was a home for many years, filled with people and living.

I    treasure my own memories and the memories entrusted to me by my family.

Jorgensen, Sven and Dorothy (Spencer)

(Dorothy Jorgensen)

Dorothy Jane Spencer was born 19 Dec 1910 in Homestead, Allegheny Co. PA. She was the second of the six children of Elbert Roy and Sue Estelle (Thompson) Spencer. Dorothy’s siblings were: Virginia, Robert, Barbara, Stephen and Herbert. The family lived in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co. until 1921 when they moved to Lansing, Ml.

On 15 May 1932 Dorothy married Sven Jorgensen. Sven was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1896 and grew up in the small town of Brobyvaerk, Denmark. Dorothy and Sven made their home near St. Clair, St. Clair Co., Ml where Sven worked as a farm manager. In addition to being a homemaker, Dorothy worked as a Librarian for many years.

Dorothy and Sven had 3 children: Erik Spencer (b.in Lansing), Hans Peter (b. in St. Clair) and Katherine Ellen (b. in St. Clair). Erik married Mary Joanne Denomey. They make their home in Rochester, Ml. They have 4 children. Hans “Peter” is married to Shan Thomas. Peter and Shan live in Decorah. They are co-directors of the Institute for Agricultural Biodiversity and the Farm Park. Shan also is the Archivist at the Luther College Preus Library. Peter and Shan have 2    children. Katherine, known as "Kelly", is married to Dennis Lee Perry. They live in Palatine, IL. Kelly and Dennis have 2 children.

Dorothy’s husband, Sven, died in 1979. She remained in St. Clair until 1991 when she moved to Decorah and entered the Aase Haugen Home to be near her son Peter and his wife Shan. Dorothy is a member of the Methodist Church.

Josvanger, H. O. and Isabel Gustine (Bakken)

(Frances M. Jeffers)

The H O. Josvanger family
Back, left to right: O. Benjamin, Ida and H. George.
Middle: M. Charlotte and Freda E.B.,
P Esther K. sits in her father's lap, H. Oscar, Clara M. and
Isabel M. in her mother's lap.

In 1884 Hans Oleson Josvanger (b. 19 Jan 1861) immigrated to America from Hafslo Parish, Norway. He had graduated from teachers’ training in Norway prior to this time and thus pursued this profession for a year in Pope Co., MN before coming to Winneshiek Co., IA where he taught in the Norwegian school later giving himself over completely to farming in Madison Twp. H. 0. Josvanger was an accomplished musician. His violin is still in the Josvanger family.

On 31 Oct 1886 he married Isabel Gustine Bakken (b. 21 Aug 1864 in Madison Twp.), daughter of Ole Helgeson and Ingeborg Gautesdtr Bakken in the United Lutheran Church (now Decorah Lutheran Church) with Ole and Andreas Bakken, cousins of the bride, as witnesses.

Mr. Josvanger suffered from Bright’s disease and asthma, dying on 23 Jan 1915. He had become a naturalized citizen of the United States 10 Oct 1895. During his lifetime he had served in various positions in his church and community. Mrs. John (Kari) Flaten and Bendik 0. Dahl, sister and brother of Hans 0. Josvanger, survived him as well as his wife and 9 children.

The Josvangers were parents of 9 children, all of whom grew to adulthood and married. They were Ida Otilde (b. 27 May 1887), Ole Benjamin (b. Jul 27 1889), Henry George (b. 27 Oct 1891), Maline Charlotte (b. 1 Sep 1894), Frida Elisabeth Benora (b. 12 Aug 1896), Clara Margrethe (b. 25 Sep 1898), Hans Oscar (b. 4 Sep 1900), Palma Esther Kathrine (b. 3 Apr 1904) and Isabel Magdalena (b. 15 Jul 1907). All 9 children were given the opportunity for furthering their education. Breckenridge, Waldorf, Luther and St. Olaf were colleges attended.

Mrs. Josvanger was an active member of the United Lutheran Church as was her husband. She had attended Valders’ School prior to her marriage. Isabel Gustine died of heart problems 8 Dec 1917 at her home in Madison Twp. Both Mr. and Mrs. Josvanger were buried in the Lutheran Church Cemetery in Decorah.

Josvanger, Hans Oscar and Helen (Hedin)

(Fran Jeffers)

Hans Oscar Josvanger, born 4 Sep 1900, was the youngest son of Hans Oleson and I. Gustine (Bakken) Josvanger. His parents died before he attended Waldorf College. He graduated with a B.A. degree from St. Olaf College. Known as “Mike" at college, he carried the name the rest of his life. Mike taught chiefly in Eau Claire and Racine, Wl. He taught at McKinley Junior High School in Racine from 1931 until he retired in 1964.

On 1 Aug 1931 Hans Oscar married Helen Elvira Hedin, born 2 Aug 1905 in Minneapolis to Swedish immigrant Charles Frederick Hedin (aka Karl Hogman in Sweden) and Amanda Wilhelmina Geiir. Helen taught kindergarten in the Racine School System for many years, retiring in 1970.

The Josvangers were parents of 2 sons, Charles Frederick and Michael Paul. Charles Frederick married Ruth Ann Petry born in Portsmouth, OH. They are parents of 5 children: Lee Ann, Eric