he bought a commercial truck for custom hauling, and a threshing machine with which he would do custom threshing in the county - sometimes contracting up to 24 different farms from August through November each year. He bought a 2-row John Deere mounted corn picker and in 1941 picked 620 acres of corn in 44 days from October to January. Later on he bought an Allis Chalmers pull-type combine to help neighbors with their oats, beans and clover seed because many of the neighbors and their sons were in World War II as were Arthur’s brothers Willard, Henry and Lester.

Arthur served two terms at Washington Prairie as trustee, signed and renewed the Articles and Constitution of the church which had been signed by his grandfather in 1907, was a deacon and usher several years, and was vice-president of the Lutheran Brotherhood where he organized teams to play dartball with area churches. In 1947 he helped haul rock which was hammered and squared for the new Parish Hall. He was the last director of the Red Oak School and was a director when the Nordness Telephone Co. before Bell Telephone moved the switch to Decorah. In 1951 eight neighbors with tractors moved the granary from west of the house to near the hoghouse. In 1953 he removed the summer kitchen from the house and added a garage. In 1993 he put steel sliding on and tuckpointed the barn.

He loved to fish and hunt, but loved baseball most. Arthur played and managed the Nordness team in the Cow Pasture League on Sunday afternoons on the diamonds his dad had made on the farm. He also played softball in Decorah. Art and Elsie moved to Decorah in 1986 but Art continues to go to the farm to paint, weed and fence and improve it. Elsie loved the church and just finished this farm history in August 1995.

FIFTH GENERATION: Arlin Tollef Darrel Raymond were baptized and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church by Rev. Engebretson and Rev. Ellefson, where they attended Sunday School, Bible School, choir and Luther League. They attended Red Oak and Nordness schools. Reorganization of schools was begun as they went to Decorah schools in their 7th and 8th grades and then to high school for 4 years, graduating in 1966 and 1967 from the new Thomas Roberts High School. They were members of the Springfield Choreboys 4-H Club and also had his own Rocket Club.

Arlin graduated in 1970 from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, receiving a B.S. degree in Industrial Administration. In 1971, he started his life-long career at the Iowa Department of Transportation in Ames. He spent 3 years on a land surveying team and 7 years in transportation planning. He early became interested in and learned how to operate and program computers, and eventually became a Senior Systems Analyst working with motor vehicle data bases. He likes traveling and is very active in organizing events and participating in local and state Democratic politics. His favorite hobbies are photography, video taping and watching ISU sports.

Darrel graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a B.S. in physics in 1972 and an M.A. in

Public Administration in 1974. While there he taught sailing, worked in the physics department and was a housefellow for students. In 1977, he received a J.D. in Law at Drake University. In 1977-1983, he came back to Decorah, was Winneshiek Co. Attorney, served on the Decorah City Council, was Assistant Professor of Economics at Luther College and commander of the local Army Reserve Engineering Company. He is General Counsel at ElectroCom Automation in Arlington, TX. Darrel is a Major in the Army Reserves, loves to travel, fly and sail with his wife Betty (a physical therapist) and their 2 children - Andrew  and Sarah .

Bray, Fred and Catherine (Powers)

(Karen (Becker) May)

Catherine Joan Powers was born 7 Sep 1907 at Ossian, IA to Bertha and Edward Powers. She married Fred Chester Bray 7 May 1928 at Pontiac, Ml. Fred was born 19 Apr 1906. As a child Catherine had asthma and maybe even tuberculosis. She was sharp-looking with black hair and brown eyes. A friend talked her into going to Pontiac to look for a job and she remained there.

Catherine and Fred had 3 children - Fred, Jr., James and Joan Ann. Fred, Jr.was born 16 Feb. 1929 and died 28 Feb. 1929. James Arthur was born and died 11 Mar 1931. Joan Ann was born 12 Aug 1934 at Pontiac, Ml. She married Lorin E. Goodwin 9 May 1953 in Pontiac. They had 8 children and now live in Salem, OR.

After an auto accident in 1944 Catherine had a collapsed lung. Her health failed and she never recovered. She died 11 Feb 1966. Fred died 6 Mar 1982.

Breitsprecher, Lyle and Mildred (Svendsen)

Lyle Breitsprecher was born in 1916 in Bloomfield Twp. to William and Emma (Meyer) Breitsprecher. He attended a rural school near the farm where he lived. His siblings were Marie, William, Evelyn, Raymond, Henry, Jr. and Merlin. He had a half-sister, Rena, and 2 half-brothers, Edwin and Charles.

Lyle Married Mildred Svendsen of rural Bloomfield Twp. Mildred was born in 1916 to John and Anna (Mikkelson) Svendsen. Mildred was a rural school teacher. Lyle and Mildred farmed in Bloomfield Twp. They sold their farm to their son Gary and his wife Marilyn and moved to Ossian where they built a new home. Lyle operated the Ossian Sales Barn for some time. Mildred worked for the Ossian Veterinarian Clinic for 10 years before her retirement. Lyle died in 1980. Lyle and Mildred had 6 children: Wanda, Joann, Lee, David, Gary and Mary Ellen.

Wanda, born, married Robert Wettleson. (deceased) They farmed near Gunder in Clayton Co. Joann , married Darrell Ott of Ossian. He is a truck driver. Lee,  married Kay Falb. He is a livestock buyer in Huron, SD. David,, married Pamela Albright. He is a livestock buyer and auctioneer in Ossian. Gary,  married Marilyn Russett. They farmed on the home farm until 1994 when they moved to