Scott, Sue, Ethan and Erica Bjelland.

of-it” because he planted crops around the hill instead of up and down the hills. Leo and Ruby were very active in the Frankville Community Church. They retired again to a home in Decorah and sold the farm. Ruby died 10 Sep 1982 and Leo died 15 Apr 1984.

Don married Arleen Mostrom on 7 Aug 1949. Don and Arleen (both educators) have lived in IA, MN, TX (U. S. Army), IL and OH. Both are retired. Their 2 children are Mark  and Lisa. Mark, a manager of a printing company, and Lisa, an air traffic controller, both live in Ohio. Don and Arleen have one granddaughter, Kelly.

Birdsell, James and Rachael (Folsom)

(Elaine Johnson)

Rachael Folsom was born to Alonzo Folsom in Illinois. Rachael Folsom would later recall hiding from Indians as a young girl. The family emigrated in covered wagons to Allamakee Co. They settled near the Yellow River in a stone house where many family reunions were later held. She died in her home in Frankville, IA at the age of 93.

James Birdsell was born to Israel L. and Flora (Kenyon) Birdsell. Israel Birdsell, born in 1844 and died in Sep 1852, was one of 9 sons born to William B. and Mary (Groff) Birdsell. William and Mary lived in Nova Scotia and later came to America with their family from Simco, Ontario.

Rachael Folsom married James Birdsell. The Birdsell family lived on a farm west of Frankville. They became the parents of 3 children: Roy, Ray and Lottie.

James Birdsell had served in the Civil War. He had been rejected after his second enlistment was accepting allowing him to serve. Rachael and James are buried in the Centennial Cemetery.

Bjelland, Scott and Sue (Borg)

(Sue Borg Bjelland)

Scott, Sue, Ethan and Erica Bjelland.

Bjonerud-Olson, Ingvald and Randi

(Ruth J. Bjonerud)

Ingvald and Randi Bjonerud-Olson raised 9 children. The families of this generation were very particular on religious training. The children had to spend 3 months each spring in Norwegian school (which was a parochial school conducted in the Norwegian language) until they were confirmed. Besides religion they learned reading, writing and spelling in this language. My grandfather was rather unusual for his time in the field of education. He didn’t force the children to go to school beyond a certain level but if they wanted to go he paid for it. The only one that didn’t finish grade school and get more education was my father Robert.

I don't know when the family had their first radio but they always had newspapers. Once a year Ingvald would go to Decorah and subscribe to the Chicago Tribune, St. Paul Pioner Press, Des Moines Register, Decorah Journal, Decorah Public Opinion, Calmar Courier, Ossian Bee and Decorah Posten. The children were expected to read these papers from front to back.

This was a family that played together. They had their own baseball and basketball teams. The younger sons played on the organized Conover team. On days they played at 2 in the afternoon my grandmother had to have dinner ready at 10 A.M. so they could get to the ball diamond on time, a mile away. When the children had all left home and came back for vacations, I remember them sitting at the kitchen table playing cards and having friendly disagreements. During World War I, 5 of the sons served in the army.