Stocker Family Rears Ten Daughters

Ralph Stocker of East Grand Forks has raised ten daughters, a family dynamic that defines his household of twelve. The Stocker children, who range in age from 13 to 35, include Darlyne, Rae Ann, Cathy, Linda, Becky, Peggy, Pam, Kim, Teri, and Cindy. Ralph and his wife, Dolores, parented these ten girls over the course of their marriage, creating a home where females vastly outnumber males.

Ralph Stocker noted that the absence of sons was not a source of constant concern. "At first, I had the feeling that it would be nice to have a boy. But after the first few girls were born, I did not think about it too much," he said. Despite the shared gender of his children, he observed that each daughter possesses a distinct personality. This variety required careful management during their upbringing, as he and Dolores applied a uniform set of rules to all ten girls but adjusted the enforcement to fit individual temperaments.

Discipline evolved as the family grew. Stocker acknowledged that the couple became somewhat less strict with the younger children than they had been with the oldest. Dolores Stocker described her husband as calm and good-natured, noting that the girls knew when he was displeased even if they could often persuade him otherwise. "The girls could wrap him around their little fingers . . to a point," she said. "They always knew when he did not like something."

Eight of the daughters graduated from Sacred Heart High School, where they participated in cheerleading, chorus, and drama. The two youngest, Teri and Cindy, are currently enrolled at the school. Stocker stated that funding a private education for ten children was costly, but every daughter worked while attending high school. He described them all as very ambitious, a trait that helped them manage their academic and professional lives.

The family is now dispersed across the region. Seven daughters are married and reside in Minnesota or North Dakota. One daughter is attending college in Minneapolis, and two still live with their parents. Stocker admits that the house feels quieter as each daughter leaves. "It gets sadder every time one leaves home. There will not be anyone left around before too long," he said. The family reunites annually for summer camping trips, an event that now includes seven sons-in-law and 12 grandchildren.

The addition of the grandchildren and in-laws has expanded the original group of twelve into a much larger crowd. Stocker does not worry about competing for attention with the other men in his daughters' lives. He finds comfort in the new relationships he has formed. "I have seven wonderful boys now, sons-in-law, and they spoil me, too," he said.