Welcome to my Tribal Pages website. This is my legacy, to leave behind for my family  and other researchers,the ancestral trails of the many people who came before us.  They endured a lifetime of hardships, loss, and profound changes. They left their  native countries to sail to America on stormy seas. Crowded together in the ships  hold,suffering from seasickness and malnutririon,and not everyone who attempted this  journey survived. My maternal great grandfather, Herman Steckling, lost his 13 year  old family member, (possibly a daughter from a previous marriage, a sister, or a  niece), with the name of Catherina Steckling. She was not listed in the Port arrivals  in New York. 
  The challenges they faced in this new country made them 
 stronger,as they learned a new language, became citizens, and supported thier growing  families with their skills (Herman Steckling was a pipe organ builder), or with  farming the land. They survived the Indian uprisings in the Stearns County area,  learning how to communicate with the Sioux Indians, and also to be wary of them.  They  
 taught their children the culture of their homeland in Europe, and their strong and  deep devotion to their Catholic faith. Their DNA flows in 
 our veins. They are the Preface to our very own "book of life". The continuum flows on  with 
  future generations, blending into new families with all the variety that new life  offers us. We are all 
 different, but in many ways, we are all the same. This is our Heritage. This is who  we are, and from where we come. The generation to follow will write another part of  this history.

   May God our Father, continue to bless and guide our family in His path.

Please note: Should you find any errors in names/dates/spelling, names that are  missing, or 
 any additions you wish to make, please let me know. I am not aware of all the  latest births or deaths that should be listed. Feel free to send them along to me.  I  hope you enjoy perusing this history, and getting to "meet" your  extended family members and ancestors.I will continue to add more names/dates as they  are made available to me, as well as new photo's.  Within a years time...December of  2010.... I 
 plan on donating this family history to the Stearns History Museum, in St. Cloud,  Minnesota.

You are invited to sign the Guest Book, and to leave any comments you may wish to  make.

Mary Ann / Marilyn Krausert-Bechtold
 tomayn@msn.com
 soulmate@lakedalelink.net