The Life and Times of Ruth Dagmar. Volume 3, The Postwar Years (1946-1949) - Jim Knoff

"Stress creates an iron heart. But when relief comes, it's like sun after a storm."

The war is over. Ruth Birk's brother has returned home safely, as have beloved friends, and her husband, Ray, no longer has to worry about being sent off to fight. By January of 1946, Ruth believes the family's troubles are behind them.

Of course, even peacetime is never trouble-free. Minor health scares arise. Ray's brothers find themselves at odds because Agdur, now a veteran, resists Hans's edict to find a wife. And there is always, always more work to be done. But for the most part, life in rural North Dakota is good. As the years roll on, improvements to infrastructure on the family farm make labor easier, and modern innovations-a gas stove, a refrigerator, a dishwasher-give Ruth more time to work on creative household projects.

The final volume in Jim Knoff's family history, The Life and Times of Ruth Dagmar, evokes a sense of gratitude for the actions our forebears took to put the world on a better path.