Ed and Esther    Ann    Bob   Dick    Russ

Back, L-R: Steve, Randy.

Seated: Marjo, Evert, Marge, Penny, Lori, Pat

Evert and Margery Black Fletcher

Children:   Marjo,   Patty,    Randy,   Steve ,   Penny,   Lori

Margery was born Oct. 19, 1919, on the farm north of Lower Brule to Edwin and Esther (Creasey) Black. She attended  country schools, receiving three years of high school there before the family moved into Reliance in 1937. There she attended high school.

Marge met Evert at a  house dance in the country, which were very common in those days. Evert and his parents were furnishing the music; he on the banjo, his father the violin and his mother the organ. Evert was born Apr. 22, 1914, at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Wm. R. and Lillian Fletcher, where they had gone to homestead. After filing on their homestead they came to South Dakota, settling in Lyman County south of Reliance. He graduated from Reliance High School in 1932. Marge and Evert were married Feb. 1, 1938, in Murdo, Jones County, SD. They worked for Clarence Lindley on his ranch on the White river. They eventually moved onto the Fletcher homestead south of Reliance and in 1953, moved into Reliance. Evert worked at various jobs until his employment with the Lower Brule Housing Authority from which he retired in 1982. Margery began her employment with the housing authority in 1967, retiring in 1984. Six children: Marjo, Patty, Randy, Steve, Penny, Lori. All but Patty remain in South Dakota. Pat lives in California. Margery passed away in July of 1999, from cancer and is buried in the Reliance Cemetery.

Evert, the happiest, grinniest, friendliest man in the country, was a wonderful caregiver for his mother-in-law. He checked on her every morning on his way to work and saw to it her needs were always met. He suffered a crippling stroke of paralysis in the 80s which left him unable to make words. It has been explained as the ability to receive, he just cannot transmit verbally. He now makes his home with his daughter Lori in Reliance who has managed to learn and understand his sounds and gestures as have other family members.  He is blessed. Note: Jan. 8, 2002: Evert passed away today.

Six children:

Marjo, b. 1939; m. Maurice Crain and they make their home in Brookings, SD. Children:

Patty, b. 1940, m. Don Weber, Pasadena, Calif., 2 daughters:

Randy, b.       (1) m. Roberta Thompson,  ch:     ; (2) m,          , at home in Lennox, SD

Steve, b.           , m. Delilah Schelske, Ch:                          , Renner, SD

Penny, b.       (1) m.   Peter Clark,  ch:              ; (2) m.          Marsh,  Ch:                     Reliance

Lori, b.              , m.                 Marsh, ch:                                 Reliance.

Margery passed away in July of 1999, from cancer and is buried in the Reliance Cemetery. Evert makes his home with his daughter Lori.  

Additions and corrections welcome.   barbara

Lillian and Will Fletcher, 1950