5 siblings reconnect; 2 crossed paths at Wal-Mart

This October 2013 photo provided by Buddine Bullinger shows, from left, siblings Deidre Handtmann, 50, John Blankendall, 53, Sandy Watkins, 54, Buddine Bullinger, 56, and John Maixner, 57, at Handtmann’s home in Bismarck, N.D., where they were reunited for the first time. The siblings were born in North Dakota and separately adopted at infancy. Photo: Uncredited, AP

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The lives of five brothers and sisters born in North Dakota who were separately adopted at infancy took the twists and turns that 50 years bring. Some moved to different states; some married; some had children. But none of them ever knew the others existed.

Then, the obituary of their biological mother presented a clue. And when they finally met, one brother realized he wasn't so unfamiliar with one of his siblings. John Maixner had been greeted a half a dozen times or so by his sister at their local Walmart in Dickinson, N.D., where she has worked for 23 years.

Buddine Bullinger, 56, knew her biological's mother name but never attempted to contact her. Last January, a Wal-Mart co-worker — the only person she had ever told the name —told Bullinger the local paper had printed the mother's obituary. It mentioned a surviving daughter, Deidre Handtmann.

Bullinger at first resisted contacting Handtmann. But weeks later, Bullinger asked the funeral home to help her reach her sister.

More at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/us/article/5-siblings-reconnect-2-crossed-paths-at-Wal-Mart-5237588.php .

[font color=green]The story indicates that the five are full siblings sharing the same father as well as the same mother.[/font]