Rudringen. She married Erik Schjeldahl (Schedldahl of Schjoldahl). They lived at Highlandville and had six children: Oscar married Hannah Thorson and farmed in North Dakota. Theodore married Nettie Opheim. He was a Luther College graduate and became a civil engineer for the Milwaukee Road Railroad. They had four children: Erick, Ingolph, Aron and Ellen. Margaret did not marry. Randvi also did not marry. The two sisters lived in California for a long time. After retiring, they lived at Leisure World and were joined by their cousin, Alice Arneson. Edgar married Louise Langeland. They had ten children. They gave their daughter Adelaide (b. 26 Feb 1912), then aged two, to Edgar’s aunt Mari (Arneson) Halstenrud and her husband, N.S. (Stoflet) to raise as their own. They had been childless. When widow Mari died in 1932, the whole relationship (27 names) were sued on behalf of Adelaide (Schjeldahl) Rauk for the estate - a 160 acre farm and a house in Mabel, MN valued at a total of $15,000. That was a lot in 1932! Adelaide won and died within the year and her husband got it all. Arthur (b. 1893) was a dentist in Valley City, ND. He retired to California.

Schjoll, Olaus and Deoline (Skinderviken)

(Alfred G. Kvammen)

Olaus Schjoll was born 14 Aug 1846 in Lena, Norway. Olaus emigrated to American and became a United States citizen in 1871. He bought an 180 acre farm in Glenwood Twp. on 19 Apr 1876. Olaus sold this farm in 1920 to Christian Shegrud. The farm is now owned by Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Rosendahl.

Olaus' wife, Deoline (Skinderviken) Schjoll was born 19 Aug 1847 in Toten, Norway. Deoline’s last name (Skinderviken) was changed to Vick when the family came to America. The Skinderviken’s (Vick's) left Toten 17 Apr 1869 with Winneshiek Co. as their destination. The family started from Eidsvold with stops in Oslo and Drammen, Norway. The family made the trip to America aboard the sail ship Manilla. The ship's captain was C. Baardsrud. On the trip across the Atlantic Ocean the ship they were on came close to colliding with another ship. Deoline was the first on board to notice a light ahead of them on the ocean. Thinking they were nearing the shore, she told the captain who soon discovered the light was from another ship which was coming directly towards them. The captain was very angry; he claimed the other ship was off course. Because sailing ships had only the wind to depend on for power, the ships were in a dangerous position by getting so close. Because Deoline noticed the lights of the ship, she may have prevented a catastrophe. The trip across the Atlantic from Drammen, Norway to Quebec, Canada took more than 5 weeks.

From Quebec the family traveled down the St. Lawrence River and then by railroad through Milwaukee, Wl to Lansing, IA. They arrived in Lansing 1 Jul 1869. Here they were fortunate to meet a farmer who lived in the area where they planned to go. He gave them all a ride in his lumber wagon. His name was Christian Sivesind. At this point it had been 74 days since the family left their home in Norway on 17 Apr.

When they came to America, the family name was changed from Schjoll to Scholl.

Olaus Scholl died 29 Apr 1924; Deoline Scholl died 25 Jun 1916. Both are buried at the Pontoppidan Cemetery, rural Decorah.

Schmidt, Helen (Grant)

(Helen Schmidt)

Back: Randall and Brandon. Middle: Helen. Front: Sandra and Candyce.

Helen Mabel Grant was born in Pleasant Twp, the oldest child and only daughter of Fred and Hazel (Barth) Grant. The family moved to Decorah when Helen was two.

She was educated in the Decorah Public Schools and was an honor student throughout her school years. She participated in drama, debate, and vocal and instrumental music.

She graduated in 1943 and, the following year, moved to St, Louis, MO where she obtained work in a plant that manufactured all sorts of small items relating to World War II.

Helen married ex-paratrooper Melvin Arthur Schmidt on 6 Sep 1952 in Pocahontas, AR. He was born in St. Louis, MO. The couple lived in St. Louis until they were divorced 14 Nov 1966. Four children were born to this marriage: Randall Howard,  Sandra Gay, Candyce Joy, and Brandon Elliot. All the children were born in St. Louis.

Always the champion of children and education, Helen was the president of the Roe Meyer-Stern Preschool PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and Roe School PTA, and on the St. Louis Council of PTA’s. During these tenures