The children were: Ole A. (23 Oct 1885-22 Jul 1951) graduated from Valparaiso University. He taught school in the Brekke school in Calmar Twp and was a conductor on the Great Northern Railroad prior to going into the army. He served as a secretary to Col. Emerson with the Army Corp of Engineers when they were repairing the trans-Siberian railroad. When the war ended he was a secretary for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Wilmington, NO.

Gustav P (3 Oct 1887-19 Dec 1963) went to Valders Business School. He worked as a telegrapher at Jamestown, ND before he went into the Army Signal Corp. Later he worked for the St. Paul, MN Water Department as a payroll accountant.

E. Regina Mellbve (28 Aug 1889-26 Feb 1958) graduated from Mankato Normal School and the University of Minnesota. She taught school at Pipestone and Sherburn, MN, Cresco, IA, Forman and Northwood, ND and Spokane, WA.

Mabel A. (22 Sep 1891-17 Aug 1954) graduated from Calmar High School. She was a secretary for the telephone company and the Calmar Creamery Company. Mabel was very active in the Ladies' Aid of the church and the American Legion Auxiliary. Her primary job was keeping house for her mother.

Robert M. (23 Dec 1893-23 Jun 1988) wasn't interested in school but liked farming at home and also for the neighbors. He was drafted in the first call from this area for World War I. He served with the 337th Machine Gun Divison in France and spent 2 weeks at Gas School at Chatillion, France. Part of the time in France he built hospitals. One night he and some friends were walking and met 3 Red Cross nurses. When they had passed he thought one looked familiar. He went back and caught up with them. The familiar one was Pauline Sandager, a second cousin who grew up 3 miles from him. When he got out of service he rented the neighbor’s farm for a year. Then he rented his father’s farm and lived there the rest of his life.

Lawrence A. (9 Jun 1895-24 Jul 1973) graduated from Valders Business School and attended the University of MN. He taught in the Wheatman school, also referred to as the Tollefson school. Lawrence was drafted into the army and served in the infantry. After he was discharged he worked for the City Service Gas Company and was superintendent of the Linwood Cemetery at Dubuque, IA.

Chester E. (6 Apr 1898-24 Dec 1976) attended Calmar High School. He farmed the family farm during WWI. Later he went to barber school in Minneapolis, MN and worked as a barber at Forman, ND. He was employed at a creamery and later at the ball park at Aberdeen, SD.

Earl S. (27 Jul 1900-6 Mar 1990) graduated from the University of MN and served with the Army ROTC while in college. He was employed by General Electric first at Schnectady, NY and later at San Francisco, CA.

Idor B. (8 Nov 1902-19 Sep 1980) graduated from a business school in Minneapolis. He operated a dry goods store at Calmar, IA. He served as secretary of the Calmar School Board and secretary of the Calmar City Council.

Bjonerud, Robert and Edna (Falnes)

(Ruth J. Bjonerud)

Edna Falnes and Robert Bjonerud were married 25 Aug 1930. They started going together soon after my dad got out of the army. He had an awful time trying to convince my mother to get married. My mother was interested in getting an education. First she went 2 years to Luther Academy in Albert Lea, MN to get a business education so she could do my grandfather’s bookwork, etc. They went down to the county treasurer with some business figures she had put together for my Grandfather. The county treasurer must have been impressed because he wanted to hire her on the spot. After 4 years she went back to Luther Academy and graduated from the college preparatory course. She received a $50 scholarship to St. Olaf College and decided to take it. When she finished her third year the finances ran out so she had to go to work. She didn’t save much money that year, she was too busy having a good time. She was able to borrow from a family member to finish her final year earning a BA degree in English. Then she taught school at Winthrop,

IA for 2 years.

My father thought he was getting a good cook like his mother and sister when he married my mother but what he got was someone who couldn't get the fire started in the stove to cook coffee. In the early 30’s things got rough financially. First there was an oats crop failure and depression hit the farmers with 2 1/2 cent hogs and 6 cents a dozen eggs. The two things they had going for them were that they had access to food, and everyone else was in the same bind. Growing up during this time I can't remember being deprived. The one thing we acquired that changed life on the farm was electricity made available in 1941. That allowed us access to many of the same conveniences available to the people in town. My father was finally able to buy the family farm in 1955 about the time he should have retired. The crops and prices were good so he managed to pay for it. When he finally did retire he enjoyed fishing and playing cards. My mother directed the church choir for 15 years. She was the last secretary for the rural township school board before the consolidation.

Their children are Neva and Ruth. Neva M. married Michael Viise. She holds a PhD in education and is working with adult literacy. Ruth J.  is a retired government employee and lives with her mother.

Bjorgo, Henry and Johanna (Kjome)

(Mildred I. Kjome)

Johanna Kjome was born 4 Mar 1891, the eldest daughter of Andrew and Clausine Kjome of Highland Twp. She attended Kjome School and was confirmed at Highland Lutheran Church. Johanna married Henry Bjorgo, son of Gunnilus and Ragnhild Eide Bjorgo, at the Highland Church 27 Jun 1908. She was only 17 years old. The couple lived on various farms in the township and then moved to Spring Grove, MN where Henry was a town