contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Gazette, March 18, 1978, page 3, column 1)