My Kolbeinsvik Great great grandparents

Kristi Andersdatter Blænes 1830-1913 wife of Jakob Baarsen Kolbeinsvik

Jakob Baardsen Kolbeinsvik 1830-1882

Jakob Baardsen Kolbeinsvik was born in 1830 in Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy, Norway. He was the fourth child in a family of eleven children, born to Baar Knudsen Kolbeinsvik and his wife Marthe Jacobsdatter Haevroen. He grew up on the home farm of Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy, Austevoll, Norway. Like his father he became a fisherman. Most of the farms had their own docks capable of handling quite large vessels. One of the best harbors was at the farm of Blænes at the southern end of Huftarøy. It was in Blænes he met his wife Kristi Andersdatter Blænes. They were married in 1855 in the Fitjar Church. Eight children were born to them:1) Kari Jacobsdatter Kolbeinsvik b.1856, Blænes, Huftarøy.2) Anders Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b.May 31,1857 Blænestræ, Huftarøy.3) Baar (Burt) Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. May 1,1859, Blænes, Huftarøy.4) Marthines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Feb.25,1863 Blænes, Huftarøy.5) Thorbjorn Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Nov. 27,1865 Blænes, Huftarøy.6) Martha Larsine Jacobsdatter Kolbeinsvik b. May 31,1868, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.7) Jacob Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b.Aug. 6,1869, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.8) Sjur Olai (Severt) Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Oct.1,1871, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.It appears that the family stayed at Blænes for the first years of their marriage since the first four children were baptized at the Fitjar Church. In 1865 they are listed as living at Trodholmen, a part of Kolbeinsvik, in the Austevoll Parish near Storeboe. The last four children were baptized there and all of them were confirmed there. On July 7, 1882 Jacob went out to chop wood in the woods on Trollholmen. Unfortunately he chopped himself badly. He bled very badly but was alert enough to head for his house. He died on the doorstep July 7 1882 where his wife Kristi found him. He was buried July 14,1882 in the Austevoll Church Cemetery on Huftarøy. After Jakob's death the whole family decided to move to join other relatives and move to Iowa and North Dakota.

Kristi Andersdatter Blænes 1830-1913

Kristi Andersdatter Blænes was born May 9, 1830 to Anders Knutson Raunholm, Fitjar (1786-1876) and his wife Martha Jacobsdatter. Blænes (1808-1879). Kristi was the first of nine children (seven girls, two boys). She grew up on the farm Blænestræt. She was baptized and confirmed in Fitjar Church, Norway. They had to travel by boat from the island of Huflarøy to Fitjar. Kristi met and married Jacob Baarsen Kolbeinsvik,, who came from the Kolbeinsvik farm further up the Island north of Blænes. They had eight children:1) Kari Jacobsdatter Kolbeinsvik b.1856, Blænes, Huftarøy.2) Anders Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b.May 31,1857 Blænestræ, Huftarøy.3) Baar (Burt) Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. May 1,1859, Blænes, Huftarøy.4) Marthines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Feb.25,1863 Blænes, Huftarøy.5) Thorbjorn Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Nov. 27,1865 Blænes, Huftarøy.6) Martha Larsine Jacobsdatter Kolbeinsvik b. May 31,1868, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.7) Jacob Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b.Aug. 6,1869, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.8) Sjur Olai (Severt) Jacobson Kolbeinsvik b. Oct.1,1871, Trollholmen, Kolbeinsvik, Huftarøy.After Kristi and Jacob were married they remained at Blænes for some years, moving to Vik and later to Kolbeinsvik. Their portion of the Kolbeinsvik farm was called Trollholmen. Jacob continued as a fisherman and as a leaseholder on the farm. When Jacob bled to death from chopping himself with an axe, the family emigrated to the USA. Kristi with five of the children left Norway on May 7, 1885. Kari had married and so stayed in Norway one more year. The other two had immigrated earlier. Kristi settled in Finley, North Dakota where many of the family also chose to homestead. Many of her descendants still live in the area. Kristi died on January 30, 1913, and is buried in Ostervold Cemetery, Finley, North Dakota. In the summer of 2005 I visited the Ostervold Lutheran Church, a country church just out of Finley, North Dakota and saw her grave and the graves of many of her family.

My Bukholmen Great-great grandparents

The present Stord Church built in 1857. Mikal Pedersen was baptized in the Old Stord Church which I understand stood in the same place.

Mikal Pedersen Bukholmen 1842-1874
Mikal Pedersen Bukholmen was born the 24th of February 1842 to Peder Olai Mikkelsen Bukkholmen and Kristine Larsdatter Ivarsoey. He was baptized March 24, 1842 at the Stord Lutheran Church. He was one of seven children. On June 19, 1870 he married Soffie Jonnasdatter Kvarven on Fitjar. They had three daughters:

Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen born Oct.13,1870

Synneve Louise Mikkelsdatter Kvarven born Sept.8,1871 in Torget, Fitjar, Norway

Sofie Malene Mikkelsdatter Kvarven born Nov.24,1873 in Kvarven, Norway.

He passed away April 21, 1874 in Kvarven, Fitje, Norway.

Sofie Jonasdatter Kvarven 1851- 1873

Sofie Jonasdatter Kvarven was born February 13, 1851 on Kvarven, Fitje, Norway to Ragna Monsdatter and Jonas, a sailor from Ålesund. She married Mikal Pedersen Bukkholmen June 17, 1870 in Fitjar, Norway. They had three daughters:

Ragna Andrina Mikalsdatter Bukkholmen born October 13, 1870 in Bukkholmen, Fitjar, Norway Synneve Louise Mikkelsdatter Kvarven born September 8,1871 in Torget, Fitjar, Norway

Sofie Malene Mikkelsdatter Kvarven born Nov 24,1873 Kvarven, Norway.

When Sofie Malene was born, Sofie Jonasdatter became very ill and died less than a month later. Just a few months later the father Mikal died and so these three girls were orphaned and therefore were raised probably by Grandparents Anders and Ragna Vikestol. Synneve emigrated to Canton, South Dakota in 1901, where she married an Olaf Johnson. When my grandpa Andreas Mikkel Nilson emigrated to the USA he went to his Aunt Synneves in Geddes, South Dakota. Sofie Jonasdatter Kvarven passed away December 13, 1873 in Kvarven, Fitje, Norway. She was buried December 23,1873, in Fitjar, Norway.

My Kalvenes Great great grandparents

Grasdal-Vikestol Farm on Selbjorn

Kalvenes Farm, Selbjorn, Norway

Jæns Jakobsen Kalvenæs 1816-1885
Jæns Jakobsen Kalvenæs was born 1816 according to the 1865 census at Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway. He was the son of Jacob Torchelsen Haukeland in Manger and Anna Nielsdatter Kalvenes. He married Margrethe Nilsdatter Vikestøl April 9th, 1860 at Sund, Hordaland, Norway. They had two children:

Nils Jensson Kalvenes born 21 April 1860, in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway.

Helena Jensdatter Kalvenes born 20 February 1863 in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway.

According to the 1865 census he was a fisherman with land. He died 10th of October 1885 in in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway. He was buried in the Mogster cemetery on Stolmen, Norway 17th of October 1885.

Magrethe Nielsdatter Vikestol 1836-1896

Magrethe Nielsdatter Vikestol was born in 1836 in Vikestol, Selbjorn, Norway to Nils Ingebrigtsen Vikestol and Mari Andersdatter. She was the oldest of eight children. She married Jæns Jakobsen Kalvenæs, April 9th 1860. Two children were born to them. Nils Jensson Kalvenes born 21 April 1860, in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway and Helena Jensdatter Kalvenes born 20 February 1863 in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway.She passed away April 9,1896 in Kalvenes, Selbjorn, Norway and is buried in the Mogster church cemetery on Stolmen.

My Ådland Great-great grandparents

Rogaland Crest

Ådland Bedehus [Prayer House] at Ådland, Karmøy, Norway

Lars Kristoffersen Ådland 1841- before 1917
Lars Kristoffersen Ådland was born in 1841 to Kristoffer Eriksen and Gjertrud Karine Larsdatter in Ådland, Karmøy, Norway. He was the youngest of seven children. He was confirmed at the Åkra Church, July 12,1856. According to the 1865 census he was a Snedker [carpenter] by trade. On March 31, 1865 he married Anna Serine Jacobsdatter. Seven children were born to them.
Jakob born: 1866 first married Berta Gurine Larsdatter "came to North America"
Kristoffer born: 1868 married Anna Rafoss "came to North America"
Martin born: 1872 "came to North America"
Gjertrud Karine born: 1875 married Lars Larsen "came to North America"
Anna Lovise born: 1878 married Josef Rasmussen "came to North America"
Janna Sofie born: 1880 married Olaf Berg "came to Canada"
Ola born:1885 "came to North America"
In 1885 Lars and Anna and four of their children, Martin, Gjertrud, Anna and Janna sailed from Stavanger Norway to the USA. I assume that Jakob and Kristoffer had already come to the USA, earlier and Ola was born in the USA. They settled in South Dakota near Hammer which is close to New Effington. An interesting note about Lars is from Jakob Haugen's[Father of Teddy Haugen] write up on Karmøy people who emigrated to North America. He made is this comment. "During 1864 he was to participate in a war with Denmark. He came too late. The day after the last battle they entered Fredericia." I believe all of the Ådlands came to Canada settling between Loreburn and Strongfield. I have been unable to find out when Lars died. I assume it was in South Dakota before they came to Canada. His wife Anna Serine and son Jakob and family and Janna Sofie and Olaf Berg all came to Canada before Josef and Anna Lovise Tjøsvold in 1917. Therefore, I assume Lars Kristoffersen Ådland died and was buried in South Dakota although I could not find his grave in the cemetery at the Ferkingstad Church cemetery North of Hammer South Dakota.

My Tjøsvold Great great grandparents

Picture of Akrahamn, Karmoy.
Picture of Rasmus and Elen and some of their children. Top row - David Johan, Tilla Ketura Second row Ragnhild and Josef, Third row Jonas and Hanna Petra, Bottom row Tørres, Karen, Ellen and Ragna

The House Rasmus built in 1905 and lived in and from which he started the first savings bank on Karmøy

Rasmus & Elen Tjøsvold

Rasmus Josefsen Tjøsvold 1848-1927

Rasmus Josefsen Tjøsvold was born January 6, 1848 on the island of Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway to Josef Jonassen and his wife Ragla Larsdatter. He was the fourth child of ten children born to them. He was baptized in the Åkra church on January 16,1848. I know nothing about his childhood. I do know that he was a banker and started the first savings bank on Karmøy out of his home. He was also involved in processing fish oil. He married Elen Karine Tørresdatter in 1870. They had 13 children

a)Ragnhild Josefine born 1871 married Johannes Olsen Akra Bnr 31

b)David Johan born 1872 married Anna Helene Olsen Neste Bruker

c)Tilla Ketura born 1874 married Tønnes Eliassen Akra Bnr 43

d)Josef born 1875 married Anna Lovise Larsdatter Amerika 1893

e)Hanna Petra born 1877 died 1879

f)Jonas born 1879 married Marie Simonsdatter Akra Bnr 378

g)Hanna Petra born 1880 married Johan T. Nilsen Akra Bnr 80

h)Elen Regine born1883 died 1886

i)Tørres born 1885 married Gunhild Serine Jørgensdatter Amerika

j)Gunvald born 1887 died 1887

k)Karen Regine born 1890 died 1978 ugift

l)Elen born 1893 married John Thysse Stavanger

m)Ragna born 1895 married Bård Johnsen Hauge Tjøsvoll Bnr 19

I also know that Rasmus built a new house in Åkrahamn in 1905. He passed away in August 22,1927 and is buried in the Åkra church cemetery in Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Norway.

Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra - 1851-1929

Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra was born the 17th of July 1851 on the Island of Karmøy, Norway, to Tørres Hanson and Berta Karine Pedersdatter. She was baptized at the Ferkingstad church the 20th of July 1851. She had 6 other siblings, one who died in infancy and who was also named Elen Karine. In the 1865 census she is listed as a Foster daughter in the household of David Tørresen and his wife Johanne S. Tørresen. This is most likely because her father died in 1858 and her mother in 1856. I suspect that this was her great grandparents because David was born in 1787 and there is a great-grandfather named David Tørresen in her family tree. She married Rasmus Josefssen Tjøsvold about 1870 and they had 13 children listed under Rasmus. She passed away February 27,1929 and is buried in the Åkra Church cemetery in Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway.

My Overland Great great grandparents

Crest from Gol, Buskerud, Norway. Displays the keys to the Stave Church. Gol is where Margit was from

A Stave Church moved to Oslo from Gol, Hallingdal where Margit was baptized and confirmed.

Buskerud Crest where Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten or Stenbraaten was from

Crest from Leksvik the area in Nord-Trondelag that Andreas was from Crest of Nord-Trondelag where Andreas was from

Trondheim Crest Picture of Andreas Petter and Margit Overland at their home in Battle Lake, Minnesota.

Andreas Petter Overland 1846-1923
Andreas Petter Petersen Overland was born January 22,1846 in Trondheim, Norway to Peter Johansen and Karen Anna Andersdatter. He was the second of four children. He was baptized March 1,1846 in Stranden Church, Leksvik, Nord-Trondelag, Norway. According to the 1865 census he was a Skrædder (tailor] by profession. His older brother Johan was a fisherman. On October 14, 1860 he was confirmed in the Stranden Church. Andreas immigrated to the USA from Trondheim May 29,1872. The records for Trondheim harbour indicate that his destination was St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately around 1875 he married Margit Eriksdatter [Steinbråten] Stenbraaten. The 1880 census for Minnesota indicates that in 1880 they were living in North Fork, Stearns county Minnesota and had two children. Petter Edeward Overland age 3 and Christine Amand Overland age 1. According to Church records Petter Edward Overland was born June 30,1876 and baptized September 9,1876 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, near Belgrade in Stearns County Minnesota. His sister Christine Amand was born 20 December 1878 and baptized January 9,1879 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Andreas and Margit had 5 more children, Ida Olene born August 21, 1881, baptized September 11, 1881 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Pauline Anette Overland born February 13,1884, baptized April 6, 1884 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Anna Mathilda born 13 October 13 1886, and baptized October 31,1886 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, Mable Julia Overland born May 1, 1889, baptized June 23, 1889, at Big Grove Lutheran Church, died October 12 1890 and buried at Big Grove Lutheran Church cemetery, and according to Norwegian custom they called the next daughter Mable Julia. She was born September 8, 1891 and baptized October 11, 1891 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Sometime in the 1890s the family moved to Battle Lake, Minnesota. On May 1, 1911 Margit Overland died of Tuberculosis, she was buried in the Battle Lake Lutheran cemetery. In about 1912 Andreas moved to Fergus Falls where he had a tailoring business. He also remarried Mathea 'Mattie' Johannesdatter MORSTAD a widow. with six children in about 1912. Here is his obituary from the Fergus Falls Journal in 1923. A.P. OVERLAND, an old resident of this city, and a well known tailor died at his home August 2, 1923. Mr. OVERLAND was born in Trondhjem, Norway January 22, 1846. When he was still a young man he came to America, settling first in Stearns County of this state, later they moved to Battle Lake where they lived up to 12 years ago, when he came to this city. He conducted a tailoring establishment in this city and was a well known and respected citizen. He is survived by his wife and six children.

Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten 1851-1911

Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten was born March 3, 1851 in Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway to Eirik Olson Mekkel-Bakken and his wife Ingebjørg Olsdatter Hagen. [I changed the date of birth because only her death certificate says 1850. The baptism records say 1851 as does the Bygdebøk for Gol.] She was the fourth child of eleven. She was baptized June 8,1851 in the Gol, Stave Church pictured above and confirmed there June 17,1866. The Gol, Stav Church was moved to Oslo in 1884. A replica has been built of it in Gol, Norway, in Minot, North Dakota and at Disney world in Florida. She emmigrated from Oslo according to Norwegian archives to St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. on the ship Hero. She left Oslo on December 18,1874, she was 25 years old. She married Andreas Petter Overland in about 1875. They had seven children:

a) Petter Edeward

b) Christine Amand

c) Ida Olene

d) Pauline Anette

e) Anna Mathilda

f) Mable Julia

g) Mable Julia

They lived in the Stearns County near Belgrade, Minnesota until sometime in the 1890's when they moved to Battle Lake, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. She died May 1, 1911, in Battle Lake, Minnesota from Tuberculosis which she had for 1 year and four months. She was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Battle Lake.

My Olsen Great-great Grandparents

This old picture was in Grandma Olson's photo Album. I have no idea who they are but I have wondered if this is not a picture of Berta Karine, Ragnhild Jarlesdatter, Jarle Olsen, Jarle Olaus Olson, Ole Andreas or Berta's second husband, Elen Kristine depending on when the picture was taken. If anyone knows let me know.
Ole Andreas Olsen 1847-1883

Ole Andreas Olsen was born December 20,1847 on the island of Karmøy, Norway to Ola Kristoffersen and his wife Johanne Johannesdatter. He was baptized at the Åkra church on December 26,1847. In the 1865 Norwegian census, Ole was 19 years old and listed as a fisherman. In 1872 he married Berta Karine Olsdatter. They had four children.

a) Elen Kristine born: 1873 "to America 1881

b) Jarle Olaus born: 1876 married Ida Olene Overland "to America 1881

c) Ole Johannes born: 1880 "to America 1881

d) Hanne Emilie born: 1883 died 1885

The first three were born in Norway and the youngest in the USA. Ole and Berta immigrated to the USA in 1881 to Battle Lake, Minnesota. Berta Karine's mother Ragnhild Jarlsdatter Langager Baardsen was a widow and her son Jarle Olsen (brother to Berta Karine) accompanied them to the USA. The story that I have been told is that two years after coming to Minnesota in 1883 Ole Andreas Olsen died from sunstroke after working in a hay field all day in the hot summer sun. He would have been buried in Minnesota but I have not been able to find where. A note that my grandpa Olson had saved appears to be a letter of reference that was sent to them in America from the pastor in the Skudenes parish office in Karmøy reads as follows. Skudesnes Clerical District Church record shows that bachelor Ole Baardsen Kvilhaug and maiden Ragnhild Jarlsdatter Langager in May 1850 were joined together in marriage, he was then 27, she was 23 years old. Also that the husband as of now is deceased and that she, since his death, has remained a widow.The same record shows that the above mentioned couples daughter Berthe Karine as maiden, on the 23rd of May 1872 was joined in marriage to renter bachelor Ole Andreas Olsen Liknes. She was born 3rd of October 1850 and he was born 20th of December 1847. This couple's now living children are:Elen Christine, said to be born the 7th of April, 1873 and was baptized the 20th of the same month. Jarle Olaus, said to be born the 9th of March and was baptized on the 2nd of April 1876 and Ole Johannes, said to be born the 25th of February and was baptized on the 21st of March 1880. Then, for now, it is informed that the mentioned Berthe Karine with her above mentioned mother and her mentioned children intends to emigrate to America, so they are now registered among the people moved out of Skudesnes. There is nothing unsatisfactoy known about their conduct.Skudesnes parish office the 7th of July 1884. Stated without fee. A. Bendeke.

Berta Karine Olsdatter 1850-1927

Berta Karine Oldatter was born March 10,1850 at Kvilhaug farm, Karmøy, Norway to Ole Bårdsen and Ragnhild Jarlesdatter Langager. She was baptized June10,1850 at Ferkingstad Church. In 1872 she married Ole Andreas Olsen. They had four children. a) Elen Kristine født: 1873 "til Amerika 1881b) Jarle Olaus født: 1876 gift med Ida Olene Overland "til Amerika 1881c) Ole Johannes født: 1880 "til Amerika 1881d) Hanne Emilie født: 1883 død 1885The first three were born in Norway and the youngest in the USA. Ole and Berta immigrated to the USA in 1881 to Battle Lake, Minnesota. Berta's mother Ragnhild Jarlesdatter Langager Baardsen and Berta's brother Jarle Olsen accompanied them to America. When Ole died in 1883 Berta remarried. I'm not sure what his name was but she had another son named Anders who was born in 1897 in Minnesota. He returned to Norway and married Elida Gurine Nilsen. He settled first on the Kvilhaugsvik farm and then on Bygnes, both farms are on Karmøy. Anders and Elida had two children a) Anne Gurine born: 1931 married Norvald E.Liknes andb) Olav born: 1932 married Liv Oddbjørg Hansen. Both of them live on Karmøy. I have written them a couple of times and received no response. Berta Karine died October 29,1927 in Minnesota. She was buried in the Nidaros Lutheran cemetery, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, U.S.A.

My Jacobson Great Grandparents

Austevoll Kommune Crest where both Jacobson and Nilson Families Came From

Above is picture of Blænes, Huftarøy, Norway where Marthines came from Picture of Mathines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik and Martha Dorthea Baardsen on their wedding day July 13,1893, Milnor, North Dakota [They were First Cousins]

Mathines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik 1863-1942
Marthines Jacobson was born February 25,1863 at Blænes, Huftarøy, Norway to Jacob Baarsen Kolbeinsvik and his wife Kristi Andersdatter Blænes. He was the fourth child of eight. He was baptized at home on Blænes and confirmed in Ostervold Church, Storeboe, Norway. He went to school at Ostervold as well. During his growing up years he moved with his family from Blænes to Vik to Trollholmen on Kolbeinsvik. He is also listed as living as a fosterson at his Auntie Ann Baarsdatter on Uglenes. When he was older he went to live with his grandparents Anders Knudsen Raunholm and Marthe Jacobsdatter Blænes on Blænes. On May 15,1882 he left Bergen to travel to DeLamere, North Dakota, where his uncle Knud Baarsen lived with his wife Marthe Vincentsdatter Kvalvaag and their daughters. The oldest of these daughters who were his cousins was Martha Dorthea Baarson who was seven years old when Marthines arrived. She became Mathines wife ten years later on July 13,1893. After they were married they lived near Delamere, North Dakota but on the South Dakota side of the border. Marthines had filed for a homestead in the early 1890s. By 1903 they moved to Hamar, North Dakota then to Finley, North Dakota. Marthines filed for a homestead in Canada, near Parkbeg, Sk. on November 27,1911. He started living there on June 15,1912. In the early 1920's they moved from the homestead to the John Ellingson farm about five miles north of Parkbeg. When Martha died in 1933 Marthines moved to Moose Jaw with his son Thomas and family. He lived in Moose Jaw until his death in 1942. He is buried at Bethany Lutheran Church, Parkbeg, Sk.
Martha Dorthea Baardsen 1875-1933
Martha Dorthea Baardsen was born May 28,1875 to Knud Baardsen Kolbeinsvik and his wife Marthe Vincentsdatter Kvalvaag in Ridgeway,Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was baptized at Lincoln Lutheran Church, Winnesheik County Iowa on July 25,1875. My wife and I visited Lincoln Lutheran in June of 2005. The church is no longer standing because it burned but the cemetery is still there and a cairn listing the names of the Pastors who served there. In about 1879 the family moved to DeLamere, North Dakota. She was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, DeLamere and was living there with her family until she married Marthines Jacobson in 1893. My wife and I visited Immanuel Lutheran, DeLamere in June 2005, it was a beautiful well kept country church still very active. The secretary of the parish also sent me a history book of the church. I was amazed to see that some of the pastors who served there were well known in Lutheran circles like Jacob Tanner who wrote the confirmation textbooks that I used and a Pastor Lavik whos son later became the president of the seminary in Saskatoon. She moved with Marthines to Hamar, Finley and they moved to Canada to their homestead at Parkbeg in June 1912. Martha suffered a paralytic stroke in April 1931 and was bedridden until she died November 3, 1933. She is buried at Bethany Lutheran Church, Parkbeg, Sk.

My Kalvenæs Great Grandparents

Bekkjarvik Chapell & Cemetery where Nils and Ragna are buried

Fitjar Crest

Mogster Church where Nils was baptized

Here is a picture of my Great grandfather Nils Jensson Kalvanæs and his wife Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen and my grandfather Andreas Nilson and his sister Jenny.

Nils Jensson Kalvanæs 1860-1935
I don't know very much about these great-grandparents. Nils was born April 21,1860 in Kalvenes, Selbjørn, Norway. He was baptized May 13,1860 at Mogster Church on Stolmen. He married Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen November 21,1890 in Fitjar Church, Fitjar Norway. They had three children.

Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vikestol

Jenny Sofie Maria Nilsdatter Vikestol

Ragnvald Nilsen Vikestol

Nils died July 31,1935 and is buried in the Bekkjarvik Cemetery, Selbjorn.

Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen 1870-1916

Ragna was born October 13,1870 in Bukkolmen, Fitjar, Norway. She was baptized November 20,1870 at Fitjar Church. She was confirmed October 4,1885 at Fitjar church. She married Nils Jensson Kalvanæs November 21,1890 in Fitjar Church, Fitjar Norway. They had three children.
Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vikestol
Jenny Sofie Maria Nilsdatter Vikestol
Ragnvald Nilsen Vikestol
Ragna died November 15,1916 and was buried November 23 in Bekkjarvik Cemetery, Selbjorn, Norway.

My Tjøsvold Great-grandparents

Karmøy Kommune Crest. Karmøy is the Island where the Olsons, Tjøsvolds and Aadlands came From An Old Picture of Skudesnes Lutheran Church, Loreburn, Saskatchewan where Josef and Anna Tjøsvold are buried Åkra Church in Åkrahamm, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway where Josef Tjøsvold and Anna Lovise Ådland were both Baptized


Josef and Anna Tjøsvold on their 50th Wedding Anniversary 1948

Josef Tjøsvold 1875-1949

Josef Tjøsvold Josef was born September 27, 1875 to Rasmus Josefssen Tjøsvoll and Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra at Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Norway. He was baptized and confirmed there and took his schooling there. Josef came to the U.S.A. in 1893 to two uncles who were living in South Dakota. He married Anna Lovise Aadland in South Dakota in 1898. They lived at Hammer, South Dakota which is just out of New Effington. They had some of their children baptized at the Ferkingstad Lutheran Church there. In 1906 they returned to Karmøy, Norway when grandma Olida was only 1 year old. They returned to South Dakota and on March 25, 1917 they arrived in Strongfield, Saskatchewan, Canada. Anna Lovise's brother Jacob, Wife and family and mother Anna Serine and a sister Sofie married to Olaf Berg had already come to Strongfield, Saskatchewan. Josef homesteaded just outside Strongfield. They later moved a house to Strongfield in the 1940's and retired there. (The house now lived in by Arlin and Ruth Olson in Strongfield) Josef had a conversion experience at the Bethania Lutheran Church north of Broderick. Josef became a powerful witness. The family was active in Skudesnes Lutheran Church at Loreburn. He passed away in 21 April 1949 and was buried in the Skudesnes Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Anna Lovise Aadland 1878 -1959
Anna Lovise Aadland was born June 29,1878 at Ådland, Karmøy to Lars Kristoffersen and Anna Serine Jakobsdatter She was the sixth child of seven children. She came to the USA in 1885 with her parents, when she was seven years old. They settled as far as I know near Hammer, South Dakota. It was there that Anna met Josef Tjøsvold also an immigrant from Norway. They were married there, and farmed on a quarter section of land that ran right up to the border between South Dakota and North Dakota. Grandma Olida spoke of running across the border as kids. I assume that Lars Kristoffersen her father passed away here and her brother Jacob and her mother Anna moved to Strongfield, Saskatchewan, Canada. As well her younger sister Janna Sofie had married Olaf Berg and moved to Strongfield. In 1917 Josef and Anna Lovise and family moved to a farm just outside of Strongfield. It was on this farm that my grandparents Joel and Olida were married in 1926 and here that my dad David was born in 1927. When I was very young I remember visiting the farm when Rudolf and Florence Tjøsvold, Dawn and Danny lived there. I also remember being babysat there the day of Great grandma Anna Lovise's funeral at Skudesnes Lutheran Church. I have a number of memories of Great grandma. I remember her visiting and staying at my grandparents. I also remember visiting her at the Lutheran Sunset home in Saskatoon. Great grandma Tjøsvold I'm told cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Lutheran Sunset home in Saskatoon. She also used to like to take the plane from Saskatoon to Edmonton to see her children and grandchildren in Edmonton. Anna Lovise passed away in Saskatoon, in 1959 and was buried at Skudesnes Lutheran Church Cemetery.

My Olson Great-grandparents

Jarle's Blacksmith shop in Garfield, Minnesota

Another Picture of Jarle Olaus Olson

Kvilhaug- Sandhåland Area of Karmøy where Jarle Olson came from, you can see why they would have to clean sea salt off the windows. This picture off the internet taken in 1960-63

Ferkingstad Church on Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway where Jarle Olaus was baptized.

Jarle Olaus Olson and Ida Olena Olson on their wedding day Oct.1,1899, Battle Lake, Minnesota

Jarle Olaus Olson 1876-1928

Jarle Olaus Olson was born March 9th, 1876 on the Kvilhaug farm on the Island of Karmøy on the west coast of Norway. At the age of five years he emigrated with his family to Minnesota. I assume it was to Battle Lake, Minnesota. I know nothing about his childhood, but He would have taken his schooling in Minnesota. The story that I have been told is that two years after coming to Minnesota in 1883 [when he was 7 years old] his father Ole Andreas Olsen died from sunstroke after working in a hay field all day in the hot summer sun. Jarle left home at a young age. Below is a list of his siblings, parents and grandparents from the Slektsforum Karmøy website.

Kvilhaug Ao 21. Ole Andreas Olsen born 1847, died 1883

son to Ola Kristoffersen and Johanne Johannesdtr "N- Liknes-Ao 6.

married 1872 with Berta Karine Olsdtr born 1850, died 1927

daughter to Ole Bårdsen and Ragnhild Jarlesdtr "Kvilhaug-Ao 20

Barn:

a) Elen Kristine born: 1873 "to America 1881

b) Jarle Olaus born: 1876 married with Ida Olene Overland "to America 1881

c) Ole Johannes born: 1880 "to Amerika 1881

d) Hanne Emilie born: 1883 died 1885

e) Anders born: 1897 married with Elida Gurine Nilsen "Bos. Bygnes

***

Familien til Amerika 1881, sammen med Berta Karine's mor og bror.Anders kommer tilbake til Norge og bosetter seg først på "Kvilhaugsvik bnr 15, siden på Bygnes.Translation -The family to America in 1881, the same with Berta Karine's mother and brother. Anders came back to Norway and settled himself first on Kvilhaugsvik, then on Bygnes

I assume that the Anders above born in 1897 was a half brother to Jarle and that even though he was born in the USA, he went back to Norway. I have written to his children in Norway and received no reply.The youngest sibling Anders must have been a half-brother or a step-brother since Ole Andreas died in 1883.

Also I have a copy of a letter that his father-in-law Andreas Petter Overland wrote in reply to him when Jarle asked for his daughter Ida's hand in marriage. Also there is a copy of the wedding invitation. On Sunday, October 1, 1899 he married Ida Olena Overland at the Overland home at Battle Lake. For a time, either before or after he was married Jarle had a blacksmith shop in Garfield, Minnesota. In the spring of 1909, Jarle went north to Broderick, Saskatchewan, Canada to get a homestead. His homestead was NW1/4 of 13-31-7 W3 . For a while he worked for a blacksmith in the Outlook district. Later in the summer and harvest he worked for A.N, Finnestad. In the fall of that year Ida and the four oldest children, Alvin, Orville, Joel and Benjamin moved to Canada to join him. Jarle's dream I'm told was to get wealthy in Canada and then go back and buy a Dairy farm in Minnesota. When harvest was done in 1909, it seems they stayed for a short time at Tollef Vallevands. The winter of 1910 was spent doing chores for the Risvold brothers while they took a trip to the States. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to the NE 1/4 of 14-31-7 W3, which Jarle bought from Tollef Vallevand. This quarter was across the road from the homestead. He rented more land in the Glenside district in 1920 where the family moved for 3 years. From the Glenside district the family moved to the Rasmus Finnestad place. Jarle and Ida were Lutheran Brethren and being there was no Lutheran Brethren Church near Broderick they had Sunday School at home. Jarle and Ida lived North of Broderick until they passed away. Jarle passed away from stomach cancer in 1928 at the age of 52. The story told about his funeral is that they wanted to have the funeral at Bethania Lutheran which had been financed by A.N. Finnestad. Bethania was a Lutheran Free Church, a different Synod. A.N. Finnestad stood on the steps and said to the family that there would be no funeral that day unless there was an ordained Lutheran Pastor. The family had arranged for the ordained Lutheran Free pastor from Elbow and Skudesnes to do the funeral and so the funeral went ahead. His wife Ida passed away the following year in 1929. They are both buried in the Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, North of Broderick along with an infant son Philip.

Ida Olene Overland 1881-1929

Ida Olene Overland was born August 21, 1881 in Stearns County, Minnesota to Andreas Petter Overland and Margit Eriksdatter Steinbråten [Stenbraten]. She was baptized September 11,1881 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, near Belgrade, Minnesota. Sometime later the family moved to Battle Lake, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Her father was a tailor. She was the third of eight children. In the late 1890's she met Jarle Olaus Olson. They were married at 7PM, October 1, 1899 at the Overland home in Battle Lake, Minnesota. They continued to live there until 1909 when they emigrated to Canada. In the spring of 1909 Jarle came North to Saskatchewan to get a homestead. I have a copy of a land title for a piece of property up in the Melfort area dated at Humboldt in 1909. I assume he traded it for the quarter North of Broderick. In the fall of that year Ida and the four oldest children, Alvin, Orville, Joel and Benjamin moved to Canada to join him. When harvest was done in 1909, it seems they stayed for a short time at Tollef Vallevands. The winter of 1910 was spent doing chores for the Risvold brothers while they took a trip to the States. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to the NE 1/4 of 14-31-7 W3, which Jarle bought from Tollef Vallevand. This quarter was across the road from the homestead. He rented more land in the Glenside district in 1920 where the family moved for 3 years. From the Glenside district the family moved to the Rasmus Finnestad place. Jarle and Ida were Lutheran Brethren and being there was no Lutheran Brethren Church near Broderick they had Sunday School at home. Jarle and Ida lived North of Broderick until they passed away. Ida passed away in 1929. They are both buried in the Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, North of Broderick along with an infant son Philip.

My Maternal Grandparents

Wedding Picture of Grandpa Andrew and Grandma Josefine - November 17,1917, at the Jacobson Homestead near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan

Fitjar Church Austevoll, Hordaland, Norway

Andreas Mikkel Nilson 1890-1948

Andreas Mikkel Nilson, was born December 30, 1890, to Nils Jenssen Vikestøl(born April 22,1860 and his wife Andrina Mikkelsdatter Kvaren (born October 13,1870) in Vikestøl, Fitjar, Austevoll, Hordaland, Norway. He was baptized January 18,1891 in the Fitjar Church, Fitjar by Pastor Thomas Fryknell, and confirmed September 10,1905, by Pastor Christian Larsen Dahler in the Bekkjarvik Chapel on Selbjørn. Andreas was the firstborn of a family of five (two boys and three girls). He grew up on the Vigestol farm which was part of Grasdal, Baatevik, and Sætre. The Vigestol farm was the harbour for the local area. This family grew up looking out to sea from every part of the farm. The school that Andreas attended was down the coastline to Gauksheim. After his confirmation Andreas became a full time fisherman, shipping out of Bergen and Haugesund. With these fishermen he travelled up the coast of Norway and as often as far as Iceland. Part of the money he made as a fisherman was used to build a new house on Vigestol so the family could have a more comfortable place to live. The house was probably built by his Dad, who was a good carpenter. This house was still lived in on Vigestol in 1968. The lumber and supplies were likely purchased in Kvalvaag on Stolmen and brought to Vigestol by barge or boat. It could easily be carried from the dock to the building site. In 1908 Andreas decided to visit his Aunt Synneve, who had emigrated to Geddes, South Dakota in 1901, and had married Olaf Johnson. Andreas knew his Auntie well from her frequent visits on Vigestol during his first eleven years. He sailed on Steamship Stjerne on December 12,1908 and landed in New York on January 1, 1909. He travelled by train from New York to Geddes and stayed there for five years until 1914. While in South Dakota he worked on the farm with his uncle Olaf, planting and harvesting corn. He spent most of his time off the farm working for Peter Norbeck, drilling wells in the south west corner of South Dakota. These were deep wells, many of which were artesian wells and provided much needed water for farmers in the area. It should be noted that Peter Norbeck later became the govenor of North Dakota and was instrumental in the establishment of Mount Rushmore National Monument. The Norbeck family was very politically astute. Peter's father the Reverend Georg Norbeck, was a member of the first General Assembly of South Dakota, and his brother Enoch wasa member of the General Assembly for two terms. The father Georg Norbeck was an active Pastor of the Norwegian Synod of the Lutheran Church. Andreas returned to Norway in 1914 with the intent of staying in Norway. The farm Vigestol had a mortgage which he was prepared to repay. The firstborn son had 'Odelsrett', the right of inheritance, and Andreas wanted to have his father honour this for him but Nils wouldn't do it. As a result Andreas decided to return to Canada. On November 17th, 1917 at the Jacobson farm north of Parkbeg, he married Josefine Jacobson. They spent their wedding night in the hotel in Mortlach, Saskatchewan. They farmed on the homestead north of Parkbeg and began their life together on this farm. Four children were born on this farm: Dorothea Amanda, Melinda Josephine, Norman Melvin, Obert Wilfred.During the winter of 1922-1923, the family resided on Princess Street just north of Pasqua Hospital in Regina where Andrew attended barber school. After returning to the farm for a couple of years, they sold the homestead and moved to Secretan, Saskatchewan in 1925, where they established a restaurant and barber shop. They lived in Secretan for three years where the fifth child arrived: Lester Thomas.After the time in Secretan, they purchased the Kelly farm north of Parkbeg and went back to work the land. They lived on the farm and raised their family there adding three more children: Arne John, Florence Nina, Evelyn Viola Andreas passed away on April 2, 1948 at home at Parkbeg from a heart attack. The funeral was held at Central Lutheran in Moose Jaw and he was buried in the Rosedale Cemetery in Moose Jaw.

Josefine Karoline Jacobson 1895 -1994

Josefine was born not far from DeLamere, North Dakota on the Sisseton Indian Reservation in North Dakota on September 23, 1895. The Jacobson family moved from DeLamere to Hamar to Finley and to Kenmare, all in North Dakota before emigrating to Canada in 1912 to take out their homestead at Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. They became a part of the community and lived in Parkbeg and Moose Jaw where the family stayed for most of their lives. In Parkbeg, Josefine Jacobson met Andrew Michael Nilson (Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vigestøl), a Norwegian emigrant from Bekkjarvik on the island of Selbjørn, just south of Bergen, near the area where the Jacobson and Baardsen families had lived. They were married on November 7, 1917 at the Jacobson farm near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. They farmed on a homestead north of Parkbeg and began their life together on this farm. Four children were born on this farm: Dorothea Amanda, Melinda Josephine, Norman Melvin, Obert Wilfred,.During the winter of 1922-1923, the family resided on Princess Street just north of Pasqua Hospital in Regina where Andrew attended barber school. After returning to the farm for a couple of years, they sold the homestead and moved to Secretan, Saskatchewan in 1925, where tey established a restaurant and barber shop. They lived in Secretan for three years where the fifth child arrived: Lester Thomas.After the time in Secretan, they purchased the Kelly farm north of Parkbeg and went back to work the land. They lived on the farm and raised their family there adding three more children: Arne John, Florence Nina, Evelyn Viola. In the fall of 1949 Josefine moved to Moose Jaw to establish Florence in teachers college and Evelyn in high school. She returned to the farm in the spring to plant a garden and raise chickens. This pattern continued until 1956 when she moved to Moose Jaw permanently. In 1965 she purchased a house on Clifton Ave and established a boarding house. Josefine enjoyed travelling and visiting her family all over North America. She was always active in the Lutheran Church, first in North Dakota, then at Bethany Lutheran, Parkbeg and at Central Lutheran in Moose Jaw. She passed away Feb 16,1994 in Union Hospital, Moose Jaw and was interred in Rosedale Cemetery beside her husband.

My Paternal Grandparents

Joel Lorimer Olson - 1906 - 1985
Joel Lorimer Olson was born in Battle Lake, Minnesota, on September 12, 1906 and passed away on May 12, 1985, in City Hospital at Saskatoon at the age of 78 years and 8 months. He came to Canada with his family in the fall of 1909 and settled North of Broderick. He attended school at Eden Valley and Golden Meadow schools. Joel loved machines and after getting a Grade 7 education he was involved in working on the farm. He loved running the Steam Engine for threshing. When his parents were both sick he was sent to find a hired girl. He went to the Tjøsvold farm at Strongfield and brought Olida home to be the hired girl. In 1926 he was united in marriage to Olida Tjøsvold and to this union were born three sons and one daughter. He farmed for 45 years in the Hawarden area and served on the local school and telephone boards. Joel was a committed Christian and an active member of Skudesnes Lutheran Church where he held various offices on the church council, and taught the adult Bible class for many years. He was a respected lay speaker who often preached at home and in other. congregations.He was also active in the Elbow Bible Camp and served a few years as caretaker.In the early 1970's he retired to Strongfield where he lived until 1981 when he suffered a stroke, and moved to Saskatoon.
Christine Olida Tjøsvold -1905-2003
Christine Olida Tjøsvold was born at her parents home in Roberts County South Dakota on the 17 of November 1905. At the age of eleven she moved with her family to Strongfield Sask.where she continued her education at Wildon school. She attended services and was confirmed at Skudesnes church. At the age of 16 she left school to work with her sister, Mable , living in the "Cookcar"and cooking for harvesters. She gained a wealth of experience in home making from working "out" for various neighbors . One day a very handsome, red haired, blue-eyed man came to her parents door desperate for a girl to help his sick mother . She went, and five months to the day later married Joel Olson. On the death of Joel's parents shortly after their marriage, she became surrogate mother to his four young sisters , ranging in age from 6 to 13. For a time Joel's teenaged brothers made their home with Joel and Lida, too, so the table usually had at least eight to ten people around it. A son and a daughter, David and Ione, were born while Joel's sisters were still very young, so there were six children under the age of fifteen to be clothed, fed and sheltered - all this by a young couple 25 years of age during the great depression. Olida was equal to the task. She was an excellent cook, meticulous seamstress, and avid gardener. She could make delicious meals from very little, made beautiful garments from flour sacks and old clothes,(one morning she made a dress for Esther before school!)-- and her garden was not only super productive but also her refuge when the stress level peaked. She always had some red and pink poppies in the middle of the vegetable garden. In the winter she would spin yarn and provide knitted garments and make quilts. The boys were gone and older girls were out working by the time the second son Oliver,was born . When she was down to her own children and Clara, she took under her wing to nurture and help an orphaned teenaged sister and brother from a neighboring farm. Dorothy"s children still call her grandma. The year that Clara was married, the last of her children, Lorimer, was born. After nineteen years she now had only her own four children at home. The door was always open, and the house was always full, the table always bountiful and there was always space to spread another bedroll on the floor! Lida was always more comfortable with fifteen people around her than one on one!
After they were married they lived on the homestead North of Broderick. Then moved to the Perry place west of Hawarden. Then in the early 40's they bought a farm four miles East of Hawarden. In the early 1970's they fixed up the old Tjøsvold house in Strongfield and retired there. In 1981, Joel had a stroke and they moved to Saskatoon. Joel passed away in 1985. Grandma Olida shortly after his passing moved into the Circle Drive Alliance Church condominiums. In 2000, we celebrated her 95th birthday at Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church. She lived there until she got sick on New Years Day, 2001. After a brief stay she moved to a private care home in Saskatoon operated by an old neighbor from the farm at Hawarden. In March 2002 she moved to a private care home operated in Outlook. In August 2002, Olida had a bad fall at the Care home and ended up in the hospital for a few days. From the hospital she moved into the Outlook and district Pioneer Home where she lived until her passing. After a chest infection Olida passed away at 5:15AM Wednesday July 16,2003.

My Parents

Skudesnes Evangelical Lutheran Church, Loreburn,Sk. -My Home Congregation where my parents, Olson grandparents and one set of great-grandparents are buried.


Here is a picture of our family taken in the summer of 1989 at a Joel Olson family reunion at LCBI, Outlook. Back row left to right. Tim Kennedy, Ray Ursin, Everald Olson, Vance Olson, Daryl Olson holding Kenny, Duane Olson, Arlin Olson
Second Row: Marlys Kennedy holding Christie, Holly Olson, Julie Ursin, Holly Olson, Sarah Olson, Sherryl Olson, Ruth Olson
Front Row: Karla Olson, Kirstin Olson, Karen Olson, Everly Olson, Florence Olson holding Timmy Olson, David Olson holding Zachary Ursin, Lois Olson, Chelsea Olson,Krystal Olson, Ben Olson.


Here is a picture of my parents David and Florence Olson along with Arlin and Ruth. This picture was taken at Arlin and Ruth's commissioning service in the 1980's at Skudesnes Lutheran Church.

David Philip Olson - Dec. 4,1927 -Oct.20, 1989

David Philip Olson was the first born son of Joel and Olida. He was born at the Tjøsvold farm just outside Strongfield. David lived north of Broderick, the first couple years of his life. I have a picture of him when he was about 1 year old, 1928 sitting inside a sod barn that grandpa Joel was building. David took his schooling at Hawarden and Mountain Ash Schools. He took his final year of school [grade 11] at S.L.B.I. in Outlook. David then worked in Saskatoon at Richardson's, a company that made road construction equipment. He met Florence Nilson while she was teaching school at Wildon school Northwest of Loreburn. They were married in 1952 at Florence's home church, Bethany Lutheran, Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. Dad's best man was Malcolm Olson, his cousin from Tiger Hills, Saskatchewan. Groomsman was Obert Nilson and mom's bridesmaids were Audrey Downs, Evelyn Nilson and Ione Olson. There were two flowergirls, Carol Loseth and ?. After they were married, dad rented land from Gerhard and Herald Kvinge, 8 miles East of Hawarden. They lived on what was called the Stauffer place. Water was hauled from artesian wells in the area. The farm didn't have electricity. In the early years of their marriage, light was provided by naphtha lanterns and heat was provided by a Coal and Wood furnace in the Basement. In the late fifties a windcharger was installed. So we had electric lights. It was a 32 volt system with large glass batteries stored in the basement. In 1959 the farm got electricity from Sask. Power. In 1964 the family moved to the Victor Mann farm on Highway 19 just outside of Hawarden. Dad bought the yard including 40 acres. At this time Dad was not only farming but also operating earthmoving equipment with his cousin Eilif Anderson. They leveled many acres of land for farmers in the Broderick and Outlook areas who were preparing their land for irrigation. They also dug many dug outs. In 1968, at the invitation of Curtis Satre, the family moved to Chelan, Saskatchewan to farm the Satre and Nilson land. Dad bought one quarter there from the Anderson family. Dad farmed the land for three years. It was very poor land, Satre's was rocky and Nilson's was sand. In 1971, Dad moved back to Strongfield to the Archibald farm. He bought the home half section from his uncle Norman Archibald and rented another half section from Mrs. Gross who lived in Vancouver. He also farmed grandpa Joel's section of land for a few years at Hawarden. In 1974 dad built a new house on the farm. In 1988, Dad and Mom bought the Strongfield Post Office and Café which they operated. They moved to town and lived in the back of the Cafe. On October 20th, in the early morning about 5AM Dad passed away in his sleep, unexpectedly and very suddenly. The funeral was held the following Wednesday,Oct. 25th at Skudesnes Lutheran Church, where Dad was buried. Pastor Ken Wilsdon preached, the quartet of Allen Hunter, Roy Olson, Philip Johnson and John Kirkpatrick from Bethlehem Lutheran, Hawarden, sang.

FLORENCE NINA OLSON [nee Nilson] 1931-2003

Florence Nina Nilson was the third daughter of Andrew and Josephine Nilson, the second youngest in a family of eight. She was born at the family home near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan on December 20th, 1931 and baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, north of Parkbeg. She attended school at a country school named ‘Holyrood' school and Parkbeg and took her last two years of High School at SLBI in Outlook. During her time away at High School in Outlook, her father Andrew passed away suddenly. After High School she moved to Moose Jaw and lived with her mom and sister Evelyn where she took 2 years of what was then called Normal School and became a school teacher. She taught school at Wildon School near Loreburn and it was while there that she met David. On July 24, 1953, they were married at Bethany Lutheran Church, near Parkbeg. Their first home was the Stauffer farm 8 miles straight east of Hawarden which they rented from the Kvinge brothers. While farming east of Hawarden, 5 sons and one daughter were born to them: Daryl, Everald, Arlin, Vance, Marlys and Duane. During this time the family was actively involved at Skudesnes Lutheran Church. In the winter when the roads were sometimes blocked for long periods of time we did Sunday School at home and Grandpa Olson would sometimes have church at his house for the family. In 1964, Dad and Mom bought the Victor Mann farm on the highway outside Hawarden and moved there. During this time another daughter Julie was born. In 1968, at the invitation of Pastor Curtis Satre, the family moved to Chelan, Saskatchewan to farm the Satre's and Nilson's land. Dad and Mom bought one quarter and they lived there for three years. During those three years we were involved in Chelan Lutheran Church where mom took her turn teaching Sunday School and playing the old pump organ for church. We used to joke that our family had increased the attendance at Chelan Lutheran by one third. In the summer of 1971, the family moved back to the Archibald farm at Strongfield and it was this year that Holly was born. Dad and mom bought the half section from dad's uncle Norman Archibald and rented another half section. He also farmed grandpa Joel's section of land at Hawarden for a few years since Grandpa and Grandma Olson had retired to Strongfield. In 1974 dad and mom built a new house on the farm west of Strongfield where they continued to farm until Dad passed away in 1989. About a year later mom moved to Camrose, Alberta. There she worked as mission home hostess and bookkeeper for the World Mission Prayer League, a Lutheran Mission Society. Mom very much enjoyed her work with World Mission Prayer League. There she became re-acquainted with many old friends from SLBI days in Outlook and made many new friends. She resided in Camrose right up until 2001. In December 2001, mom was hospitalized, with four blocked arteries. In Jan. 2002 she had quadruple bypass surgery. Three days later she partially lost her sight. In May 2002, she moved to an apartment in Regina to be close to family living there. On February 21, 2003, she was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and on March 14, 6:25AM, she passed away peacefully at the Regina General Hospital. Our mother, Florence loved to laugh. When ever she came to visit any of her children and grandchildren there was usually lots of stories and lots of laughter. Mom had a living faith in the Lord Jesus and was actively involved in the church all her life. Bedtime devotions, singing and prayer were a regular routine when we as children were younger. Mom loved to play the piano and sing. She enjoyed talking theology and we remember her and grandpa Olson spending many a Sunday afternoon in heavy discussion. Mom enjoyed travelling to visit her kids and grand kids. Even in her last year she talked about going to Central Asia to see Arlin and Ruth and family and to England to see Vance and Sarah. We give thanks to God for a wonderful Christian mother and grandmother who blessed our lives with so much love and good memories.

Some Pictures of Siblings Families

Here is a picture of Vance and Children, Matthew, Joseph, Vance holding Lily-Marie, Steven and Jonathan.


Below is Sarah holding Lily-Marie.

Here is Arlin's family. Ben, Lois, Arlin, Ruth, Tim

Karen and Daniel.

I realized that I have no digital pictures of my other siblings families. Some of us were together for Thanksgiving but forgot to take pictures.

My Siblings

As I said in a previous post, I thought I would give a bit of family history. Here is a picture of my siblings, I will tell you where they all live and what they all do. Backrow left to right: Duane Olson, he lives in Saskatoon and has his own business called Nutech Industries which is a machine shop as Duane is a machinist by trade. He has two boys David and Thomas. Next Daryl Olson [You have read my life history in my first post] Holly Sentz, my youngest sister lives in Regina and is a professional photographer. She works in the medical field developing pictures. She is married to Dale Sentz and they have no children. Arlin and Ruth have five children, Lois, Ben, Karen, Tim and Daniel.

Front Row: Everald Olson lives in Camrose Alberta and works for Frank Flaman Sales out of Leduc. He also farms the home quarter at Strongfield, Sk. and rents out the rest of his land there. He is married to Holly and they have two girls, Everly who is married to Neil Larson and they have a baby girl Kobie Ann. And Chelsea who is married to Steve Kerr. Julie Ursin, lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she works as a Doctor's assistant. She has two children, Zachary and Alexandra. Marlys Kennedy lives in Saskatoon where she works for the Royal Bank. She has two children Christie and Joshua. Vance Olson is presently living in Fort Mill, South Carolina where his wife Sarah is going to a Bible School and Vance is writing some books and overseeing his machine shop business back in Alnwick, England. They have five children. Jonathan, Matthew, Joseph, Steven and Lily-Marie. This picture was taken in the Regina General Hospital in March 2003 shortly before our mother passed away. This was the last time we were all together.

My Immediate Family

Let me introduce you to my immediate family. In June of this year the congregation of Bethlehem Lutheran here in Outlook put on a party to celebrate my 25 years in the ministry. This picture was taken beside our house that day. Left to right, Kirstin our oldest daughter, Her husband Murray Sutcliffe, Sherryl (my wife) Daryl, our son Kenny, the youngest, Karla (Our second daughter and her husband Scott Gjesdal. Our third daughter Krystal is in the other photo. She could not be with us that day because she was tree-planting in B.C.

An Introduction

Hi I thought it would be interesting to create a blog with some family history for all those Norskies in our family who like family history like me. So let me begin by introducing myself. I'm a 1954 model, born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I was baptized by Pastor Trygve Dahle at Skudesnes Evangelical Lutheran Church near Loreburn. My paternal Grandparents were my sponsors. I spent the first 12 years of my life at Hawarden, Saskatchewan, where I grew up on a farm, 8 miles east of the villlage. I attended Mountain Ash Country School for grades 1 and 2. In 1964 our family moved to an acreage just outside Hawarden on Highway 19. When the country school was closed we were bused to Hawarden where I took Grades 3 through 8. At the beginning of grade 9 our family moved to Chelan, Saskatchewan. I took grade 9, 10 and 11 at Bjorkdale Saskatchewan. I took my confirmation instruction in Porcupine Plain Saskatchewan and was confirmed on Reformation Sunday 1969. In the summer of 1971 my family moved to the Archibald farm 2 miles west of Strongfield. I took my grade 12 year at Loreburn Central High School and graduated in June 1972. That summer I took a week job at the Wigs at Eastend, Saskatchewan, hauling bales. The remainder of the summer I worked for Vernon Thoring, at Frontier. In September 1972 I went off to Bible School at Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute in Camrose. In the summer of 1973, I was on a singing team from CLBI and I toured Alberta and B.C. for three months, singing in Churches and working at Bible camps. In the fall of 1973, I returned as a second year to CLBI. It was during this year that I sensed a strong call from God to go into the ministry full time. I also met my wife to be that year. In the spring of 1974, I again toured with a singing group for a month and then got a job in a saw mill in Mackenzie, B.C. for the rest of the summer. In September, I got a job working for Nelson Homes in Frontier Saskatchewan and so I went to Frontier and lived with my cousin Sterling and built houses. I also got my school bus liscense in January 1975 and I drove school bus south of Frontier along the Canadian, USA border. I also switched jobs in January and got a job working at Friggstad manufacturing south of Frontier, first as an iron worker and then a welder. We build cultivators and Bale Wagons. In the fall of 1975 I had registered at Camrose Lutheran College for first year University. So that September, I packed up my 1965 Ford Falcon and head for Camrose. I rented a suite with two Bible School friends Devin Pfahl and Paul Knudtson. In May of 1976, I did a tour with the Camrose Lutheran College Choir through the Peace River Country. In the summer of 1976, I got a job working for Daryl Olson, a farmer just out of Camrose, who I had done chores for during my last year of Bible School. That fall I again returned to Camrose Lutheran College for a second year of University. Again that spring I toured with the CLC choir, this time out to the lower mainland of B.C. When I returned on that tour, my wife to be Sherryl showed up in Edmonton at our final concert. She had been working as a short term missionary in Pakistan for the previous 2 and a half years. Our relationship resumed. That summer I went home to my parents at Strongfield and got a job running the Hundeby's D6 Caterpillar, burying rockpiles for farmers East of Loreburn. I graduated from CLC in 1977. In the fall of 1977, I took my last year of University at University of Alberta in Edmonton. That Spring I began a job at an Alberta Government Tree Nursery North of Edmonton. I then switched to working for my Dad's cousin Terry Olson at his Machine Shop in Hay Lakes. In May of 1978, I got engaged to Sherryl Jorgenson of Ponoka and on September 2 we were married. We honeymooned in Waterton and Glacier National parks and that fall moved to Saskatoon where I enrolled at Lutheran Theological Seminary taking two years of classes. The summer in between I worked for a company out of Melfort that put in underground power lines in the new subdivisions of Saskatoon. Sherryl worked as a nurse at the University Hospital. In 1980 we moved to Calgary, where I interned under Curtis Satre at Emmanuel Lutheran. Our oldest daughter Kirstin was born that year. In August of 1981, we moved back to Saskatoon where I took my last year of Seminary. I was ordained into the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada on May 9, 1982 at my home congregation of Skudesnes Evangelical Lutheran church. Dr. Walt Koehler was the preacher and Pastor Curtis Satre and Uncle Tom Nilson and Pastor Ken Wilsdon presided at the service. I began my first call at Rose Valley Lutheran Parish in June. While we were there Karla and Krystal were born. We lived there four years and then moved to Donalda, Alberta. We served there for eight years and during that time Kenny was born. In 1994 we moved to Birch Hills Lutheran Parish. We lived there six years. In 2000 we moved to Outlook, Saskatchewan. Here we bought our first house and I serve Bethlehem Lutheran Church.