Malinda/Melinda (Hovland) Sunnes

HOVLAND, SUNNES, WIERSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/10/2013 at 17:11:52

From Ames Daily Tribune November 30, 1954

Dies Recently

Until October of this year [Elvin R.] Sunnes mother, Mrs. Melinda Sunnes, was there [on the farm less than one-half mile east of Story City] and kept house for her son. However, she died suddenly on Oct 21, after an illness of only a few hours.

Sunnes is proud of the sewing machine, in excellent condition, which his mother, formerly a professional seamstress, used for 65 years. He is also proud of the shiny Majestic cook stove shich she declined to trade in for a more modern stove and on shich she made Norwegian delicacies like kringla, lefsa and kumla for 35 years.

Now Sunnes's sister, Mrs. Bertha Wierson has moved from her home in Ontario to the family place and will keep house for her brother. She formerly worked in Friley hall.

The Sunnes family moved to Story county when Elvin was only a baby and settled five miles northwest of Story City on the place where Elvin's brother, Sherman, still resides. Then 35 years ago they bought the present place but had lived there less than a year when Elvin's father, Rasmus, died. Until Elvin became old enough to farm the place, they rented it out.

The family name happens to be Sunnes simply because their grandfather, whose name was Sydnes, found that his mail was getting mixed up with other Sydneses so changed his name a bit.

"We're related to all of the Sydneses in the Huxley neighborhood," Mrs. Wierson commented.

Hog Business

Sunnes has been out of the hog business for a year or two to "rest" his hog lots after a bout with disease. However, he is beginning to get back into it, having purchased 10 feeder hogs this fall.

He milds three cows and had five mild cows, but the calves run with two of them. He aims to keep 75 hens.

Sunnes happens to be in the diminishing ranks of farmers who put horses to work on the performance of farm work. he has a team which he uses to plant corn, mow hay and to rake hay. He uses a tractor for most other tasks, though.

Sunnes and Mrs. Wierson belong to the Bethel Lutheran church in Story City.