Virginia Marie (Zodrow) Hickert-Almquist
Virginia Marie (Zodrow) Hickert-Almquist was born December 17, 1928 six miles northwest of Selden, KS on a farm know as the Schnavice place. Her parents were Leo and Elizabeth (Kamphaus) Zodrow. She moved several times with her parents in Sheridan County and attended rural schools. In 1938 the family moved to Decatur County where Virginia again attended rural grade schools until High School. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in May 1946. She took a normal training course, which prepared her for teaching children. She taught school at a two teacher school in Sequin, KS in 1946-47 school year. She also taught school at Plainview School, which was southwest of Oberlin, in the school years of 1947-48 and 1948-49. She became engaged to Marcellus Hickert on February 15, 1948. They met at a football game between Norton and Oberlin. Marcellus and some of his buddies came to sit in the Oberlin cheering section and cheered for Norton. This spared quite a confrontation, which later turned into a relationship. The two were married on May 11, 1949 in the Sacred Heart Church in Oberlin, KS. They made their home on a farm near Clayton, KS until 1951, when they moved to Oberlin. Virginia worked at the Decatur County Hospital for 17 years. Marcellus passed away on July 13, 1969 as a result of cancer. To this union were born six children; Kathie, Ray, Gus, Joan, Anne and Sue.
