in Albert Lea, MN. Ruth has a sister, Evadne (also a Luther student from 1954-56), and 3 brothers: Lowell, Carlyle and Steven.

Ruth, a 1951 Albert Lea High School graduate, attended Fairview Hospital School of Nursing before returning to Luther to complete her BA in 1955 in elementary education. Ruth taught third grade in Kenyon, MN. In 1956 Ruth came to Decorah as a second grade teacher.

Robert Borseth, a 1948 Decorah High School graduate, 4th child and first Borseth son, served his 2 year hitch in the Marine Corps with one year in the Korean conflict. During summers when in high school, Bob had worked for Carl Haga and Ingvald Erickson. Just prior to his service time, he worked for Jevne brothers in Springfield Twp. Upon discharge from the Marines, he worked for Theodore O. Kvale. Bob bought the Kvale farm with aid of a FHA loan in 1958.

Robert and Ruth met late in Nov 1957 at a Winneshiek Co. Senior Luther League meeting held in the old Decorah Lutheran Church basement. After Ruth returned from a tour of Europe in the summer of 1958, the couple began to date. On 1 Feb 1959 they became engaged. Robert and Ruth were married at East Freeborn Lutheran church, rural Albert Lea, on 7 Jun 1959 by Rev. C.S. Pederson.

They farmed in Madison Twp. west of Decorah. Bob served on the church council, as church custodian and dug graves at the Madison Lutheran church where he and Ruth were members. It was there, on 18 Apr 1986 near the church, where Bob, age 56, met his untimely death while unloading excess dirt into the road ditch from a grave he had dug during the winter.

Ruth and Robert had planned a trip to Norway in June which Bob was just living for at the time of his death. Bob always said, “We’ve got to be good to the kids so they'll take care of us in our old age.’’ But Bob did not see “old age”.

Robert and Ruth have 3 children: 2 daughters and a son. Rebecca Ann married Lloyd Spielbauer of Volga, IA. They are dairy farmers and are parents of 4 children: Stephanie Marie (who was 1 1/2 months old when her Grandpa died), Christina Ruth, Elizabeth Rose and Robert Joseph (named for his grandpas). Kristin Marie married Charles Daws of Cedar Falls. Kris and Chuck live in northeast Minneapolis. Kris is a biochemist for Biometrics Systems in Eden Prairie. Chuck is a visiting professor of chemistry in Hamlin University in St. Paul. (Both Borseth daughters and their husbands are UNI graduates.) Mark David married Betsy Sandberg 2 Sep 1994. Mark and Betsy live in Boise, ID. Mark, a seminary student, is interning at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran church in Boise.

Following Robert’s death, Ruth sold the farm to a neighbor, Carlton Kjos, in 1987. Ruth now resides in Decorah. She is active in Farm Bureau Women and Chorus, circle and WELCA and serves on the Aase Haugen Auxiliary board. She visits at Aase Haugen with her 100 year old mother-in-law, Christina Borseth, and other residents.

Bottolfson, Bottolf

(Anne (Forde Nelson) Naley)

Bottolf Olson Oina Sivlesoen came from Voss, Norway in 1848. The family first went to Milwaukee, Wl and then to Koshonong, Wl. They came to the Big Canoe settlement, Pleasant Twp., Winneshiek Co. in 1853. They settled on a farm near Sattre, IA.

Bottolf and his wife had 6 children: Ole, Erick, Eli, Anna, Lars and Sigrid. (The children all used the surname “Bottolfson”.)

When South Dakota was opened for settlement in 1858, Ole was the leader of a large group of people who went out there to take up land around Vermilion, SD. Ole married and had a large family. He also was a lawyer and served in the Legislature.

Erick married Ragna Langeland (daughter of Magne H. Langeland). They first moved to South Dakota and then to Colorado. The Magne H. Langeland family came to the Big Canoe settlement at the same time as the Bottolfson family.

EH married Ole Sattre (son of Ole Magneson Sattre). Ole and Eli had 2 sons: Dr. O.M. Sattre (Rice Lake, Wl) and Martin. Martin married Marie Gavle (sister of Andrew, Ole and Nels Gavle). Martin and Marie had a son, Melvin. Melvin married Margaret Haas. Melvin and Margaret had a son who was killed in an airplane near Decorah. He was only 19, but already had his pilot’s license. Melvin was Winneshiek County Assessor for many years. He died 6 Dec 1995 at the Aase Haugen Home, Decorah. Margaret continues to reside at the Aase Haugen Home.

When Ole Sattre died, Eli sold some of her land to Halvor J. Forde. Halvor built the Sattre Store in 1892-93 at the crossroads and the rest of the land became his son, Bottolf Forde'sfarm. Halvor’sson, Erick was the first postmaster and ran the store until 1900. Eli later married Peter Lund. Peter’s nephew, Edward Lund’s parents had died when he was young. Peter and Eli became Ed's foster parents.

Anna married Halvor J. Forde.

Lars married and also went to South Dakota.

Siarid reportedly also married.

The Bottolfson family were Charter members of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church in 1853 along with the Halvor J. Forde and Magne H. Langeland families. Bottolf Bottolfson was a great story teller. The family was jolly and good natured and leaders in the community. The Bottolfson's were tall people.

Bouska, Frank and Josephine (Koudelka)

(Alberta Bouska)

Frank Bouska was born 17 Nov 1810 at house #33 in Borovany, Tabor Township, Bohemia, the son of Frantisek and Anna (Andel/Angel) Bouska. Frantisek was born in 1775 in house #16 at Borovany. Frank had 4 sisters: Mariana, Anna, Veronica and Rosalie. Frank was married 26 Feb 1838 to Josephine Koudelka, the daughter of John and Anna (Kolar) Koudelka. Josephine was born 10 Feb 1820 at house #2 in Rakov, near Borovany. Her siblings were Frank, Anna (Martin) Lukesh, Terezla and John II.