Descendents of Lena Groening and John J. Siebert gathered for a family reunion Aug. 8 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church fellowship hall. Family members in attendance came from Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Virginia, New York, Kansas, Ontario, Newfoundland, and Labrador.

Paul D. Penner of Hillsboro welcomed 88 relatives. Marilyn (Penner) Johnson directed the family in opening music accompanied by guitarists Mark Prier, Bruce Siebert, and Joshua Prier.

Jerry and Jim Penner led the family in remembering the seven family members who died since the last gathering — Orlando Siebert, Eva (Remple) Siebert, Hulda (Siebert) Penner, Agnes (Siebert) Funk, Helen (Siebert) Penner, Leland Penner, and Stanley Funk.

Pat Funk Esau shared a short power point presentation with maps and pictures of the village sites where family ancestors lived in the Ukraine prior to moving to North America in the 1870s and 1880s.

Roger Siebert and Archie Siebert presented family elders Johnny and Ruby Siebert of Hillsboro with gifts from the group to celebrate their retirement from farming.

A group picture was taken as well as pictures of each family group of Lena and John’s children which included the families of Orlando and Eva Siebert, Hulda and Art Penner, Agnes and Orison Funk, Helen and Lloyd Penner, and Johnny and Ruby Siebert.