Lawrence Heckman was born April 8, 1921 to John J. Heckman and Emily (Froelich) Heckman on their farm north of Valley City in Getchell Township.
Lawrence's Mother's parents were John Froelich and Sophia, who lived two miles west of the Heckman farm.
John and Emily Heckman had five children, Dorothy, Lawrence, Bernard, Geneva and Lloyd. Dorothy married Kenneth McKay from Grand Prairie. They have four children. Bernard married Clarice Johnson and they have two children. Geneva married Gordon Shockley and they live in Wimbledon and have five children. Lloyd is single and lives in Valley City, working for the City of Valley City.
Lawrence worked his way thru Valley City High School doing odd jobs and during the last year of high school worked for the J. C. Penney Company. After graduation he went to Plentywood, Montana to live and work on a 6000 acre ranch. Later he worked for the Pepsi Cola company and picked potatoes at Idaho Falls and also worked for the Woolworth Company in Anaconda, Montana. Coming home, he found work with the Knerr Creamery company and while delivering their products to the Strong & Ward. Cafe in Valley City he met Ethel Spoerl, who was attending the State College and working in the cafe. Ethel is the oldest daughter of Ed and Selma Spoerl of Marion, North Dakota.
In October of 1941 Lawrence was transferred to the Knerr plant in Fargo and on February 7, 1942, Ethel and he were married. On July 13, 1942 Lawrence enlisted in the Army and Ethel followed him as he traveled thru the east and south, working whenever possible. On October 12, 1943 Lawrence received a disability discharge from the army and the Heckmans lived in Minneapolis for two years until September of 1944 when they moved to Marion, North Dakota. Here Lawrence owned and operated a garage until they moved to Valley City, where Lawrence worked for the R.&G. Auto Supply for four years.
The first child was born to the Heckmans on April 1, 1947, Kathy by name. Their second daughter, Barbara, was born January 19, 1949. Next came Janet, born April 25, 1950. In that year the Heckmans began to build a new house and in 1951 Lawrence went to work for the Dakota Auto Supply Company. In 1955 Ethel began to work for the Fidelity Savings and Loan company and on August 2, 1957 Pam was born. The next month Lawrence entered into a partnership with Dale Schmitz to open the H.&S. Auto Electric Shop, with Ethel as the bookkeeper.
Kathy graduated from Valley City State College and married Tom Langemo from Fingal on June 1, 1968. They both teach in Sauk Centre, Minnesota and have one son.
Barbara graduated from Dakota Business College and worked in Fargo where she met and married Gordon Erickstad from Starkweather on January 10, 1970. They now live in Bismarck where Gordon is a crew chief with the Air National Guard. They have two daughters.
Jan graduated from Josef's Beauty School. She is single and is employed at the North Dakota State University.
Pam has just graduated from Valley City High School and is attending the North Dakota State University in Fargo.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 98