Cresco. Ella had 4 brothers and sisters: Grace (m. Cal Bessman); Reuben (d. 1978); Lloyd (1901-1978); and Esther Ann (m. Don Elder). Ella graduated from Cresco High School and taught school before her marriage.

Lester first farmed near Harmony, MN and in Mar 1946 moved to a farm in Decorah Twp. The farm is still in the family, being presently owned and operated by Allen Barnes.

Taken in Decorah, IA right before Elizabeth's wedding. First row: Eileen (Barnes) Smith, Grandpa Lester Barnes Dorothy (Barnes) Esse, Grandma Ella (Naab) Barnes and Elizabeth (Barnes) Mostrom. Second row: Allen Barnes, Kenny Barnes and Ronald Roger Barnes (my dad). Back: Richard Barnes.

Lester died 5 May 1973 and is buried at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah.

Lester loved music. He played the cornet in the Harmony City Band and in the Decorah City Band. He also enjoyed fishing. Ella raised a large garden every year and did a lot of canning. She is fond of flowers and had a great flower garden. She makes quilts and crochets afghans. She has made many, many quilts and afghans for her children and grandchildren. Ella lives on the home farm with her son Allen.

Barnes, Ronald and lla (Groth)

(Rhonda Barnes Lewison)

Ronald “Ronnie” Roger Barnes was born 21 May 1933 at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Cresco, IA, the son of Lester Earl and Ella Elizabeth (Naab) Barnes. (See Lester and Ella Barnes history). Ronnie was baptized at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. He had 3 brothers and 3 sisters: Richard, Allen, Kenneth, Elizabeth, Eileen and Dorothy. Ronald attended a country school 1 1/2 miles north of Fremont Lutheran Church in Winneshiek Co. After the family moved to Decorah Twp. he attended Decorah public schools and graduated in 1952 from Decorah High School.

Ronald married lla Anne Groth 14 Feb 1953, Valentine’s Day, in a parsonage in Kasson, MN. lla was born in Highland Twp., Winneshiek Co. at the home of her parents, Luther Charles Henry and Julia Amanda (Larson) Groth, 2 1/2 miles southwest of Highland Lutheran Church.

Ronald farmed one mile north of Fremont Lutheran Church on the Rupert and Luna Barnes’farms. His uncle, Claude, helped Ronald farm until Claude's death in the 60’s. Ronald then bought the farms from Rupert's children. In 1969 he bought his Uncle Glen's farm north of Harmony, MN, 1 mile on Hwy 52. Ronald and lla also bought the farm to the west and built a new home there. At this time Howard Co. School District was forcing all children living in IA to attend IA schools. That was one of the main reasons Ronald sold the Barnes farms in Winneshiek Co. and moved just north of Harmony, MN. He did not want his children attending Cresco, IA schools. Ronald crop-farmed, milked cows and raised pigs and beef cattle. He was very active in the community, served on the church council, was a Harmony School Board member and a member of the Harmony Golf Club.

My family here: Ronald Roger Barnes and lla Anne (Groth) Barnes. Named after our father, our first names started with “R". Names after our grandfathers, Lester Barnes and Luther Groth, our middle names started with T. Rhonda Lee, Russell Lynn, Robin Lou and Randall Lane, Taken at our church, Fremont Lutheran Church.

Ronald died in a plane crash 1 mile northwest of the Preston Airport 5 Dec 1981 in a plane that he and a friend owned together. He is buried at the Greenfield Lutheran Cemetery, Harmony. His hobbies were golfing, fishing and flying. Ronald was active during his early life in football, basketball and softball, lla attended country school by her home in Highland Twp. and graduated from Decorah High School in 1953. She graduated from Rochester College, Winona State University, with a degree in nurs