DeWalt Hosmer "Pick" Ankeny (8/1/1899-7/31/1977) was born in Minneapolis, the only child of H. Willett and Josephine Ankeny. After graduating from West High School, he served five months with the Navy Air Corps during World War I. After graduating from Dartmouth (1921), he began his business career with Minneapolis's B.F. Nelson Manufacturing Company, paper and roofing manufacturers. He later worked as a securities salesman for Piper, Jaffray, and Hopwood (1928-1931); worked for the Hamm Brewing Company (1931-1968), including as vice president and treasurer (1939) and chairman of the board (1968); and was the president of the Ankeny Company (Minneapolis), specializing in private investments. He served as a director for the Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis, the Lithium Corporation of America, Heublein Inc., the Emporium (St. Paul), and the Retina Foundation.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant commander in the Naval Air Force (1942-1945), serving in Brisbane and Perth, Australia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. He served as a staff officer and also as commanding officer of the naval air base at Brisbane, Australia. He was active in sailing, skiing, fishing, and golf. In December 1977 DeWalt H. Ankeny Sr. died in a plane crash in Sitka, Alaska, while vacationing.
Marie Josephine Hamm (11/5/1903-12/7/2004) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to William Hamm, president and owner of the Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. She married DeWalt Ankeny on August 25, 1926. They had four children: Kendall Hosmer Ankeny (7/21/1927-, married Robin H. Mix); Sally Scheffer Ankeny (1/1/1930-, married Peter Anson); DeWalt H. Ankeny Jr. (12/29/1931-, married Margaret Dayton); and Michael Hamm Ankeny (5/29/1940-). The family resided in Wayzata, Minnesota.
From the guide to the DeWalt H Ankeny and family papers., 1900-1986., (Minnesota Historical Society)
