The Anne P. Livak Collection consists of one greeting card with a typed message from Theo [unknown last name] to Gertrude [unknown last name]. The card is by Hallmark and has a graphic design in crewel work with flowers in pinks, purples, turquoise and white in a white “basket” all set on a green background. The design is also embossed. The card is dated Wednesday, Dec. 31st but no year is mentioned in the text. Locations mentioned are Webster, Aberdeen and South Dakota.

The design of the card dates it from the late 1950s at the earliest to the 1980s at the latest. December 31 falls on a Wednesday in 1958, 1969, 1975 and 1980.

Research discovered references to the family of Lester & Marcella (Mashek) Grosz in the 1986 Bowdle, South Dakota centennial book. In the book, their son David married Darlyce; both are named in the letter. They had children named Terisa and Daniel; both are named in the letter. In the letter, David finished electrical engineering training; in the book he is an electrical engineer in Houston, Texas. Another of Lester’s sons, Chris, is eleven in the letter. Chris Grosz, son of Lester and Marcella, was born in 1958 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, according to the book. Chris would have been eleven in 1969 matching the Wednesday, December 31 for the year 1969. Lester’s mother is Theodosia Grosz. She is the presumed writer of the letter as Theo. Her husband Fred was born in South Dakota, but both parents were born in Russia.