Brita Eriksdatter (Bertha Malina) ØREN

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V29, P152 As Bertha Malina Ekum

Notes:

The Bergen departure records show her (Britha Eriksdtr Øren) as leaving for the U.S. on November 2, 1908. Her reason for leaving was to better her living condition. She was to meet family in Madison, Wisconsin.

Bertha Øren Ekum's youngest sister and her granddaughter were scheduled to visit Ernest and Dorothy from Norway in the summer of 1983. Bertha's youngest sister is only one year older than Ernest, had already been over to the U.S. twice (as of March, 1983), and couldn't speak English.

The 1910 census shows Bertha as an 18 year old housemaid servant girl employed by Clause Bowe. She arrived in this country in 1909 and wasn’t yet able to speak English.

Cora’s address list shows an address for Bertha Ekum at or around 1957 as 419 South Washington in Viroqua.

Bertha’s only sibling in the U.S., at least living at the time of Bertha’s death, was, apparently, her sister Ida (“Mrs. Ida Anderson”). According to Bertha’s obit, she had 2 brothers and four sisters still living in Norway.

Died:
“in a Viroqua hospital after an illness of one week”

Buried:
1NO25

Brita married Albert M EKUM on 19 Dec 1911 in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Albert (son of Thomas Monsen EIKUM (MUNSON) and Susanna Clausdatter (Susan) BOWE) was born on 26 Nov 1882 in Liberty Pole, Franklin Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 4 Mar 1952 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 8 Mar 1952 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Date per obit in the Viroqua paper. They celebrated their 40th anniversary on December 16, 1951, with a reception at the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

1. Ernest Theodore EKUM was born on 30 Mar 1913 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 24 Dec 1995 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 27 Dec 1995 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin.
2. Selma Margarite EKUM was born on 26 Mar 1915 in Wisconsin; died on 8 Mar 1923 in Wisconsin; was buried on 10 Mar 1923 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin.
3. Theresa Caroline EKUM was born on 16 May 1917 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 16 Apr 1977 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin; was buried on 19 Apr 1977 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin.
4. Archie Bennett EKUM was born on 28 May 1919 in Franklin Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 29 Oct 1981 in Birmingham, England.
5. Walter Raymond (Wally) EKUM was born on 20 Sep 1921 in Franklin Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 24 Jun 2004 in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin; was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin.
6. Dorothy Marie EKUM was born on 30 Oct 1925 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 10 Jul 2020 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery, Clayton Twp, Crawford County, Wisconsin.
7. Selma Mae (Sally) EKUM was born on 2 Mar 1928 in Mason City, Franklin Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 13 Mar 2007 in Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; was buried on 17 Mar 2007 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin.
8. Thomas Roy EKUM was born on 8 Jan 1930 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 26 Oct 2015 in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas; was buried in McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson County, Kansas.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husmand m J, Arbeider med Jordbrugsarbeide
• Baptism: 11 Aug 1867, Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

According to Digitalarkivet, the family was living on the “Osene” farm in Aardal at the time of the 1900 census. Erik was a tenant farmer and farm laborer. Living with the family was Malina’s mother, Brita Øren born in 1837.

Died:
A brief article in the June 14, 1935, edition of the La Crosse Tribune noted that Bertha and Ida had just received word of the death of their father in Norway.

Erik married Malene Ovesdatter ØREN. Malene (daughter of Ove Thomasson HAREID and Brita Jonsdatter ØREN) was born on 23 Nov 1867 in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husmandskone beskjf. med Hus- og Kreaturstel
• Baptism: 26 Apr 1868

Notes:

May not have been baptized in Årdal. Over the baptism date in the church book entry for her is “Stadf.”

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 28 Sep 1834, Norway
• Confirmation: 8 Jul 1849, Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Peder and family lived on Nundal østre in Årdal in the 1865 census.

Peder married Ingri Christophersdatter. Ingri was born about 1837 in Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Sam’s marriage record, she is referred to Ingerid Oren.

Ove married Brita Jonsdatter ØREN. Brita died in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SYNGSDALLER?

Erik married Eli Aslaksdatter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

May be the daughter of Aslak Thorsen and Sigri Pedersdatter who were living on the Nundahl farm in Årdal in the 1801 census.