ing. Ila is a registered nurse at St. Marys Hospital and lives in Rochester, MN. After Ronnie's death she moved there to be near her work. Ila enjoys gardening and bird

watching.

Ronnie and lia had 4 children: Rhonda Lee, Russell Lynn, Robin Lou and Randall Lane. All their first names begin with “R” after their father’s name, Ronald, and their middle names begin with T after their grandfathers, Lester Barnes and Luther Groth. All the children were born at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital at Cresco.

Rhonda Lee was born 17 Sep 1953. She married Robert James Lewison 22 Jun 1974 at Greenfield Lutheran Church, Harmony. Robert was born 14 Jul 1953. Rhonda and Robert have 2 children: Michelle Lee, born 15 May 1976 at Mitchell Memorial Hospital, Osage, IA. Michelle is a sophomore at Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA; Robert “Bobby” Ronald was born 3 Feb 1984. Bobby is a 6th grader at LeRoy-Ostrander schools where his mother, Rhonda, has been the elementary librarian for the past 12 years. Rhonda’s hobbies are flower gardening, listening to music, calligraphy and photography. Both the children play the piano and trumpet like their greatgrandfather, Lester Barnes. They have lived 1 mile northeast of LeRoy, MN for 20 years.

Russell “Rustv” Lvnn was born 28 Feb 1955. He married Kathy Jo Gronnemeyer of Craig, IA 4 Sep 1976. Kathy was born 9 Feb 1955. Russell and Kathy have 2 children: Katie Lynn, born 13 May 1986 in Jackson, MN and Andrew Joseph, born 24 Oct 1994 at Olmsted Hospital, Rochester. Katie enjoys reading, horseback riding and playing the piano. Rusty is a buyer for Crenlo, Inc. and Kathy is an elementary teacher at Gage School in Rochester. They live 1 mile west of Rochester. Rusty’s hobbies are fishing, boating, golfing and hunting. Kathy’s hobbies are reading, vegetable and flower gardening, biking and hiking.

Robin Lou was born 7 Mar 1960. She married Charles Wright Lukes 30 Nov 1985 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mankato, MN. Robin is a hair stylist and Charlie is a travel agent of Lutes Travel in Mankato. They both enjoy their 2 dogs, Bud and Rosie, and like to watch football. They live in Mankato.

Randall Lane was born 5 Mar 1965. He married Ste-fanie Hettervig 4 Sep 1993 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Byron, MN. Stefanie was born 10 Dec 1967 in Houston, TX to Melvin J. and Katherine Anna (Huard) Hettervig. She has 4 sisters: Cynthia Maria, Gena Katherine, Mary Elizabeth and Laura Ann. When Stefanie was 2 her family moved to Warwick, NY where they lived for 7 years. Currently they live in Kasson. Randy’s hobbies are snowmobiling and golfing. Stefanie enjoys snowmobiling, making crafts and cooking. Stefanie and Randy met at Clements Chevrolet and Cadillac of Rochester and they are both employed there. Their home is in Chatfield, MN.

Barrett, Harry and Esther (Rohm)

(Anna Iverson)

Harry K. Barrett was born 29 Jan 1889 in Chicago, IL to Stanley and Lucy Susanna (Paclo) Barrett. Harry was educated in the Chicago schools. He was first a steel worker and then was the clerk for the City Sanitary Works of Chicago. He married Esther Rohm 13 May 1930 in the Wicker Park Lutheran Church in Chicago.

Esther Henrietta was born 14 Oct. 1897 in Decorah, IA to Ole Helgeson and Minda (Amundsen) Rohm. Esther had one sister, Mabel (m. Oliver Eittreim), and one brother Erling (married Marie Kastner) She also had two half-sisters and two half-brothers: twins Arnold Rohm (married Dolores Brooks) and Anna Rohm (married Leonard Iverson); twins Marvin (married Ruth Anderson) and Martha (married Charles Rosendahl). Esther graduated from Decorah High School in 1915 following which she worked as a telephone operator in Decorah and later in Elkader, IA. Then she attended Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago graduating in nursing in May 1930. She also completed a course of study in 1932 at Northwestern Business College. She worked in Chicago and became head nurse at North Riverside, IL Tuberculosis Sanitorium.

Esther and Harry moved to Decorah in 1948. They built a home on Pershing Ave. and Esther began nursing at Smith Memorial Hospital. Harry died 9 Feb 1969 and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Esther was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church. She was active in a church circle and the Winneshiek County Nurses Association. Due to a stroke Esther moved to the Eastern Star Home and later to the Aase Haugen home in Aug 1984. She died 5 Jun 1992 and is buried at the Lutheran Cemetery.

Barta, Cyril and Mathilda (Backes)

(Mathilda Barta)

Cyril M. Barta was born 6 Jul 1907 on a farm near Spillville, IA. His parents were John and Victoria (Krevouk) Barta.

On 27 1932 Cyril married Mathilda “Tillie” Backes at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, St. Lucas. Tillie was born 26 Aug 1913 on a farm near St. Lucas. She was the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Herold) Backes. She had 12 brothers and sisters: Jake, George, Leo, Bill, Margaret, Mayme, Rose, Nettie, Kathyn, Anna and Lucy. Tillie’s father was a stone mason and brick layer. She was raised in a large, close-knit family. She learned from a caring, loving mother to cook and bake. Tillie was an excellent cook and baker of bread, pies and kolaches.

Cyril and Tillie farmed near Ft. Atkinson. They raised hogs, milked cows and grew corn, oats and hay. Cyril also had a trencher and did farm drainage and tiling to support the family. Tillie also worked at Bucheit Produce, Calmar and later at the Cliff House Motel and Restaurant, Decorah. In addition, she always raised a large garden and canned a lot of fruits and vegetables.