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Map of Dietel,
Russia
Circa 1928
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This map of Dietel, Russia was compiled by Henry Ruff based on information furnished by Alma
Bruner Gerbitz of Windsor, Colorado; Richard K. Lackman of Morehead, Minnesota; and Mr. and
Mrs. Herman Michael of Laurel, Montana.
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The following letters were written by relatives in Dietel, Russia, who were going through an
extremely hard time ... crop failures, drought and famine, and persecution by the Russian
government. Therefore, please be advised that some of these letters are extremely depressing,
speaking often of starvation and death.
Most of the letters were written by Marie Elizabeth Ring or Andreas Reichel, both siblings of
Jacob Reigel who returned to Russian after coming to America. Eva David, another sister, also
wrote letters regarding their hardships, although she was one sibling who never came to America.
From what we know of the situation, letters, money, and food were sent multiple times to these
relatives but was seldom received by them.
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The sample of a hand-written letter written from Russia may be viewed through this link. This
is the first page of a letter written April 22, 1928, by David and Marie Ring to Jacob and
Sophie Reigel.
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Written on January 12 (year unknown) to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's sister, Marie
Elizabeth (Reichel) Ring.
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Written on April 22, 1928 to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's sister and brother-in-law, Marie
Elizabeth and David Ring.
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Written on January 31, 1932, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's brother, David Reichel, in Bruce,
Wisconsin.
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Written on February 26, 1932, to Jacob Reigel and Peter Reichel, from Andreas Reichel. Andreas was
one of the siblings that came to American but returned to Russia.
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Written on March 1, 1932, to Jacob Reigel, from Eva/Efliß (Reichel) David. Eva was one of the
siblings that came to American but returned to Russia.
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Written on March 18, 1932, to Jacob Reigel. This letter is not signed, but it is "written by me, your
brother-in-law and sister ..." The only sister remaining in the U.S. was Katherine, so
this letter may have been written by Katherine and her husband David Busch.
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Written on March 26, 1932, to Jacob Reigel from Marie Elizabeth (Reichel) Ring.
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Written on April 15, to David Reichel from Andreas and Mariliß Reichel. It is likely that
the year this letter was written is 1934 because of the reference to Jacob (Andreas' son) being
14 years old and the enclosed letter to Jacob Reigel of the same date (see next letter).
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Written on April 15, 1934, to Jacob Reigel from Andreas and Mariliß Reichel.
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Written on January 21, 1937, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from David Reichel.
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Written at Christmastime, year unknown, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from David and Elizabeth Reichel.
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Written on December 11, 1952, from someone named "L. C. Boeker". It is not clear who are the
receipients of this letter, referred to as "brother and sister David".
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The date of this letter is not known. It was written by Johannes (John) Knippel to Jacob and
Sophie Reigel.
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