John Henry Bettendorf was born on a small farm near Fairfield, Iowa on May 12, 1895. Near the turn of the century, the family moved to a farm in Antelope County, Nebraska, south of Oakdale.
He married Ellen Elizabeth Nilson on February 28, 1917. She was born on a farm west of Elgin on August 6, 1893. When she was a little girl, the family moved to a farm east of Elgin in the Star Community. John and Ellen established their first home on the east 80 acres of the Nilson farm. They had three children: Robert Verner (1917-1970), Marion Elizabeth (died in infancy 1925) and Noel John, born September 28, 1928. In 1934, the family moved into Oakdale and lived at the Bettendorf family home on the north edge of town. Noel graduated from Oakdale High in 1946. He enlisted in the Army and served two years in Germany. On August 8, 1952, he married Lois Lucille Pollock. Lois was born on December 17, 1933 in Neligh to Alfred Ray Pollock and Lila Harriet Dalton. Alfred married Lila on June 1, 1929 in Neligh. Lois had two brothers, Donald Richard and LaVern Ray, and a sister, Ruth Elaine Carr. Lois and Noel made their first home in Oakdale. They were parents of Roland John, Steven Ray and Mark Allen.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007