XXX
Wedding, June 25, 1881
Jess, son of Frank and Jenny
married Elvira Jernell
Their children were:
David, Elvira, Lois and John.




Jess was a commercial artist
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and was responsible for
the famous painting
of the Indian Maiden that
came to signify
Land O' Lakes Butter.
Jess Betlach
in his Minneapolis Studio
Story of Frank & Jenny
Frank Betlach & Family
The Frank Betlach Family photo is through the courtesy of the Leoti Kansas Historical
Society

The other Betlach Family photos on this page are through the courtesy of Connie
Betlach Cleary

The stories about Frank and Jenny and the Litera Family were written by Elvira Jernell
Betlach, and
appeared in the Sun Argus Newspaper, Circa 1960's

~~Many thanks to you!!~~
Francis and Mary Litera
Francis (John on his death certificate) and Mary Schimon Litera had 9 known children:
Several others did not survive the rigors of birth.
The surviving children were:

Jennie, the oldest, born 1865; married (1) Frank Betlach, (2)John Wittliff
Mary born 1872; married Julius Gardner
Julia born January 1875; married George Fisher
Anna  October 1875; married Albert Sharpsteen
Caroline born April 1977; married Miles Fisher
Francis born June 1879;
Mina born 1883
                George born September 1886 (Mary died, as did George a short time
                after his birth. They opened Mary's grave and buried George with her)
    The son, Francis was to have changed his last name to one
     that sounded more attractive to him and proclaimed
           for him French ancestry. I believe he changed it to
                         Le Terre. I have found death records for Frank LaTerre, his
                          wife Ovidia and a baby boy. They are also buried at Hillside
                            Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I now believe that Frank
                may have been married first to a woman by the name of Anna.
   Death Certificate
                   If anyone has any information on Frank please contact me.
            To read more about the Litera Family, click below;
              if text appears too small, pause mouse over text
    and click the arrow that appears at the
  bottom of the page.
         I have confirmed that Francis (John) Litera remarried
       after the death of Mary Schimon, his first wife.
  I have the marriage license for his marriage
    to Mary Ann Cory on February 23. 1887.
I have strong reason to believe that Frank was also married to a woman
from Chicago named Theresa Smolik. If anyone knows anything regarding
Frank and Theresa, please contact me.