After retiring from the Air Force, Norris started selling insurance with Lincoln National Life. He also became very involved in Kiwanis, a national service organization, and on 29 Jul 1995, at Sioux City, IA, he was installed Governor of the Nebraska-lowa District of Kiwanis International. As governor he will guide the 1995-96 efforts of the 9,100 Kiwanis in the Nebraska-lowa District.

Erickson, Oscar and Marie (Sorenson)

(Norman IV Hjelmeland)

Oscar Julius Erickson, son of Hans and Guri (Valle) Erickson Ness, was born 5 Sep 1882 in Decorah Twp., Winneshiek Co. He grew to manhood on his parents’ farm in Pleasant Twp. and was confirmed in 1897 at Decorah Lutheran Church. At the age of 24 years, Oscar went to South Dakota and filed a homestead application. The homestead consisted of 160 acres and was located near Hays, SD. After proving up his homestead Oscar returned to Winneshiek Co. where he married Marie Louise Sorenson 14 Oct 1908. She was born 27 Feb 1886 at Sunnfjord, Norway, the daughter of Soren and Ellen (Anderson) Lokkebo. Marie emigrated to America and Winneshiek Co. in 1895 with her parents at the age of nine years. She was confirmed in 1901 at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Oscar and Marie (Sorenson) Erickson, 1908

After marriage Oscar and Marie Erickson traded their South Dakota homestead for the John O. Nesheim farm in Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co. They farmed and raised their family of 8 children on this farm. Oscar also worked as a cream hauler, driving a team and wagon and for the county grading roads in the summer. They were members of Decorah Lutheran Church and attended services at Springwater Church in Canoe Twp. during the summer months.

Their 8 children were: Chester, Harold, Edith, Wallace, Leona, Vivian, Arthur and Merlan. Chester Wilhelm (1911),

World War II veteran, married Elsie Francis Duemmer in 1946 and they farmed in Canoe Twp. (No children.) Harold Sylvester (1913) married Mary Eva Barth in 1938 and they farmed in Canoe Twp. They had three children: Harlan, Ervin and Marilyn. Edith Geneva (1915) married Robert Conrad Hjelmeland in 1936 and they lived in Decorah. They had 4 sons: Harold, Lester, Norman and Carl. Wallace Orlando (1917), World War II veteran, married Ella Margaret Joyce in 1944 and lived in West Virginia. They had 3 children: Marie, Ruth and Thomas. Leona Beatrice (1919) married Milo Robert Roher and they lived in Decorah. They had 4 children: David, Maxine, Dale and Richard. Vivian Eilen married Grant Jewell Barth in 1939 and they lived in Decorah. They had 7 children: Otis, Norma, Gary, Glendon, Daryl, Duane and Terry. Arthur Orvald, World War II veteran, married Evelyn Marie Houdek in 1945 and lived in Decorah. They had 2 children: Alan and Janis. Merlan Bernall, World War II veteran, was single.

Marie passed away on 6 Mar 1936 at the Decorah Hospital after an illness of nine months’ duration. She was 50 years old. Oscar continued to live on the home farm until it was destroyed by fire in 1944. He lived with family members until 1967 when he moved to the old Aase Haugen Home in rural Decorah. Oscar passed away 23 Aug 1967 at nearly 85 years of age. At the time of his death he was survived by seven of his eight children. His youngest son Merlan was fatally injured in an auto accident in 1947. Oscar and Marie Erickson are buried at the Springwater Cemetery as are both sets of parents and their son Merlan.

Erickson, Stanton and Beverly (Gulbro)

(Beverly Erickson)

I am the oldest child of Bennie and Myrtle (Solem) Gulbro. All of my great-grandparents came from Norway. My mother Myrtle passed away Dec 1993. My father is in a nursing home. I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers: Ardith lives in Bimidji, MN; Dennis and Rodney live in Minneapolis, MN; Yvonne and Mary live in Charlotte, NC; and Janet and Sherry live in Spartenburg, SC.

Until my marriage I lived in Highlandville, IA where my father owned and operated Highland General Store. On 30 Jun 1957 I married Stanton Erickson at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Stan worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation. I worked for the Department of Employment Services. Stan died 1 Feb 1993. I retired 10 Aug 1995. We have no children.

Stan liked to hunt, fish, bowl and play cards. I enjoy needlework and when I was younger, water skiing. We had a house trailer near Harper's Ferry, IA where we spent weekends and some vacations in the summer months.

Erickson, Tosten and Karen (Vik)

(Jerrine Osenga)

Tosten Erickson (8 Apr 1830-1 Jan 1914) was forty years old in 1870 when he emigrated to Burr Oak, IA from the Hadeland area of Norway, North of Oslo. He