Four sets of twins; one set of triplets in Bluffton school - early 1950s
This story is believed to be from the Lim News. Twins and triplets in the Bluffton schools taken in the 1951 school year.
Front from left, Arlene Kay and Marlene Rae Basinger; Carol, Walter and Charles Jordan; Jerry Ray and Garry Jay Althaus.
Back row from left, Rae Ann and Rachael Mae Devier; Connie Janes and Nancy Lane Patterson.
Enrolled in the Bluffton grade school are four sets of twins and one set of triplets, a record for the school. Two pairs of twins and the triplets are in the second grade.
Arlene Kay and Marlene Rae Basinger, age 7, are the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Basinger. The Basingers live on a farm two miles west of town.
Their father is manager of the Master Feed Mill in Bluffton. Nearly everyone who knows them have difficulty in telling the girls apart as they are so nearly alike in appearance.
They both like the outdoors and animals and enjoy to help with chores. There are no other children in the family. Mrs. Truman Bixel is their second grade teacher.
Jerry Rae and Garry Jay, age 7, are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Althaus. They live in the country and their father is a farmer. There is considerable difference in the appearance of the brothers as is also in their interests.
Jerry likes athletics and spends much time outdoors, while Garry caters to reading and art. They are the only children in the home. Mrs., Bixel is their second grade teacher.
Carol, Charles and Walter Jordan, age 7, triplets are the children of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Jordan. Their father is a serviceman for the Surface Combustion Corporation, Toledo. In their family are three other children, James Jr., age 8, in the third grade, Sally, age 10, in the fourth grade, and Richard, 16, a senior in Bluffton high school. Mrs. Clayton Murray is their second grade teacher.
Connie Jane and Nancy Lane, age 8, are the twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Don Patterson, South Lawn avenue. Mr. Patterson is the proprietor of Pat’s Barber shop. One prefers outdoors play while the other chooses to play more quietly in the home. They are studying piano with their mother as teacher. Both their father and mother are one of a pair of twins. They have a brother Donny, three years old. Miss Minerva Hilty is their third grade teacher.
Rachael Ma and Rae Ann Devier, age 11, are the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Carl Devier, 656 South Main street. They enjoy school and like to be in plays. They are the only children in the home. Mrs. Paul Cramer is their fifth grade teacher.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
- Families and customers create an oral history of memorable Bluffton businesses
- Local students travel to France, Monaco and Italy
- Move on Up: New drug for COVID-19 exposure
- Back to School Days at Bluffton Public Library
- 50 for 250 performances at Bluffton Public Library
- Community meal on August 20 at Bluffton Senior Center
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- Obituary for centenarian Lois Jean Andreas
- Thomas "Tom" J. Basinger served in the U.S. Army
- President Sider to present Aug. 25 State of the University address
- August 10 council recap: Spending increase for Benroth bridge repairs
- MHCO requests zoning change for construction of senior duplexes
- WIP Wednesday: 1915 kitchen gets a charming DIY remodel