Blessed with fatherhood
By Staff
THE SMALLEST EIFERTS The 10 Eifert children are home-schooled. Most play a musical instrument, and all of them grow vegetables in the garden. Two-year old Alice Eifert, foreground, takes a look at the cucumber patch with her siblings, Charlotte, McCaleb, Bettye Nilsen, Anna, Gretha and Cora. PHOTO BY PENNY RANDALL / THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Penny Randall / staff writer
June 15, 2003
When Brian Eifert wakes up this morning, he will be greeted by the smiling faces of his children wishing him a Happy Father's Day.
That's a lot of well-wishing because he and his wife, Libby, have 10 children: Ellis, 18, Jeffrey, 16, Cora, 14, Christian, 12, Gretha, 11, Anna, 9, Bettye Nilsen, 7, McCaleb, 5, Charlotte, 3, and Alice, who will turn 2 in July.
This year, the Eiferts will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. They live in a modest home in Kemper County complete with white picket fence and plenty of space for children to explore.
Family members say they are living the American dream and Brian Eifert's rules for fatherhood are simple.