Richard Krause honored as Jefferson County's Veteran of the Month

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Neb. -- Richard H. Krause was born November 04, 1939, in the Mennonite Hospital in Beatrice, Nebraska. He had three brothers and one sister. He attended eight years of grade school at District 62, which at the time was located two miles east of the Bower and Highway 15 intersection north of Fairbury. Richard attended one year of high school at Plymouth and the remaining three years at Fairbury, graduating in 1957. While still a senior in high school he joined the Fairbury National Guard at age 18.

At the time the Fairbury National Guard was under the command of Captain Harold Adams. Merle Beetley was employed full time at the National Guard Armory. At that time Richard cannot recall that there were any Basic Training requirements. All two week summer camps were spent at Camp Ripley in Iowa. Private Krause remembers firing Marksman, Sharpshooter and Expert with the M1 rifle and .45- caliber pistol. He fired expert with the 81mm mortar. He was trained as a

Heavy Weapons Infantryman, which likely accounts for his poor hearing in his senior years. Private Krause considered his military obligation fulfilled in November, 1964. Richard is a former Quilt of Valor recipient.

Richard farmed with his dad when he was in high school and upon graduation he worked for Dempster Windmills in Beatrice for about one year. The company closed in about 1959 due to windmills being of lesser importance in the rural economy. In 1959 Richard began working for Schmitt Implement in Daykin, where he continued his love of International Tractors. He also married his wife, Elanor, in 1962.

In 1965 Richard began working as a grader operator for the Jefferson County Highway Department, a career that lasted for 37 years. In 1973 the family moved to 56205 720th Road west of Bower where they raised their two boys and a girl.

Over the years, and especially after retirement in 2004, Richard and Elanor enjoyed restoring International Tractors and both enjoyed going to and participating in “Tractor Pulls.” Though they enjoyed going to tractor pulls in Iowa and Kansas, they mostly participated in events in Nebraska towns like Milligan, Nelson, Ruskin and Superior.

Until recently the Krause’s heated their home with wood and raised geese, ducks, chickens, cattle and hogs. Richard also enjoyed bailing small bales of alfalfa, prairie hay and brome grass in the surrounding community. After 62 years of marriage both Richard and Elanor are slowing down and currently enjoy rural living along with enjoying their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.