Rebecca Marie PEDERSON

Notes:

Reno and Rebecca and family lived in Hales Corners at the time that they adopted Thomas Lee.

They lived in Arnold, Maryland, in April of 1956.

She and Reno lived in Wausaukee after they got out of farming.

In the fall of 1953, she was already married to Reno. At that time, she was a member of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, playing the cello.

She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1951 (she was class president), Cottey College (Missouri) in 1953, and North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) in 1955 where her degree was in speech correction.

According to a brief article in the November 18, 1966, edition of the FFDJ, the Kuehnels had adopted “four minority-race children to add to their family of three children.”

From the Manitowoc Herald-Times, April 21, 1973, issue:

Love is Multicolored Mother Tells Church Group

Becky Kuehnel was guest speaker at the fifth annual Lenten breakfast Tuesday morning at Grace Congregational United Church of Christ, Two Rivers. Mrs. Kuehnel said she believes every child, of whatever nation or race, has the right to grow up with parents. She and her husband Reno Kuehnel, have nine children, three sons of their own, five legally adopted interracial children and another child's adoption is pending. They reside on an 80 acre farm near the Village of Osman. Kuehnel is an electrical engineer at Hamilton Manufacturing Co., Two Rivers.

Her obit in the FFDJ:

Rebecca (Becky) Marie Kuehnel was born Sunday, Feb. 6, 1933, at home, with a blizzard on the way, in Fergus Falls to Signe Margaret (Johnson) and Reuben Philip Pederson. She was preceded in death by an older sister, Marlene Toso, and is survived by younger sisters Doris Enderson and Kathryn Knudsen, and brothers Richard (Dickie) and Charles (Chuckie) Pederson.

Becky met Reno (Skip) Walter Kuehnel Jr. during Christmas break of her second year at Cottey College. They married secretly the following spring, on April 4, 1953. It wasn’t until that fall that the newlyweds were able to begin living together, and then never parted until Skip passed away Dec. 20, 2012, just shy of their 60th anniversary.

After the birth of their third son, Reno and Rebecca began adopting. Thirteen more uchildren would be welcomed into the family, raised with their parents’ love of learning and arts, their awareness of the needs of others, and a sense of duty to a human family that crosses racial, religious and ethnic divides.

Any who met Becky can agree on this point, she was a warrior for her beliefs and a champion for her friends. Early on, she was voted class president, both in high school and at Cottey College, and her drive to help others led her to work with the Laubach Literacy program (“Each One Teach One”), become a charter member of MCEO, a civil rights organization in Milwaukee, a leader in the Migrant Ministry program for southeastern Wisconsin, in addition to hosting international students. On the farm, she cared for thousands of calves, and kept a 5-acre vegetable garden.

Even in “retirement” she remained active, as a First Responder, a rest home Activities Aide, a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and an active participant in a variety of Church Councils and community organizations. But, perhaps the best thing that can be said about her is that she never met a stranger, and so many, even after only a single conversation, became her lifelong friend.

Strong faith, boundless optimism, unwavering courage, generous spirit, and through it all, music – original songs, hymns, the chorus from a musical, lullabies — whatever the occasion, whatever the weight of the day, Becky always had a song flowing through it. For those of us who hear her voice, she will never be truly gone.

Friends and family will gather for a celebration of her life at a service to be held April 1 at First Congregational Church, 310 Bluff Ave., Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The gathering will start at 2:30 p.m. to share stories and memories, with the service starting at 3 p.m., and all are welcome to stay for a meal to follow in the church hall. The family has honored Becky’s request for her body to be donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin for medical research. Memorials will be directed to organizations Becky requested on her behalf.

On behalf of her children — Chris, Peter, David, Tom, John, Maria, Sam, Tory, Jean, Maurice, Fernando, Tyrone, Ho Chang, Adriano, Roberto, Caleb — grandchildren and great-grandchildren, we would also like to give a special thanks to all the people who stepped up to care for Becky with dignity and compassion: the staff at the Odd Fellow Home in Green Bay, Dr. Luke Warpinski, caregivers Tory Haney, Pam Mraz (Sheffer) and Shelly Stockwell.

Rebecca married Reno Walter KUEHNEL, Jr on 4 Apr 1953. Reno was born on 17 Jun 1926 in Wisconsin; died on 20 Dec 2012 in Wausaukee, Marinette County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his new wife are living with her parents in the 1930 census. He is a salesman.

In the 1935/36 Fergus Falls city directory, he is R. Philip and is employed by (or owns) the Fergus Jobbing Co. He and Margaret live at 320 Maple Avenue. Same in the 1937/38 Fergus Falls city directory. In the 1939/40 Fergus Falls city directory, their telephone number was 818.

Incorrectly indexed as Peterson in the 1940 census. He is a salesman for a confectionary.

In the 1941/42 Fergus Falls city directory, he and S. Margaret still live at 320 Maple and he still works for or runs the Fergus Jobbing Co.

Listed in the 1910 census as having been born in Wisconsin.

Reuben married Signe Margaret JOHNSON on 16 Jun 1929 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Signe (daughter of Conrad JOHNSON and Lisa LUNDE) was born on 22 Feb 1911 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; died on 17 Oct 2006 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried on 21 Oct 2006 in Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: Zion Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1911-18997
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2006-MN-028923

Notes:

Not listed in the SSDI.

From her obit:

All through her life Margaret loved music. She was a member of the Singing Legionettes, the Federated Church Choir and the Senior Citizens Kitchen Band where she played the washboard. She enjoyed singing and accompanying herself on the autoharp. Her songs brought joy to all who knew her, and she always encouraged her family to find pleasure in music. She was a homemaker and found pleasure in knitting, crocheting, cooking and nurturing her family. She was known to her grandchildren as "Fluffy." She wore her Norwegian heritage with pride as a member of the Otter Tail County Historical Society, Senior Citizens, Antiquarians and Sons of Norway. She is survived by her daughters: Rebecca (Reno) Kuehnel of Wausaukee, Wis., Doris (Jerry) Enderson of Fergus Falls, and Kathryn Knutson of Wadena; sons, Richard (Mary Ann) Pederson of Kettering, Ohio, and Charles (Vicki) Pederson of Rolla, Mo.; son-in-law, Norman Toso of Janesville, Wis.; 32 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and her brother, Conrad LeRoy (Delores) Johnson of Barnesville. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Phyllis Marlene Toso; her husband, Reuben P. Pederson; and a sister, Thora Adeline Bergeson. Visitation: Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Federated Church, Fergus Falls Clergy: Revs. Harry Olson and John Lindholm Burial: Knollwood Memorial Gardens Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.

Confirmation:
be her eventual father-in-law, Elias Pederson

Died:
at Pioneer Retirement Community

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1939-MN-011464
• Occupation: Lutheran Minister (Free Church)

Notes:

An obit from Find-A-Grave and “mpederson”:

Elias Pederson was born on Skarland farm near Grong in the county of Nord Trondlag, parish of Holandet, Norway. His parents were from Gausdal, county of Oppland, Norway. After immigrating to the United States, he married Louisa (Lillian) Stuberg at Brandon, Douglas, Minnesota. She died in Duluth, St. Louis, Minnesota, in 1894. Their son, Edward, died in Brandon, Minnesota, in 1898, at age 8.

On June 4, 1900 he married Hannah Marie Kittleson. They were the parents of 4 children, Henrietta, Reuben, Morton and Luther. She died March 1, 1929 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

On Sept 5, 1933, he married Judith L. Moe.

He was ordained into the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1900, after attending Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

His first parish was Zion Lutheran Church in Adrian, Nobles, Minnesota, where he served from 1900 to 1905. Zion Lutheran was founded in 1896 and on June 17, 1900, he helped dedicate the current church building. He was the second pastor of the congregation.

His second pastorate was from 1905 until 1908 at Chippewa Falls, Chippewa, Wisconsin

His third pastorate was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hills, Rock, Minnesota. The following is a quote from the 100th Anniversary book of Trinity Church, " In 1908, Rev. Elias Pederson was called and he served as pastor until March 1920. Rev. Pederson was an outstanding man both in church and out, and the church made much progress during his many years as pastor. He was active in the community, serving as a member of the school board until he left here. In 1908, the congregations rented the John Nelson house as a parsonage. Though the Hills pastor also served Luverne, they made their home in Hills. Rev. Pederson left in 1920."

After leaving Hills, Rev. Pederson served in Fergus Falls MN. {Where he was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church. He was one of the three founding pastors of the Pioneer Memorial Home.}

“I’m told he preached in long black tail dress coats and did confirmation all around the area at several country churches,” recalls granddaughter Doris Enderson. “Everything in those days was spoken in Norwegian.” She also remembered being told her grandfather worked on the rivers with the logging industry as a young man. He attended Augsburg College and upon coming to Fergus Falls bought a home on Whitford Avenue. Rev. Pederson’s step-daughter, Marilyn Moe Lee, recalled this about her step-father: “He was a very well-liked minister. He was very active and wanted to involve church members in those activities. He had a good business sense and the ability to make money so he was a natural for the fund raising efforts in the early days of Pioneer.”
 
An entry on Elias from the Kuehnel family’s web site:

“In the 1860's teenager Elias Pederson left his home and hometown of Hoylandet, Norway (near Namsos), to make the trip across the ocean, working first logging in Northern Wisconsin. Then, after the TB deaths of his wife and children, he entered the seminary, became a minister, and eventually ended up in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. No one in the Fergus family knew where Elias had come from, and no one in Hoylandet knew where Elias ended up.”

In the 1895 Minnesota census, he and his son Eddie Levin Pederson, age 4, live in Brandon in Douglas County, Minnesota, near the Stubergs. Elias is a “student.” He had been in the state for 7 years and in that enumeration district for 6 years.

Lived in Hills, Rock County, in the 1910 census. He was a minister of “{an}other gospel” and came to the U.S. in 1887. Living nearby was Martin Pederson who was 19 years older than Elias.

Living with Cecil and Henrietta in Fergus Falls in the 1930 census.

In the 1935/36 Fergus Falls city directory, he is the Rev.Elias and his wife is Judith M. His entry in the directory says “Moved to Winger, Minn.”

In the 1939/40 Fergus Falls city directory, he and Judith reside at 116 Bancroft Avenue East and their telephone number is 1367.

According to his death certificate he lived at 116 East Bancroft in Fergus Falls. His wife Judith was the informant for his death certificate. He died from bladder problems and other complications of an enlarged prostate. He had been paralyzed in his lower extremities before he died.

Elias married Hannah Marie KITTELSON on 4 Jun 1901 in Meeker County, Minnesota. Hannah was born on 1 Feb 1877 in Acton Twp, Meeker County, Minnesota; died on 1 Mar 1929 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hannah must have been Elias’s second wife.

Some family trees show her birth as February of 1877 in Acton Twp, Meeker County.

Notes:

Married:
This is the date in MOMS. The couple was called Elias Peterson and Hanna Kittelson.

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1946-MN-011614
• Occupation: Meat Cutter
• Social Security Number: 470-10-9556

Notes:

Conrad and family were living next door to his father on Bismark Avenue in Fergus Falls in the 1910 census. Conrad is a butcher in the family butcher shop.

He registered for the draft on September 12, 1918, in Fergus Falls. He lives at 218 Washington Avenue East in Fergus Falls. He works in his father’s meat market at 222 Washington Avenue. His nearest relative is his wife, Lizzie Johnson. He is of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.

In the 1920 census, Conrad and his family live on Washington Avenue in Fergus Falls, not far from Conrad’s father. Also living with the family is Lizzie’s sister, Ragna Lunde. Conrad is a shopman in a meat shop.

In the 1930 census, the family is still on Washington Avenue in Fergus Falls. Thora has left home but Margaret is still at home and living there with her new husband. Also living with the family is Ragna Lunde and boarder named Ernest Haeuser.

In the 1935/36 Fergus Falls city directory, he and Lisse reside at 218 Washington Avenue East. In the 1937/38 Fergus Falls city directory, his address is the same but his occupation is shown as meat cutter. In the 1939/40 Fergus Falls city directory, their telephone number is 126.

He was living at 218 Washington Avenue in Fergus Falls when he died of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

His obituary from the May 13, 1946, edition of the Fergus Falls Daily Journal:

Conrad Johnson, 69, died Sunday at 11 AM at his home at 218 East Washington. He has been afflicted with a heart ailment for the last four years and, though unable to work, he has been up and around each day.

Mr. Johnson was born in this city on 24 August 1877 and would have been 69 on his next birthday. Conrad was associated with his father in the meat business and, after the business was discontinued, he was employed in other meat markets in this city. He was married on 29 August 1904 to Miss Liza (Lizzie) Lunde. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements are pending word from the son in South America to whom a cablegram has been sent.

Conrad married Lisa LUNDE on 29 Aug 1904 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Lisa (daughter of Asle Nielsen LUNDE and Syverinde Monsdatter BJONE) was born on 12 Aug 1879 in Minnesota; died on 15 Apr 1968 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1968-MN-009811

Notes:

Her “usual residence” according to her death certificate was Pioneer Memorial Home. She died of cerebral vascular insufficiency. The informant for her death certificate was Conrad L. Johnson of Barnesville.

Noted in the January 26, 1954, edition of the FFDJ as having personal property worth $7 for school tax purposes for the City of Fergus Falls, 1st Ward.

Birth:
from her death certificate

Died:
Lake Region Hospital

Peder + Anna ERICKSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1925-MN-010522
• Baptism: 9 Apr 1848, Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 4 Oct 1863, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Notes:

His parents’ farm was Maritvold Ørm (or Øren?) according to his birth record.

In the 1865 Norwegian census he was Teodor Johannessen, a 19 year-old male servant on the farm of the Olsens and Olsdatters (6 unmarried brothers and sisters) on Leirfald vestre in Vinne, Værdalens.

Emigrated to the U.S. in 1870; came to Fergus Falls in 1875 (the first of his siblings to do so). “He went into the butcher business and made a name for himself in town, at least with the Norwegian population. He was also a prominent figure in the free church congregation there.”



Notes in the remarks column of his birth entry: “Att. Amerika 17.04.1870.”This is correct. The church book records Theodor Johannessen Leirfald emigrating from Verdal to Amerika on April 17, 1870.

In the 1875 state census, Theodore, Martha, and Gilmer are living in Fergus Falls.

In the 1880 census (June 21st), Theodore Johnson was a butcher living in Fergus Falls. His family consisted of himself, 32, Martha, 34, Gitmer, 5, Conrad, 2, and Thorval, 3 months. Theodore and Martha were born in Norway, Gitmer in Wisconsin, and the other two boys in Minnesota. The family also had four boarders living with them, one of whom was Martinus E Bye, 32.

In the 1885 state census, Theodor, Martha, Gilmar, and Konrad are living in Fergus Falls. Living with them is 68 year-old Jens Evenson. Their next-door neighbor is Martin Orfal and his wife Marie. And living with the Orfals is 68 year-old Martha Aune.

In the 1895 state census, Theo, Martha, Gilmer, Conrad, and Sophie, along with Jens Evenson, are living in Fergus Falls. Theo and Gilmer, both shown as butchers, are shown as having lived in the U.S., and in Fergus Falls, for 19 years.

In the 1900 census, he and his family are living on Bismark Avenue in Fergus Falls, just a few houses away from the newly-married Hans and Marie Bye. It’s just Gilmar and Conrad left of the kids. Also living with the family is Martha’s father Jens Evenson, a “nephew” Fonzio (sp?) Whist, 24, born in Norway, and an adopted daughter, Sophia.

In the 1902 Fergus Falls city directory, he owns a meat market at 222 Bismarck Avenue E and resides there as well with his wife Martha C and Miss Sophie Johnson. His sons Gilmer and Conrad also live at 222 Bismarck.

In the 1905 state census, the household, at 222 Bismark Avenue in Fergus Falls, consists of Theodore, Mrs. Martha, Gilmer, Conrad, Mrs. Lizzie (Conrad’s new wife), Ellen S. Johnson, 21, and Gyda Johnson, age 7.

He was the informant for the information on his wife’s death certificate. At that time he was living on Bismark Avenue in Fergus Falls.

As Theo Johnson, he was one of the charter members of Trønderlag of America in 1908. This was (and still is) the bygdelag for emigrants and their descendants from the Trøndelag region of Norway. Theo claimed to come from the Lerfald farm. “Theodore Johnson (Leirfald)”, of Fergus Falls and from Vårdalen, was listed in the Trønderlaget’s 1910 yearbook. In that yearbook, Theodore is shown as having emigrated to the U.S. in 1870.

In the 1910 census, he is a widower living not far from his two married sons who are managing the butcher shop. Theodore is the “proprietor.” Sophia is still single and living with him and they also have 16 year-old Edward Johnson living with them. Edward is a wagon driver for the butcher shop.

In the 1920 census, he is a widower living on Washington Avenue, Fergus Falls, not far from his son Conrad. His occupation is owner, butcher shop.

He died of pneumonia. The informant for his death certificate was his son Conrad who had no idea who his father’s parents were. Theodore’s residence at death was 222 Washington Avenue. He was a widower.

There were no residences remaining on Washington Avenue in 2008. According to Chris, Theo’s butcher shop was torn down in 2007 and the location is now a parking lot.

Theo and his family belonged to the Norwegian Free Church in Fergus Falls, now known as Zion Lutheran Church. Theo was known as “Butcher Johnson.”

His granddaughter’s father-in-law, Elias Pederson, officiated at Theo’s funeral.

Died:
he died at home of pneumonia, the Dalby Database has his date of death as April 12th

Buried:
this cemetery is or was also known as Mount Faith

Theodor married Martha Catrine Jensdatter on 4 Jul 1872 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Martha (daughter of Jens Evenson and Karen Hansdatter ØREN) was born on 30 Jan 1844 in Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway; died on 22 Oct 1908 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried on 27 Oct 1908 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1908-MN-009156
• Baptism: 14 Apr 1844, Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 7 Oct 1860, Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Notes:

In the 1900 census, she is shown as having had 6 children, only 2 still living.

She died of nephritis.

Her birth record in the Verdal (Stiklestad) church book shows she emigrated to the U.S. on 27 April 1872.

Her obituary:

Mrs. Theo Johnson, wife of the well known meat market proprietor died at their home on Bismarck Avenue at 9:50 PM Thursday evening from stomach trouble and Bright’s disease. Mrs. Johnson had been ill for some time past and had been confined to her bed for the past three weeks. She failed gradually but retained consciousness almost to the last.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Norway and would have been 65 years of age had she lived until February next. She came to the U.S. and was married to Mr. Johnson in Eau Claire on July 4, 1872. Mr. Johnson was at that time in the employ of a large lumber concern in Eau Claire. They resided there until 1875 when they came to Fergus Falls, being amongst the earliest residents of this city. Mr. Johnson was at first engaged in carpenter and contract work here and later engaged in the meat business.

She was a devoted wife and mother and is survived by her husband and two sons, Gilmer and Conrad, both of whom reside there. She was a devoted Christian, a member of the Lutheran Free Church, kind and charitable, and one who will be missed in the home circle and in the community generally.

Died:
died of nephritis

Notes:

Asle Lunde was a cousin of Bishop Johan Peter Lunde of Oslo, Norway.

In the 1880 census, he and his family farm in Buse Twp in Otter Tail County. The household consists of “Arsle Lund”, 55, Sarah, 40, Neils, 19, Martha, 9, Samuel, 7, Ragner, 3, and Eliza, 10 months. Martha is noted as “*Sick” and “Ragner” is shown as a son. Neils was born in Norway, Martha in Iowa, and the rest in Minnesota.

In the 1895 state census, the family lives on a farm in Girard Twp, Otter Tail County. The household (two families, apparently) consists of Asle, 69, Syverene, 55, Simon, 22, Rangna, 18, Lise, 15, Berte, 14, Nelse, 34, Karene, 33, Siri, 8, Allen, 4, Norman, 2, and Erik Uggen, 92. Asle and Nelse had been in Minnesota for 23 years and in the local enumeration district for 3 years. Erik had been in Minnesota for 40 years and in the local enumeration district for 3.

Died:
date per FInd A Grave

Buried:
location per Find A Grave; location may have been inferred from his wife’s location

Asle married Syverinde Monsdatter BJONE about 1860 in Norway. Syverinde was born on 29 Oct 1839 in Norway; died on 23 Dec 1916 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1916-MN-010347

Notes:

In the 1900 census, she is shown as having had 14 children, 5 still living. Those numbers are 5 and 5 in the 1910 census.

A widow living with Lizzie and Conrad in the 1910 census.