One of the incidents occurred after the birth of their 12^th child.  Clara tells the story:  "I remember Gordon's mother was upset about something right after I had another baby.  We were standing in her kitchen and Gordon said to her, 'I'll have a dozen and a half if I want to!'"
Clara added, "All the kids in the neighborhood wanted to come to our house.  We were never on welfare, and we always had food, and we made it!"  The children now range in age from 40 to 63. 
#1) LaMoine Schmid lives in Apple Valley, MN.  She and husband Dave had three children; one was a highway cop who got killed in Las Angeles in a motorcycle accident.
#2) Charlie Diethelm and wife Norma live in Effie, MN.  (Two kids.)
#3) Murriel and Gordie Peters, live in Orchard Lake, MN.  (Three kids.)
#4) Lorraine and Howard Schaber live in Hamel, MN.  (Two kids.)
#5) Audrey Bixby lives in Burnsville, MN.  She and husband Gene, now deceased, had six kids.
#6) Doug Diethelm lives in the State of Wyoming.  He has a son.
#7) Eileen and George Koehnen, live in Shorewood, MN.  (Two kids.)
#8) Susie and husband Jim Ohern live in Mound, MN. 
#9) Lucy and John Schlender live in Minnetonka, MN.  (Two kids.)
#10) Linda and Tom Trusty live in Chanhassen, MN.  (Three kids.)
#11) Edna and Craig Larson also live in Chanhassen.  (Two kids.)
#12) Tim Diethelm and wife Lynn live in Waconia, MN.  (Two kids.)
#13) Kathy and Danny Volner live in Eden Prairie, MN.  (Two kids.)
#14) Joe Diethelm and wife Sue live in Cologne, MN.  (Two kids.)
#15) Stephanie and Scott Maas live in Burnsville, MN.  (Two kids.)
#16) Jeff Diethelm and wife Joyce live in Victoria.  (Two kids.)
#17) Mary and Ted Sinnen live in Chanhassen.  (Two kids.)
#18) Brenda and Al Herman live in Hamburg.  (Three kids.)
Says the father of the 18 and grand-father of the 41 and great grandfather of another 24, "We got 'em all - Norwegians, Bohemians, Germans, Swedes -- prett'ner every nationality except the Finlander.  We ain't got one of them."
At times, however, the responsibility seemed overwhelming for Gordon Diethelm.  "It took a lot of hard work," he said.  "We always knew what we had to do the next day - eat!  The most we ever had at the table at one time was 14 of us.  They grow up and move away, you know."
And then they return to visit.  The mother and grandmother of the above list especially enjoys the sleepovers that occur every year right after Christmas.  "We have a sleepover of just the 18 kids," said Clara.  "Just Dad and I and the kids.  No spouses and no grandchildren."
"They come at noon on Saturday and go home at noon on Sunday.  We play cards.  They all pitch in for the meal.  Mary gets to fry all the bacon, but she's not a cook otherwise."
Both Gordon and Clara are in good health, although Clara has suffered and recovered from two strokes.  They are very careful about winter walking and winter driving.
Seven years ago they purchased a rambler home in the country near Young America, about 15 miles west of the Victoria homestead.  It provides the stage for the annual sleepover.  The scene is well decorated by the lady of the house, with the able assistance of the man of the house who came to "pound nails" after all, like his pa. 
Gordon builds furniture - fancy hall trees and cabinets, decorative coat racks, stools, chests of drawers, bird houses, even an elaborate grandfather clock.  Children and grandchildren have received many fine pieces that were photographed to create an album of heirlooms.  Clara proudly gives a tour of her beautiful home that displays so much of the handiwork of her husband.
The drama of the Diethelms continues to unfold.  Some questions have been answered.  Today's main characters, now well into their 80's, live comfortably and happily on a grand stage that encompasses much space under the same sky that knew previous generations of Diethelms. 
All the men and women are players who take turns painting the stars, adding the twinkles, and putting a few into their pockets for safekeeping.  In the process stardust gets sprinkled here and there. 
Thank you, Gordon and Clara, for your story and hospitality.  It was so fun to meet you.