Straatmann v. Straatmann

GARY M. GAERTNER, Presiding Judge.

Appellant, Catherine Straatmann, appeals from a judgment entered in favor of respondents, Kenneth and Norma Straat-mann, in this bench tried case. The dispute concerns the operation and future disposition of the parties’ family farm and can most accurately be described as a family feud; appellant is respondent’s, Kenneth Straatmann’s, mother. The facts relevant to our decision follow.

In 1935, appellant and her husband, the late Ben Straatmann, 1 purchased a 208 acre farm in Villa Ridge, Missouri, which is located in Franklin County. In addition to farming the…