Frank Benedict Cerny

  General Notes:

{ Bits of history from Frank Benedict Cerny)
Grandpa, Frank's father, worked in a brewery in Austria. He made beer when he came to America. Made beer after prohibition of the 1920's - they were already in the new house. Grandpa would go to the basement and bring each of the boys a bottle of beer. Grandpa wrote to Chicago from a newspaper ad and ordered all the bottles, malt, etc. and it was shipped. They then drove to Anoka to pick up the package. Frank Benedict says it was "damn" good beer. The age limit before prohibition was 21 years old. They made 24 quarts at a time.
They also used to make wine. They would make a 50 gallon barrel with a spigot. The kids would have to stomp & grind the grapes, then cover. Jim and Frank tasted it frequently from the spigot. They used wild grapes from near the river. It was either the Ponca or Keya-Paya River. When the wine finished fermenting, they would siphon with a tube from the jug to small jars.
To pay taxes, Grandpa would sell small calves or small pigs to get the money.
There were four bedrooms upstairs. The boys had one, the girls had two, and Grandpa Frank and Grandma Anastasia had the other. Frank talks about when it was cold and three boys slept in one bed. When it was time to turn-over, one would say "1-2-3-" and all would turn at the same time.
The first car bought was "about" a 1914 Dort. Grandpa sold two horses at about $150.00 to buy it. A dealer in Naper took them to Sioux City (a two or three day trip). They wanted a Ford but none was available so they had to buy a Dort.
Frank Benedict remembers when Uncle Joseph Cerny bought an "Essex" 6 cylinder car that was real fancy and purchased a few years after the Dort. Frank Benedict took the car out for a drive and got it up to 50 miles per hour. The car jiggled so much the ignition key fell out.
The Cerny family went to church twice a month, That was when the priest came from Butte. If it was a real nice day, they would drive to Butte for Mass. Frank remembers the priest at that time being a Father Stahl that came from Butte.
Frank Benedict tells that the kids going to school were 22-23 years old - only went to school during the winter months. Frank remembers a Ben Sprinkle that went to school - big burly kid that thought he knew it all. Was kinda ornery one day and the teacher went over and shook him. Frank said his head just bogged back and forth.
Frank Benedict remembers his Mother making Dandelion Salad.
The telephone cost $15.00 per year. The telephone company took care of batteries and all the lines.

Frank Benedict Cerny died Jan 20, 1997. He was 7 days short of his 92nd birthday. Obituary reads: Frank B. Cerny, son of Frank and Anastasia (Nezveda) Cerny, was born January 27, 1905 at Naper, Nebraska. He attended rural Naper school and on February 7, 1934 married Mildred Pistulka at Herrick, SD. They farmed at Herrick until 1944 and then operated a grocery store in Bonesteel, SD until 1947. They moved to Verdigre where he worked in residential construction and in 1969 they moved to Creighton where he continued to work in construction until his retirement. He was a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Bloomfield for the past three years.
He was a member of St. Ludger Catholic Church and a past member of the Knights of Columbus Creighton Council 1238.
Frank died Monday, January 20, 1997 at a Norfolk hospital at the age of ninety one years.
Survivors include his wife Mildred; children and spouses, Frank and Betty Cerny of Owosso, MI., Thomas and Pam Cerny of Ralston, NE., Eugene and Julie Cerny of Madison, NE., Raymond and Pat Cerny of Kearney, NE., and Midge and Don Effle of Orchard, NE. Surviving are 16 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and
sisters Mary Cerny and Ann Lewandowski of Omaha and Janet Sattler of Gregory, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jim, Ed, Clem and sisters, Sister Mary Wilfred, Catherine and Frances.

The following eulogy was read by Eugene Cerny at the funeral mass.
The Bible tells us - To each God has given a talent. Our Dad was richly talented, not in material things but in the riches that count when the final scorecard is made. We all loved his wit, the way he could tell a story and his skill at cards or playing a game of pool. I believe his life was enriched when he completed the construction or improvement of a home for a family. He not only gave them his work and talent, he shared their lives, their hopes and their dreams with them.
I believe our Dad made a difference in his time on earth, whether he intended to or not. With those with whom he associated he seemed to leave them with a better feeling and hope of life. This was true even after his death. We went to the Good Samaritan Center to console and be with our mother. Mother was at his side for 63 years and shared their dreams, disappointments and joys together. Dad had been there the past three years and as the word of Dad's death spread, the staff started coming to us to express their sympathy and we sensed a sincere understanding of a loss in their own lives that this man will no longer be with them. Yes, Dad enriched the lives of many. We loved this man, I will never forget him and hope to remember him by following his example of making the lives of others better.
We will miss you Dad.

Frank married Mildred Helen Pistulka Cerny, daughter of Thomas Charles Pistulka and Lydia Humpal Pistulka, on 7 Feb 1934 in Fairfax, SD. (Mildred Helen Pistulka Cerny was born on 28 Aug 1911 in Herrick, SD, died on 17 Aug 2003 in Madison, NE - Countryside Home and was buried on 21 Aug 2003 in St. Ludger Cemetery - Creighton, NE..)

Frank next married Mildred Helen Pistulka Cerny, daughter of Thomas Charles Pistulka and Lydia Humpal Pistulka. (Mildred Helen Pistulka Cerny was born on 28 Aug 1911 in Herrick, SD, died on 17 Aug 2003 in Madison, NE - Countryside Home and was buried on 21 Aug 2003 in St. Ludger Cemetery - Creighton, NE..)