Marie (Rudel) Portner Collection
Scope and Contents
The Marie (Rudel) Portner Collection contains photographs, family genealogy, books, and artifacts from Marie and her husband, Hal. Also included are materials created by Marie’s nephew, Weston Rudel, the donor of the collection. This collection has been organized into eight Series: Marie's Biographical Material, Genealogy, Red Scrapbook, Photographs, Correspondence, Weston W. Rudel, Books, and Artifacts.
Marie’s Biographical Material Series contains her passport and vaccination card and World War II ration cards. Also included are documents relating to Marie’s membership in the Alhambra Chapter of the Order of the Easters Star and a memorial to her. There are several travel related documents and the files pertaining to Marie’s funeral arrangements.
The Genealogy Series contains two books on family history, one documenting the Simon Rudel Reunion 1893-1993 and the other a Webber Family Book. The Rudel Family name received a certificate from the Historical Research Center regarding family name history.
The Red Scrapbook Series contains photographs and documents contained within the scrapbook. Many of these were more recent and included documentation of NDSU visits to Marie and many family photos. This scrapbook has been duplicated with the original photographs removed. The original photographs can be located in the Photograph Series, folders 15 and 16.
The Photograph Series contains historic family photos and more recent ones as well. Most are related to the Simon Rudel family and farm.
The Correspondence Series contains various correspondence with Marie.
The Weston Rudel Series contains materials relating to his life and work. Weston is Marie’s nephew and also lived in Las Vegas for quite a time. This series contains correspondence to Weston’s parents Herb and Emma from 1936-1940, typed articles and poems and copies of handwritten poems written by Weston. The Weston Rudel Publication Sub-Series contains five bound books of poetry written by Weston.
The Book Series contains five books dating from 1885-1927: The Holy Bible containing some loose material, published 1901 with inscription, “From Mother & Dad To Maria M Rudel, April 23, 1919”; Die Perle Sang und Klang published in 1894; Die Glaubenscharfe: Gesangbuch der Deutschen Baptisten-Gemeinden (organist edition), published 1885; Ausgewahlte Lieder des Evangeliums published 1927; and Easter Memories [cantata, published in 1917.
The Artifact Series contains eight objects. Hal has three items, his Shriner Bolo Tie, Clark Co. Nevada Special Deputy Sheriff badge, and Clark Co. Nevada Chief Electrical Inspector badge. There are three items from NDSU, a paperweight commemorating the NDSU Development Foundation Heritage Society Charter Member, and two plaques, one for the NDSU President’s Bronze Medallion and one for the Gold Medallion. Also included are a leather ration book token pouch and a green and white variegated crocheted book marker.
Dates
- 1935 - 2001
Access
Copyright
Biogrpahy
Marie Rudel Portner was born Maria Magdalene Rudel, in Fessenden, North Dakota, April 23, 1897. She was the ninth of twelve children of Simon and Dorothea Rudel.
The Rudel family traces its roots back to Germany. Jacob and Johanna Rudel, married in the area of Wuerttemberg, Germany, in 1795, had a first son Wilhelm (b. 1796). He was born in Germany, but died in Arzis, a Bessarabian town in southern Russia (today southern Ukraine). With his wife Johanna, he probably moved to Russia in 1829. Like many other German farmers, they migrated to southern Russia following the invitation of Catherine II. Their only son Friedrich (b. 1833) and his wife Wilhelmina (b. 1836) had fourteen children. The sixth child was Simon, born in Arzis in 1856.
Simon migrated to the United States in 1877, marrying another immigrant from Bessarabia, Dorothea Weber (b. 1865), in Scotland, South Dakota, 1882. The lived near Tripp, South Dakota, where their first six children were born. In 1882 and in 1883, the purchased land from Dorothea's brother Jacob and mother Dorothea. They farmed this land until 1892, when they purchased land in North Dakota, also from Jacob. In 1893, they moved to Oshkosh Township, Wells County, North Dakota. That first year, they lived in a sod house, but soon built a more permanent home. Besides working and living on the farm, they were active, devout German Baptists. Simon is listed on the document for the incorporation of the German Baptist Church of Fessenden. They lived either on the farm or in Fessenden, farming until retirement and moving to Spokane, Washington, in 1920. Simon died there in 1941. Dorothea died the next year, after returning to North Dakota.
Marie graduated from Fessenden High School in 1917, she then attended Valley City State Teachers College. She earned a First Grade Elementary Certificate in 1919, and she taught in North Dakota at West Norway Township, Wellsburg, and Heimdal. She then moved to Spokane, Washington, to be with her parents. She earned her Second Grade Elementary teacher certification in Washington, in 1920. In Spokane, Marie met O. H. Portner. Hal was an electrician working on the duplex shared by the Rudels. Marie married Hal on November 30, 1922, and soon moved to Los Angeles. In California, they bought and developed property in the Alhambra area. There, a Portner street was named after them. Eventually, they moved to Las Vegas. There in Nevada, Hal became an electrical/plumbing inspector for the city and the county. He was interested, also, in land development at a time that Las Vegas grew. He was also active in the Shriners, and Marie was a lifetime member of the Order of Alhambra Eastern Star #269. They were known in Las Vegas for their many charitable contributions.
Marie was widowed in 1972, and she died on September 10, 1999, at the age of 102, in Las Vegas.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 Full (Banker's) Box)
1.5 Linear Feet (Flat Box with oversized materials and objects.)
Language of Materials
English
Summary
Arrangement
Provenance
Property Rights
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Marie (Rudel) Portner Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection Repository
NDSU Dept 2080
PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-6050 United States
(701) 231-6596
ndsu.grhc@ndsu.edu