Sunday's Obituary: Ada Gossau

In loving memory of Aunt Ada, here is the obituary of Ada B. Gossau from the Leola (Workman) Crapser's files.

 

Ada B. Gossau
Ada Blanche Gossau, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 1987 at the Estelline Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sterling United Methodist Church, rural Brookings with the Rev. Penny Ritter officiating.  Burial will be at Sterling Methodist Cemetery.  Visitations may be made from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Rude's Funeral Home; the family will be in attendance.  Visitations also may be made preceding services Tuesday at the church.

Ada Blanche Gossau was born Sept. 10, 1916, in Sterling Township, Brookings County, to Jessie and Blanche (Heard) Workman.  She attended rural school in Sterling Township and graduated from Brookings High School.  She then moved to Chicago and spent several years there working in factories.  She also lived in California for a year.  She married Charles T. Gossau on June 2, 1947, in Pipestone, Minn., and the couple made Brookings their home.  She worked at various jobs in Brookings until retiring in 1980.  Mr Gossau died May 1, 1987, in Sioux Falls.  She enjoyed bowling, fishing and craft work.

Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Gossau of Brookings, and two sisters, Mrs. Sara (Raymond) Laganella of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs. Leola Crapser of Sioux Falls.  She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother.

Sunday's Obituary: Bernard Singsaas

Bernard Singsaas - Louisville, Colo.

Bernard Singsaas, 86, died of natural causes Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, at the Balfour Retirement Community in Louisville, Colo., after a short stay in the Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties care center.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Singsaas Church near Hendricks, Minn.

Bernie was born on the family farm in Oak Lake Township, near the Minnesota border, son of Ingebrigt Singsaas, from Singsaas, Norway, and Christine Trooien.  He attended a one-room school house then boarded in the nearest town to graduate from Astoria High School.  He worked on the farm and at odd jobs and then graduated in accounting from a one-year business school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in January 1942.  he served in Navy construction battalions in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and, after four years, left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer.

Bernie married Carole Maxine Bailey on Aug. 5 1950, in Witchita, Kan., after a four-month courtship while he was hospitalized following a car crash that almost killed him.  Carole died in September 1965, and Bernie never remarried.

He worked as an office manager for nearly 30 years with Peter Kiewit and Sons, a construction company with headquarters in the U.S. and Canada, which took Bernie and his family to many locations, including Vancouver Island, Utah, Montreal, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, New Orleans, Nebraska, Montana, and Alaska, as well as Kansas.  Family vacations by car crossed every other state.

He was an avid reader, bridge player, playing in many bridge tournaments and achieving Lifetime Master status, and traveler, doing extensive research on the family history in Norway.  After retiring to San Diego, he enjoyed daily golf games between frequent travels that took him to most countries and all seven continents, making many friends along the way.  He sold his car and golf clubs and moved to Boulder County, Colo., in 2001, just before his 81st birthday, to be close to family.

Survivors include  two daughters, Christine Howard of Louisville and Cathryn Grimland of Loveland, Colo., and six grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, a son Steven Eric Singsaas, and all eight siblings.


From the Brookings Register, Sept 13, 2006

Air Force names building after fallen Osprey pilot - Randy Voas

Randell Voas, a cousin in the Glenn/Dempster family line has been honored by the Air Force for his service.  Here's the beginning of the story from the U.S. Army  news:

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (Mar. 1, 2012) -- Maj. Randell D. Voas lost his life in a CV-22 crash in Afghanistan on April 9, 2010, but his legacy will now continue to influence future Aviators in the Air Force's 23rd Flying Training Squadron at Fort Rucker.

On Feb. 24, the squadron named its new consolidated operations center after Voas who was in the Army for eight years before transitioning to the Air Force where he flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as an instructor pilot for the 23rd FTS at Fort Rucker.

"I'm challenged to find a better name to put on this building," said Col. James Cardoso, commander of the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M., during his dedication ceremony address.

All Air Force helicopter pilots start their rotary-wing training with the 23rd FTS at Fort Rucker. "As we teach them the skills, it's appropriate that we also show them what they're going to be a part of," he said, adding that many of the instructors and evaluators currently with the 23rd FTS were trained or mentored by Voas.

He went on to say Voas was a "decorated combat Aviator, a quiet professional and a humble guy" who loved to instruct and pass on the lessons he'd learned during his time on the battlefield.

During the ceremony, much applause was given for each person on a list of honored guests, but the loudest applause was given to the members of the Voas Family. The late major's wife, Jill, and their two children, Maddeline and Mitchell, were there along with several other Family members.

Jo Kallemeyn, the mother of Voas, said the ceremony was "quite an honor for Randy's memory."

"The main thing I want and that our Family wants is that he's not forgotten," she said.

Kallemeyn said her son loved to fly. He was given the Cheney Award in 2003, an annual award given by the Air Force for an act of valor or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest, but she said his response was to say he was just doing his job. "But, he did it very well," she added.

"I have learned so much about Randy since this happened. He was my son, and we had good conversations, but I just never really understood the depth of his involvement and what he meant to so many people," she said.  
Read More 

Wedding Wednesday: John Waage and Ida Wicks

A wedding announcement for John Waage and Ida Wicks appeared in the Roland Record on October 29, 1897.  John and Ida were married on October 23, 1897 in Story County, Iowa.

Four Couples Happily Married Within a Week.
WAAGE-WICKS

John Waage and Miss Ida Wicks were married at the east church in Roland, by Rev. Sandven, last Saturday.  A reception was afterwards held at teh Wicks home, north of town.  This couple is held in high esteem by those who are acqainted with them.

Source: http://rolandhistory.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=164109214.  A kind genealogist , Taco Goolouze, sent this link.  Thanks, Taco!

Sunday's Obituary: John E Jorenby

In loving memory of uncle John E. Jorenby, who passed away on July 26, 2011.

John E. Jorenby was born on October 29, 1934 in Volga, SD to Norman and Stella (Waage) Jorenby. He grew up and attended school in the Volga area. After finishing school, he served in the US Army. John spent his career working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in South Dakota and California before transferring to the Bureau of Land Management which led him to work in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. After retiring, he moved to the cabin he built in Trout Creek, Montana but eventually found his way back to Wyoming.

He was preceded in death by his son, Terrence L. Jorenby, his grandson, Dalton Taylor Jorenby, brothers, Carroll, Donald and Burton and his sister Betty Bovee.

John is survived by his daughters, Tamara Jorenby of Bozeman, MT, Tracey (Scott) Maryland of Casper, grandsons Kaycee, Lucas, Tyler, Stryder and Oryan, brothers, Lyle, Clifford (Lori), David, sisters Marge (Alton) Quam, and Sharon (Jim) Watts all of South Dakota.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 30th at Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper WY. Memorials may be made in John’s name to the charity of your choice.

http://www.newcomercasper.com/obituary.asp?src=value&obitid=49973&fname=John&lname=Jorenby&city=Casper&st=WY

Wisdom Wednesday: Grandma Glenn's Recipe for Rearing a Large Family

Way back in May of 1949, a reporter from the Brookings paper asked Grandma Maria (Dempster) Glenn about her recipe for raising a large family of 104 direct descendants.  She responded with the following:

"Just keep on reading the Scriptures every day. You won't go far wrong, if you practice what the Bible teaches. And keep out of other people's business. Don't gossip about others. If you work hard you won't have time to do that. And then you won't worry and you can live a long time."

To read the newspaper article, check out my post from July 2010 titled "Grandma Glenn Boosts of 104 Grandchildren".

Amanuensis Monday: Lowell Workman Honored on 80th Birthday

The following news clipping was retrieved from Grandma Leola's files and was likely printed in the Brookings Register or the Sterling township news in 1961.

Lowell Workman Honored on 80th Birthday

Eureka - Lowell Workman marked his 80th birthday Feb. 24 and was honored at a party at his farm home 10 miles north of Brookings.

The evening was spent visiting and a short program presented events from his lifetime.

Present were his four children: Mr and Mrs. Merle Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. George Workman, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Reed, all of Brookings; and Rev. and Mrs. David Workman and family of Sioux City, Iowa; a brother Jesse Workman; and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gossau, Mr. and Mrs. Ed clifford and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Clifford and family.

One of the first persons born in Brookings County, Workman still resides on the same farm, only a few rods from the sod house in which he was born.

Sunday's Obituary: Madala Wicks

Obituary and notice of death for Mrs. Madala Wicks from The Roland Record in 1932

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, December 28, 1932.

MRS. WICKS DIED SUNDAY
HAD LIVED IN ROLAND COMMUNITY FOR OVER HALF CENTURY

Mrs. H. T. Wicks died at 6:00 o'clock Sunday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Julia Christianson north of Roland, where she had been staying since she suffered a stroke about three months ago.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at the Christianson residence and at 2:00 o'clock in Bergen church with Rev. M. O. Sumstad in charge.

Mrs. Wicks would have been 86 years of age if she had lived another month and had lived in this community for more than fifty years. An obituary will be published next week.

Also from The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 4, 1933.

MRS. H. T. WICKS

Mrs. Madala Wicks wss born January 11, 1847, in Skaanevigs prestegjeld, Norway, her parents being Torres and Elizabeth Vika. She grew to womanhood in Norway and on April 3, 1870 was married to Hactor T. Wicks coming to America the same year and settling in Lisbon, Ill.

They came to Iowa in 1875 and lived on a farm northeast of Roland until 1882 when they moved to a farm 4 1/2 miles north of Roland where they lived 34 years. In 1916 they retired from the farm and moved to Roland to spend their remaining years. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary April 3, 1920. Mr. Wicks preceded her in death, on July 23, 1924.

She suffered a stroke a apoplexy 8 months ago and since then has been failing. The last 3 months she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Julia Christianson, passing away on December 25th being 85 years, 11 months and 14 days old. She has been a member of Bergen Lutheran church since coming to this community.

Mr. and Mrs. Wicks had 10 children two of whom, Millie and Thomas, died in infancy. Those left to mourn her death are Mrs. Ben Borwick, Mrs. Andrew H. Twedt, Tom H . Wicks, Mrs. John Waage of Brookings, S. D., Mrs. Julia Christianson, Mrs. J. E. Jacobson, Theo. H. Wicks and Mrs. G. T. Halverson of Belmond. She also leaves 58 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren, 3 half sisters, Mrs. Ole Wicks of Roland, Mrs. Theo. Carpenter of Story City and Mrs. Golla Orton of Norway, 3 half brothers, Thomas Wicks of Clarion, Tom Wicks of Story City and George Wicks of Elmore, Minn.

The funeral was held at the Christianson home and at Bergen church Thursday afternoon, Rev. M. O. Sumstad officiating. Interment was made in the Roland cemetery. Pall bearers were Ben Borwick, Andrew H. Twedt, J. E. Jacobson, Theo. Wicks, Tom Wicks and G. T. Halverson.

Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Ida Waage, Thomas and Viola Waage of Brookings, S. D., Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ziergler and 2 children of Volga, S. D., Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Halverson and 2 children of Belmond, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Wicks and son Cryder Wicks and sons Orville and Everett of Kanawha, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wicks, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Hill, Mrs. Knute Munson and Mr. and Mrs. Elias Olson and daughter Bernice of Clarion, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Arthur of Eagle Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Selmer Norem and Clarence Norem of Radcliffe, Mr. William Mackstad and Mr. Keneil Swenson of Nevada.

Source: Iowa GeneWeb Story County Obituaries, (http://iagenweb.org/boards/story/obituaries/index.cgi?read=272157) on 2/3/2011.

Sunday's Obituary: May Shrode Reep

The Obituary of Mrs. May (Shrode) Reep from Leola (Workman) Crapser's files:

Mrs. May Reep Dies McIntire Resident

May Shrode, daughter of Conrad and Barbara Workman Shrode, was born May 1, 1873, on a farm near McIntire, Iowa.  She was one of eight children, three of whom are still living: Eugene and Charles Shrode of Riceville, and Mrs. Sadie Eliason of Zion, Illinois.

May joined the McIntire Methodist church on September 22, 1889, and was married there on November 17, 1901, to William Reep.  to this union were born four children: Mary Reep of Mason City, Iowa; Rev. Louie Reep of St. Joseph, Missouri; Mildred Reep, who died at the age of two and Rev. Ora Reep of Silver City, Iowa.

Mrs. Reep is well-known to this community, having lived here all her life except for the past three winters when she has made her home with her daughter Mary who teaches in Mason City.  She had just recently transferred her membership to the Wesley Methodist church in Mason City, where the Rev. Peterson showed her much kindness.

May died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 1956, in Park hospital, Mason City, after one day's illness.  She lacked just 12 days of being eighty-three years old.  Left to mourn her passing are two brothers and one sister; her three living children; two grandchildren, Norma Lou and John Reep; nephews and nieces and many friends.

The funeral service for Mrs. Reep was held in the McIntire Methodist church at 2 p.m., April 21.  Conducting the service were the Rev. Misses Luella G Kroether and T. Janet Surdam, co-pastors of the Riceville-McIntire charge.  Mrs. Viva Newhouse and Mrs. Alden Harshbarger sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Abide With Me," accompanied by Mrs. Riley Sloan.

Interment was in Riverside cemetery, Riceville, the casket being carried by Gayloard Aspel of Ostrander, Minnesota, Harold and Kenneth Aspel of McIntire, Wilbur Danforth of Osage, Peter Johnson of Little Cedar, and James Ellis of LeRoy, Minnesota.

After the services, the McIntire Methodist Woman's Society of Christian Service served lunch to relatives and friends.

Sunday's Obituary: Norman Jorenby

The death notice and obituary of Norman S. Jorenby from Stella Jorenby's scrapbook

Norman Jorenby Dies This Morning
Norman Jorenby, well known farmer who grew to manhood in this community, succumbed at his farm home two miles west and one south of Volga early this morning.  he had been ill for some time with heart trouble and other complications.
Funeral arrangements are being made for Saturday afternoon.  Further details were not available as we go to press.

Funeral Saturday for Norman Jorenby
Funeral services were held Saturday at the Lutheran church for Norman Jorenby, who passed away at his farm home early last Thursday morning.  Rev. Karl Kildahl officiated and interment made in the Lutheran cemetery.

Norman Sanford Jorenby was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Jorenby at Dows, Iowa on June 8, 1902.  At the age of 10 he came with his parents to Volga, S.D. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church.  He attended the Volga Public Schools.

On February 8, 1922 he was united in marriage to Miss Stella Waage and to this union were born ten children: Lyle, Donald, Carroll, Betty, Marjorie, Burton, John, Clifford, David and Sharon.  After his marriage he commenced farming with the exception of one year, spent the rest of his life on farms near Volga.

He passed away February 12, 1942 following a lingering illness at the age of 39 years, 8 months and 4 days.

He is survived by his wife, Stella, and ten children; his mother, Mrs. Belle Jorenby; three sisters, Mrs. Henry Swiggum of Blanchardville, Wis., Mrs. Carlton Leite, and Miss Ruth Jorenby of Volga; and four brothers Harold, Oliver, and Everett of Volga, and Raymond of Seattle, Wash.  his father and three brothers preceded him in death.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mrs. and Mrs. Raymond Jorenby of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Henry King, Dan and Oscar Rud of Valley City, N.D.; Mrs. Lena Jacobson and son, Marvin, of Nevada, Iowa; Mrs. Henry Opstvedt of McCallsburg, Iowa; tom Wicks of Radcliffe, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Kiner of Madison; Mrs and Mrs. Tom Waage and family of Colman; and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Anderson of White.

Sunday's Obituary: Blanche Workman

The obituary of Blanche Workman From Leola (Workman) Crapser's files:

Mrs. J Workman Died Monday After Few Days Illness

Mrs. Jesse Workman passed away Monday at the Municipal hospital where she was taken Saturday.  Cause of death was dropsy and heart trouble.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at the home at 2:00 o'clock, and at the Rude funeral chapel at 2:30 in charge of Capt. B. A. MacNichol of the Salvation Army.  Burial will be at Greenwood.

Blanche D. Heard was born to Frederick and Annette Heard May 2, 1885 in Shiloh township, Grundy county, Iowa, the third child in a family of six.  She was called to her heavenly rest in Brookings July 16, 1945, after a short illness, aged 60 years, two months and 14 days.

She was educated in the Grundy, Hardin and O'Brien county schools of Iowa.  She taught in the Osceola county, Iowa, rural schools one year and also a year in the Brookings county schools.

She was united in marriage to Jesse Workman Dec. 15, 1903, at Grundy Center, Iowa, and they came to Brookings county and settled on the Workman farm, 10 miles north of Brookings where they made their home until 1925, when they moved to Brookings.

To this union were born six children, two dying in infancy.  Surviving are Leslie; Leola Crapser, Bell Gardens, Calif.; Ada Gillman of Brookings, and Sara Loganella of Philadelphia.

Besides her husband and four children, she leaves to mourn her loss, seven grandchildren; two sisters, Ethel of Melvin, Iowa, and Lelah of Grundy Center; and one brother, Dale of Lake Wilson, Minn.

Her father, mother and two sisters preceded her in death.  She also leaves a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.  She was a wonderful wife and mother, a good neighbor and friend, in the best meaning of the term, "a good woman."

Mrs. Workman was made a soldier of the Brookings Salvation Army corps Aug. 21, 1927, and held the following local officers positions until her death: home league treasurer; recruiting sergeant since Jan. 15, 1940; cradle roll sergeant, since Jan. 1, 1940, and company guard since May, 1941.

Sunday's Obituary: Emma Rittman

Below is the Obituary for Emma Rittman From Leola (Workman) Crapser's files.  Handwriting on the side of this article indicates Dec 12, 1918, likely the day the article was published.


Mrs. John Rittman Died Last Night

Mrs. John Rittman died at her home in this city Wednesday night of influenza, at the age of fifty-six years.  Funeral services will be held at the home Saturday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. I. M. Hargett, and also at the Sterling church, and the body will be laid to rest in the Sterling cemetery beside her husband.

Mrs. Emma Rittman was born in Indiana April 1, 1862, and died at her home in Brookings, 706-6th street, after a short illness.  She came to South Dakota in 1880 and was married to John F. Rittman of Sterling township, where they lived until his death in 1908.  Mrs. Rittman remaining on the farm until last fall, when she purchased city property, upon which she spent about $4,000 in improvements and fitting it with modern comforts, preparatory to enjoying a rest after many years hard work on the farm.

She gave her heart to God early in life and united with the German Methodist church of Northfield, Minn.  She was a devoted christian woman and recogized as a staunch church woman in her community and was a member of the Woman's Missionary society of her church and was always ready and willing to do her part in any christian service.

Mrs. Rittman was the mother of ten children, two boys and eight girls, six of whom are still living.  Those living are, Nora, now Mrs. Joseph Conn of Eureka township.  Ella, Mrs. Wm. Cochran of Lansing, Minn.  Minnie, Mrs. Frank Billet of Sterling township.  Fred, who is in the Expeditionary Forces in France, and Lydia and Emma who are at home.

She leaves her son, five daughters, three brothers and four sisters and many other relatives and friends to mourn her sudden death.

Sunday's Obituary: Martin B Christianson

From the Hendricks Pioneer,  30 August 1962 edition; accessed from Footnote.com (www.footnote.com/image/42057202).

Funeral Rites For M.B. Christianson

Funeral services for Martin B. Christianson were held Monday, August 20, at Calvary Lutheran church in Hendricks with Rev. H. R. Schafer officiating.  A family service preceded the 2 p.m. rites.  Interment was in the East cemetery at Hendricks with DuWayne Luze, Curtis Luze, Lyndon Nelson, Roger Grimlie, Donald Grimlie and Don Mennis serving as pallbearers.

Mrs. Carvel Johnson served as organist, and also accompanied a mixed quartet comprised of Mrs. Wilbert Blake, Mrs. Clarence Nygaard, Hans Hegstad, and Carvell Johnson.  The quartet sang "Does Jesus Care", and Msrs. Johnson and Hegstad sang "Den Store Hvide Flok."  Mrs. Teddy Mathison sang "Beyond the Sunset" at the family service.

Martin B. Christianson was born in Alamaca county, Iowa, September 9, 1876, to Bore and Johanna Chrisitianson.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.  He was united in marriage with Ingeborg Singsaas November 28, 1905 by the Rev. Salenstin*.  To this union were born five daughters and three sons.  He died at the Hendricks hospital August 17, 1962, at the age of 85 years, 11 months and eight days.  He had made his home at the Hendricks Retirement Home since the fall of 1958.

To mourn his passing he leaves four daughters, Thelma of Sioux Falls, S.D., Merl (Mr.s Alvin Oien) of Hot Springs, Mont., Alyce (Mrs. Hjalmer Grimlie) of Astoria, S. D., and Irene (Mrs. Harold Luze) of Brookings, S. D.; two sons Ervin of Missoula, Mont., and Vernon of Fort Peirce, Fla.; three brothers, Emil, Anton and Selmer of Hendricks; three sisters, Mrs. John Fjerstad of Watertown, S. D., Mrs. Oliver Sommervold of Toronto, S. D., and Mrs. Julia Tiller of Hendricks.  There are also 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, one daughter, one son, and his parents.

To his family he was known as a kind and loving father, and will be missed by those remaining.  Blessed be his memory.

Editor's note: In a previous article on Ingeborg Singsaas the pastor was listed as "Rev. T. K. Solensten", which I believe is the correct spelling.

Follow Friday: Newspapers Collection on Footnote.com

http://www.footnote.com/page/2539_newspapers_at_footnote/
Footnote.com has an excellent collection of newspapers from small towns.  One of the papers is the Hendricks Pioneer and several members on my mom's paternal line are from the Hendricks, Minnesota area.  Unfortunately, it is subscription based.  I've signed up for a 7 day free trial so I can view several editions though.  I found several articles already this week on Singsaas family members.

Footnote.com also has the WWII diaries available for FREE this month.

News from Hendricks Pioneer: Harold Luze visits Grimlie and Nelson Homes

I found this news clipping from the November 30, 1967 edition of The Hendricks Pioneer via Footnote.com.


On Page 6 of the November 30 edition, it reads:

"Birthday guests Sunday at the Hjalmer Grimlie home for Mrs. Grimlie's birthday were Mr. and Mrs. Linden Nelson and family of rural Toronto, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Luze of Brookings and Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Grimlie and Charleen.

Visitors at the Linden Nelson home of rural Toronto Friday evening were Mr. and Mrs. Hjalmer Grimlie, Rodger and Terry, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Luze of Brookings and Mrs. Donald Mennis and boys of Minneapolis."

I find the clippings from these old newspapers telling of the recent visitors to a home quite interesting.  You just never know when that distant cousin will show up in the local paper. 

I had never considered what the paper would look like after a holiday though.  The November 30, 1967 edition of The Hendricks Pioneer was published the week following Thanksgiving.  There were several columns of clippings just telling the world where everyone spent their Thanksgiving weekend.  Here's a small sample:

  

Sunday's Obituary: Barbara Shrode

The following obituary was acquired from Vernice Danforth's book titled Conrad Shrode's Civil War Diary And Genealogy, printed in May 1976:

Mrs. Barbara Shrode

Barbara Workman was born at New York state February 25, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Aspel, near McIntire, Iowa, April 12, 1926 at 8:30 a.m.

When a girl she moved with her parents to Broadhead, Wisconsin, where she grew to womanhood, and joined the Evangelical church of which she remained a life member.

She formed the acquaintance of Mr. Conrad Shrode and when he was home on a furlough, after being honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment in the Civil war, she was united in marriage to him, March 9, 1864.

He soon after re-enlisted and served his country until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged December 16, 1865.  to this union were born eight children, one died in infancy and one daughter, Libbie Cole, died about eight years ago.

Her husband, after years of public and private service to his country here below, left at the call to the better country on July 10, 1913.

They spent most of their lives together on a farm in Jenkins township, Mitchell county, Iowa.  In 1910 they moved to Riceville, Iowa.  After Mr. Shrode's death, Mrs. Shrode resided in their Riceville home until failing health made it advisable for her to be no longer alone.  Then she went to live with her daughters,  Mrs. may Reep, of McIntire, for two years, thence among other children, spending the last part of her life with her daughter, Mrs. Ella Aspel, where she quietly went to sleep on April 12, 1926.  She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Sadie Eliason, of Zion City, Illinois; Mrs. Ella Aspel and Mrs. May Reep of McIntire; and three sons, William, of McIntire; and Eugene and Charles of Riceville, Iowa.  Also one sister survives of the family of seven children, Mrs. Sarah Eastman of McIntire.  Besides these she leaves twenty-six grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church at Riceville on Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m., cunducted by the Rev. Felterand Rev. Mr Pease of Limes Springs, a former pastor.  Interment was made in the beautiful Riverside cemetery, at Riceville, Iowa.

Amanuensis Monday: The Small Boy

Here's another interesting article out of Grandma Stella Jorenby's files from not so long ago.  It doesn't mention the boy's name, but those that know the family can narrow it down pretty well.

THE SMALL BOY has been defined as an appetite completely surrounded by noise and dirt.  Saturday, in the canyons of the supermarket, Mrs. Lyle Jorenby's small son, silent and scrubbed, fitted only the first part of that definition as he wishfully stopped at the rack of cool-aid drink powder envelopes and then beamed a cinamascope-wide smile as his mother selected several envelopes.

Amanuensis Monday: Carroll Jorenby Military News

First, you're probably wondering what "Amanuensis Monday" is, right?  Well, it's a daily blogging prompt over on Geneabloggers to encourage the transcription of documents, audio files, and other artifacts of family history.  Today's transcription comes from news clippings found in Grandma Stella Jorenby's family scrapbook.

Awarded Certificate For Contribution
Mannheim, Germany - Sgt Carroll O. Jorenby, son of Mrs. Stella Jorenby, Volga, was awarded a certificate of appreciation recently by his organization, the 63rd Tank Battalion, for making a major contribution to the Armed Forces March of Dimes Campaign for 1951.

The certificates were awared ____ll members of the battalion, ___h is performing occupation ___n Germany, who contributed  $10 or more in the fight against infantile paralysis.

Sgt. Jorenby, a tack mechanic in Company B, by his contribution of $10 to the worthy cause aided the tank battalion in reaching a total collection of $4,187.85 for the campaign, an average of $5.70 for every officer and man assigned to the unit.  The total collected was one of the highest for battallion-sized units in the European Command.

The certificate, signed by Lieut. Col. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., commanding officer of the 63rd Tank Battallion, says that Sgt. Jorenby is commended for his display of generosity and charity in the March of Dimes campaign and closes with the statement: "By your action you have proven that the American Soldier is willing to protect the citizens of his country against all foes, of which infantile paralysis is one of the most deadly."

(Editor's note: How many of us deserve certificates of merit for what we did in the March of Dimes campaign?  If the boys do the fighting, we might at least pay the bills.)

A second article reads:

2 Armored Men Receive Awards
Fort Hood, Tex. - For outstanding performance of duty during recently completed Exercise Three Pairs at Fort Hood, seven officers and seven enlisted men of the 2d Armd Div. were recognized with special awards.

In a ceremony following the exercise critique, Maj. Gen. W. H. S. Wright, 2d AD commander, presented the Croix de Caliche and the Order of the Armadillo to 14 men.

The awards were authorized by the exercise director and were designed to parallel the Silver and Bronze Star Medals taht are given for valor in combat.

The higher of the two awards the Croix de Caliche was given to Maj. Marvin L. Butcher, 37th Armor; Lt. Don E. Hillier Jr., 50th Inf.; MSgt. Manuel Madruga, 51st Inf., and Sgt. Kenneth E. Lee, 15th Cav.

Those receiving the Order of the Armadillo were: Lt. Col. Charl__ C. Clayton, 66th Armor; Capt. ___ T. Undercoffer, 15th Cab.;  Lt. ___ J. Gruber, 58th Inf.; Lt. Theodore S. Wilkins, Hq Combat Command C; Lt. Michael R. Rodman, 16th Arty.; SFC Carroll O. Jorenby, 50th Inf.; SSgt. Robert L. Lockart, 14th Arty.; Sgt. Bernard F. Willis, Hq.. CCB; Sp4 William R. Moore, 78th ___y and PFC David C. Kinney __  __y.

Pieces of these news clippings are torn and/or folded, indicated by ___ in place of text.

1955 Fire at the Jorenby Farm

I was recently given a news tidbit from the Brookings Register dated November 6, 2010.  The article "Memories from Brookings Past", notes:

55 years ago 1955
... The farm home of Mrs. Stella Jorenby on the west side of Lake Campbell was destroyed by fire.  ...

The intersting part of this is that cousin Shari, from the Laabs side of my family, recently mentioned this fire at the farm.  Here's what Shari remembers:

When [Stella] first moved to the Lake Campbell farm, the house was an old structure that had once served as a hotel and post office for the town of Lake City, a town that did not survive. Her house was the last remnant of the town, though the farmhouse I lived in had an addition that was said to have come from a house in Lake City. Sometime in the mid fifties, the Jorenbys installed an oil or gas furnace in the basement. The sons were doing the work themselves and unfortunately did not vent the furnace. The first time it was fired up, it burned the house down in the middle of the night. They replaced the house with a prefab ranch house that was not completed on the inside. They spent many years completing that house.

Shari's brother Doug remembered the fire a little differently:

According to [Doug] the fire occurred in the daytime, and the Brookings fire truck drove into our yard looking for their farm. Although our farms abutted, they were not connected by a road, so the firetruck had to go about four miles farther to get there and of course were too late to save anything. Doug says that the Jorenbys had bought a wood-burning furnace, not an oil furnace, and that they intended to burn corncobs in it. For that reason they had had the cornsheller deposit the cobs in their basement, rather than in a pile in the yard. Of course the basement full of corncobs was great tinder for the fire.

To my Jorenby cousins, can anyone verify the details of this fire for me?

Sunday's Obituary: Thore Singsaas

Following one of the daily blogging prompts from the Geneabloggers (http://www.geneabloggers.com/) ...


The obituary of my Thore M. Singsaas, my great-great-great grandfather, was originally published in the Hendricks Pioneer, Hendricks MN on Friday, August 9, 1932.  The copy below was found in the "Sodbusters, Sunbonnets, & Singsaas Immigrants" family history booklet.

Tore M. Singaas was born in Singsaasmoe, Norway, on November 30, 1849, and passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Peter J. Ramlo on August 12, 1932, being at the time of his death 82 years, eight months, and twelve days of age.

In the year 1870 he was united in marriage to Karrie Ingebrigtsdatter, and to this union were born ten children, three of whom died in Norway.

In the year 1890 he came to this country with his family, arriving at Canby, Minnesota, the 6th of June.  The oldest son, Absalon, had preceded his parents here by about a year or so.  The first year in their adopted country they resided with J. R. Ramlo and the following three years were spent on a farm near the place that latter became the family's farm home until 1914 when they moved to Hendricks, Minnesota.

Mrs. Singsaas passed away in February, 1915.  A daughter, Ingeborg, (Mrs. Martin Christianson) died the 3rd of April, 1926.  The children who mourn the loss of a father are Absalon of Buette, Montana; Gulaug, of Montana; Ingebregt, of Bonetrail, N.D.; Mons, of Hendricks; Iver, of Hendricks; Inga, Mrs. Peter J. Ramlo), of Hendricks, besides 36 grandchildren and seven great grand children.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon.  A short service was held at the home at two o'clock and at two-fifteen at the Lake Hendricks Lutheran Free church with Rev. Edw. L. Erickson conducting the last rights.  Songs were sung by a quartette composed of Pete Hinsverk, Ingvald Hanson, Hans Hegstad, and Lewis Pederson.  Several gifts were given to the Orphans' Home and the Missions in his memory.  Interment was made in the East cemetery, the pallbearers being Mons Singsaas, Iver Singsaas, Peter J. Ramlo, I. O. Ramlo, Peter Hanson, and Martin Christianson.

Mr. Singsaas had been in ill health for the past several years.

Deepest sympathy is extended to the bereaved relatives in their hour of sorrow.