largely designed by Esther, the culmination of 10 years of planning and drawing.

During his 42 years of farming Ed worked in partnership with his brother Ingolf. Their operation included the farming of their home places, the rental of different tracts of Mosbo and Haraldson land, joint ownership of several large pieces of machinery and the sharing of a hired hand. In 1971 Ed enlarged his operation with the purchase of 80 acres directly south of his existing property.

While at Rembrandt, in addition to his participation in town sports and church choir, Ed served on the Rembrandt school board for 10 1/2 years. Under his guidance and perseverance as school board president in the 1950’s a consolidation with part of the Highview School District was realized and Rembrandt avoided more drastic reorganization such as befell several area schools at that time. Ed served in various church offices, including president of Our Savior's Lutheran Church for a number of years. Since 1973 he was a director of the First National Bank in Rembrandt.

As Ed and Esther approached their 60's and possible retirement they weighed many factors before opting in 1980 to move from the Rembrandt community to their home in “Little Norway", Decorah, IA. They enjoyed their comfortable home (largely designed by Esther). It is nestled into a natural grove of sumac, oak, pine and birch on a hill overlooking the Upper Iowa River and Luther College on the opposite side of the valley.

Luther College comes into the “picture" in more ways than one. Ed’s avid interest in sports, begun as a child, fostered at Gale College, and continued throughout his life, perhaps made him Luther College’s number one sports fan. Both he and Esther enjoyed the recitals and concerts of the college’s music programs.

Other activities included tour guiding for Esther at Vesterheim, the Norwegian-American Museum, woodworking and lawn care for Ed and golfing for both. Each spring and fall Ed temporarily shed his retired status to assist Ingolf’s son Richard and Ed’s son Rolf with planting and harvesting.

Ed and Esther had 4 children: Paul, Eloise (m. Obman), Rolf and Erik (See their family histories.) All the children attended Luther College except Erik. He completed a 2 year course in auto mechanics at the area technical school in Ft. Dodge, IA.

Ed died 26 Jan 1992 of renal cancer which attacked the bones. At his funeral in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Paul Solberg termed him “The ultimate Norse spirit." His other name should be “Faithful steward of the land.”

Esther remained in Decorah to enjoy the music and student recitals in particular where she sketches profiles of performers on the programs with a ballpoint pen.

Mosbo, Edward Paul and Vivian (Anderson)

(Esther Mosbo)

Edward Paul Mosbo was born on (his father’s birthday) in Sioux Rapids, IA to Edward and Esther (Thorson) Mosbo. Paul attended Rembrandt Consolidated School, Rembrandt, IA and graduated from high school in 1958. He enrolled at Luther College, Decorah, IA and graduated in 1962. His graduate work was in mathematics at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he earned his masters and doctorate degrees. Paul met Vivian Anderson at the University of Nebraska. They were married 28 Aug 1965. Their 2 sons, Jon and Christopher, were born in Lincoln. In 1970 Paul began teaching mathematics at the State University of New York College at Cortland where he is currently on the faculty. Paul coached Jon and Christopher on the violin and he learned to play the viola. Vivian learned the cello. The family performs as a string quartet.

Vivian taught part-time and studied at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY for a doctorate in mathematics education and a masters in computer science. She has been employed at Hamilton U, Clinton, NY for several years since getting those degrees.

Paul’s avocations are playing the viola and studying voice. He sings bass in the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble and the Cornell Chorale. He organized the Cortland chamber singing group and the Cortland Chamber ensemble in which he plays viola. Paul fills occasional requests for bass solos.

Jon was born 28 Jan 1966. At age 5 he began learning Suzuki violin with his father as the coach. The family string quartet consists of Jon and his brother Christopher playing violin, his father playing viola and his mother playing cello. When he was 8 years old, beginning piano lessons was a birthday gift. Jon completed his last 2 years of high school at Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Ml. He graduated from Colgate University, Hamilton, NY and is taking performance viola at Oueens College in New York City. He is part of a promising string quartet.

Christopher at age 3 began learning Suzuki violin with his father as the coach. When he was 6 years old beginning piano lessons was a birthday gift. Christopher added organ to his piano and violin playing, studying organ at the Lutheran Music Camp held Jul 1984 at Luther College. At 16 he was organist at the American Lutheran Church in Cortland, NY He graduated from Luther College in 1994 and is doing math assistantship and studying for further degrees at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. He took violin and organ at Luther and does very well with all his music. On 8 Jun 1996 he will marry Magdalena of Prague, Czech Republic, who is at KSU doing a math assistantship.

Mosbo, Erik and Mariellen (Olson)

(Esther Mosbo)

Erik Edward Mosbo was born in Sioux Rapids, IA to Edward Johannes and Esther (Thorson) Mosbo. Erik attended Rembrandt Consolidated School at Rembrandt and was in one of the last classes to be graduated from Rembrandt High School prior to the high school merging with the high school in Sioux Rapids.

Machinery was Erik’s interest from early childhood. During his teen years his consuming project was modifying stock cars for racing the drag strip near Humboldt, IA where he won numerous trophies.