Berg, Bennie and Lillie (Knoke)

(Lillie Berg)

Bennie and Lillie Berg

Bennie Telford Berg was born 8 Mar 1906 in Glenwood Twp, Winneshiek Co. His parents were Carl and Ida (Kirkeby) Berg. He had a brother and a sister: Joseph Berg and Cora (Mrs. Olaf) Henrickson, both of Decorah.

On 24 Feb 1932 Bennie married Lillie Pearl Knoke at the Lutheran Parsonage in Decorah. Lillie was born 11 Feb 1905 in Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co., the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Barth) Knoke. Henry was bom in Canada and Caroline in Canoe Township. Caroline died in 1942 and Henry in 1943. The Knoke’s lived on a farm 3 miles west of Locust. Lillie was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Locust by Rev. Seehus. She had 4 brothers and a sister: Clarence Knoke, Edwin Knoke, Ernest Knoke, Delbert Knoke and Laura (Knoke) Headington.

Bennie and Lillie farmed in Glenwood Twp. for many years. When they retired in 1974, they moved to Decorah. Lillie cooked at the A&W Restaurant in Decorah for a number of years. In addition, she and her husband made the coleslaw for the Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant. Bennie died 2 Dec 1985. He is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Bennie and Lillie were members of the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church when they lived on the farm. After moving to Decorah they joined the Decorah Lutheran Church. Lillie was active in Circle and WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Lillie presently lives at the Aase Haugen Home, Decorah.

Berg, Donald L. and Barbara (Hamre)

(Donald and Barbara Berg)

Mrs. Donald L. Berg was Barbara Jane Hamre before her marriage 4 Sep 1960. She was one of twin daughters of Peter and Margreth (Johnson) Hamre who lived in Springfield Twp. on the ancestral Hamre farm. Peter’s grandfather, Peder Pedersen Hamre, settled on the farm in 1854 and walked to Dubuque, IA to record his claim.

Peder Pedersen Hamre came from Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Norway about 1850 and first purchased a piece of timberland near the present Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. He was still single at that time and was free to travel. He worked during the winters in the pineries of Wisconsin and had the interesting experience of riding the rafts of logs from Wisconsin to New Orleans.

Peder Pedersen Hamre was born on a husmannsplass in Vestre Slidre, across the lake from Vestre Slidre Church 13 Feb 1831. He married Berit Throndsdtr. Hoyme 25 Jul 1854. His wife was a first cousin of Gjermund Hoyme whose youngest son-also named Gjermund-became the first president of the United Church.

Peder and Berit Hamre had 11 children. The youngest was named George. He was born 24 Jun 1877. He grew up on the farm but served as a mail carrier in the early years of that service. His route took him into the vicinity of Springfield Church. In this way he met his wife-to-be, Randina Gullikson, a descendant of immigrants from Vang, Valdres, Norway. They were married 10 Oct 1901.

Peter G. and Margreth (Johnson) Hamre and their twin daughters Phyllis and Barbara.

George and “Dina” had 2 sons; the younger son died unnamed at birth in 1913. Their first son was Peter G. Hamre, born 22 Nov 1902. George and Peter both sang for awhile with the Grieg Chorus of Nordness. Peter played a banjo for various community events. He met his wife-to-be at a baseball game in Nordness. He and Margreth