G7: John Prentice (Ab) Shiels 1862-1912 & Elizabeth Logan

John Prentice (Ab) Shiels was born Sept 22, 1862 in Grey Township, Ontario, Canada. He was the seventh child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Prentice) Shiels.

He married Elizabeth Logan, the sister of his brother-in-law James Logan. In 1882 they moved to the United States and staked a claim southeast of Minot near Velva, North Dakota. The railroad was scheduled to run through Velva and was later changed to run through Minot.

In North Dakota, John had a great deal of difficulty explaining that his name was Shiels, without the “d”, and at last he legally changed his name to Shields. We are assuming he just got tired of fighting the uphill battle of saying “no D” when people spelled his name.

John and Lizzie had three children while living in this area., Thomas, William L. and Abigail.

Once the decision was made on the railroad, John and Lizzie and their family moved to Minot. When they arrived in Minot, everyone worked to make ends meet. Tom and William would take the new homesteaders out to their claim and help them put up claim shacks. Lizzie took in boarders. They also collected buffalo bones from the prairie. They would sell them in Minot and the bones would be shipped away to make fertilizer.

John Prentice Shields also took up the job of breaking horses. One day he was out in a two wheel buggy when it skittered from the sight and sound of a passing train. John was badly hurt and died from the head injury on November 12, 1912. Lizzie (Logan) Shields died November 3, 1958.

G8: Abigail Shields & William O’Leary

Abigail Shields was the first child of John & Lizzie (Logan) Shields. Abigail married William O’Leary and had a son Edward on August 18, 1900. This marriage ended in divorce. Unfortunately, we have no further info on this family.

G9: Edward O (Dugie) Shields 1900-1955 & Esther Holum

Edward (Dugie) O’Leary Shields was born on August 18, 1900, in Minot, North Dakota, USA, the son of Abigail Shields and William O’Leary. His parent’s marriage ended in divorce and Edward became known as Edward O’Leary Shields. He was also commonly known as Dugie Shields.

Edward O Shields had an artistic nature and was a published poet. He married Esther Holum and they had a son named Dugie Jr.

Edward O Shields died October 9, 1955. This marriage also ended in divorce and Esther married Joe Brush and Dugie Jr became Dugie Brush. Dugie Brush is now married and has a set of twins.

G8: Thomas Shields 1884-1909 & Tracy Geidle

Thomas Shields was born on October 1, 1884, to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Logan, age 22, and John Prentice (Ab) Shiels, age 22. He married Tracy Geidle in 1906 and they had two daughters, Elizabeth 1907 and Teresa 1909. 

Thomas was a fireman in Minot and was the first Minot fireman killed in the line of duty on March 28, 1909 in a blaze at the Minot Daily Optic Building. Tracy passed away on February 9, 1980, in Ward, North Dakota, USA, at the age of 96.

The following was printed in the paper following Thomas’s death.

Minot Paper 1909 Fire:

Poor Tom Shields is dead, his spirit taking its flight about midnight. Surrounded by his wife and little ones, father, mother, and brother, and the physicians and nurses doing all that human hands could do for the brave fireman, Mr Shields, who was horribly burned in the Optic Fire Sunday night, passed quietly away.

His burns had been healing and he would have recovered as far as they were concerned, his physicians states, but the young man must have breathed the deadly red-hot fumes of the gasoline, creating ulcers of the stomach which caused grave apprehensions among his friends since the fire. He seemed better during the day, and talked cheerfully with members of his family but a change for the worse was noticed about 2 o’clock and he grew weaker constantly till the end.

Tom Shields was a hero! When the smoke was dense and with his body reeking with pains, his clothes all aflame the night of the Optic fire, and with no known way to escape, the brave fellow, being the tallest of the four men so near death in the blazing furnace, Mr Shields never thought once about his own safety, but assisted the other firemen to crawl up to the top of the wall, and out through the little narrow window barred with irons. When they were safe, Tom then pulled himself out more dead than alive, a living torch. Never once did he complain.

G9: Elizabeth (Libby) Shields 1907-2006 & Elmer Ruge

Elizabeth (Libby) Shields was born on March 22, 1907, in Minot, North Dakota, USA, to Tracy Geidle, age 23, and Thomas Shields, age 22. Libby was only two year old when her father passed away in the Minot fire.

Libby married Elmer George Ruge in Minot, North Dakota, USA, on October 14, 1929, when she was 22 years old. Their son Thomas Lew was born on August 9, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota, USA.

Libby graduated from Minot High School and attended Bemis Business College in Minot. She managed the Minot State Teachers College Book Store for five years and did survey work for the National Family Opinion of Toledo, Ohio. After taking a two week Public Relations course in New York City, she became Minot’s Welcome Wagon hostess. She later worked in Sales at Northern States Power Company retiring in 1972.

Libby was an active member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church and when Little Flower Church was established, she was a charter member. In later years she was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church. She served as secretary and president of St. Leo’s PTA, attending three national PTA conventions. Libby was a charter member of Minot Community Concert Association. She was an advisor on the Minot Community Council on Aging for twenty years.

After living 89 years in Minot, Libby moved to Kansas to live with her son and daughter-in-law in 1996. She was a member of the Women’s Club in Belle Plaine for four years. She has made her home at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Mulvane Kansas since 2001. She has been a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Mulvane, KS, for ten years.

Elmer passed away on April 11, 1955, in Minot, North Dakota, USA, at the age of 53. They had been married 25 years.

Libby Shields died on August 3, 2006, in Mulvane, Kansas, USA, when she was 99 years old. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Joyce Ruge, Mulvane, KS; four grandchildren, Natalie Johnson, Haysville, KS, Michelle Garret, Wichita, KS, Thomas J. Ruge, Belle Plaine, KS, and Todd Ruge, Buda, TX; six great-grandchildren, Brad Scott, Samantha Ruge, Guy Ruge, Adam Nighswonger, Logan Johnson and Lane Johnson; two great-grandsons, Collin Scott and Dillon Scott.

G10: Thomas Lew Shields 1935-2012 & Joyce Ann Martel

Thomas Lew Ruge was born on August 9, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota, USA, to Elizabeth (Libby) Shields, age 28, and Elmer J Ruge, age 34.

Thomas Lew Ruge married Joyce Ann Martel in Minot, North Dakota, USA, on October 15, 1960, when he was 25 years old. They had four children during their marriage, Todd Ruge 1972; Natalie Ruge; Thomas Ruge and Michelle Ruge.

Thomas was a Boeing company employee and a veteran of the Korean war. He was an active member of St. Michael Church. Tom and his wife enjoyed travel upon his retirement.

Joyce passed away on April 16, 2011, in Mulvane, Kansas, USA, at the age of 73. They had been married 50 years. Thomas Lew Ruge died on December 22, 2012, in Wichita, Kansas, USA, when he was 77 years old.

G11: Todd Ruge 1972 & Elizabeth Rhodes

Todd Ruge was born on August 7, 1972, in Wichita, Kansas, USA, to Thomas Lew Shields and Joyce Ann Martel. 

He married Elizabeth Rhodes on Aug 1, 2006 in Hays, Texas. They lived in Buda, Texas in 2012.

G11: Natalie Ruge & Brad Johnson

Natalie Ruge was born in Wichita, Kansas, USA, to Thomas Lew Shields and Joyce Ann Martel. She married Brad Johnson. They live in Haysville, Kansas.

G11: Thomas James Ruge

Thomas James Ruge was born in Wichita, Kansas, USA, to Thomas Lew Shields and Joyce Ann Martel. He married Judy and they live in Belle Plaine, Kansas.

G11: Michelle Ruge & Andy Garrett

Michelle Ruge was born in Wichita, Kansas, USA, to Thomas Lew Shields and Joyce Ann Martel.

She married Andy Garrett and they live in Wichita, Kansas, USA.

G8: William Shields 1888-1965 & Jule Perry & Marie Lochthowe

William Laurence Shields was the third child of John and Lizzie (Logan) Shields. He was born Sept 19, 1888 in a place called Dogdon Butes in Script Town, south of Velva, North Dakota. He moved to Minot with his parents at an early age.

William married Jule Perry in 1909 when he was 21 years old. They had 3 children, Lorraine 1910; John 1913 and Arthur 1916.

Jule (Perry) Shields died on April 1, 1917. Their son Arthur was only 6 months old at the time. Jule Perry’s sister Agnes and her husband David Williams adopted Arthur and his name became Arthur Williams.

William married Marie Lochthowe on Jul 10, 1942. They farmed for a while, then operated the Sportsman’s Club from 1939 to 1946. They also ran the Harrington Cafe for six years in Minot.

William died in April 10, 1965 and Marie died Jan 1, 1990 in Minot, North Dakota.

G9: Lorraine Shields 1910-1962 & Clayton Bach

Lorraine Shields was born on July 13, 1910 in Minot, North Dakota to William Shields and Jule Perry. 

She married Clayton Miller Bach on December 15, 1934, in Hennepin, Minnesota, USA. Clayton was a Public Health Engineer. They had one child during their marriage, Ronald Bach 1942.

Lorraine died on June 10, 1962, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, at the age of 51. Clayton died on April 29, 1995, in St Paul, Minnesota, USA, at the age of 85.

G10: Ronald Bach 1942 & Louise C Ewing

Ronald Bach was born on December 4, 1942, in St Paul, Minnesota, USA to Clayton Bach and Lorraine Shields.

He married Louise C Ewing on September 1, 1966, in Maine, USA. They had one child during their marriage, Kevin Bach 1974. The lived in San Diego, California, USA, in 1971.

G9: John Shields 1913-2003 & Peggy Partridge

John Shields was born on August 18, 1913, in Minot, North Dakota, USA to William Shields and Jule Perry.

He married Marjorie (Peggy) Partridge in 1933. They had two children during their marriage, Patricia Shields 1935 and Collen Jule Shields 1946.

Peggy died on March 20, 2000, in Clackamas, Oregon, USA, at the age of 85. They had been married for 67 years. John died on September 7, 2003, in Clackamas, Oregon, USA, at the age of 90.

G10: Patricia Shields 1935-2008 & Jon Leland Bigej

Patricia Jane Shields was born on May 28, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota, USA to John Shields and Peggy Partridge.

She married Jon Leland Bigej on August 12, 1954. They had three children, Sheri; Pam and Steven.

Sheri married Norm Matheis; Pam married Mike Hargens and Steven married Jerry.

Jon was know as Lee to family and friends. He worked in the sheet metal industry his entire life.

Jon died on August 16, 2005, in South Beach, Oregon, USA, at the age of 70. They were married for 51 years. Patricia died on August 12, 2008, in Milwaukie, Oregon, USA, at the age of 73.

G10: Collen Jule Shields 1946

Colleen Jule Shields was born in 1946 in Oregon City, Oregon, USA to John Shields and Peggy Partridge. 

Unfortunately we have no other info on this family.

G9: Arthur Shields Williams 1916-1969 & Virginia Goggins

Arthur Layton Williams was born on March 25, 1916 in Minot, ND to William Shields and Jule Perry. 

He was only 6 months old when his mother Jule (Perry) Shields died on April 1, 1917. Jule Perry’s sister Agnes and her husband David Williams adopted Arthur and his name became Arthur Williams.

He married Virginia Goggins on October 7, 1939, in Hill, Montana, USA. They had eight children in 18 years, Julie Williams 1940; Dave Williams 1941; Jerry Williams 1942; Eileen Williams 1944; Bob Williams 1950; John Williams 1953; Philip Williams 1956 and Mary Beth Williams 1958.

Arthur was a diesel shop sheet metal worker for Great Northern Railway when he died.

He died on March 20, 1969, in Havre, Montana, USA, at the age of 52. Virginia died on June 16, 1997, in her hometown at the age of 80.

G10: Julie Williams 1940 & Lowell M. Severud & Frank Boronat

Julie Anne Williams was born in May 13, 1940 in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 24, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 24.

She married Lowell M. Severud on June 7, 1958, in Hill, Montana, USA. They had one child during their marriage, Joel William Severud born Dec 20, 1967.

Julie & Lowell were divorced on May 5, 1976 in Spokane, Washington.

Julie married Frank Boronat and they live in Lacey, Washington.

G11: Joel William Severud 1967 & Dionne Himmelfarb

Joel William Severud was born on December 20, 1967, in Great Falls, Montana, USA, to Julie Williams, age 27, and Lowell M. Severud, age 29.

He married Dionne C Himmelfarb in King, Washington, USA, on August 23, 2010, when he was 42 years old. They live in Seattle, Washington, USA.

G10: David Arthur Williams 1941 & Donna Lee Nelson

David Arthur Williams was born on September 3, 1941, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 24, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 25.

He married Donna Lee Nelson on May 17, 1963, in Chouteau, Montana, USA. They had 4 children. 

This marriage ended in divorce on Jun 16, 1982 in King, Washington. Donna passed away on Mar 28, 2017.

David & Donna had 4 children, Zena was born Jun 13, 1967. Unfortunately, we have no other info at this time.

G11: Zena Williams 1967 & Doug Morton

Zena Williams was born on June 13, 1967, to Donna Lee Nelson, age 26, and David Arthur Williams, age 25.

She married Doug J. Morton in Spokane, Washington, USA, on August 21, 1993, when she was 26 years old.

They continue to live in Spokane, Washington.

G10: Gerald Hugh (Jerry) Williams 1942 & Margie Lue Reese

Gerald Hugh (Jerry) Williams was born on July 31, 1942, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 25, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 26.

He married Margie Lue Reese on October 8, 1966, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They live in Havre, Montana.

G10: Eileen Williams 1944 & Daniel J. Badovinac 

Eileen Williams was born on April 23, 1944, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 27, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 28.

She married Daniel J. Badovinac on June 4, 1966, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They live in Helena.

G10: Robert Richard (Bob) Williams 1950 & Janet Elizabeth Morrison

Bob Williams was born on February 16, 1950, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 33, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 33.

He married Janet Elizabeth (Beth) Morrison on August 13, 1977, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They had three children, Matthew Arthur Williams born Mar 18, 1978; Michael Robert Williams born Aug 1, 1979 and Jill Elizabeth Williams born Apr 19, 1981.

They live in Havre, Montana.

G10: John Roger Williams 1953 & Nancy Ann Vining

John Roger Williams was born on November 17, 1953, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 36, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 37.

He married Nancy Ann Vining on August 9, 1975, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They had a son, Zachary Ryan Williams born Sep 20, 1978. They live in Havre, Montana.

G10: Philip Michael Williams 1956 & Elizabeth Anne Anez 

Phillip Michael Williams was born on November 30, 1956, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 39, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 40.

He married Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Anez on August 18, 1979, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They have a son Sean Michael Williams born Mar 12, 1982. They live in Havre, Montana.

G11: Sean Michael Williams 1982

Sean Michael Williams was born on March 12, 1982, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Elizabeth Anne Anez, age 23, and Phillip Michael Williams, age 25.

Sean lives in Havre, Montana.

G10: Mary Beth Williams 1958 & David Charles Garding

Mary Beth Williams was born on September 7, 1958, in Havre, Montana, USA, to Virginia Goggins, age 41, and Arthur Layton Williams, age 42.

She married David Charles Garding on May 9, 1981, in Hill, Montana, USA.

They live in Havre, Montana.