The Superior Express -

Mary Beth (Reiss) Bruning was born on a farm near Belvidere, on April 14, 1929, to Paul and Amy (Babka) Reiss. Midwife Mary Spickelmier was set to do the delivery, but since Mary was breach, Dr. Bancroft was summoned from Hebron. Dr. Bancroft traveled on an unpaved, muddy Highway 81 arriving just in time to deliver Mary. Brother Walter Edward joined the family in 1933.

Mary’s younger years were filled with joy and adventures as she,brother Walt and cousins Ed and Leonard Babka and Lucy Kerl were often up to no good...or “responsible play” as they would tell their parents. They were t...