Jesse and Ginger Richmond are Honored Grandparents
for this year’s Granton Fall Festival,
being held Sept. 7 through Sept. 9.  (Contributed photo)

 

If you have ever had the pleasure of knowing Virginia Richmond, it’s a good chance that she had driven you somewhere, given you flowers, or you are among the many, many lucky souls whom she has cooked or baked for.

And if you have ever been lucky enough to meet Jesse Richmond, it is a good chance you are or have been a farmer, having been greeted by his deep hearty laugh or have gotten a wave as you have driven past while he meticulously mowed his beautiful lawn.  And if you’re extremely lucky, you are blessed to be one of their 24 cherished grandchildren.  Written by Angela (Richmond) Berend, she says that her grandparents are a glowing example of how to live a full, meaningful life.

Jesse and Ginger were married in 1951 at the United Methodist Church in Christie.  There, they had farmed for four years, followed by one year in Fairchild, and they then came to Granton and farmed until 1988.

While farming, Jesse was well known by many selling Rochester Silos, Barn Cleaners, Bulk Tanks, and Silo Unloaders, as well.  After that, he was the Field Man for Arpin Dairy for 17 years.  Ginger is a well-known Master Gardener, who also spent 30 years as a volunteer driver for Social Services, was a Pleasant Ridge 4-H leader, and helped run the flower show at the Granton Fall Fest, and she was even “Farm Wife of the Year” at the Fall Fest.

You would also see her managing the food stand at the local Horse Sale for 50 sales.  She always enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting, and crafts.  Together, they would be seen serving as officers in their church, as well as a delicious piece of lasagna at church dinners!

As their granddaughter Jennifer Bravener says, her grandparents always made sure their grandkids knew about our family and where they came from.

It was important to them to let their family know how they grew up during the Great Depression and how they got by with hard work and sustaining a farm that met most of their needs.

They raised their 7 children – Kathie, Karen, Carole, Dennis, Marvin, Robert and John – while caring for 16 foster children throughout the years.  Today, they have 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  One memory that would stand out in most of their minds is that each time they would visit their home, Ginger could be counted on without fail to make them homemade buttermilk pancakes, allowing them to help her make them, from cracking eggs to stirring the batter.  Jennifer was even lucky enough to be gifted a piece of 1960’s Tupperware that was used to mix the batter in.

Their grandchildren want them to know how much their home and love means to them.  They have and continue to be loving, encouraging and kind people who, in Jennifer’s opinion, have lived a life in support and service of other’s in order to make this world a better place.

Jesse and Virginia “Ginger” Richmond were recognized at the Granton Fall Festival Queen Coronation Friday night as this year’s honored grandparents.  The two have invested many years into the Granton community and ae lifetime Granton FFA Alumni.  Jesse and Ginger shown with their family members: (back, l-r) Gerri Krueger, Carole Krueger, Chelsea Richmond, John Richmond II, Jenny Bravener, Lisa Richmond, John Richmond, (front) Jessica Richmond, Jill Richmond and Kathie Sparkes.  (Valerie Brecht/Clark County Press)

 

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