PERSHING — Sunday was a beautiful day for the Gasconade County Historical Society’s cemetery walk at the Pershing Cemetery near Zion-St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, and dozens of people attended the event.

The cemetery in Pershing (then Potsdam) was established on May 28, 1883, at the same time as Zion Church, according to information provided by the historical society. Benjamin Toedtmann, an infant, was the first person to be buried in the new cemetery, on Aug. 26, 1883.

The Zion Church building was originally dedicated on Mar. 5, 1884. A parsonage was added in 1904, then the church was completely destroyed by fire on Feb. 8, 1912. A new church was quickly erected and dedicated on Jul. 28, 1912. In Nov. 1958, Zion Church merged with St. Peter Evangelical Church to form Zion-St. Peter Evangelical Church.

Eight historic persons were portrayed during Sunday’s walk.

Ruth Liemkuehler was portrayed by Mary Ann Branson. At the age of 17, Ruth married Milton Leimkuehler. In addition to being a mother, she worked in the Florsheim Shoe Factory until her two youngest children were born. At that time, Milton and Ruth started a large strawberry farm. When her two youngest children were in school. Ruth returned to work in the Handi-Pac Toy Factory. They sold the farm in 1975 and opened the Rainbow Park restaurant in 1978. Milton died in a car accident in 1982, but Ruth continued to run the restaurant until an electrical fire in 1991 destroyed the cooler and the roof. The cost of new equipment was too great, so Ruth closed the restaurant. In 2012, Ruth fell down the basement stairs and was taken to the hospital but did not recover.

Anna Marie Deppe was presented by Diane Martellero, along with Benjamin Deppe played by Velda Staley. Ben was one of six children, although his only sister lived for only 18 days, and two of his brothers drowned in the Gasconade River. Anna was the second oldest of eight kids, and the only girl. Ben and Ana were married in Hermann in 1929, and lived on a 125-acre farm three miles East of Pershing, along the Gasconade River, where they had diary cows, raised chickens, and kept two gardens. Anna also quilted as a hobby. Anna died in September of 1961. Ben continued to farm, but eventually switched houses with his son Oliver and moved in to town. Ben died on April 17, 1980. 

Mathilda (Tilly) Sophia Gunther Stortz was portrayed by Lori Bockting. Tilly was born in Dogtown, in St. Louis, but sadly her mother passed two years later, following the birth of twins.  Sadly, the twins died, as well. Tilly’s father tried to care for the remaining three children, but soon took them to their grandparents, where the children were separated and given to family and friends. Tilly ended up with Louis and Marie Spohrer and their children, and had a privileged childhood in Pershing. In 1911, at the age of 21, she married William Stortz. The couple lived in Stolpe, Mo., for several years before purchasing a farm in Pershing, on Klossner’s Bend along the Gasconade River. Because women had just been allowed to own property, her name was listed on the deed.

Additionally, Richard Broeker was portrayed by descendant Shaun Broeker, Welma Louise (Bohl) Held by Cindy Stafford, Sophie Leimkuehler by Darlene Broeker, and Friedericke Lalk by Nancy Dillahunt.

Light refreshments were served afterward in the Zion-St. Peters Fellowship Hall.