Defining the relationship with Carl and Ruth

Mom and Dad (Ruth Langholz and Carl Karst) met at a Christian youth retreat in Colorado, as I recall from the retelling. But perhaps it was a youth retreat in Kansas?

When, where, and other precise particulars of the first meeting of my parents elude me. If one of the family members has a more precise origin story of their relationship, please add it to this post.

Mom was from Russell, Kansas, now famous as the home of U.S. Sens. Bob Dole and Arlan Specter. Russell is about 25 miles north of Galatia, where Dad was from.

Dad was a senior in ag education and also part of the Air Force ROTC program at K-State in 1953-54. I believe Mom was, at the time of the letters below, a teacher at a Russell, Kan., school after completing a teacher certification program at Midland College, Fremont, Nebraska.

I’m not sure if this fun photo below (location?) was taken after their engagement/marriage but it conveys the joy they shared in each other’s presence.

Here is a sweet letter (3 cents postage!) from September 21, 1953, when Carl is “defining the relationship” with Ruth. In particular, I think he was exploring whether Ruth would consider the life of a military wife. Also, note the mention of KSU President McCain at K-State and a rare football win.

Carl’s letter dated Oct. 2 jokingly mentioned the visit of his parents to check up on him, K-State Ag Week traditions (Aggies must wear jeans and a red bandana or be thrown in a horse tank), and the pledge that his thoughts were constantly with Ruth.

And here is a picture, taken at K-State, of the happy Air Force-bound couple.