They are members of the Salem United Church of Christ, Ludlow Twp, Allamakee Co. They have one daughter, Darlene.

Donald attended Waukon High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 as an Army Paratrooper. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC.

Donald married Janet Huinker 28 Jun 1985 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville. They operate the Hanson family farm. They have one child, Joel Donald, born at the Decorah Hospital. He attends the Postville school.

Janet was born at the Decorah Hospital to Charles G. Huinker and Edna Brincks.

As a young boy Charles moved with his parents from Seneca, Wl to Iowa. Charles and Edna grew up on neighboring farms in Bloomfield Twp, Winneshiek Co. They are the parents of seven children: Janet, Judy, Nancy, Larry, Sherry, Debbie and Joey.

Janet graduated from the St. Francis DeSales High School in Ossian and from the Capri Beauty School in Cedar Rapids. She has been owner/operator of Janet’s Clip and Curl in Frankville for 23 years. Janet's first marriage was to Gary E. Larson. They had two children: Randall and Christine.

Randall was born at Postville where he attended school. After graduation he attended the DeVry School of Electronics in Kansas City. He married Lynette Wilharm at Buck Creek, St. John's Lutheran Church 24 Aug 1991. Randy and Lynette live near Sumner. They have two children: Abigail and Alexandria, twin girls born at Covenant Hospital in Waterloo.

Christine Kay was born at Winneshiek Co. Memorial Hospital. She graduated from Postville High School. She attended Iowa State University in Ames, where she received a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Christine married Barry D. Twait 5 Sep 1992 at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church, Ossian. She is employed by the Iowa Waster Reduction Center, Ames.

Hanson, Julius and Mathilda (Hagle)

(Lorraine Houck)

Julius Hanson was born 25 Mar 1858 in Pleasant Twp. and died 17 Dec 1944. He was the son of Hans Jensen (Leidahl) who was born 17 Apr 1832 in Norway and died 15 Jul 1901. Hans married Grethe Aslene Gunderson in Norway in 1853. She was born 24 Apr 1832 in Nasvog, Norway and died 12 Dec 1906.

Hans and Grethe left Norway 17 Apr 1854 and arrived in Decorah, IA just before harvest. They settled on a farm in Pleasant Twp., Winneshiek Co. one mile south of Big Canoe Church. They lived in a 2-room log house, one room up and one room down, for 15 years before they built a frame house.

They had 9 children: Gust, Amalia, Julius, Anton, Albert, Hans, Andrew, Julia, and Jacob. Gust their oldest, (b. 6 Nov 1853) in Norway. The rest of the children were born in Pleasant Twp. Amalja (b. 11 Mar 1856-d. 25 Jan 1932): Julius (b. 25 Mar 1858 - d. 17 Dec 1944); Anton (b. 5 Jan 1860 - d. 31 Oct 1944); Albert (b. 6 Feb 1862 - d. 17 Apr 1950); Hans (b. 23 Jul 1864 - d. 8 Sep 1933): Andrew (b. 14 Dec 18661 Julia lived 4 and a half months; Jacob (b. 29 Mar 1875 - d. 8 Jul 1956).

Some members of the family went by the name Hanson others by Leidahl.

Mathilda’s family came from Norway. Her father Johan Halvorson Hagle was born 9 Jan 1817 and her mother, Inga, was born 11 Jan 1862. On the way to America 2 brothers died and had to be thrown over board. They raised 6 more children in America: Herman, Mike, Mathilda, Mary, Johanna and Fred.

Julius and Mathilda had 5 children: Ida, Ida Josephine, Hattie, Alice and William. Ida died in infancy. Ida Josephine (b. 19 Jul 1884 - d. 23 Oct 1955). She married Anton Ellingson 14 Jun 1906 at the Ellingson home. Anton was born 13 Oct 1880 and died 8 Jul 1962. They had 9 children: Tilvina Bigler, Myrtle Bigler, Arnold, Irene Tilleros, Julius, Erven, Clifford, Bernice Byrnes, and Helen Bergan.

Hattie (b. 12 Oct 1886 -d. 30 Apr 1973) remained single and was a wonderful housekeeper, seamstress and loved by all her nieces and nephews.

Alice (b. 9 Mar 1889 - d. 22 Nov 1982) married Helmer Thompson 25 Feb 1920. He was born 20 Nov 1886 and died 2 Jun 1954.

William (b. 6 Apr 1891 -d. 13 Jul 1959) married Minnie Finholt 9 May 1917. She was born 29 Jan 1897 and died 30 Sep 1972 . They had 4 children: Eileen Cross, Leon, Phyllis Thompson and Wilma Mavis.

In 1900 Julius was postmaster at the Sattre Store for 3 and a half years. Alice was only 11 years old but she helped to sort the mail by standing on a stool to reach the boxes. They also lived on a farm near the store before 1900 and after 1903 and eventually moved to Ravine St. in Decorah. The relatives always looked forward to celebrating the 4th of July at their home. No one came to their home without Grandpa Julius praying the table prayer and you didn't leave the table until you were excused.

Hanson, Merlin and Evelyn (Aasum)

(Merlin and Evelyn Hanson)

Merlin F. Hanson was born in Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co., IA. He was the son of Bennie and Velma (Roney) Hanson. Bennie was born in Canoe Twp. on 3 Jan 1901, the son of Hans L. and Beret Haugen Hanson. Velma Roney was born 11 Aug 1904 in Decorah, IA the daughter of Frank and Maggie Hill Roney.

Bennie and Velma were married 3 Jun 1925 in Decorah. They had 5 children: Kenneth, Arlin, Merlin, Roselyn and Willard.

Merlin married Evelyn Aasum 17 Sep 1960 at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church with Pastor David Lee officiating. Evelyn was born in Preble Twp. Fillmore Co., MN. Her parents were Carl Aasum and Palma Tengesdal Aasum. Carl was born in Fillmore Co. on 4 Jan 1891 and Palma was born 6 Jul 1895. They were married on 17 Nov 1923. They had one child: Evelyn. They moved to Hesper Twp. in Winneshiek Co., in 1932. They were members of the Hesper Lutheran Church and are buried in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.