Family celebrates a century of Fourths together

If you’re a member of the Ode clan, it’s likely you already know your Fourth of July plans for next year, and the year after that, and for years to come.

That’s because the Ode family has been gathering every Fourth of July for the last 99 or 100 years for a noon potluck picnic.

And this year was no different, as an estimated 80 people showed up for crockpots of fried chicken, mouth-watering potato salad and deviled eggs, and of course, a wide assortment of tempting desserts.

Family members aren’t quite sure exactly when the family get-together started.

“We have a photograph from 1919, so we don’t know whether it was 1918 or 1917,” offers David Ode, who made the trek from Pierre.

From recollections, Ode family picnics were first held along the local river banks, but Ramona Watson, who hasn’t missed a picnic in her 87 years of life, said the locale changed for safety reasons as little ones were added to family.

“We went to the homes for a while, then it got too big for that, and then this (the Brandon Lutheran Church picnic shelter) opened up, and we’ve been here ever since,” she said.

Watson said it’s “love of family,” that has lured her to the picnic every year. “Just being together. It’s been almost 100 years and I it’s just love of family; we’re a very close family.”

Mila (Heggen) Ode married into the family when she and Gordon said their “I dos” 65 years ago. 

“I think I even came a year or two before that, so it’s been a lot of years,’ she said. “It’s just a special day. It’s always a special day.”

Mila said her children – sons David, Mark and Bruce, and daughters, JoAnn Presler and Dianne Mork – all make an effort to attend the picnic each year.

“I just love that all ages come,” Mila said. “The kids play games and have a fun time.”

Families within the Ode clan take turns organizing the annual event. This year was Burton Ode’s family turn to organize. 

Jim Ode and Daniel Johansen both traveled great distances to be at the reunion. Jim came from Dallas Texas, while Daniel, who hadn’t been here since he was 7 or 8, made the long haul from Sweden.

Ode said he flew to Fargo, N.D., then stopped to visit his sister, Mary, who resides in an assisted living facility in Battle Lake, Minn., en route to the July 4 picnic.

He said he always looks forwards to a good ol’ Midwestern potluck.

“We try not to partake down there, you never know what you’re going to get,” he joked.

Johansen’s last visit to the states was in 1981, and this time, he was looking forward to the food.

“I think I will enjoy everything,” he said. “I heard there’s going to be a lot of chocolate desserts, and I like desserts and I like chocolate.”

Seated in the shade were two long-time picnic attendees, Lee Ode, 91, and Gordon Ode.

“I’ve been coming to the picnic forever,” said the retired dairy farmer. “It’s changed over the years. There’s a whole bunch that I don’t know. These kids are growing up and I have no idea who they belong to.”

Gordon Ode said he’s attended the family Fourth of July picnic “forever.”

“It’s just a chance to get to know family again,” he said.

Deb Wehde, who lives near Renner, said she, too, enjoys taking in the annual festivities to “catch up” with family.

“It’s just fun to sit around and visit about old times. As a kid, it was on the family farms, and as it grew bigger we just didn’t have the space, and of course the family has grown. There used to be 30 people, and now it’s about 80,” she said.

Wehde loves the wealth of potluck picnic goodness. 

“There’s always the chicken, calico beans, Mila’s fruit salad that she always brings, there’s always something interesting every year, and then everybody’s delicious desserts.”