The Johnson boys married three Hochstedler girls
By Patricia Buschette
Most everyone has heard of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the 1954 movie about a family of seven brothers, each looking for a wife. For the Hochstedler and Johnson families, the storyline isn’t quite the same, but is just as unique. In this real-life script, the three boys in the Johnson family each married a girl from the Hochstedler family.
The Johnsons
Clarence and Josephine Johnson, along with children Joe, Eddie, and Howie, and daughters Rose Anne, and Jeannie, lived in Oregon where Clarence Johnson worked for a logging company. In 1949, Clarence died at 40 years of age, leaving Josephine with five children and a sixth child on the way.
During the 1930s life was difficult, and for the Johnson family, hard decisions had to be made. The boys were sent on a train to Minnesota to be with relatives, and Rose Anne and Jeannie stayed with the couple who owned the logging company in Oregon.
When Josephine was in the hospital giving birth, she signed papers believing it was for temporary custody of her newborn daughter, Sandy. Josephine learned later it was, in fact, for full custody. Sandy was adopted and they lost contact with her.
The relatives in Minnesota struggled with similar economic problems and the boys were sent back to Oregon. With the help of the owners of the logging company, Josephine and the five children went to Minnesota to be near family. They settled in Watkins, Minn., and the three boys were placed on farms to work to ease the hardship.
Years later Sandy was reunited with her family. Times remained tough. Rose Ann remembered that when they lived in the logging camp they “lived in a tarpaper shack without the tarpaper.”
“I guess we can all find a little bit of humor no matter how difficult times can be,” Betty said.
The Hochstedlers
In Ileen (Hochstedler) Johnson’s words, the Hochstedler family was more of a “normal story.”
Floyd was a marine in WWII who worked in road construction. He was married to Hazel.
“We lived in Forrest City and Dassel, Minn., but the first home our family owned was in Darwin,” said Ileen. Hazel and Floyd their three daughters, Ileen, Betty, and Carol Johnson lived in a home with few of the conveniences of other homes. However, their house was a favorite gathering plac for friends. “Our home was the hangout house,” Ileen said. Their mother, described as a “stay-at-home mom,” was a seasonal worker at a canning factory in Cokato.
The foundation of the merger of the Johnson and Hochstedler family was soon to begin.
Ileen Hochstedler and Eddie Johnson met at Playland Ballroom in Kimball, where they roller-skated. “We didn’t date, we just hung out,” Ileen explained. Then Eddie went into the military. “When he got out of the military we went our separate ways.”
Ileen married (someone else) and had two children, Brian and Tracey Lynn. Eventually, Ileen and Eddie reunited and were married on Nov. 27, 1965.
“My grandmother said, ‘He is the one you should have married the first time!’”
Betty Hochstedler met Howie Johnson on a blind date... but they weren’t the two on the date. A group of friends planned to go to a wrestling match and Betty’s date had been arranged. However, it was not the blind date, but the driver who caught her eye.
“Howie and I connected right away,” she said. “Howie and I went to Grove City to the car races,” Betty said, and added that she didn’t date anyone else after that. “Howard Johnson and I were married March 5, 1966.”
Mr. Hochstedler was reported to have said, ‘I am glad there are no more Johnson boys!’’
He spoke too soon!
Years later, Joe Johnson, a widower, had attended a family wedding. Ileen and Betty thought it would be nice to connect their brother-in-law up with their sister. It was a good idea. The two clicked, and on Nov. 7, 1992, Carol and Joe were married.
Many family get-togethers
The family has shared many good times as a new generation including cousins, Brian, Tracey Lynn, Randy, Julie, Van, Jan, Jason, Tina, Leanne and Laurie stand ready to continue the family tradition.
Ileen who lives in Litchfield and Betty who lives near South Haven say that they have always been close. “We first married two brothers and kept in touch,” Betty said. “The families worked hard and played hard.”
Throughout the years, the family remained close, maintaining a rapport that continues to the next generation.
For example, the family often gathered at Joe’s place on Lake McKeown near Hackensack.
“We bought campers and got together holidays, spending summers at the lake.”
When Ileen’s, Betty’s and Carol’s mother died, the three pooled inheritance cash and bought a paddleboat. When we got together at the lake, the whole family enjoyed the paddleboat,” Betty said.
When children added other activities, the six went kayaking, fishing, swimming, visiting with friends at the lake, and going to garage sales. “Howie was the first one out of the vehicle before it stopped, in order to get those good garage sale deals!” Betty laughed.
The family would gather at Pequot Lakes in February – “I think it started as a way to break up the winter,” Betty said. The six of us spent it at the Americana hotel, so many laughs and stories were shared.
One of the family rituals was to gather at Betty’s house and make stuffed potato sausage. “We got together to make the sausage; the three couples with all the kids,” Ileen remembered. “We started making potato sausage at Howie’s and Betty’s after Carol and Joe were married. We would make 30 to 50 pounds of potatoes”
“Howie and I bought an old winepress that would press sausage into casings. We peeled the potatoes and onions. Along with pork sausage the mixture was ground with a hand grinder, but we got smart and bought an electric grinder! Lots of stories and laughs remain for us to cherish,” Betty said. “I still make potato sausage, but it is a hot dish. We don’t stuff casings, but it still tastes as good!”
The children had good times together over the years. “Every December Ileen’s daughter Julie has a get together, and there were a lot of birthday parties,” Ileen explained.
“Mom’s cousins would have a pre-holiday get together for women only. “Ileen said. “At our 2023 party, one attendee was 96 years old, another 93, and another only 5 years old. The party is now alternated between Ileen and Betty’s homes and they hope the next generation will take over.
“Oh, the stories that get told when we get together,” the two mused.
“Every year we have a theme,” Betty said, “Your favorite stocking...or sweater... one year it was pajamas, and one year it was aprons,” Betty said, and the two were lost in the memories of much fun it was to get together.
The ritual is specific. “Whoever hosts the pot luck decorates for Christmas. It is held before Thanksgiving so decorating must be done early. “The host prepares a dish such as sloppy Joes, a recipe that requires nine pounds of hamburger, and the others bring a side dish,” Betty said.
“We have more than enough, and we provide ‘to go” containers,” Ileen said. “I love to entertain. It is a joy.”
As for Christmas gifts? There is a gift exchange for anyone who chooses to participate. There is a price guideline but the gift can be handmade or purchased.
“Carol, Betty and I each always provided a door prize. We continue to provide three prizes although Carol is no longer with us,” Ileen said. It is a very special time and we hope that the younger ones will keep this very special tradition going.”
A member of the group is cousin Ruth Johnson – yes, she married another Johnson, not related! “We want to continue the event. We didn’t have the pre-Christmas party during pandemic. It was really hard,” Betty said.
There were many wonderful times as the family grew and initiated many celebrations. However, the family consisting of three unique couples was broken up by death, and the family was changed dramatically. Howie died in 2003, Joe died in 2019, and Carol died in 2021.
“We have always been a close-knit family,” Betty said, “an advantage that the Johnson family did not have. This tradition has been long in the making. Celebrating family was our entertainment.
Ileen’s thoughts turned to earlier days as she described trips to visit relatives. “I remember Mother packing saltine crackers and a ring of bologna sausage, and watermelon. We would eat on the way.”
Those were kinder days – now people are just too busy, they thought. However, in the Johnson – Hochstedler family, the next generation is poised to incorporate traditions of family relationships.