Ted Winkels was born to Mike and Olivia Winkels on June 28, 1945. He was raised to manhood on a farm five miles southeast of Valley City, North Dakota, along with his four brothers and four sisters.
Upon graduation from St. Catherine's High School, Ted Winkels worked on a custom Combining crew in Nebraska before returning to work on his father's farm. During this time he joined the National Guard.
In 1968, he met Deborah Moll and they were married on September 20, 1969 at Lisbon, North Dakota. Deborah is the daughter of Harold and Mary Ann Moll. She was born March 9, 1950 at Moorhead, Minnesota. She attended school and was graduated from the Lisbon High School. She later attended Valley City State College and Fargo Business School. She worked as a Medical Secretary at the Valley City Clinic from 1969 to 1974.
Craig Michael was born May 19, 1970. Bryan Harold arrived September 4, 1972 and Amy Jo was born April 24, 1974. Darci Lynn, the fourth child, was born May 23, 1975.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 270