Maret Halvorsdatter

Notes:

Magnar calls her Marit Hallvarsdotter Røymo, b. ca 1764 in Røymo in Sunndal, d. at an unknown date in Sæter in Kvernes.

Family/Spouse: Ole Gunderson. Ole (son of Gunner Hanssen and Maret Olsdatter) was born about 1760. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was the best man at the wedding of his brother Halvor to Rebekka.

Family/Spouse: Ellen Larsdatter. Ellen was born about 1801; died about 1856 in Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 17 Oct 1808, Romfoe, Sunndal, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

From information in the 1801 Norwegian census and in the record for Halvor’s marriage to Rebekka, we can deduce that, in that census, he is the 8 year-old Halvor Olsen, son of Ole Gunnersen, 42, and Maret Halvorsdatter, 36, one of five families living on the Havsaas farm in Romfoe, Sundal in Romdal. Halvor’s siblings were Gunner Olsen, 10, Sigri Olsdatter, 6, Anne Olsdatter, 3, and Ingri Olsdatter, 1.

Halvor and Rebekka were living with Erik and Ane at the time of the 1865 census. Halvor is shown as a “Føderaadsmand” which meant that he was receiving support after giving his estate to another. Erik is shown as the owner of the farm (Selveier). However, Halvor Olsen’s grandson, Halvor Iversen, seems to own the farm in the 1886 land register. See notes for Erik (#122) and Halvor (#119).

Magnar calls him Hallvar Olson Hafsås. Geni World Family Tree calls him “Halvor Olsen Sæter (born Hafsås).

Birth:
1795 according to the death record

Confirmation:
age 16-1/2, on 19th Sunday after Trinity (actually he was 15-1/2)

Died:
Hallvarstua on Gustad, Bådalen, according to Magnar.

Halvor married Christiana Iversdatter GUSTAD on 14 Nov 1819 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Christiana (daughter of Iver Jonsen GUSTAD and Gjertrud Halvarsdatter LEITE) was born on 24 Mar 1800 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 12 Nov 1837 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; was buried on 24 Nov 1837 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Halvor married Rebekka Svenning Iversdatter on 2 Nov 1840 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Rebekka was born in 1811 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 7 Feb 1877 in Gustad, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1865 Norwegian census, she is probably the Sigri Olsdatter, 72, widow, a Kaarkone on the Leithe 264 farm in Kvernes. The owner of that farm is Knud Olsen, 46, born in Qværnæs.

Notes:

There are several doubtful lineages on Ancestry that have her born in Akershus. One leads to two distant DNA matches.

Notes:

In the 1865 census, she may be the Inger Olsdatter, 67, the wife of Anders Anderssen, 60, owner of Rødsand 252a in Bremsmes in Kvernes.

Notes:

Birth:
location according to Magnar and Husby Family Tree

Died:
location according to Magnar and Husby Family Tree

Family/Spouse: Jon Jøstenson HUSBY. Jon was born in 1805 in Øksendalsøra, Husby, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died in 1840 in Bakken, Raudsand, Bremsnes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Nordhagen on Strand

Family/Spouse: Jon Olson STRAND. Jon (son of Ole Hallsteinson STRAND and Marit Knutsdatter) was born in 1818 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died in 1860 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 13 Feb 1820, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

In the listing of names in the marriage record for Iver, she is Gjertrud Halvorsdatter Kornestad.

Gjertrud married Knud Hanson KONGSHAUG on 11 Jul 1848 in Kornstad, Møre Og Romsdal, Norway. Knud was born about 1821 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 15 Apr 1822, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Birth:
or, possibly, February 11th

Baptism:
or, possibly, April 5th

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 26 Dec 1823, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
• Confirmation: Aug 1840, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

By implication, he must have had an older brother Ole, perhaps with a different mother, who died after he was born.

Drowned in the sea off Norway while fishing. According to the entry in the parish register, entered at the end of 1858, he was 30 years old. It seems as if three others may also have died at sea with him. According to Magnar, he drowned in the Bremsnes Fjord.

He was also shown as 30 years old for his marriage entry in the parish register.

He was 16-3/4 years old when he was confirmed in August, 1840, in Qvernas and Bremsnes. This would suggest that he was born in late 1823. The confirmation record says that he was vaccinated on October 23, 1826. His father is Halvor Olsen and his mother may be Elin, maybe Christiansdatter.

His birth record confirms that his parents were Halvor Olsen Gustad and Christiana Iversdatter.

Birth:
Kvernes in Kvernes

Iver married Ane Arntsdatter VINJE on 13 Oct 1853 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Ane (daughter of Arne Andersen VINJE and Eli Olsdatter) was born on 6 Nov 1828 in Grytten, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 7 Aug 1914 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota; was buried on 9 Aug 1914 in Dorris Cemetery, Cedar Lake, Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 5 Nov 1825, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Magnar says, of Elling and Martha Olava: “They settled at Bakken in Sveggen in Averøy and one of their granddaughters has a lot of descendants still living in the area.”

Family/Spouse: Elling Ellingsen. Elling was born about 1825 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 25 May 1910 in Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 6 Sep 1829, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

In the listing of names in the marriage record for her brother Iver, she is pige Elisabeth Halvorsdatter Gustad. Thus, she was still not married at that time (1853).

Magnar has her Elisabet Hallvarsdotter Gustad, born 1826 in Hallvarstua, Gustad, Bådalen, Averøy.

According to the MyHeritage Furø Web Site, Elisabet died on Averøy in 1911.

Birth:
the Halseth site on MyHeritage says 1826

Family/Spouse: Peder Ellingsen BAE. Peder (son of Elling Pedersen) was born on 28 May 1831 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died in 1917. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Peternella Iversdatter BAE. Peternella was born on 13 Nov 1834 in Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 15 May 1906. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and Eugene had six children in Clay County, Minnesota, between 1886 and 1897.

Family/Spouse: Eugene STRAND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cecelia VanOver

Birth:
Nordhagen, Strand

Family/Spouse: Niels Kristian Anderson STRAND. Niels was born on 9 Jun 1851; died in 1901. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1932-MN-000042
• Baptism: 13 Oct 1853, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
• Confirmation: 29 Oct 1868, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Halvor Iversen, born in 1853 in Qværnæs. Named after his paternal grandfather.

Halvor emigrated to “Reknos” on 19 Feb 1878.

Seems to have been a baptismal sponsor for Marie Rasmussen.

Although Erik Ingebrigtsen is shown as the owner (”Gaardbruger Selveier”) of the farm (on 216, Gustad) in the 1865 census, in the 1886 land register, H. Iversen is listed as the “land owner or user” of the holding (16-6, old 127-216a) on Gulstad (”commonly written Gustad”) in Kvernes. This suggests that primogeniture prevailed and that Halvor inherited the farm after his father perished. Perhaps Erik and/or Ane held the property in trust until Halvor reached majority.

In the 1900 census he may be the 44 year-old “Everson Halverson” living not far from the Gustads and Ever Eversons in Farm Island Twp. His occupation is day laborer.

In the 1905 state census, he is living with Ever and family in Farm Island Twp.

Living with his brother Ever at the time of the 1910 census. Shown as having emigrated in 1894. Occupation is shown as farm laborer.

Living with Ever (”Ivar”) and Bente (”Benta”) in the 1920 census.

Living with his brother and sister-in-law in Farm Island township at the time of the 1930 census. Halvor is shown as being 76 years old and having emigrated in 1903. All are shown as being naturalized citizens and Halvor is shown as “single.”

His brother Ever, with whom he was living, was the informant for Halvor’s death certificate. Ever knew that Halvor’s parents were Ever Halvorson and Anna Arnesdatter. Halvor died of cerebral apoplexy.

Birth:
he was born in Kristiansund according to information that Ever provided for Halvor’s death certificate

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1942-MN-003253
• Occupation: Carpenter, Farmer
• Baptism: 12 May 1856, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
• Confirmation: 22 Oct 1871, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Born as Anders. According to the naming convention, he should have been named after his mother’s father and so should have been named Arne or Arndt.

He is shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Anders Iversen, born in 1856 in Qværnæs.

An Anders J Gustad, age 27, born 1856, arrived in New York City in 1883 on the State of Pennsylvania. His “calling” was “Sawmill.” Departure had been from Liverpool with stops at Glasgow and Larne.

The following is a Works Progress Administration (WPA) interview of Andrew, by Mildred Monson, in October of 1936 (some of this is incorrect and/or not consistent with John’s recollection):

Mr. Everson first settled in Farm Island Township on May 8, 1893, just across Cedar Lake from his present location. Here he settled in 1900.

He was born in Norway in 1855, coming to the United States at the age of twenty-seven -- settling in Duluth. There, in 1892, he married Miss Anna Bye. “Going on forty-five years next March, since we were married.”

Miss Bye was Norwegian, coming to the United States with her parents at the age of eleven and settling in Fergus Falls. She worked out some, but mostly stayed home, helping her parents.

Mr. Everson has always followed the carpenter trade which he learned in the old country. Ten years ago, he gave it up as he was getting along in years. Now, this fall, he intends seeing that all his Jersey cattle are sold. He is now too old for such active work -- although one son lives at home with the Eversons. He always has owned farms in Aitkin and Crow Wing County. And on these he has grown berries and bees as well as his choice dark Jerseys.

Mr. Everson will be eighty-one in the spring. The children are as follows:

Iver ... of West Virginia.
Harold .. of West Virginia.
George .. at home.
Albin .. on a farm near by. Married and has three boys.
John .. on a farm near by. Married and has two children.
Lillian... Mrs. George Graham of Chicago. Has one daughter.

We have a letter from Anna to her husband Andrew dated July 30, 1906 from Cedar Lake. At this time, Andrew was working in Deer River.

Andrew returned to Norway in late 1889. By 1890 he was a contractor in Duluth but lost everything in "the Panic" (the depression of 1893) when his partner skipped town with their money. At that time he moved to Cedar Lake with only his gold watch and wrote to the Gustads asking them to come to the U.S. too.

Andrew was apparently in some financial trouble as early as 1890. In a Summons dated August 19, 1890, he was named as a defendant in a district court complaint in which Bardwell, Robinson, and Co. asked for foreclosure of a mechanic’s lien. Other defendants were Thomas J. Davis, Samuel Christenson, and A. H. Thompson.

Andrew Everson's business was called Everson & Christenson according to the 1890-91 Duluth Directory. Everson & Christenson are referred to as "contractors" with " 321 Stenson block" as the location of the business. Andrew Everson's partner was Samuel Christenson. Ten men are listed as "laborer" or "carpenter", employees of Everson & Christenson: Sigard Christenson, Ever Everson, John Everson, Andrew S Ford, Joseph Lapine, Andrew Olson, Stephen Rhoades, Peter Roberts, Asa J Sprague, Josiah S Wilson ("foreman"). Andrew Everson's address is listed as "rooms, Stenson block" and "Boards 401 E 3d." Samuel Christenson lived at "101 E. 5th" with Sigard shown as boarding at that address.

If Andrew was recorded in the 1885 Minnesota state census he is most likely the 29 year-old “Andrew Arveson” in Duluth who appears to be a lodger with the J. M. Carlson family.

According to the Duluth city directories, there were no Eversons, Iversons, Byes, or Orfalds in Duluth in 1883-1884. The 1885-86 directory lists an Andrew Iverson, carpenter, boarding at “ns Third 3 w of Ninth Ave. E.” There is no Sam Christenson in that directory. Still no Byes or Orfalds. The 1886 Duluth city directory has an Andrew Everson, carpenter, for Watterworth & Fee, boarding at 303 E 3rd. There is no Sam Christenson in that directory. The 1889-90 directory lists Andrew Iverson, carpenter, who rooms at “216 E 2nd.” Still no Byes or Orfalds. The 1890-1891 directory lists him as Everson Andrew (Everson & Christenson), rms Stenson blk. There is a separate entry for Everson & Christenson (Andrew Everson, Samuel Christenson), contractors, Stenson blk.

The 1891-1892 city directory lists Andrew Everson, of Everson & Christenson, boarding at 401 E 3rd. The address of the firm is still 321 Stenson block.

In the 1892-1893 city directory, Andrew lives with his brother Ever at “n s Main 3 e of Pacific, W.P.” Everson & Christenson are still listed as 321 Stenson blk.

In the 1893-1894 directory, Andrew still lives with Ever although now their address is listed as “n s Main 2 e of Pacific av.” They are carpenters but there is no mention of Everson & Christenson.

The 1894-1895 Duluth city directory has an entry of Everson, Andrew, as “moved to Grand Marie, Minn.” And, for Samuel Christensen, “moved to St. Paul, Minn.”

From Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1854-1957:

Anders I. Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 5, Code 21, Volume LP2G, Page 5
Anders J. Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 6, Code 22, Volume LP3G, Page 11
Anders J. Gustad, Duluth, Reel 4, Code 4, Volume D, Page 488
Andrew I. Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 5, Code 21, Volume LP2G, Page 6
Andrew I. Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 2, Code 7, Volume 1, Page 450, Final Papers, 1886-1902, Numbers 1-624
Andrew J. Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 6, Code 22, Volume LP3G, Page 12
Edward Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 2, Code 7, Volume 1, Page 263, Final Papers, 1886-1902, Numbers 1-624
Edward Gustad, Aitkin County, Reel 1, Code 1, Volume 1, Page 240, Declaration, 1884-1906, Numbers 1-448

The census forms show that Andrew’s property was mortgaged in 1900 and 1910 but not in 1920.

From the December 25, 1942, edition of the Deerwood Enterprise newspaper:

Cedar Lake Pioneer Laid to Final Rest

Funeral Services for Andrew Everson at Dorris

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon for Andrew Everson, pioneer settler of Cedar Lake. Rev. Anker Dahle officiated at the Dorris church and interment was made in the Dorris cemetery. Iver Everson, the son, arrived from the Panama Canal Zone.

Minnesota death certificate #1942-MN-003253 issued in Crow Wing County.

The Eversons in the 1900 census were visited by the census-taker (a Harry Patterson or Peterson) on June 7th of 1900. They were in the Crow Wing County, Deerwood Township, census so that means that by the summer of 1900 they were living on the west end of Cedar Lake. If they were still on the east side, they would have been in the Aitkin County census. Their immediate neighbors, if we go by who was listed on the form immediately before and after their entry, were a Swedish family named Peterson and a Finnish family named Wickstrom.

Here's what the census form shows:

Iverson, Andrew, born Feb 1855, age 45, married for 8 years, came to the US in 1892, been in the US for 8 years, occupation: farmer, can read, speak, and write English, owns his farm (although it's mortgaged).

Annie, wife, born Sep 1872, age 27, married for 8 years, came to US in 1882, been in the US for 18 years, can read, speak, and write English, mother of four children, all of whom are still living.

Iver, son, born Mar 1893, age 7, born in Minnesota, shown as not having attended school.

Astra (?), daughter, born Sep 1895, age 4, born in Minnesota.

Harald, son, born Apr 1896, age 4, born in Minnesota.

George, son, born June 1898, age 1, born in Minnesota.

Interestingly, Andrew is counted twice in the 1900 census. He is also shown as living with Ever and Ed Gustad in a house Andrew owns (??) in Aitkin Township, Aitkin County. Apparently the three were living together while working on a construction job. Each of them is shown as “carpenter.” Andrew is shown as having emigrated in 1883, Ever in 1885, and Ed in 1891. All three are shown as married.

Andrew gave his occupation as “farmer” on Albin’s birth certificate.

In the 1905 state census, the family was in Deerwood as Iversen. The household consisted of Andrew 50, Anne, 35, Ivar, 9, Marg, 5, Georg, 4, John, 2, Louise, 1, and Hural, 7 (Albin got missed). Andrew and Anne had been in the state for 20 years and 8 months and in the present enumeration district for 11 years. The 20 years and 8 months would put both of them arriving in Minnesota in late 1884.

From a letter dated May 30, 1906, from Deer River Lumber Co. of Deer River to John Hofer of Bovey (who was apparently acting as an agent for Andrew): “We can use the man you recommend at the wages he asks, $4/day. The work will last all summer and perhaps longer as the company is planning to build twelve or fifteen houses and make other improvements around the plant. Please have Mr. Everson advise us when we may expect him and accept our thanks for the trouble you have gone to in this matter.

In June of 1906, Andrew received a letter from N. J. Holden, contractor and builder, of Aitkin. This letter had been addressed to Andrew Everson of Bovey and had many postmarks, including Deer River, indicating its travels due to the address error. This letter was probably related to the job in Deer River.

For the 1910 census, the census-taker's name was Joseph Bergfalk and he visited the Eversons on the 27th or 28th of April, 1910.

Everson, Andrew, age 54, married for 18 years. Year of immigration still looks like 1892. Able to speak English. Occupation carpenter. General nature of industry or business in which this person works: "House." Working on own account. Not out of work as of April 15th. Zero weeks out of work in 1909. Able to read and write English. Owns home but it is (still) mortgaged. Property is now considered a "house" rather than a farm.

Annie G., age 38, married for 18 years. Mother of 7 children, 6 still living. Year of immigration 1882. Able to speak English. Able to read and write English.

Iver O. (or D.?), age 17, no occupation. Able to speak English. Not out of work as of April 15th. Zero weeks out of work in 1910. Able to read and write English. Has not attended school in period since Sept. 1, 1909.

Harald, age 13. Able to speak English. Able to read and write English. Has attended school in period since Sept. 1, 1909.

George A., age 10. Able to speak English. Able to read and write English. Has attended school since Sept. 1, 1909.

Albin, age 8. (same)

John E., age 7.

Lillian M., age 5. Has not attended school.

[George should have been shown as 11.]

In May of 1916, Andrew received a letter from Peterson Brothers of Deerwood.

In July of 1917, Andrew received a letter from Duluth Creamery & Produce Co. clearing up the misplacing of an empty milk can of Andrew’s. They had confused Deerwood and Aitkin and had sent the empty can to the wrong station.

For the Eversons, in the 1920 census, the census-taker was Sophia R. Ness and she visited the Eversons on the 3d, 4th, or 5th of February.

Everson, Andrew, owns home, no mortgage, age 63, year of immigration looks like "Un", and column is blank for year of naturalization. Occupation is general farmer.

Annie, age 48. Year of immigration appears to be 1881. The entry for the year of naturalization is illegible.

Iver, age 26, occupation is fireman on railroad.

Harold, age 23, occupation is drilling, industry is exploration.

George, age 21, occupation is farm laborer at home although listed as a wage worker like his two older brothers.

Albin, age 18, occupation is farm laborer at home, working on own account.

John, age 17, same. John and Albin are both indicated to have not attended school at any time since Sept. 1, 1919.

Lillian, age 15. No occupation. Has attended school since Sept. 1, 1919.

The 1930 census was taken on April 2nd by enumerator Arthur H. Mattson. One neighbor was John L. Peterson, the other was Henry A. Hamdorf.

Everson, Andrew, owns home, home has a radio set, age 74. Married at age 36. Emigrated in 1883; a naturalized citizen. Employed, owner, not a veteran.

Anna, age 58, married at age 30. Emigrated in 1883 or 1893; a naturalized citizen.

Harold, age 33, single, laborer on farm, employed, not a veteran.

George, age 30, single, farmer on farm, employed, not a veteran.

Albin, age 28, single, laborer on farm, employed, not a veteran. {Naomi was 6 months pregnant and living at home at the time, also shown as single!}

John E., age 27, married at age 26, operator of drill iron ore, employed, not a veteran.

Mabel A., daughter-in-law, age 21, married at age 20.

Mabel E., grand-daughter, age 1/12 (hard to read).

DeAnn says, regarding Andrew’s funeral: “Elaine, Joanne, Ronnie and Dave had to sing Rock of Ages, and another song at the funeral. None were musically talented. Grandma Anna Bye Everson insisted.” Elaine remembers singing The Old Rugged Cross.

The 1937-38 Brainerd city directory, which includes other communities in Crow Wing County, Andrew is listed as having land, but not owning it, in Section 36 of Deerwood Twp and his mailing address is Aitkin 3. In the 1939-40 directory, he is just shown as living in Deerwood Twp. Same in 1942-43: he lives in Deerwood Twp but doesn’t own it and no section number is given so he has the same status as a renter (e.g., Albin).

In the 1940 census, Andrew, 84, Annie, 68, Harold, 43. and George, 41, live in Deerwood Twp. Harold is absent but listed with the family. The census enumerator was Andrew and Annie’s daughter-in-law, Naomi J Everson.

The Andrew Everson property was sold to "Mr. S. R. Prindle" for $27,000 in 1967. The siblings' shares were $4372.63 but George got double (he got Iver's share) and Lil's share was split between her two children.

His son Harold was the informant for Andrew’s death certificate. Harold didn’t know the name of Andrew’s mother and identified Andrew’s father as Iver Everson. The death certificate says that Andrew was buried on December 19th. However, that may be the date on which his body was released for burial. The funeral may have been delayed a couple of days for Iver to arrive from Panama. Andrew died from pneumonia, which he had had for four days, brought on by influenza, which he had had for 17 days.

His naturalization record may be the ones under Anders/Andrew I/J Gustad from Aitkin County and St. Louis County:

Reel 5
Volume LP2G
Code 21
Pages 5 and 6

Reel 2
Volume 1
Code 7
Page 450

There are also two for Anders J Gustad:

Aitkin County
Reel 6
Volume LP3G
Code 22
Pages 11 and 12

St. Louis County
Reel 4
Volume D
Code 4
Page 488

According to David, Andrew told his sons that they weren’t men until they could handle hard liquor. “They never succeeded but they never stopped trying.”

According to David, someone told him that there were other Everson cousins that he didn’t know of.

Buried:
per Dec 25, 1942, edition of Deerwood Enterprise

Anders married Anna Gustava (Annie) Martinusdatter BYE on 4 Mar 1892 in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin. Anna (daughter of Martinus Eliassen BYE and Olianna Johannesdatter JOHNSON) was born on 29 Sep 1871 in Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway; died on 22 Mar 1949 in Deerwood Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; was buried on 26 Mar 1949 in Dorris Cemetery, Cedar Lake, Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1935-MN-000047
• Occupation: Carpenter, farmer, contractor
• Baptism: 18 Jul 1858, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
• Confirmation: 5 Oct 1873, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Iver Iversen, born in May, 1858 in Qværnæs.

He is not listed in the 1875 census as living with his mother and step-father. Instead, he is listed on another Gustad farm, Erik Johnsson’s farm, as a tjenestegut.

From the entry in the Bremsnes church book for the first child, it appears that the father Ever was already in the U.S. at the time that the son Iver was born.

Letter on file from Ever to Andrew, written February 9, 1880 {the date must actually be 1890 -- the writing is unclear and suggests that Ever started to write an 8 and corrected it to a 9}, from Duluth.

Dear Brother Andrew,

How long do you plan on staying away? I have been waiting for a letter since New Years and have not received any. Anyway, I’ll write a few lines and tell you all the news from here. As for me, I have been well since you left for Norway, but my wife has been sick since New Years. For a time there I was worried I would lose her. The sickness was called La Grippe. Hundreds have died during the winter. Thank God that my wife is starting to get better.

I haven’t too much news but times are as usual in Duluth during the winter with little work.

Luckily it has been a mild winter - a lot like last year. In Duluth we have had a real picnic with the Labor Union which is now in power. This will make it better for the Labor Party which has been started in Duluth. You see I want to send you news about Davis Leirede the bigshot.

I work presently for the car shop and that will soon be completed.

I have waited for a letter from you to hear how you like Norway but I have had no word how you fared the winter. I hope this letter gets into your hands while you are home and may see you greet Mother, Halvor, Edward, and Petrina from us.

Live well - dear Brother and I hope to see you back and we can see and talk to each other.

Greetings from your brother.

E. Everson

Iver Iversen Gustad of Kvernes, b. 1858, left Norway on 6 May 1885 aboard a Cunard ship, bound for Duluth according to Digitalarkivet’s Emigranter fra Kristiansund 1882-1930 database. Leaving at the same time, probably on the same boat, was Olise Pedersdatter Gustad, b. 1856, also bound for Duluth.

The 1889-1890 Duluth city directory lists Iver Iverson, carpenter, residing at 621 E 10th.

He is probably the Ever Everson described in this article on front page of the May 6, 1889, edition of the Duluth Evening Herald.

The first case which occupied the attention of the court this morning was that of Ever Everson against the Minnesota Car company. H. H. Hawkinti and S.E. Cheesman for plaintiff, Page Morris for defendant. Plaintiff brought suit against the Car company to recover $30,000 for injuries received by the falling of a scaffold, on the plea that the scaffold was not only improperly constructed, but part of the timbers entering into its construction wore defective, and furthermore that it was put up by unskilled laborers. An ingeniously constructed model of the Car works was introduced in evidence, to show the manner of putting up the scaffold, and the position of tho workmen at the time of the accident. A number of witnesses were called for the plaintiff, whose evidence was corroborative of tho facts as alleged in the complaint.

Probably worked as a carpenter for his brother’s firm in Duluth. The Duluth 1890-91 city directory lists an Ever Everson, carpenter, employed by Everson & Christenson, and living at 621 East 10th in Duluth. This address is apparently right next door to Peter Rasmussen at 619 E 10th.

According to a 1904 foreclosure, Ever and his wife had obtained a mortgage, on 12 May 1892, for Lot 4, Block 16, West Park, from Jacob R. Myers, Frederic W. Paine, and Henry Lardner. Ever and Betsey were foreclosed upon and the property was sold at auction on October 18, 1904. The default amount was $394.97.

The 1891-1892 and 1892-1893 city directories show Ever Everson, carpenter, residing “n s Main 3 e of Pacific Ave., West Park.” In 1892-1893, Andrew was also living at that address.

In the 1893-1894 directory, Andrew still lives with Ever although now their address is listed as “n s Main 2 e of Pacific av.” They are carpenters but there is no mention of the firm of Everson & Christenson.

Ever was not listed in the Duluth 1894-1895 city directory.

He and his family live in Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, at the time of the 1895 state census. Ever is a carpenter. Living with them or very nearby, are his brother Halvor, the Peter Rasmussens, the Erick and Edvard Gustads, and the Andrew Eversons.

Living in Farm Island Township, Aitkin County, at the time of the 1900 census. Not shown as having an occupation. Owns his home, which is a house and not a farm, without a mortgage. Interestingly, Ever is counted twice in the 1900 census. He is also shown as living with Andrew and Ed Gustad in a house Andrew owns (??) in Aitkin Township, Aitkin County. Apparently the three were living together while working on a construction job. Each of them is shown as “carpenter.” Andrew is shown as having emigrated in 1883, Ever in 1885, and Ed in 1891. All three are shown as married.

Ever worked in Grand Marais in the 1898-1900 period.

In the December 30, 1905, edition of the Duluth Evening Herald:

Ever Everson et al to John Anderson, lot 4, block 16, West Park division.

In the 1905 state census, he is Iver Iverson, a carpenter living in Farm Island Twp but not near the Gustads (who are living next to the Mackamans). The household consists of Iver, 46, Bente, 44, Iver, 19, a farmer, Anna, 17, a farm laborer, Ester, 7, and Halvor, 54, a farm laborer.

Living in Farm Island township in the 1910 census. Ever is 52, a house carpenter, Bentie is 49 (married 24 years), their daughter Esther is 12, and Ever’s brother Halvor, 56, single, a farm laborer, is also living with them. Bentie is shown as having had 4 children, 3 still living. Living next door to them is the William J. Mackaman family and also, very nearby, is the Everett Mackaman family which includes their daughter, Anna Everson Mackaman.

He may be the Ever Everson who bought lot 15, block 6, Cuyuna, on March 21, 1912. He and his wife sold that lot to Edward Peterson in August of 1916.

Shown as Ivar Everson, 61, a farmer, in the 1920 census. He, Benta, 59, and Halvor, 65, live in Farm Island Township, Aitkin County on a farm that Ever owns albeit with a mortgage. Ivar came to this country in 1885, Benta in 1887, and Halvor in 1894. All were naturalized in 1899. Living next door is Theo Rasmussen with his wife Mary and daughter Ruth which must be Ever’s brother-in-law Peter Rasmussen.

In the 1930 census, Ever (shown as Ever Iverson), Bente, and Halvor are living in the same household, owned by Ever, in Farm Island township, Aitkin County. The household is shown as having a radio. Ever is shown as having emigrated in 1885, Bente in 1887 or 1889, and Halvor in 1903. Ever is shown as being 72 years old, Bente 69, and Halvor 76. All are shown as being naturalized citizens and Halvor is shown as “single.”

Ever was the informant for his brother Halvor’s death certificate. At that time Ever lived at Rural Route #2, Aitkin. Ever knew that Halvor’s parents were Ever Halvorson and Anna Arnesdatter.

Death certificate issued in Aitkin County # 1935-MN-000047. He died of bronchial asthma.

In his obit in the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, it was noted that he had lived at his farm for 41 years with the exception of a brief period “when they made their home at Cuyuna.”

That farm, the original Cedar Lake farm at which the Everson/Gustad family lived in 1900, and which devolved to Ever after the others left or died, was the northwest quadrant of Section 5 in Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, about 4 miles, as the crow flies, to the southwest of the city of Aitkin and about a mile-and-a-half, as the crow flies, from Andrew Everson’s farm.

Birth:
the church book entry for his birth notes that his father had died in the past winter

Died:
“at his farm home”

Ever married Bente Andersdatter ODEGÅRD on 4 Jun 1887 in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Bente (daughter of Anders Johanneson and Elen Olsdatter) was born on 23 Oct 1860 in Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 16 Jan 1937 in Aitkin County, Minnesota; was buried on 20 Jan 1937 in Dorris Cemetery, Cedar Lake, Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Farm owner and fisherman in the 1900 Norwegian census, at which time he owned the Bremsnes 52-23 Bakken farm. All of this is the same in the 1910 Norwegian census except that now he is a widower.

Birth:
1910 census

Elling married Elen Pauline Larsdatter LAUDEU on 5 Sep 1889 in Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Elen was born about 1864; died before 1910. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 16 Jun 1861, Kvernes, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Spelled Christianna in the Kvernes birth record.

In the 1900 census, she had had 7 children, all still alive.

In the 1920 census, she was the head-of-household at 1523 Farnam Street in La Crosse. Still at home with her were Emily, Helen, Helma. and Herbert. The only person with a job was Emily, a stenographer at a rubber factory.

Her obit had her survived by five daughters and two sons and 20 grandchildren. She was also survived by two sisters, Hannah and Ellen, and a brother Erling, all back in Norway.

Kristianna married Knud Olaus Knudsen SMEVOG on 7 Jan 1886 in Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Knud (son of Knud Olsen SMEDVÅG and Olava Hendriksdatter) was born on 22 Sep 1859 in Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 21 Oct 1915 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1910 Norwegian census, he is Elling Pedersen Bae, gaardbruker og fisker on the Bae 72/5 farm in Bremsnes.

Family/Spouse: Allette Johannesdatter BAE. Allette was born on 7 Feb 1873 in Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was shown in the 1910 census as a seamstress. At that time she was living with her parents and brother on Bae 72/5 in Bremsnes.

Notes:

Birth:
Elvahåjin, Hoel on Averøy

Family/Spouse: Morten Pedersen HOEL. Morten was born on 22 Mar 1870 in Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 7 Aug 1959. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cecelia VanOver

Family/Spouse: Gertrude A ODEGAARD. Gertrude was born on 1 Apr 1884. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Railroad fireman in 1920, driller
• Social Security Number: 234-14-9993 issued in West Virginia before 1951

Notes:

Shown as “Male Everson” on his birth certificate (#191) in St. Louis County.

Called EOE by some of his siblings. In particular, Lil called him Ole.

Iver registered for the WWI draft on June 5, 1917, in Deerwood. He lists his address as RFD #3, Aitkin, MN. He describes his occupation as farmer and bar keeper, employed on his father’s farm in Deerwood. He is single, claims no dependents, and does not claim exemption from the draft. He is described as tall and of slender build with brown eyes and black hair.

In November of 1920, Iver received a letter from one of his Army buddies, a Hans Jensen of Kansas City. Iver had been in the 3rd Pioneer Soldiers. Hans commiserated with Iver that they had not received their Soldiers Bonus yet. Iver at that time was working ”on the Iron Range.” Hans said, “... or maybe we don’t want to remind each other about the time you were eating slum and corn bill in France.”

In July of 1924, Iver wrote Harold a postcard from Indianapolis: “Indianapolis Ind July 23rd I am having a fine trip and every thing we can eat and that is all can expect from I. Everson.” The postmark was the Indianapolis and Peoria RPO.

In a postcard from Minneapolis dated October 18, 1926 or 1928, Harold writes to Iver: “Saw Longyear this A.M. They don’t need Jno at Ariz. now but will want him at some other job soon so get in touch with him. You may hear from them any day so be ready to go. They will have jobs in Ariz., New York, Michigan, and Sask. May go to Milwaukee tonite. Will write then.”

The Thursday, November 22, 1928, edition of the Crosby-Ironton Courier had an article saying that, “Iver Everson of Aitkin Township, Thor Anderson of Deerwood, and Pete Hanson of Crosby have signed up with Longyear Exploration Company for at least a two-year contract in exploring and drilling for copper in South Africa.” (Thor Anderson was the brother of Andy Anderson, a friend of John Everson.)

Harold and Iver were drillers. British incoming passenger records show that Iver arriving in Southampton from New York on November 20, 1928, aboard the S.S. Leviathan. He is shown as a miner whose intended address in the United Kingdom was Roan Antelope Copper Mines, Ltd.

Mark found an entry record for Iver arriving in New York on August 14, 1929, aboard the S.S. Homeric which had sailed from Southampton on August 7th. Iver is shown as age 36 and residing in “Aitken”, Minnesota. He is also shown as married which may be a mistake. British records show that Iver had arrived in Southampton aboard the Arundel Castle of the Union Castle line which had sailed from Capetown, South Africa. He was returning to U.S. from Rhodesia. His occupation was shown as driller.

By September of 1929, Iver was in Mexico.

At the time of the 1930 census, Iver, 37, was a boarder at the White Hotel in Calderwood, Chilhowee township, Blount County, Tennessee. His occupation is diamond drill runner. He is shown to be a veteran, apparently (“aef”) of the American Expeditionary Force. Iver’s gravestone indicates that he was a Private in Company L of the 3d Pioneer Infantry in World War I.

Most of the “Pioneer” infantry regiments were formed from surplus national guard infantry regiments so it’s possible that Iver was initially in the Minnesota national guard. The 3rd Pioneer Infantry was formed partly from troops from the Massachusetts national guard. The 3rd Pioneer Infantry was organized in February of 1918 at Camp Greene, North Carolina, as an army troops unit and was moved overseas in August of 1918. It served with the U.S. 1st Army between September and November and was slotted for conversion to the 381st Infantry but the war ended before that occurred. The 3rd Pioneers returned to the U.S. in July of 1919 and demobilized at Camp Dodge, Iowa. (From Rinaldi’s “The U.S. Army in World War I - Orders of Battle.”) The Pioneers performed engineering tasks such as construction of field fortifications or military camps as well as repair of military railways.

In February of 1935, Iver got mail at 3621 3rd Avenue South in Minneapolis.

In the summer of 1936, Iver was accepting mail in Grafton, West Virginia.

In March of 1937, Iver was in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and received mail from a person name Roan or Haen at 3855 Portland in Minneapolis.

In November of 1938, he was in Bethlehem, PA, at the Eagle Hotel.

On 14 Feb 1938, Iver was receiving mail at 3855 Portland in Minneapolis.

In an October 10, 1939, post card sent to his parents, Iver had arrived in Port au Prince, Haiti. He said he would be sailing again “this afternoon at 2 PM” so Haiti was only a short stay.

Iver received a valentine from Mrs. Alice Olson (3132 4th Avenue South) in Minneapolis in February of 1940. At that time he was living in the Canal Zone.

In the 30s and 40s, Iver worked as a driller throughout the southern states or Central or South America (mentioned as being “in the south” by a couple of letters Harold had from the ‘40s). He may later have settled in Columbia, and later still lived in the Panama Canal Zone.

In the 1940 census, he lived Gatun, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal Zone, probably in or near the Fort William Davis Military Reservation. He was the “partner” in a two-person household that included Woodford N Babbitt, 30, born in Alaska. Both men were diamond drillers in “special engineering.” Both men were employed full-time and both men had worked 52 weeks in the previous year.

Immigration records show that he landed in New York on May 3, 1941, aboard the S.S. Cristobal which had sailed from Cristobal, Canal Zone, 6 days earlier.

He was in the Canal Zone at the time of his father’s death in December of 1942; news accounts said that he returned for his father’s funeral.

He was described as “of Columbia, So. America” in an obituary for his mother.

In 1958, according to a letter that George received from Iver, Iver’s address was Box 583, Diablo, Canal Zone. In this letter, Iver asked George if he could borrow $30. (Apparently he had already borrowed money from Harold.) He said that his vision was blurry and that prevented him from working.

From a letter he sent to Harold in April of 1969, we learn that Iver was in Balboa in the Canal Zone and that he had been sick and hospitalized since the beginning of that year. From the symptoms, it sounds as if he was experiencing heart problems much like John would later have.

One of the brothers, probably Albin, received a handwritten letter dated June 19, 1969, from someone named R. T. Tweedy, apparently in response to a letter that Tweedy had received that day:

“I will give you what information I have, which was received by telephone since I am located fifty miles from the hospital. The information I received from another veteran is that he was admitted to the hospital. Evidentally (sic) he had a stroke, paralyzed right side with complete loss of speech. However, if he recovers this may be temporary. His condition is very serious and the information I received by telephone were that his chances of recovery were very slim.” Tweedy goes on to say that Iver’s address at the hospital was Ward 2, Room 204, Gorgas Hospital, Ancon, Canal Zone.

The SSDI shows his address at the time of death was 530, U.S. Consulate, Panama Canal Zone. The SSDI shows the date of death as June 30th. The Gorgas Hospital Mortuary records show the date of death as June 29th. The Gorgas records also show that the body was shipped to the US on July 3, 1969 and the cost associated with whatever the Gorgas Hospital Mortuary did was $331.58.

Iver’s funeral was at the Hasskamp Mortuary. Pallbearers were Ronald Everson, Jerry Everson, Andrew Everson, Robert Everson, Robert Foster, Donald Carlson. (These must have been honorary pallbearers. There is no indication in Cora’s diary that Donald H. Carlson or Bob Everson attended in person.)

Albin received a letter from DHEW (Social Security) in October of 1969 indicating that, per his request, the lump-sum benefit for Iver ($255) had been sent to Hasskamp Mortuary, Aitkin.

Died:
per NARA’s AAD website for the Gorgas Hospital Mortuary

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1908-MN-002733

Notes:

Eight months old in the 1895 Minnesota state census (June 17 and 18).

John said that Astrid was born in Duluth. She is not listed in the St. Louis County index of births. If the Eversons were out of Duluth in 1893 (according to the interview of Andrew and according to the 1895 Minnesota census), then Astrid would have been born in Aitkin County.

A death certificate was issued in Minnesota as follows:
IVERSON, ASTRID MARGARY 
CertID# 1908-MN-002733   
 Date of Death: 12/04/1908
 County of Death:   CROW WING

Physically and mentally disabled. Suffered from severe cretinism, a genetic defect in which her head grew but not the rest of her body. DeAnn says: “Astrid was the second child, and got polio (we think) when she was about two years old.  She survived, but was severely paralyzed, and couldn't swallow. Her mother, Anna, chewed Astrid's food for her and poked it down Astrid's throat. While all of this was going on, Anna underwent several more pregnancies and miscarriages, and raised those awful Norwegian boys. At least they got another girl, Lillian, before Astrid was gone. When Astrid was about twelve, she died during the night, having strangled on her saliva.”

Astrid’s death certificate gives her cause of death as cretinism “since birth.”

In his letter to George Everson in 1943, the older Pastor Dahle’s son Anker says that he could not find any record of Astrid’s baptism. He suggests that perhaps she was baptized by someone else. The Dahles didn’t arrive in Aitkin County until 1895, when Astrid would have been 7 or 8 months old. Anker Dahle noted that “when John Holum’s first house burnt down the early church records went with it.”

Anker Dahle’s letter does have the death and burial dates for Astrid, December 5th and December 7th, 1908. Thus, even though we can no longer see a gravestone, and perhaps there never was one, we can be sure that Astrid was buried in the Dorris Church cemetery.

Died:
Anker Dahle said that the church record for her death was December 5th

Buried:
Dorris Church Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1976-MN-014379
• Occupation: Driller
• Social Security Number: 236-03-1177 issued in West Virginia.
• Confirmation: 11 Jun 1911, Deerwood Norwegian Lutheran Church, Deerwood, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

Called Harald Iverson in his confirmation book.

Harold and Iver were professional drillers outside of Minnesota. Albin and John also did drilling.

Harold registered for the WWI draft on June 5, 1917, in Ironton. He lists his occupation as drilling and his employer as Hill Mines Co., Ironton. He is single and claims no dependents. He does claim exemption from the draft on the basis of “bad wind.” He has never been in military service. He is described as tall and of stout build with dark blue eyes and light brown hair.

In a postcard from Minneapolis dated October 18, 1926 or 1928, Harold writes to Iver: “Saw Longyear this A.M. They don’t need Jno at Ariz. now but will want him at some other job soon so get in touch with him. You may hear from them any day so be ready to go. They will have jobs in Ariz., New York, Michigan, and Sask. May go to Milwaukee tonite. Will write then.” From this, we may deduce that Harold was the first of the brothers to go into drilling and that the others’ entry into that profession was due to Harold’s initiative.

In the 1930 census, Harold was still living at home as a farmer or laborer. John, who with Mabel and Elaine, was also living with the Andrew Eversons at the time, is shown as a drill operator, iron ore.

In a public notice in the April 24, 1933, edition of the Brainerd newspaper, Harold Everson is reimbursed $450 “for damages to his land and expenses incurred by him due to the negligence of the Game and Fish Department.”

The 1937-38 Brainerd city directory, which includes other communities in Crow Wing County, Harold is shown as having land in section 12 of Deerwood Twp but not owning it. In the 1939-40 city directory, he is shown as owning it. George also owns land in section 12. In the 1942-43 directory, Harold and George are shown as owning land in section 12 together. Neither George nor Harold are listed in the 1949 directory.

In the 1940 census, for which his sister-in-law, Naomi J Everson, was the enumerator, Harold is listed with his parents in Deerwood Twp although with the indicator “ab” indicating he was absent. His occupation was technical instructor in the diamond core drilling industry. He was fully employed, working 40 hours per week. Naomi indicated that Harold had earned $390 in wages in 1939 for 13 weeks worked.

In May of 1941, Harold was accepting mail in Eureka, Nevada.

From a box of pictures and letters found after Harold died, we know that Harold had a long-running (from the ‘40s through at least the late ‘60s) relationship with a woman named Libby (Elizabeth) Saffel who lived in Grafton, West Virginia and, in her later years, lived in Baltimore. Her address in 1965 was 232 Stonecroft Rd, Baltimore. Harold apparently met Libby when he worked for a drilling company headquartered in Grafton, W. Va. He was in Pennsylvania in 1939.

Also from these letters, we learn that Harold spent some time in England in the 1960s, probably on business for the Grafton company.

On June 11, 1944, Harold and Albin signed nine-month contracts with the Callahan Construction Company of Minneapolis (later the Grafe-Callahan Construction Company of Dallas) to do drilling work in Great Britain for the Ministry of Works. Callahan called it the UK of Great Britain project. (The project had at least some military men working on it because one of Harold’s British friends from the job mentions in a 1946 letter that he was now a civilian.) It appears that Harold and Albin flew to England, departing on a British Airways “flying boat” out of Baltimore, on June 29th or 30th, 1944.

Apparently in their first few months in England, Harold and Albin were stationed at Wigan, near Manchester and Liverpool in western England. At that time they made many friends, particularly with the barmaids at the Banks Arms pub in Wigan. Harold had a “little black book” in which he asked people to write their names and addresses. In that book, and in several of the letters, it’s clear that among Harold’s and Albin’s friends were several women (Peggy Adams, Blind Sally, Beatrice, Margaret, Jenny, and Jeannie) at “Bankses” and, later, at the New Inn near Bristol.

By December of 1944, Harold and Albin were in Scotland: Albin in Cardenden, Fife, and Harold nearby at Dunfermline, Fife. Harold received an affectionate letter from Jenny: “Have you found a pub with plenty of Scotch? Also a nice little barmaid to keep you company? Give Al my love and tell him to keep his eye on you for me.”

Albin writes to Harold in January of 1945 about the work and hard drilling and that he hasn’t had a letter from home in 3 weeks. Albin was already looking forward to going home in two months. He also mentions that he was “spending too much time at Jock Birds to save any money.”

In a letter to “Darling Harold” from Jeanie on February 15th, she mentions that she has learned that she would not be able to go to the states unless she was married to an American and “that is impossible.”

A letter from “little Jeannie” to “Harold Darling” on March 3, 1945, refers to the end of Harold’s and Albin’s stay: “You and Al finish your contracts on the 1st or 11th of March. I bet Al has been looking forward to seeing his wife and children soon.”

And another letter from “little Jeannie” on March 20th talks of her concern that Harold had another girl.

There was apparently some discussion at about this time of going home to visit but it didn’t happen because of safety concerns in crossing the ocean while the war went on. Harold had inquired about the terms of taking a leave from the contract. Safety may have been the major reason why Harold and Albin chose to renew their contracts and not come home in March of 1945.

Money was the other reason. Harold was sending home around $500 per month as we can see from his bank statements. Harold had nearly $7000 in the Deerwood bank at the end of 1945.



Harold’s decision to extend his stay must have been a disappointment to George. From his letters in early 1945, he was clearly looking forward to Harold’s return to give him some help with his mother who was becoming ill. George had sold off all of his livestock in the winter of 1944-45 and had gone to Minneapolis to find a carpenter job which he didn’t get. George even mentioned in his letters that Annie Everson would go to live with John Everson after George left home.

By mid-1945, Harold was in Merthyrr Tydfil, Glamorgan in South Wales. An undated letter from one of his buddies that must have been from this time: “So you had the girl to Cardiff? Now I’ll bet that was some night, hey? Who was the most pooped out the next day, huh?”

By September 13, 1945, according to the letter of that date from George to Harold, Albin was back and “drilling in Palisade.” So Albin must have gotten off a little early from his six-month extension. (According to his passport, Albin left England on July 11, 1945.)

Harold continued on until his formal separation on November 29, 1945. His letter of recommendation from Grafe-Callahan described Harold as “an exceptionally good workman and {we} are very glad to recommend him.” Another note from the company at this time said, “Be in London office Friday A.M. November 30th, sail from Liverpool December 3rd for New York City.”

There is an interesting letter from Albert Barrow of Toronto dated January 30, 1946, who was “Hal’s” cabin mate on the trip home and referred to their “awful trip” on the Empire Joy. Albert said in his letter that he got home to Toronto the day after Christmas. {The Empire Joy sailed from Newcastle, England, on December 10, 1945, and arrived in New York on Christmas Day. Albert and Harold are listed on the manifest.}

“Little Jeannie” sent a letter to Harold in Aitkin in mid-January of 1946: “I suppose you have forgotten all about Jeannie. If you see Al, give him my love and tell him I hope his family had not grown since he got back. Jack my husband came home just after Christmas. He is now demobbed {demobilized?} so I have to be a good girl and stay home the nights I am not working at the Bankses.” Her letter mentions Blind Sally.

In a similar letter, dated January 20, 1946, Peggy Adams of Bristol writes that she is “glad to hear you arrived home safely but sorry to hear your mother was ill.” Her letter refers to the gang at the New Inn and to Beatrice. It’s possible that the New Inn was Harold’s home base while he was on the South Wales job.

Ten days later, in a letter to Harold dated January 30, 1946, Peggy says that she received a letter from Beth Lowell in Aitkin asking for her measurements. The letter from Beth even included a measuring tape with instructions on how to take the measurements.

A letter from Beth Lowell of Aitkin, dated February 18th, asks how much Harold cares to spend on his gift to Peggy Adams. Beth also comments: “When Albin told us of your accident, I went up to Crosby {to the hospital, perhaps?} the next Sunday (2 weeks ago) to see how you looked when you were sober only to find you had gone home the day before.” On March 26th, Harold sent Beth a check for $30. Beth Lowell appears to have been a local seamstress that Harold hired to make a blouse or dress for Harold’s friend Peggy back in England.

A letter dated April 7, 1946, is from another English friend, John Anderson in Essex. After explaining that he wants to open a pub, he says, “I don’t suppose you hear anything from Beatrice now. She was a peculiar girl.” And a postscript: “The wife asked me to ask you if you have any spare candy.”

Apparently Harold returned to drinking when he got back to the states. In late September of ‘46, he had a car accident, perhaps not the first since he had been home, involving a Walter Linderud and had to have his insurance agent, Joe Best, write a letter to the insurance company attesting that Harold was “not a habitual drinking man.”

Also when he got back to the states, Harold subscribed to two or three services that provided names, addresses, and even descriptions of lonely women (mostly widows) apparently interested in finding a husband. He must have sent out several letters to names on these lists because there were nearly a dozen letters in response from these women, most with pictures of themselves. (Included in the material was a small photo of Harold of the type that he must have sent to them in his letter.)

Harold worked at a variety of places in the period 1946-1948 because he received letters addressed to him in several places. He received mail at addresses in Zimmerman and Babbit. Most notable was an extended stay in Palmer, Missouri, during which he received several letters from the various lovelorn. He received an offer for a job in Honduras, to begin in August of 1946, but nothing more seems to have come of that.

Harold was in Iron Mountain, Missouri, in June of 1947.

He was described as “of Nashwauk” in an obituary for his mother.

In the 1950 census, he is a driller for an iron mine. He lives in a rooming house in Crosby.

The most intriguing issue with Harold was his long-running relationship with Elizabeth (Libby) Saffel in West Virginia.

Elaine says: “I remember that Uncle Harold had a big picture of Libby on his dresser at Grandma's....she was a nice looking lady. I always wondered why he didn't get married to her.”

Harold lived and worked in Tucson during all or parts of 1955, 1956, and 1957.

In the summer of 1960, Harold was working for the Bear Creek Mining Company in Cooke City, Montana. This seeams to have been the Miners’ Ridge project in the Nothern Cascades of Washington. A photograph in the St. Cloud Times’s 27 Jun 1960 edition seems to show Harold with another miner holding a copper core.



Harold had surgery for something on 11 Feb 1970 in Duluth.

The informant for his death certificate was his brother John. John said that Harold was a driller in the mining industry and was never married. Harold died from a heart attack.

Confirmation:
by Pastor M. L. Höstager

Buried:
Arrangements by Koop; funeral at Koop’s chapel. Clergyman was Erwin Schroeder. Casket bearers were Ron, Gerald, Bill, Jack Davis, Jerry Redfield, and Carl Landstrom.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Addie (Libby) SAFFEL. Elizabeth was born in 1913 in West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1973-MN-022880
• Social Security Number: 468-18-1038 issued in MN before 1951
• Baptism: 30 Oct 1898, Aitkin County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 18 May 1913, Deerwood Norwegian Lutheran Church, Deerwood, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

His middle name and his baptism date is from a letter to George from Anker Dahle in 1943. Called George Iverson in his confirmation book.

Took care of his parents on the farm. The only one who didn't leave.

George registered for the WWI draft on September 12, 1918, in Deerwood. He lists his address as RFD 3, Aitkin, MN. He is a farmer on his father’s (Andrew Everson) farm, Sec. 12, Deerwood Twp, Aitkin, Crow Wing County. He lists his nearest relative as his mother, Mrs. Andrew Everson. He is described as tall and of medium build with dark blue eyes and brown hair.

Godfather for his niece Elaine (Eva Gustad was godmother). Pastor Ole Dahle spelled George’s name “Georg” on Elaine’s baptismal certificate.

George somehow purchased some land in Florida in the ‘30s. Iver went with him in early 1937 on a road trip to check on the land which must have been near Tampa. A letter to George dated November 1, 1934, shows he had purchased land in the Mountain Park Orange Groves Company in Orlando.

The 1939-40 Brainerd city directory, which includes other communities in Crow Wing County, George is shown as owning land in section 12 of Deerwood Twp. His address is Aitkin 3. Harold also owns land in section 12. In the 1942-43 directory, Harold and George are shown as owning land in section 12 together. Neither George nor Harold are listed in the 1949 directory.

George sold off all of his stock in the winter if 1944-45 (he still had them as of October 15, 1944), apparently in hope of leaving home and getting a job. Albin notes, in a letter to Harold in March of 1945, that Naomi had said in recent letters that “Geo, Jno, Leon Mattson went to Mpls. to get a carpenter job but they didn’t get the job. George must be kicking himself for selling all the stock.” If and when George left, his mother would go to live with John and Mabel. It’s not clear that this ever happened. In his letters to Harold, George repeatedly mentioned his mother’s ill health and his and her reluctance to leave the old place.

In his September 13, 1945 letter to Harold, George writes that “When cattle get cheaper, I think I will buy a few milking shorthorns or white faces. That’s the only cattle to start in with.”

In December of 1946, George received a letter from the University of Minnesota Ag dept. in response to a question that George had apparently asked regarding the amount of hay he would need to winter cows.

In the 1950 census, he is shown as a retired farmer living in Deerwood Twp.

In the 1960s, while Ron was in the legislature, George sent a letter to the St. Paul newspaper that was printed in the paper:

“Sir: I agree with Pro Bono Me of St. Paul. Your letter was very good. I agree with you especially on this: a politician is a person who believes everything everybody else does should be regulated.

“About all our legislature did besides raising its own salaries and mileage was to tax the already too weary taxpayers another cent on gasoline and the seat belt law, a laugh. Too much dictator. It’s getting so a person can’t walk across the street without a uniformed character pushing you over and fining you from $25 to $100 because he didn’t think you were walking properly.

“I think it is about time the legislators gave a little thought to the taxpayers who are paying them instead of giving everyone who is on the state’s payrolls a raise, especially the highway patrol. That force could easily be cut in half and they could stand a cut in their salaries about half.”

His brother John was the informant for his death certificate. John claimed that George had been a driller in the iron mining industry. George died of heart failure brought on by peritonitis caused by a strangulated hernia. His body was autopsied.

Baptism:
by Pastor Dahle at the Dorris Church

Confirmation:
by Pastor M. L. Höstager

Died:
died at Cuyuna Range District Hospital

Buried:
funeral at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: DC-11958
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1972-MN-034979
• Occupation: Driller
• Social Security Number: 475-05-4142 issued in Minnesota before 1951.
• Confirmation: 15 Jun 1958, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

His birth certificate identified him as Albin Everson, the fifth child. His father was a carpenter. His birth certificate was amended in some way in February of 1942 and required (and includes) his mother’s signature.

Albin was still living with Andrew and Annie, and shown as “single”, at the time of the 1930 census in early April.

The 1937-38 Brainerd city directory, which includes other communities in Crow Wing County, Albin is shown as living in Deerwood Twp and his address is Aitkin 3. Albin is not listed in the 1939-40 directory. In the 1942-43 directory, Albin is shown as living in Deerwood Twp but not owning land. In the 1946 Crosby directory, Albin is shown as living in Section 35 of Rabbit Lake Township, rural postal delivery on the Aitkin 3 route. In the 1949 directory, Albin is shown as living in Rabbit Lake Twp.

David says that his father “worked on jobs far away when he could get hired. He disliked working regular jobs like in the mines.”

A bill in the state legislature in January of 1939 (H. F. No. 226) was for an “Appropriation to Albin Everson for damage to real property by flooding due to the negligent operation of the Cedar Lake dam.”

In the 1940 census, Albin and his family live on a rented farm in Deerwood Twp. His wife, Naomi, was the census enumerator. Albin was a farmer with zero wages earned in 1939. He had an eighth-grade education. His wife, Naomi, had education through one year of college. Naomi was not employed at the time of the census (other than as enumerator). Albin had worked all 52 weeks of 1939 but with zero money wages. He did “receive income of $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary.”

He and Naomi purchased the Rabbit Lake farm, previously occupied or owned by Martin Monson, in 1942.

According to David, after their marriage, Albin and Naomi lived in a house on Cedar Lake near Andrew and Anna Everson until 1943. Naomi was a schoolteacher at the Cedar Lake School (District 27) until Ron and David started school, then she was required to quit. The family moved to Iron Hub in 1943. David recalls, “The house we moved into was a miserable three-room, unpainted house. We stayed in that house for two years, then my mother built the new house on higher ground that she lived in for the rest of her life. The house was built with money my mother saved from my father’s wages during the year he worked in England.”



In the summer of 1943, Albin worked for the Miller Construction Co. of Edmonton on the Alaska Highway Telephone Line.

Albin was in England with Harold working on a drilling project in the 2nd half of 1944 and the first half of 1945. Albin spent most of his time in Cardenden in the Fife region of Scotland. (Harold was in Dunfermline, Scotland, in December of 1944.) This was called the U.K. Project of Great Britain conducted by the W.E. Callahan Construction Company of Dallas. According to Albin’s drilling notebook, the project was a series of test holes to locate coal.

Albin left England in July of 1945. We know from George’s letter to Harold of September 13, 1945, that by that time Albin was drilling “in Palisade.”

From September to December of 1946, Albin worked in Honduras as a diamond drill operator for P. W. Chase of Tegucigalpa and Joy Manufacturing Co. - Sullivan Division. The contract was for 4 months work at $300/month.

According to his passport, Albin was in Venezuela in February of 1948.

In the 1950 census, he and Naomi and their three youngest children live in Rabbit Lake Twp. Albin is a drill runner for an iron mine.

Albin worked as a wagon drill operator (W.D.O.) in the fall of 1952 (August through November) for North Atlantic Constructors.

An article in the Thursday, January 22, 1953, edition of the Brainerd newspaper noted that Albin was fined $100 for drunken driving and his drivers license was revoked.

Albin worked as a light equipment operator in Iceland in 1953 (May through November) on an Army contract with Metcalf Hamilton Smith Beck.

In 1956 and 1957, Albin worked as a wagon drill operator for Greenland Contractors in Thule, Greenland. His pay was $2.80/hour with a guaranteed 260 hours/month. Greenland Contractors was a joint venture of four construction companies: two from Omaha and two from Minneapolis.

Albin was also employed at some point by the Bureau of Mines as a core drill operator. This was through the Region V, Aitkin Mining Division, Development Branch.

Elaine remembers Albin as having debilitating lung condition. He received treatment at the Nopeming Sanatorium in Nopeming, Minnesota, for 52 days between December 11, 1967, and January 31, 1968. In May of 1969, a letter from the Nopeming Sanatorium indicates that Albin was still receiving quarterly X-rays there.

The informant for Albin’s death certificate was his wife Naomi who identified herself, as the name of Albin’s wife, as Naomi Landstrom Everson. She and Albin lived at Route 3, Aitkin, in Rabbit Lake. Albin was a driller in the mining industry. He died from cardiac arrest brought on, or complicated by, cirrhosis, emphysema, and bronchopneumonia.

Died:
died at Cuyuna Range District Hospital

Buried:
Funeral at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub. Arrangements by Koop. Honorary pallbearers: William Meacham, Fritz Dangers, Fred Knuppel, Edward Harms, and William Hamdorf, Sr.

Albin married Naomi Johanna LANDSTROM on 10 Jun 1930 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Naomi (daughter of Gustaf Jakob LANDSTRÖM and Klara Andersdotter WALLBÄCK) was born on 1 Nov 1906 in Deerwood Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; died on 3 Jun 1986 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota; was buried on 6 Jun 1986 in Deerwood Scandia Cemetery, Deerwood, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1982-MN-011116
• Occupation: Driller
• Social Security Number: 475-09-6876 issued in MN before 1951
• Confirmation: 15 Jun 1958, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

John, Mabel, and baby Elaine were living with Andrew and Annie at the time of the 1930 census. According to Jack Davis, John Everson purchased the Deerwood property in 1928.

One of the first meetings of John Everson and Maurice Carlson is recorded in the December 5, 1938, edition of the Brainerd newspaper: “Mr. Carlson of Minneapolis was looking over property here which he purchased recently. He spent the night at the John Everson home.”

The 1937-38 and 1939-40 Brainerd city directories, which include other communities in Crow Wing County, John E is shown as owning land in section 14 of Deerwood Twp and his address is Deerwood 1. John’s land is specifically shown as owned, although his father’s entries do not show ownership. This may mean that John’s is owned free and clear. Same in the 1942-43 directory. Same in the 1949 directory.

In the 1940 census, John and Mabel and their three children lived in Deewood Twp. Mabel was a high school graduate, John had an eighth-grade education. John was a farmer. Living with the Eversons, as a lodger, was Alaine Smith, age 22, a public school teacher.

Hospitalized with a “major operation” at the Community Hospital in February of 1949. Joanne believes that it may have been his appendix.



John says on the back of a postcard of Sonora, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, that “was here in 1929.” John was in Tucson in that year, as well as Nogales. He was in Calderwood, Tennessee, in 1930-31. There is a picture notated with “Rudy and I” taken on the Potomac River in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was in Amberg, Wisconsin, in 1925. He was in Orville, Ohio, on 3-6-1926 and Payter or Paytes, Virginia, in July of 1927. John was in Gouverneur, NY, in December, 1927.

In his letter to Iver dated 18 October 1929, John said that he was buying the Olson farm. Also, he had spent $100 on medicine and hospital for Mabel, who was with him in Mexico at that time.

John and Albin worked in Alaska on the Alaska Highway in the early 1940s.

In their letters to Harold in January of 1945, both Ron Everson and George mention that John is out of work but expects to get a job soon.

In the 1950 census, he and his family live in Deerwood. He is an ore drill operator for iron ore exploration.

John enjoyed traveling but Mabel didn’t. John went to Florida to Bill’s and to Arizona with Jerry Redfield.

The informant for his death certificate was his wife Mabel. John was a driller of water wells. He died “instantly” from ventricular arhythmia brought on by valvular heart disease with congestive heart failure.

John’s funeral was at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Iron Hub. Casket bearers were Jack Davis, John Davis, Jeff Davis, Jerry Redfield, Gerald Everson, and David Everson.

Birth:
Born in Everson home on west side of Cedar Lake. Not in MHS birth index.

Buried:
funeral at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub

John married Mabel Amanda LANDSTROM on 24 Jan 1929 in Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Mabel (daughter of Gustaf Jakob LANDSTRÖM and Klara Andersdotter WALLBÄCK) was born on 4 Jan 1909 in Deerwood Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; died on 18 Oct 1999 in Crosby, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; was buried on 21 Oct 1999 in Deerwood Scandia Cemetery, Deerwood, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 344-40-6062 issued in Illinois between 1963 and 1964.

Notes:

Lillian graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School in the class of ‘24 whose commencement services were held on Thursday night, May 29, 1924. Also graduating in that class was Helga Landstrom (#110). Graduating from the Crosby-Ironton normal school for teachers in that same commencement program was Eva M. Gustad (#135).

In January, 1925, Lil was at college in St. Cloud. Agnes Gustad, better known as “Aggie” to Lil, was also at St. Cloud college at that time.

In April of 1929, Lil was in Hibbing.

At the time of the 1930 census, Lillian Everson was renting apartment #206 at 218 Mayfield Avenue in Chicago. Lillian, 25, was sharing the apartment with Katherine Anderson, 20. Their rent is $47.50/month and they had a radio. Both are single and both were born in Minnesota. Lillian’s parents were both born in Norway, Katherine’s in Finland. Lillian was a secretary in the lumber industry, Katherine a stenographer in the insurance industry.

The Friday, April 8, 1949, edition of the Brainerd newspaper notes that “Mr. and Mrs. George Graham, Jean, and David spent several days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albin Everson last week.”

Lil said, in a letter to Elaine in 1970:

"I did not live [at] home after I started high school and then only summers. Prior to that those things held no interest for me."



In his September 13, 1945 letter to his brother Harold, George Everson wrote: “Lil was home over a week. She bossed quite a lot, she also helped a lot.”

Died suddenly at her home while unpacking groceries.

According to her obituary in the Chicago Tribune, Lil moved to Chicago in the 1920s and worked for several years as a secretary before her marriage. She was a volunteer for many years for the Service League at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Her son-in-law said that "she had kindness, love, and generosity. She would take food to a housebound person and drive another to church. She always kept jam and cookies to give someone who needed a pickup and she taught the little ones to sew. She did things for people."

Her son David was the informant for her death certificate.

Lil's SS# was issued in Illinois.

Birth:
Jean says 1905

Died:
“Lillian E.” in the Cook County death records

Lillian married George Wesly GRAHAM on 2 Aug 1932 in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois. George (son of David GRAHAM and Minnie Augusta HERRMEYER) was born on 14 May 1901 in Hibbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota; died on 22 Mar 1983 in Sarasota County, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 14 Mar 1886, Bremsnes, Kvernes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Notes:

Born Iver Iverson Gustad before his parents’ marriage. His father was already in the U.S. when he was born. No Gustads participated in his baptism.

Ever is listed as a nine year-old, born in Norway and living with his parents in Farm Island Twp in the 1895 Minnesota state census.

Listed in the 1900 census as 14 year-old daughter “Eva”, born July 1885. But that is also the census that called Esther “Arthur.” The census enumerator, Charles Howe, may not have understood the Norwegians’ broken English.

He is 19 year-old male Iver Iverson, living with his parents and sisters in Farm Island Twp in the 1905 state census.

In the newspaper account of his sister Anna’s marriage to Everett Mackaman, he is described as “Ever Everson Jr.” and with bride. That account further implies that Ever and his bride were married in Duluth on March 5th. The 1930 census also shows Iver as first married at age 22.

With that newspaper account in mind, he is probably the Iver Evenson, age 24, a laborer in a mill in the village of Deer River, Itasca County, in the 1910 census. His wife, to whom he has been married for 2 years, is Johnna or Johanna, age 26, born in Illinois to parents born in Scotland. They have a son, James, three months old.

He’s not listed in the 1920 census.

In between those censuses, he registered for the draft as Iver Everson on September 12, 1918, in International Falls. His permanent home address was the Fredrick Hotel in International Falls. His occupation was foreman at International Lumber Company in International Falls. He claimed to be a naturalized citizen by his “father’s naturalization before the Registrant’s majority.” He gave as his nearest relative Ever Everson of Rt 2, Aitkin. He was described as of medium height and build with brown eyes and brown hair.

A different Iver Iverson, 34 year-old Iver H Iverson, born in Norway and having come to the U.S. in 1887, lived with his wife Alma in Spokane, Washington, in the 1920 census. Iver was a locomotive fireman. Alma was 28 and had been born in Minnesota. The couple had no children. This Iver and Alma were still in Spokane in the 1930 census.

In the 1930 census, he was the census enumerator for the page on which he appears. He was Iver Everson, age 44, born in Norway, who came to the U.S. in 1887, a lumberyard foreman in South International Falls. His wife was Mildred, 29, and his mother-in-law, living with the couple, was Clara Zoesch, a 50 year-old divorcee. Iver and Mildred were married in about 1922 but Iver had been first married in about 1908. They had had no children. Iver was not a veteran.

Iver was the informant for his parents’ death certificates. He was living in International Falls when his father died in 1935. He was living in Aitkin when his mother died in 1937.

According to the article on the wedding of Dorothy Mackaman and Darrold Parks in the fall of 1937, out-of-town guests included “Mr. and Mrs. Iver Everson and Mrs. Zoesch of International Falls.”

In the 1940 census, he and Mildred, along with Clara M “Zonah”, mother-in-law, and Lorraine M “Zonah”, niece, age 14, lived on 2nd Street East in South International Falls. Iver, who was the informant for the information in the census form, was the proprietor of a liquor store and Mildred was bar waitress. Iver had been educated through 1 year of high school. Lorraine had been born in Minnesota but five years previously had lived in Omaha.

{Lorraine Mildred Zoesch, mother’s maiden name Walsh, was born in Rice County on 29 Sep 1925 (1925-26288). In the 1930 census, Lorraine, her sister Yvonne (then 5) and their mother Mary were living in Faribault with Mary’s parents, Thomas and Mary Walsh.}

According to a 60 year look-back in the 2014 International Falls Journal is this from what would have been the January 29, 1954 edition: Iver Everson, well-known South International Falls resident and businessman, announced the sale of Holler Liquor Store to Chester Sumner, 1033 Second Street.

In California Voter Registrations, and in some city directories, Mrs. Pearl Everson is the wife of Ivar V Everson, a plasterer. They lived in Palo Alto in the 1940s. They are recorded also in the 1930 census as living in San Francisco and having a daughter Shirley born in 1928. They later had a daughter Beverly in 1931. That Pearl was born in 1904 and had the maiden name Stevens. Both Pearl and Ivar were born in Washington. Ivar died in 1946 in San Mateo County.

Our Iver’s obit in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 12th edition, says that he was a two-term mayor of South International Falls. He had moved to Santa Cruz 13 years before and was a retired mill superintendent. His wife was “Pear”, who apparently is the mother of the “step-son”, John P Scholl of Minneapolis. No natural children of Iver are mentioned.

Iver married Joanna V CALLAHAN on 5 Mar 1908 in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota, and was divorced in 1913. Joanna (daughter of Michael CALLAHAN and Johanna WELCH) was born in Mar 1882 in Wisconsin; died in 1964 in Washington; was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle, King County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Iver married Mildred (Frieda Emilie) ZOESCH on 11 May 1921 in Koochiching County, Minnesota, and was divorced after 1940. Mildred was born on 21 Oct 1899 in Butternut Twp, Ashland County, Wisconsin; died on 27 May 1983 in Sacramento County, California; was buried in Sanger Cemetery, Sanger, Fresno County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Iver married Pearl A on 3 Sep 1949 in Koochiching County, Minnesota. Pearl was born on 5 May 1900; died on 6 Nov 1992 in Clallam County, Washington; was buried in Sequim View Cemetery, Sequim, Clallam County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 554-21-2497 Issued In California In 1973
• Baptism: 3 Jun 1888, Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota

Notes:

Called Anna in the 1900 census.

An Anna Everson was born in St. Louis County on March 26, 1888 (birth certificate #130).

According to the March 12, 1908, edition of the Duluth Herald: Everett Mackaman and Miss Annie Everson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ever Everson of Cedar Lake, were married at the home of the bride’s parents at 7:30 o’clock Saturday evening, Rev. M. O. Stockland performing the ceremony. Only the families and close friends were present. The couple were attended by Miss Lela Mackaman, the groom’s sister, and J.P. Rock of Duluth. Both the bride and her maid were gowned in white silk. Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson and Ever Everson Jr. and bride of Duluth were among the guests, and not until after the ceremony was it made known that the young people from Duluth had been married in that city on Thursday. A lunch was served with a shower of gifts and kind wishes.

(Why not Pastor Dahle???)

She was still in Aitkin in 1967, the time of her brother Iver’s death.

Her last residence, according the SSDI, was Rohnert Park, Sonoma County. Her daughter Dorothy lived in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, in the late 1960s.

The California death certificate shows her mother’s name as Odegard and her father’s name as Everson.

Baptism:
her uncle Andrew was one of the witnesses/sponsors

Anna married Everett Malcom MACKAMAN on 7 Mar 1908 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Everett (son of William Gibson MACKAMAN and Mary Ellen AIKIN) was born on 14 Sep 1879 in Iowa; died on 26 Sep 1963 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His name is inferred from that St. Louis County death record and from the naming convention.

According to the St. Louis County Death Index:

EVERSON AND NA 10/03/1892 337

The NA refers to the middle initial. The last number refers to the death certificate number.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 568-42-3456 Issued In California Before 1951

Notes:

Apparently shown in the 1900 census as “Arthur”, a “son” of Ever and Betsy. The census enumerator, Charles Howe, may not have understood the Norwegians’ broken English.

Twelve years old and living at home with her parents and uncle in the 1910 census.

Could not find her in the 1920 census.

May be the Esther Everson, school teacher, living in Arnegard village, MacKenzie County, North Dakota in the 1930 census. Although that Esther is shown as 31, she was born in Minnesota and both of her parents were born in Norway.

She was the Esther Everson who was the teacher at the Rabey School in Ruth Twp, Aitkin County, for the school year 1934-1935.

The 1938-1940 California Voter Registrations showed a Miss Esther Everson, a domestic, registered as a Republican and living at 1014 San Diego Road in Santa Barbara. The 1942-1944 registration list showed her as a maid living at 757 Mission Canyon Road in Santa Barbara.

In the 1940 census, Esther, incorrectly shown as 38 years old, is a lodger with the Phelps family at 1014 Diego Road in Santa Barbara, California. She is an elementary school teacher with a four-year college education. In 1935, she had lived in Rabey in Aitkin County, Minnesota. She had made $675 in 1939.

Died as Esther Everson. Her last residence, according the SSDI, was Rohnert Park, Sonoma County. Her niece Dorothy also lived in Sonoma County.

The U.S. Public Records Index, Vol. 2, shows her as living at 158 Parcque Recrero, Rohnert Park, California.

The California death certificate shows her mother’s name as Odegard.

Her obit said that she graduated from Aitkin High School in 1915 and taught school in the Aitkin area for 21 years. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1939 and worked as an LVN at the Cottage Hospital, retiring in 1975. She lived in Minnesota for 42 years and 46 years in Californa, 39 of which were in Santa Barbara and the other 7 in Rohnert Park.

Notes:

As Martha, she is unmarried and living at home in the 1910 Norwegian census.

In the pictures from the Eversons’ Gustad visit, she is called Martha Olava (Bakken) Brandstad/Branstad. She and her husband Iver had six children: 4 sons, 2 daughters.

Birth:
1910 census

Family/Spouse: Iver Ahnfeldt Andersson BRANDSTAD. Iver was born in 1891; died in 1985. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Not listed with her family in the 1910 Norwegian census.

Notes:

Birth:
1910 census

Notes:

Not listed with her family in the 1910 Norwegian census.

Notes:

Of Washington, Iowa, at the time of her brother Olaf’s death.

Family/Spouse: Carl J JUNGBLUTH. Carl was born about 1888; died on 14 Nov 1964 in Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his brother Olaf were members of the Norden Band of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in La Crosse in a 1910 photograph published again in the La Crosse Tribune on 27 Jan 1969. Olaf poses in the photograph with a snare drum, Paul with an English horn.

Not found in the 1920 census. We don’t know how or why his marriage to Lucille was dissolved but they appear to have been apart after the birth of Richard.

Died:
“after an illness of several years”

Paul married Lucille Ernestine MCELVEEN on 2 Apr 1914 in Polk County, Georgia. Lucille was born on 16 Aug 1891 in Georgia; died on 24 Jan 1970 in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1920 census, she was living with her sister Olga and family in Washington County, Iowa. She had no occupation.

Unmarried and living in La Crosse at the time of her father’s death.

Birth:
August 21 according to her obit

Emily married Henry TIETZ on 4 Aug 1925 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Henry died on 21 Dec 1957. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his brother Paul were members of the Norden Band of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in La Crosse in a 1910 photograph published again in the La Crosse Tribune on 27 Jan 1969. Olaf poses in the photograph with a snare drum, Paul with an English horn.

His obit noted that he was general supt. at Trane before he retired. He served in Europe in World War I.

Olaf married Charlotte W DITTMAN on 31 Mar 1919. Charlotte was born on 18 Jan 1896 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin; died on 17 Sep 1988 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; was buried in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park, La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was a WAC in WWII. She enlisted in June of 1943 and served until January of 1946.

Oddly, although Helma did live to be over 100, there was an article in the 17 Oct 1989 edition of the La Crosse Tribune that had a photo of the twins, Helen and Helma, celebrating their 100th birthday! Sadly, Helen did not make it to 100.

Helen had no children.

Died:
Bethany-Riverside Nursing Home

Helen married Lloyd W BAYARD on 28 Dec 1946 in Columbia, South Carolina, and was divorced in Aug 1964 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Lloyd was born about 1914. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Oddly, although Helma did live to be over 100, there was an article in the 17 Oct 1989 edition of the La Crosse Tribune that had a photo of the twins, Helen and Helma, celebrating their 100th birthday! Sadly, Helen did not make it to 100.

Cremated. No services.

Died:
Bethany Riverside Nursing Facility

Helma married Claus Alvin SKUNDBERG in Aug 1928 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Claus was born about 1892 in Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He lived in Caledonia, Minnesota, at the time of his sister Pauline’s death in 1977.

He had worked at A & C Johnson Co. in La Crosse.

His obit did not mention his youngest child, Joan Hengel Buehrle.

Herbert married Joyce Ernestine WORTHINGHAM on 11 Dec 1925 in Winona County, Minnesota. Joyce was born on 5 Aug 1900 in La Crescent, Houston County, Minnesota; died on 26 Feb 1991 in Houston County, Minnesota; was buried in Medical science. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Helen Marie JAGODINSKI. Helen was born on 17 Feb 1924 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; died on 19 Sep 1990 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Hoel on Averøy

Family/Spouse: Peder Anton VIKENE. Peder was born on 14 Jun 1900 in Hustad, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 11 Jun 1977 in Henda, Averøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cecelia VanOver

Family/Spouse: Vivian Darlene FRENCH. Vivian was born on 14 Jun 1906 in Illinois; died in Sep 1977 in Arizona. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1931-06366
• Occupation: Pilot, USAF
• Baptism: 1943, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

The August 7, 1944, edition of the Brainerd newspaper noted that Ron and David were visiting relatives in Park Ridge, Ill.

In the 1950 census, he is living at home with his parents and two younger siblings and working as a drill helper for an iron mine. He is shown as having worked 28 weeks in 1949 and having earned $1,025. He is also shown as having lived in Fort Knox, Kentucky, one year before (i.e., April of 1949).

An article in the June 17, 1963, edition of the Brainerd newspaper announced Captain Everson’s assignment to Itazuke AB in Japan following his graduation from the USAF training course for F-105 Thunderchief pilots at Nellis AFB in Nevada.

Air Force pilot. His F-105 Thunderchief Wild Wiesel was shot down by North Vietnamese and he was held prisoner for several years during the war. Released about 1973. Retired with the rank of Colonel.

David says that he “resisted going to college after high school and worked one winter with my father drilling for iron ore at Emily and Rabbit Lake. That was enough to convince me to start college.”

From veterantributes.org:

Colonel O-6, U.S. Air Force

Minnesota Army National Guard 1947-1951
U.S. Air Force 1954-1978
Cold War 1947-1951, 1954-1978
Vietnam War 1966-1973 (POW)

David Everson was born in 1931 in Brainerd, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on September 22, 1947, and was trained as a Radio Repair Specialist. Everson received an honorable discharge from the National Guard on September 21, 1951. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Minnesota on August 21, 1954, and went on active duty on March 27, 1955. After completing Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1956, Everson served with the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, until February 1961. He was stationed with the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Itazuke AB and then Yokota AB, Japan, from February 1961 to December 1964, and then with the 562nd and then the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kansas, from December 1964 to November 1966. Maj Everson began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in November 1966, and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on March 10, 1967. After spending 2,186 days in captivity, LtCol Everson was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Scott AFB, Illinois, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, graduating in August 1974. He then completed refresher flight training at Randolph AFB, Texas, followed by F-111 Aardvark upgrade training at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Col Everson's final assignment was with the ACEVAL/AIMVAL project at Nellis AFB, where he ran an independent analysis team in the Joint Test and Evaluations that took place at Nellis between 1974 and 1978. He retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1978. David Everson and his wife Karlene had three children together before her death-DeAnn, David, and Daniel.

The following is a recollection David wrote for Ann Jones’s book:

“After having learned my lesson, I started school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth in the fall of 1950. My academic career was cut short when the Aitkin Guard was called to active duty in December, 1950. We were supposed to be on active duty for two years but my enlistment was up in September 1951. I went back to school and continued until graduation in August, 1954. The army taught me that officers live better than enlisted men so I enrolled in Air Force ROTC. Midway through school the Air Force told me I was qualified for flight training and I was hooked. I never looked back.

“While in school I worked at a garage across the street from the Hotel Duluth. There we parked cars, washed cars, and supplied ambulance service to the entire city of Duluth. At the beginning of my senior year, I married Karlene Carpenter, daughter of Carl and Ellen Carpenter of Glen. Our first child, DeAnn, was born the week after I graduated.

“When I was called to active duty, we went to Florida and Texas for flight training. Then we were moved from one base to another like most of the Air Force. We spent four years in Japan from 1961 to 1964. By the time we returned to the states in December 1964, the Viet Nam war was heating up. In the fall of 1966, I was trained as a Wild Weasel pilot and sent to Takh Li, Thailand. I started flying missions in November 1966 and was shot down 50 miles north of Hanoi on March 10, 1967. I was on my 56th mission.

“My experience as a prisoner of war is typical of the stories most POWs tell. I was to suppress surface-to-air missile firing during a raid on a steel plant at Thai Nguyen, fifty miles north of Hanoi. We were hit in the left wing by gunfire and the aircraft came apart. We were going too fast for bailout at first but were pinned in the cockpit by G forces. By the time I could move, the part of the aircraft we were in had slowed and we ejected.

“I came down in a courtyard of a small factory. For a few seconds, no one saw me. I used this time to transmit a message on my survival radio that I was alive. Nobody heard it. The civilians in the factory saw me then and surrounded me. I took two serious hits on the head from rifle butts and rolled into a ball on the ground. Before the crowd could get organized and do me some real damage, some soldiers arrived and took me away.

“My left knee kept folding up when I tried to walk and I thought my knees had been injured. I found out after I came home that I had a spinal fracture because I was not sitting properly when I ejected. The soldiers who captured me took me to a small building where they stripped me down to my shorts and socks. I was blindfolded; my hands were tied behind me. A bandage was put around my head. I was kept in a gun pit until it started to get dark, then I was put together with my Electronic Warfare Officer and we were forced to run. We were running in a large circle because we passed the same noises over and over. The crowd was encouraged to throw stones, to hit us and whatever they could do while we were running by. It is difficult to dodge blows when blindfolded. I fell a lot because of my knee and had to get up myself every time. My back seater {Capt. José David Luna of California} was annoyed because I fell against him a lot and knocked him down too. After what seemed like hours, we were walked into a dugout and after a short while were put in the back of an open truck and taken to Hanoi.

“During my first two months as a prisoner I was kept in a block of cells we called Heartbreak Hotel. {This was a part of the larger complex known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton.’} I was in stocks for a large part of that time. The Vietnamese were not interested in military information but were attempting to destroy the morale of the prisoners and make them compliant. I was in solitary confinement during this time.

“After two months of this, I was put in a cell with my back seater and moved to a camp we called ‘The Zoo.’ It had this name because early in the war the guards had allowed the local civilians to tour the prison and harass the prisoners. I was with my back seater and another prisoner for about two weeks. Then I was placed in solitary confinement for one and a half years. During this time, the emphasis was on collecting ‘confessions’ from the prisoners with the intent of using the confessions in trials at a later date. We were also pressed for propaganda. This included meeting foreign journalists and delegations from ‘peaceful’ countries. In order to convince us to cooperate, they used things like the ropes and wrist irons. To do this, they tied our elbows tightly together behind our back, then put tight steel clamps on the wrists, then tied our feet to our wrists and tied a rope around our necks which was tied to our elbows tight enough so we could just breathe. For me, this lasted until the fall of 1968. By this time, I had lost forty pounds and didn’t look too good.

“I was finally put in a cell with another POW. We were mostly left alone after this but had some harassment. During this entire time, the food consisted of a plate of rice and a bowl of vegetable soup twice a day. We found out later that the prison staff was stealing a lot of the food provided for the POWs.

“In the summer of 1969 I was moved into a cell with three other POWs. This was quite nice because it actually had a window. After several months of quiet living, in October of 1969 our treatment improved dramatically. We got better food, improved medical care, and more outside time. The torture and harassment stopped. Walls in the building that had been built to make small cells were destroyed so prisoners were in a larger cell with more cellmates.

“In the fall of 1970, a large group of us were moved to a new prison miles from Hanoi. It was quite nice (relative to what we had before). We had the freedom of the courtyard during the day. It all ended when the Son Tay raid took place. We were all loaded on trucks and taken to the Hoa Lo prison {the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’} in downtown Hanoi. The place was crowded because the previous prisoners (mostly South Viet Nam soldiers) had not yet been moved out.

{The Son Tay raid took place November 21-22, 1970. It was a rescue mission on a POW prison camp 20 miles west of Hanoi. The raid was unsuccessful; the prisoners had been moved.}

“The move to Hoa Lo prison got all the POWs together in the same prison for the first time. We were in cells that held about fifty people and had good communication with all the prisoners. Some POWs were later moved to other camps but I stayed in Hoa Lo until we were repatriated in March of 1973.”

Mark has found an article in the February 2006 issue of Air Force Magazine that describes the flight activities on that day in 1967 when David was shot down.

The description of David Everson's role that day starts here:

“The flight commander was Maj. David A. Everson, Lincoln 01, with Capt. Donald A. Luna, the electronic warfare officer (EWO), in the back seat. Capt. Bill Hoeft was Lincoln 02. The leader of the second element was Capt. Merlyn Dethlefsen, Lincoln 03, with Capt. Kevin A. “Mike” Gilroy as his EWO. Flying on his wing was Maj. Kenneth H. Bell, Lincoln 04.

“All six airmen in the Weasel flight had plenty of experience. Each of them had flown more than 50 combat missions and had been to North Vietnam many times.”

and concludes with this

“Lincoln flight approached Thai Nguyen in combat spread formation, the four aircraft almost line abreast with Everson and Hoeft on the right and Dethlefsen and Bell on the left. Two miles out from the target, the Weasels detected a SAM radar tracking them.

“Everson in Lincoln 01 attacked first. He swept wide to the right, dived through the flak, and launched a Shrike missile toward the SAM site. Seconds later, Lincoln 01 took a critical hit from the AAA. Chute beepers confirmed that Everson and Luna had bailed out. They reached the ground and were captured immediately. They spent the rest of the war as POWs, returning in the general repatriation in 1973.

“Hoeft, Lincoln 02, followed Everson into the flak. He was also hit and put out of action. An 85 mm shell blew a four-foot hole in his left wing, just outboard of the landing gear. He was lucky to make it to Udorn Air Base in northern Thailand, where he recovered.”

EVERSON, DAVID

Name: David Everson
Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O4
Unit: 354 TFS
Date of Birth: 04 September 1931
Home City of Record: Aitkin MN
Date of Loss: 10 March 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 214400 North 1055000 East
Status (in 1973):
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105F #8335
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: Jose Luna, returnee
Refno: 0612

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730304 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors).

DAVID EVERSON
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: March 10, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973

The following is a bio David wrote for a POW network, apparently right after he returned to the U.S.

I was born in 1931 and graduated from the University of Minnesota in Duluth, Minnesota in 1954 and entered the Air Force in 1955. I went through pilot training and flew fighters at various bases in the United States and in the Far East until I was shot down several miles north of Hanoi. I was flying a F-105 Thunderchief out of Takhli, Thailand. I arrived back in the States on March 7, 1973, just three days less than six years from the day I was shot down.

I have three children. Daughter DeAnn is 18 and a freshman in college. Davy is 15 and a sophomore at Coon Rapids High School. Danny is 12 and in the 7th grade. My children waited for me in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

The tremendous welcome that I had and the other returned POWs have received makes me feel very proud and at the same time very humble. I know many men have been killed or crippled in this war. Very few of the men who returned earlier received half the welcome accorded the POWs. I hope we will all remember the families of these men and try to insure that their children will have the same opportunities that your children and mine will have. I was very happy and proud on the day of my release because we were able to return home with pride. Thank you for all your kindness and God bless you all.

December 1996
David Everson retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and his wife Ann reside in Minnesota.

The following is an article published in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune on Thursday, February 17, 2000:

Commentary: A character forged in the Hanoi Hilton

by Lori Sturdevant

One theory about the 2000 presidential election is that the guy most possessed of Clinton antimatter will win.

Buy it or not, that theory goes a long way to explain the rise of the meteor of the month, John McCain. Forget about issues for now. In comparisons of human raw material -- temperament, experience, style -- the Arizona Republican is more conspicuously not Bill Clinton than any other candidate still in the running.

That, says Dave Everson, has a lot to do with Hua Lo Prison in Hanoi. He shared a cell there with McCain for 15 months.

"He learned a lot in captivity -- we all did," said Everson. "They say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I think there's truth in that."

Everson, 68, retired from the St. Paul Companies as a computer programmer several years ago. He lives a private, apolitical life in Inver Grove Heights. It's a world away from the torment he and some 600 other Americans endured three decades ago in North Vietnamese prisons.

Everson does not talk easily about those years -- especially when he's addressing a newspaper audience. But he recognizes that voters won't glimpse the president John McCain could be unless former POWs like him describe the McCain they knew and the circumstances they shared.

Everson, an Air Force major, was incarcerated at the infamous Hanoi Hilton in March 1967; McCain, a Navy lieutenant commander, arrived the following October. Both had been injured as they ejected from planes shot down during bombing missions. Everson's back was broken and his knees damaged. McCain broke both arms and one leg. Both were beaten with rifle butts, paraded for civilian abuse, bound in contorted poses and interrogated at exhaustive length before landing in solitary confinement.

Everson's isolation lasted a year and a half. His captors spiced his routine by beating him or binding his feet to his bed and one wrist to his ankles, then leaving him in twisted discomfort for days.

McCain had it worse. He was in solitary confinement for two years. The North Vietnamese offered McCain early release in 1968 when they learned that his father, Adm. Jack McCain, had been appointed commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific. When the younger McCain refused, citing the code of conduct that POWs should be released in the order in which they were captured, he was beaten savagely.

"Isolation is the worst thing that can happen to you," said Everson. "You get irrational after a while." He suspects McCain had the same mental crisis.

The nation would be right to worry that McCain left a piece of his sanity in Hanoi, had the POWs been suddenly released in 1969, at the time of Ho Chi Minh's death. A quick passage from isolated horror to normal society likely would have been too much for even the most disciplined military mind to take.

But the POWs were not released until early 1973. What changed after Ho's death was the treatment the prisoners received. Solitary confinement and beatings ended. Suddenly prisoners had cellmates, hot water, instant coffee, six rather than three cigarettes a day. "We sat and smoked until we got sick," Everson said.

In late 1971, he moved into a large communal cell with 49 other POWs. The ensuing 15 months before their release were a time of physical and psychological healing for every man in the cell. The men understood and supported each other as no one else could.

One of Everson's cellmates was John McCain, reputed to be the "toughest guy in the place" because of the torture he had endured.

McCain stood out -- but, Everson says, not for the extent of his injuries or for the cocky attitude he reportedly showed. "Most fighter pilots are that way. If you aren't a little arrogant and cocky, you're too passive to fly a fighter."

It was his intellect that distinguished McCain. The prisoners passed time by teaching each other what they knew of languages, literature and mathematics. McCain held forth on Roman history. He drew sharp, well-reasoned analogies between the decline of the Roman Empire and the threat that moral decline posed for the United States.

McCain was also the senior officer's choice for some undercover work involving information transfer from one cell to another. It was dangerous business, but McCain was never caught.

Everson remembers a man who knew the value of discipline and dignity as only someone who had clung to them for survival could. He remembers occasional displays of temper, like the day Everson teased that his Viking ancestors and McCain's Irish forebears might have known each other intimately. But mostly, he recalls a good soldier.

"Being in prison made John more steady. It taught him self-control. It gave him focus. When he left that prison, he knew what he wanted," Everson said.

McCain became a moderate Republican. Everson, whose political thinking borders on libertarianism, would call another candidate with the same views suspiciously liberal. But he's eager to support his cellmate.

"I trust him. He's a totally trustworthy person. If he says he'll do something, he'll move heaven and earth to do it. He's rock-solid."

A lot of Americans long to be able to say as much about a president.

-- Lori Sturdevant is a Star Tribune editorial writer.
© Copyright 2000 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

From the Ancestry data base on returned Vietnam War Casualties:

Personal Information

Name: David Everson
Age: 41
Birth Date: 4 Sep 1931
Race: Caucasion
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Home Location: Aitkin, Minnesota
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service Branch: Air Force
Discharge Date: 4 Mar 1973
Date Processed: Mar 1973
Component: Regular
Casualty Type: Hostile - Captured/Interned - Returned to Military Control
Country of Casualty: North Vietnam
Casualty Cause: Aircraft Loss/Crash Not at Sea
Casualty Air Type: Fixed Wing Air Casualty - Pilot

In August of 1966, the North Vietnamese aired a televised interview with David in which the voice track was done separately. The interview had David saying that he hoped that the war would end soon and that he wanted to get home and that he was sorry to have taken part in the war. In an article in the Minneapolis newspaper, David’s brother Ronald, then a member of Minnesota’s House of Representatives, said that neither the voice, nor the words spoken, were that of his brother. “His philosophy was to pursue the war and win,” Ronald said. Ronald, his wife, and his parents all saw the film and agreed that David “looked good.” It was the first time that they had seen him since his picture was shown following his capture. {In that picture, David is shown looking down and with a bandage around his head.} Ronald said that both he and his parents had been notified the Air Force that the filmed interview would be shown. At the time of the article, Karlene and the children were living at the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita and apparently were not consulted by the reporter writing the article.

In January of 1968, the North Vietnamese released a picture of a captured American pilot that they said was David Everson. An article from the January 29, 1968, edition of the Minneapolis Star, datelined Wadena, has Ronald saying that the man in the photograph was not his brother.

The front page of the March 8, 1973, edition of the Minneapolis Tribune shows David being greeted by his family at Scott AFB in Illinois. The caption notes that David had not seen his family since his last visit home in October of 1966.

The Minneapolis Star had an article on David on its front page in May of 1973. The article was written by staff writer Stan Strick and included a photograph of David sitting on the front step of his home in Coon Rapids.

POW Life Fades from Everson’s Memory

The North Vietnamese prisoner of war camps are about as far from the mind of Air Force Lt. Col. David Everson as Hanoi is from Coon Rapids.

Everson was released just over two months ago after his airplane was shot down in early 1967. Now about two-thirds of the way through his readjustment period, the ordeal seems far away.

“It’s very difficult to sit here and believe I was really there,” Everson said in an interview yesterday. “It’s just two months and two weeks since I got out. It was so different over there than what it is here that it’s difficult to relate the two lives.”

He, his wife and three children are living at 2408 119th Avenue NW in Coon Rapids where his wife bought a home to wait out his imprisonment. Both are from Aitkin, Minnesota.

He says he has picked up his place in the family and now is looking forward to his next assignment, probably to the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama.

What’s it like to see your family after a six-year absence?

“Well, the first couple of days it’s a little goofy,” Everson said. “After that it seems we settled down to just like we’ve always been.

“I think the first couple of days the children were a little on guard. They didn’t know if they were going to say something that would offend me or if I would snap at them,” he said.

Everson spends his time reading, answering mail and visiting relatives until his new assignment comes through. He says he plans to order his life differently from his days as a fighter pilot when he was away from home a lot while on flying missions.

“I liked flying and I liked everything that went with it,” Everson said. “I can see now it probably wasn’t good for my family to be left alone so much and I plan that whatever job I get it’s going to be one that will allow me to be home so I can take my boys hunting, fishing, and doing the things I should have been doing for the last six years.”

He said he found the readjustment period without many difficulties or severe shocks. “During my last year in prison we had contact with people who were shot down in 1972. That did a lot toward helping us understand what was going on,” he said.

Between reports from newly-captured pilots and “interpreting” Vietnamese propaganda, the prisoners came to have a good picture of the world they were being denied, he said.

“There were a lot of discussions over there (on), ‘What are you going to do if....’ It helps a lot to think about these things while you’re there so you won’t make a snap decision when you get home and meet a bad situation such as losing your wife or finding that things have gone to pieces while you’re gone.

“I think most people had some decisions pretty well in their head (that) ‘If this happens, I’m going to do thus and so.’”

Everson said he was surprised at the depth of his family’s involvement in prisoner-of-war projects. His wife was state coordinator of the National League of Families and his brother, Ronald, was also active.

“My wife doesn’t agree entirely with me on the war,” Everson said. “She more had the attitude that we should get out (and) get the prisoners out. I’m really not that way. If we had to stay there an extra year to win the war, I wasn’t opposed to that.

“I’d rather stay there one more year and win it than come home a year or two early and blow the whole thing. I don’t know if we’re going to win it now.”

Still, there were some things that were unexpected, such as:

Long hair. “When we were shot down, the only people who wore long hair was the hippie crowd. Then we learned everybody was doing it.”

Frankness in sex. “Sex, I guess, is the biggest change. I don’t think the actual morals can change that fast. The ones who have been after sexual freedom feel free to talk louder.”

Movies. “When I was shot down movies that are now rated as G or PG wouldn’t have been shown anywhere. You know, ‘Pete and Tillie’ is supposed to be a comedy, and it’s really sick. It wasn’t funny except in a very few places.”

Television programs. “They’re a little duller than they used to be. I think when Sid Caesar and Jack Gleason went off the air, television never recovered.”

Gas stations. “They aren’t too worried any more about selling gas. If you want your oil checked, you have to ask. Sometimes you have to go in to find the guy to put gas in your car.”

But for himself, Everson believes the ordeal is over, the adjustment completed and life back on a routine path. “Maybe two years from now I won’t think it’s normal, but it sure seems to be normal now.”



DeAnne said that her dad enlisted in the Army and rose to Master Sargent at age 19 after being called to active duty. He took his GI Bill and went to UMD, was Cadet Captain in ROTC, married my mom and then was called up for flight training when I was 1. He endured six years in the Hanoi Hilton, came home and stayed in the USAF until 1978. He eventually went to Control Data programming school and worked for the St. Paul companies until his second retirement around 1996.

David married Karlene Elaine CARPENTER on 20 Sep 1953 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Karlene (daughter of Carl CARPENTER and Ellen SHERRETS) was born on 21 Nov 1932 in Winthrop, Buchanan County, Iowa; died on 29 Oct 1980 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada; was buried on 3 Nov 1980 in Lakeview Cemetery, Aitkin Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married B.H. GAGE [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jean Marie MACDONALD. Jean was born on 11 Jun 1930 in Aitkin County, Minnesota; died on 16 Feb 2004 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Acacia Park Cemetery, Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1930-06504
• Baptism: 19 Aug 1930, Cedar Lake Lutheran Church, Farm Island Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 27 Aug 1944, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

Carlson, Elaine M. 90, died at her home in Eagan, Minnesota, on June 25, 2020.

She was born on February 27, 1930, at the old Miners' Hospital in Crosby, Minnesota, as the first child of John and Mabel Landstrom Everson of Deerwood. Elaine attended the one-room Cedar Brook country school and attended ninth grade at Aitkin High School. In 1944 she moved to her aunt and uncle's home in suburban Chicago and graduated from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, Illinois, in 1947. That same year she married Donald Carlson of Minneapolis.

She and her husband raised their family in east Bloomington and she and Don moved to Eagan in 2005. She was a devoted mother and wife, an excellent bridge player, and the greater Everson family's worrier-in-chief. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her and loved her.

Elaine is survived by her two children, Don (Mary) Carlson of Green Bay and Cheryl (Kevin) Fautch of Eagan, three grandchildren, Eric (Chris Hynes) Carlson of Portland, Oregon, Lindsay (Scott) Wing of Chicago, and Krista (Bobby) Bloch of Apple Valley, and two great-grandchildren, Logan and Preston Bloch. Elaine is also survived by her sister Judy Redfield, her brother Bill (Edna) Everson, and her close Everson cousins Ronald Everson, David Everson, Jerry Everson, Jackie Higby, Jean Haselhuhn, and David Graham, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2011 and by her brothers Andy Everson and Bob Everson and her sister Joanne Davis.

The family would like to thank Laura Nees, Elaine's cousin's daughter, who provided excellent care to Elaine during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the charitable organization of their choice. Private burial at Sunset Memorial Park. Celebration of Life to be held later.

Birth:
6:25 AM, Miners’ Hospital

Baptism:
by Pastor Ole Dahle, founding pastor of the Cedar Lake church at Dorris. Baptismal sponsors were George Everson and Eva Gustad.

Confirmation:
Elaine’s memorized Bible verse was John 11: 25-26. Pastor George Boyer may have served two churches at one time: Immanuel and St. John’s in Aitkin.

Mabel married Donald Herbert CARLSON on 8 Nov 1947 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Donald (son of Maurice Edward CARLSON and Cora Christena ANDERSON) was born on 13 Jul 1924 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 15 Mar 2011 in Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota; was buried on 18 Mar 2011 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1934-06632
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2016-MN-015334

Notes:

The Wednesday, June 20, 1945, edition of the Brainerd newspaper notes: “Miss Joanne and Gerald Everson left Wednesday for Minneapolis and Park Ridge, Ill. for a week’s visit with relatives.”

She was runner-up in the Crosby-Ironton Homecoming Queen contest in September of 1951.

Jo and Jack were living in Cloquet in the summer of 1956.

According to the Faribault city directory, Jo was a teller for the Security National Bank in 1967 and a saleswoman for Ochs Brothers in 1972.



Joanne Clara Davis, age 82, of Hastings, passed away at Regions Hospital on May 7, 2016. She was born on April 11, 1934 in Deer Wood, MN to John and Mabel Everson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and daughter, Nancy Ann Davis. She is survived by her daughter, Jayne Davis - Pickart (Bryce Pickart); sons, John (Kris) Davis, and Jeff (Genny) Davis; grandchildren, Andrew, Heather, and Nicole; great grandchildren, David, Sam and Charlotte; other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at Regina Memorial Chapel in Hastings on Thursday, May 12.

Birth:
probably in Miners Hospital, Crosby

Died:
Regions Hospital, St. Paul

Joanne married Jack Cecil DAVIS on 5 Feb 1952 in Day County, South Dakota. Jack (son of Rolland Cecil (Cubby) DAVIS and Fern Mildred CROWELL) was born on 15 Apr 1931 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota; died on 24 Nov 2015 in Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1937-MN-043946
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1972-MN-017788
• Occupation: Electronics Technician (Northwest Airlines)
• Social Security Number: 476-38-8820 issued in Minnesota in 1954.
• Confirmation: 15 Jun 1958, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

The Monday, August 4, 1947, edition of the Brainerd newspaper notes that “Andy Everson returned from Minneapolis on Friday. He visited a week with Billy Marsh and while there he attended the water sports show.”

From the Wednesday, September 15, 1954, edition of the Crosby-Ironton Courier: “The land judging team from the Vocational Agriculture class at the C-I High School placed second among 12 teams in a contest held at North Branch. The boys on the team were Andy Everson, Paul Wynn, and Don Tysk. William Frey is the instructor.”

From the Wednesday, December 29, 1954, edition of the Crosby-Ironton Courier: “Andy Everson, 16, a member of the Cedar Lake 4-H Club, has been named this year’s champion horticulturalist in Crow Wing County.”

An article in the June 24, 1961, edition of the Brainerd newspaper noted that “Airman Second Class John A. Everson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Everson of Deerwood, recently graduated from the 36 week Radio Relay Equipment Repairman course at Keesler AFB, Miss. At Osceola AFS, Wisconsin, he will install, inspect, maintain and repair microwave radio relay and associated equipment.”

Later he worked for Northwest Airlines.

Died of a brain tumor. His death certificate said he died from cardiac arrest caused by a glioblastoma on the left frontal area of his brain which he had had for 2 years. His wife Edna was the informant. The family’s residence was 10949 Washburn in Bloomington.

His birth certificate information:

Name: John Andrew Everson
Birth Date: 8 Dec 1937
Birth County: Crow Wing
Father: John Everson
Mother: Mable Landstrom
File Number: 1937-MN-043946

Birth:
Elaine said December 8th, Funeral announcement said Dec 8th, SSDI said 7th

Died:
Fairview Southdale Hospital

Buried:
Funeral at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, Bloomington

John married Edna Mae WYNN on 3 Jun 1961 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Edna (daughter of Gailand Beauregard WYNN and Viola Ferne MILES) was born on 17 Jul 1941 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota; died on 19 Oct 2020 in Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1949-MN-058696
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2011-MN-607797
• Occupation: Engineer
• Baptism: 4 Jun 1950, Deerwood Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 1963, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Notes:

Baptized in his parents’ home by George M. Boyer of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iron Hub, Rabbit Lake Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. His oldest nephew was baptized at the same time.

Crosby-Ironton High School, 1967
Attended St. Olaf College, 1967-68
B.E.E., University of Minnesota, 1971

Everson, Robert Allen age 62, of Lakeville, died May 25, 2011. Preceded in death by parents, John and Mabel Everson; and brother, Andrew Everson. Survived by wife, Cheryl; daughters, Jennifer (Arik) Nesbitt and Courtney (Manuel) Betonio; grandchildren, Kellen and Amelia; siblings, William (Edna) Everson, Elaine Carlson, JoAnne (Jack) Davis and Judy (Jerry) Redfield; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation Thursday from 9:45 A.M. until the 11 A.M. service at Grace Lutheran Church, 8700 Old Cedar Ave., S., Bloomington. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials preferred to American Liver Foundation or Fairview Hospice.

In his January 10, 2012, letter on Bob’s autopsy report, the Mayo Clinic physician noted: “… he indeed suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).” The report also seemed to imply that the initial clinical diagnosis, of a “mixed syndrome of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and PSP,” was incorrect, or at least misleading, and that PSP was the principal cause of death. The physician noted that, “There was no evidence of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or any other additional neurologic disorder.”

Birth:
Draper Hospital, 9 lbs., 4 oz.

Baptism:
At home. DRC baptized at same time.

Died:
at home at 2:30 AM

Buried:
Funeral from Grace Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Pastor Steven Svoboda presiding. Pallbearers Arik Nesbitt, Don Carlson, Manuel Betonio, Jr., Jerry Redfield, Greg Ryan, Wally Jensen.

Robert married C.A. MERCIER [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1910-10675

Notes:

Resided in International Falls, the home of his father, at the time that he married Frances Barbara Boldine in 1937.

In the 1940 census, he was shown as single and living with his mother and step-father in Angora Twp, St. Louis County. He was a laborer for the state highway department.

He was his half-brother Neal’s best man at Neal’s wedding to Ferne Jones in Salem, Oregon, in December of 1949.

In the 1954 Seattle city directory, he was married to Frances B and was a service manager. He was listed as having Frances B as his wife through the 1960 directory.

Birth:
his parents lived in Deer River

James married Frances Barbara BOLDINE on 3 Jul 1937 in Walworth County, South Dakota. Frances was born on 8 Mar 1910 in St. Louis County, Minnesota; died on 25 Jan 1997 in Seattle, King County, Washington; was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle, King County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

By year of birth, he should be a natural son of Iver. However, both his first name and middle name relate to Lester Burghardt’s family. The 1930 census shows his father was born in Norway. It seems likely that he was renamed after his mother’s remarriage.

In Beverly’s birth record, he is Mark Lester Burghardt. That is also the name on his gravestone.

In the 1940 census, he and Ardath and girls live in Angora Twp, St. Louis County, where Mark was a Postmaster for the post office. He had had two years of college. Ardath had had three years of high school.

By 1943, he and Ardath had moved to Seattle.

In the 1948 Seattle directory, he is living with his parents in Seattle and Ardath has her own apartment. Mark was a bridge tender.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Fort Lewis, Washington, on 16 Jun 1945. His civil occupation is electrician.

Buried:
Rest Haven

Mark married Ardath Betsey SANDERS on 17 Jul 1935 in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and was divorced. Ardath was born on 17 Oct 1913 in North Dakota; died on 3 Aug 1981 in Mason, Olympia County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1908-00105
• Social Security Number: 472-50-6965 Issued In Minnesota In 1961

Notes:

Operated on for appendicitis at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd in October of 1926.

Living in Omaha at the time of Darlene’s death.

Hazel married Timothy Jasper PHEGLEY on 24 Dec 1930 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Timothy was born on 12 Nov 1907 in North Dakota; died in Dec 1980. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1912-00090

Notes:

Called Doris Elaine in the Montana birth record of her daughter Sharon.

Probably called Doris. As Doris E Sloan, she lived in Redlands, California, in 1993. Her daughter lived at that address in 1996.

Her Social Security number was issued in Montana before 1951.

According to Find A Grave, in a terribly botched record, “Doris Elaine Sloan, b. 19 Sep 1913 and d. 30 Aug 2001,” is buried in Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands.

Died:
As Doris E., SSDI last residence

Family/Spouse: Vincent Philip SLOAN. Vincent was born on 4 Jan 1913 in Montana; died on 21 Jan 1966 in San Bernardino County, California; was buried in Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1917-00092
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1919-MN-000030

Notes:

He died from post-diphtheria paralysis and pneumonia, which he had had for five days.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1919-00092

Notes:

Called Wenona L. in the 1920 census.

Her SS# was issued in Utah. As his obit notes, her husband was stationed in Layton, Utah, during and/or after World War II.

Died:
location is the last residence according to the SSDI, another source says December 29th in Santa Rosa

Dorothy married Darrold Wesley PARKS on 16 Oct 1937 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Darrold was born on 26 Apr 1916 in Princeton, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota; died on 10 Apr 2011 in Sonoma County, California; was buried in Santa Rosa Memorial Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and Kristiansen had two daughters and one son.

Family/Spouse: KRISTIANSEN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died before his mother.

Walter married Rachel NEGUS on 8 Jun 1940 in Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died before her mother.

Notes:

In the 1940 census, he lived in Atlanta and worked as a truck driver for Railway Express. His wife worked as a box maker at a box factory.

A deacon at the Grant Park Baptist Church in Atlanta.

His surviving daughters were Roberta Hughes of Carrollton and Paula Couch of Jupiter, Florida.

Family/Spouse: Margaret EVANS. Margaret was born about 1912; died on 31 Mar 1975 in Georgia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It’s only somewhat speculative that little John Perry was a son of Paul Smevog.

Notes:

He lived in Fayetteville and was the informant for his mother’s death certificate.

Richard married Margaret A QUICKEL on 20 Dec 1945 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Margaret was born on 17 Jul 1924 in Virginia; died on 6 Jan 2012 in North Carolina; was buried in Lafayette Memorial Park, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Marion Ardelle Tietz Schaffner, 78, passed away peacefully at home in Holtville on Nov. 1. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 562 Chestnut Avenue in Holtville. The Rev. Keith Reich will officiate.

Marion Schaffner was born May 20, 1928 in La Crosse, Wis., to Henry and Emily Tietz. She attended nurses' college for a year and a half after graduating from high school. While on a trip to Holtville to visit relatives she met Roy Schaffner, the son of Swiss immigrants. Roy and Marion met at choir practice at St. Paul's. They fell in love and were married in La Crosse on January 10, 1947.

Marion quickly endeared herself to the Schaffner family and the Swiss community by learning to speak Schwyzer-Dutsch. She was a housewife and together they raised seven children.

As a member of St. Paul's for nearly sixty years she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was associated with Women's League, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, Altar Guild and sang in the choir.

She was a member of the Imperial Valley Swiss Club, a life-time member of the Imperial County Historical Society, Republican Women, the Imperial County Mental Health Board and its equivalent in San Diego, and ARC. She also served on the Grand Jury and sang with the Ray Casey Chorale. For two decades she was an active member of the Pine School PTA.

Hundreds of school children were escorted by her through the barns at the Schaffner Dairy. After the students learned where milk came from they were given an ice cream treat.

Both Roy and Marion were supportive of 4-H and FFA and regularly supported the animal auction at the California Midwinter Fair.
Nearly thirty years ago she was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis. She didn't let that stop her from continuing to live her life to the fullest without complaint, and always with a positive attitude.

Roy and Marion were named Holtville Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year in 1987 for their generosity and involvement with the community.

In 1988 the Holtville Soroptimist Club presented her with an award naming her a "Woman of Distinction." At the time she was honored for her many generous acts, and her work with the special education class at Holtville High School.

Marion was a caring hostess. She was compassionate and gave freely of her time to those in need. When a mother with young children was ill she was quick to gather up the kids and take them home with her for days at a time. She was a great organizer, usually finding efficient, time-saving ways of getting things done. Even when sidelined with crippling RA she managed to attend and participate in most functions. When unable to drive any longer, she volunteered by being the telephone committee for several organizations.

Her husband Roy passed away on July 7, 2001. She is survived by Christine Lowrey and her husband Jim, Heidi Schaffner, Emil Schaffner and his wife Terri, Debbie Fjeldsted and her husband Gary, Susan Lohse and her husband Ken, Rudy Schaffner and his wife Renita, Ellen Underwood and her husband Sam.

Her grandchildren include Mike Lowrey, Kelly Kellum and husband Mitch, Roy Schaffner and wife Carly, Neal Schaffner and wife Amber, Loren Schaffner and wife Elaine, Adam Lyerly and wife Annabel, Eric Lyerly, Brian Lohse, Janice Lohse, Chase Schaffner, Erin Underwood and Emily Underwood, step-grandchildren, Alan Fjeldsted, Adam Fjeldsted and Eric Fjeldsted. Her great-grandchildren are Emil Schaffner, Sophia Lyerly and Sterling Schaffner.

She is also survived by sister-in-laws Ada Tietz, Susie Oister, Elisabeth Lanier and Millie Wrinkle, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Henry and Charlotte Schaffner and many loving nieces and nephews.

Marion married Roy B SCHAFFNER on 10 Jan 1947 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Roy died in 2001. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Rockford, Illinois, at the time of her father’s death.

Marjorie R. Maney, 88, of Rockford, passed away Fri., January 2, 2015 at home. Born August 21, 1926, in La Crosse, WI, to Olaf and Charlotte Smevog. She married James D. Maney on July 10, 1948. He predeceased her on Nov. 13, 2012. Marge received her B.A. degree from Rockford College in June 1948. She was a 3rd grade teacher in the Harlem School district for 30 years. She was involved in Altar Guild, TWELCA, Cornucopia Food Pantry, Trinity House and Trinity Day Care. she belong to Tinker Cottage, Midway Village Museum, Rockford Historical Society and was a 35 year member of Sons of Norway.

Survivors include daughter, Janet Maney; son, David (Marchia) Maney; two grandsons; great-granddaughter, Alexandra; sister, Ruth (Robert) Frise; brothers-in-law, John P. Maney and Guilford Hanesworth; sister-inlaw, Eleanore Riley. Predeceased by sister, Jan Hanesworth.

Marjorie married James David MANEY on 10 Jul 1948. James (son of Nicholas MANEY and Eleanor) was born on 2 Jul 1924 in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin; died on 13 Nov 2012 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois; was buried in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Atlanta at the time of her father’s death.

Family/Spouse: Guilford HANESWORTH, Jr. Guilford was born in 1925 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin; died about 2014. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and her husband lived in Las Vegas at the time of her mother’s death in January of 2001.

Her obit says that she lived in the Los Angeles area most of her life. She worked in the aerospace industry and then became a nurse. She retired in 1985.

Helen married James COLLINS in 1949 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Associate degree in applied science in radio and television technology, Milwaukee School of Engineering, September, 1955.

Navy veteran.

Lived in Chaska at the time of his death.

Richard married P.A. AUGER [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sigurd Alvin Skundberg, 80, of Decatur, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, with his family by his side. 

Sig was born December 12, 1938, in LaCross, WI, to Claus and Helma (Smevdg) Skundberg. He was an automotive designer for Johnson Controls and he loved teaching Art in his spare time. After he retired, he went back to college and received his Art degree. Sig was a world traveler, and avid Green Bay Packer fan, loved boating, painting, going to museums, and a dedicated Chicago Cubs fan, but most of all, he loved spending time with his grandkids. 

He is survived by three children, Erik Skundberg of Taylorville, IL Adam (Kim) Skundberg of Mt. Zion, IL and Susan Skundberg Clark of Tampa, FL; two grandchildren, Josh Skundberg and Camryn Skundberg. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Richard Skundberg and one sister, Helen Collins. 

Sigurd married Mary Lea SKIDMORE on 9 Oct 1965 in Clark County, Nevada, and was divorced. Mary was born on 5 Sep 1938 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois; died on 10 Nov 2009 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois; was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2005-MN-000949

Notes:

Marilyn J. (Smevog) St. Mary, 78, of Caledonia passed away Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, with family and friends at her side at Tweeten-Lutheran Health Care Center in Spring Grove, Minn.

Marilyn was born in La Crosse on Sept. 5, 1926, to Herbert and Joyce (Worthingham) Smevog. She married Donald St. Mary on Nov. 18, 1948, in Winona, Minn. The oldest of five children, she got an early start in her lifelong career as a caregiver. Marilyn selflessly devoted her life to the care and nurture of others - first as a sibling, then as a nurse for 42 years, primarily at Caledonia Hospital, a wife for 56 years and a mother for 54 years. She was the greatest woman that we knew. After a lifetime of living to care for others, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend was stricken with Alzheimer's Disease.

Marilyn is survived by her beloved husband, Donald J. St. Mary; her children, Jeanne (Owen) Skelly of Chicago, Steven of San Jose, Calif., and Sharon St. Mary (Tom Lind) of St. Paul, Minn.; two grandchildren, Breanna (Bryan) Radtke of Vernon Hills, Illinois, and Elizabeth (Joseph) Cerrentano of Evergreen Park, Ill.; one great-granddaughter, Sydney Skelly of Evergreen Park, Ill.; one brother, John (Diane) Smevog; two sisters, Carol (Jack) Preeschl and Lynette (Donald) Svoboda; and nieces and nephews.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Wayne Smevog.

Note that her obit does not mention her surviving half-sister, Joan Hengel Buehrle.

Marilyn married Donald James ST. MARY on 18 Nov 1948 in Houston County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

By June of 1972, he was Cmdr. Herbert W. Smevog, in command of Carrier Antisubmarine Air Group 56 at Quonset Point NAS in Rhode Island. He graduated from USC with a bachelors degree in international relations and from George Washington University with a Masters in international affairs.

His obit does not mention his surviving half-sister, Joan Hengel Buehrle.

Family/Spouse: Johanna REINDL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

GLENDALE, Ariz./WEST SALEM — Carol (Smevog) Preeshl, 83, left this world on July 30, 2012, to join her husband, Jack, who passed away in 2001. She is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Kaufmann of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Susan Preeshl of Mesa, Ariz., and Jackie Piekarz of Glendale, Ariz.; one brother, John Smevog of California; five grandchildren, Nathan, Chad, Aaron, Keith and Kimberly; and five great-grandchildren. Carol has donated her body to Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn.

Note that her obit does not mention her surviving half-sister, Joan Hengel Buehrle.

Carol married John Francis PREESHL on 29 Nov 1947 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. John was born on 30 Jun 1925 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin; died on 22 May 2001 in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

All-State football player, an end, in 1947 at La Crosse Central High School.

Enlisted in the Air Force in March of 1951 and took his basic training in San Antonio.

He and Diane lived in Orange, California, at the time of his father’s death in 1991.

He and Diane lived in Corona, California, at the time of her father’s death in La Crosse 2009.

John married Diane Fay BRUESKE on 7 May 1952 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lynette "Red" F. (Smevog) Svoboda, 72, of La Crosse passed away Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, at Lakeview Health Center in West Salem after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Lynette was born Oct. 27, 1936, at home in La Crosse to Herbert and Joyce (Worthingham) Smevog. She graduated from Central High School in 1954. On May 14, 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, Donald "Donnie" C. Svoboda, also of La Crosse. She was employed by Franciscan Skemp Healthcare as a housekeeper in the Professional Arts Building and retired in 2001. Lynette and Donnie raised their four children in La Crosse and attended St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Lynette is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Donnie; four children, Danette Svoboda of La Crosse, Roshelle (Paul) Easterday of Galesville, Gary (Linda) Svoboda of Sparta and Lori (Mark) Thesing of La Crescent, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Nina Malzacher (Rick Thiesse), Stacy (Aaron) Bulman, Derek Remen, Brandon Thesing, Brent (Christi) Thesing, and Jenifer and Lane Svoboda; and two great-grandchildren, Blake Malzacher and Sayla Remen. She is also survived by a sister, Carol Preeshl; a brother, John Smevog; and many nieces and nephews.

Lynette was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Joyce Smevog; a brother, H. Wayne Smevog; and a sister, Marilyn St. Mary.

Lynette was a loving and devoted wife who was a constant companion to her husband, Donnie. They worked in the yard together, bowled, fished, camped, and even shared a hunting shack together when she kept him company during deer hunting season. They were truly best friends, and she took exceptional care of him over the years. Donnie was able to return the countless acts of love when Lynette became ill. He lovingly cared for her every need while at home and spent countless hours holding her hand and spending quality time with her while in the nursing home.

Lynette enjoyed spending time with her family, and Christmas was always an extra-special time for her. She absolutely loved buying presents, and everyone had a stack in front of them on Christmas Day. Over the past several years, Lynette and her daughters, granddaughters and great-grandchildren would gather for the annual Christmas cookie baking weekend, which was sure to include a lot of laughter and more cookies than one could possibly eat. The annual family summer vacation up north to cabins for a week of fishing, campfires, s'mores, cards, conversation and lots of laughter was something Lynette always looked forward to each year. She also delighted in spending time with her big sister, Carol, during the summer months at Carol's Lake Neshonoc home. She loved to bowl and was a member of two bowling leagues. Lynette made many memories and lifelong friends through her 30-plus years of bowling. Lynette also worked security at the La Crosse Center for many years, and it was a time she remembered fondly. She was an avid football fan and loved her Green Bay Packers, especially Brett Favre.

Lynette will be remembered for her loving devotion to Donnie, her love of family, her sense of humor, her strength of character, her abiding friendship, her selfless giving, her adventurous spirit, her beautiful "Red" hair, and her "whistle" that meant it was time to come home. Lynette "Red" was loved by everyone who knew her and will forever live on in our hearts and memories.

A special thank you to all the nurses, doctors and staff at Lakeview Health Center for the wonderful care and respect they gave to Lynette while in their care. We will always be grateful.

Note that her obit does not mention her surviving half-sister, Joan Hengel Buehrle.

Family/Spouse: Donald SVOBODA. Donald was born on 26 Aug 1934 in Wisconsin; died on 26 Nov 2017 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Håkon Jostein GYLDENÅS. Håkon was born on 3 Jul 1936 in Torvik i Romsdal, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; died on 20 Apr 2003 in Oslo, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his older brother Kenneth Andrew were baptized and confirmed on 28 May 1944 at Calvary Lutheran in Chicago.

Ronald married June KELLER on 23 Sep 1950 in Cook County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1954-MN-001708

Notes:

Birth:
born at 9:00 PM according to Cora’s diary

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2013-MN-032787

Notes:

Nesbitt, Jennifer Ann (Everson) age 40, of Savage, passed away peacefully at home after a valiant fight with liver disease on October 19, 2013. Preceded by her father Robert Allen Everson. She is survived by her beloved husband Arik and son Kellen, as well as her mother Cheryl Everson, sister Courtney Betonio (Manuel), and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and caring family members. Special thanks to the liver transplant team at Fairview University Hospital and her angels, Courtney Betonio and Diana Goreki who donated parts of their livers to her.

Birth:
St. Luke’s Hospital

Buried:
cremated

Jennifer married A.W. NESBITT [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
SSDI last residence

Beverly married Dick Lee BLAKE on 28 Aug 1953 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Dick was born on 30 Aug 1931 in Washington; died on 11 Jun 2010 in Rimrock, Yavapai County, Arizona. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1932-00045
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1992-MN-011296
• Social Security Number: 470-76-7154 according to death certificate

Notes:

She died at 11:40 PM at the Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin of hypoxyencephalopathy, pneumonia, and septic shock. Her residence at death was at 316 Second Avenue SE in Aitkin. The informant for the information in her death certificate was her mother, Hazel Phegley of Omaha.

That address, 316 Second Avenue SE, is a large, quite expensive home. It was perhaps used as a group home during the time that Darlene would have lived there.

Notes:

Lived in Santa Rosa, California, in 1995. Forest S Parks, b. 26 Oct 1961, and Leland E Parks, b. 23 Nov 1962, also lived at that address.

He is probably the David W Parks who divorced Clara D Parks in Sonoma County on 14 Apr 1983. A David W Parks divorced Shirley A Pittenger in Lake County, California, in Sept 1972.

In the 1968 Santa Rosa city directory, David W Parks and his wife Darlene live at 2975 Lomitas Avenue. He is an electrician for Neal Neon.

Passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 19th, 2014 at the age of 74. Dave was born in Minnesota and moved with his family in 1947 to California. He lived in Santa Rosa for most of his adult life, with his last few years in Cloverdale. Dave is survived his partner Beverly Moran, siblings Don and Cheryl Parks. Children, Dava Amador, Monica Kolos, Forrest Parks, Leland Parks and Grace Watson. Nine great-grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Dave donated his body to the UCSF medical center and per his request no services will be held.

Family/Spouse: Darlene RIDGWAY. Darlene was born in 1940 in Alameda County, California; died in 2017. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Paul married Irene RUCKEL on 16 Sep 1978 in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]