got to “goin’ quite a clip.” There weren't so many trees behind the school in those days and it was a good steep hill for sliding. They made skis from barrel staves by strapping them on over their shoes. There wasn’t much style but there sure was speed. Baseball was played in Grandpa Martin Finholt's field across from the school. And for the girls there were always the kittens. They would dress them up in doll clothes and put them in the doll's bed where they would spend the day, warm and content.

Orlando Mervin. the first child of Oscar and Julia, was born 14 Dec 1908 at home in the upstairs of the Canoe Store. He married Ruth Osmundson, daughter of Bernt and Bertena Osmundson at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church parsonage on 29 Jan 1938. They had two children: Kathryn Elaine and Stanley Mervin. Cora Leona, born 5 Sep 1910, was the second child born at Canoe Store. She attended Decorah High School and 21/2 years at Luther College. She married William Herbert Nesseth on 1 Jun 1929. Cora was home service advisor and clerk at Interstate Power Company for 15 years. They had three children: Marilyn, Carroll and William. (Bill died 9 Jul 1941, Cora later married Emmett Voiding.) Chester Norris, the third child, was born 10 Feb 1912. After graduating from Decorah High School he taught in the rural schools. He later worked for the Decorah Postal Service as a carrier, clerk, and accountant, retiring in 1977. On 4 Apr 1947 he married Barbara Ouanrude. The couple had four children, Keri, Beth, Robert and Kaye. Thelma Beatrice was born 20 Feb 1914 in the little log house near the farm of Oscar’s parents. She married Lester Keefe 21 Jun 1936. They had three children, Donald, Mary Patricia and Michael. (Thelma was the office manager at First Lutheran Church for 14 years, retiring in 1980.) The fifth child, Leverne Esther. was born on 15 Oct 1917. She married Hugh Everett Headington and the couple had six children: Muriel, Lee, Dennis, Julie, Frank and Thomas. They resided in Decatur, IL. Eunice Catherine,  married Marvin Arthur Anderson. They lived in Cresco, IA where Marv owned Cresco Heating and Plumbing. They had two children: Pamela and Linda. Jenanne Delores, the seventh child,  married Terrance Vikre on 24 Jun 1945 and lived in Ossian, IA and Harmony, MN while raising four children: Ronald, Daryl, Jeffrey, and Neil.

In 1945, Oscar and Julia retired, sold the farm and moved to 501 Iowa Ave. in Decorah. The grandchildren have many fond memories of the family gathering to celebrate birthdays and holidays in that little house. Somehow there was always room for everyone and the laughter echoes still of the men playing cards, the women visiting and the kids playing. Julia died in Jan of 1952 and Oscar in May of 1954. They are both buried at the Canoe Ridge Cemetery, Winneshiek Co., IA.

Fisher, Robert and Erlene (Ruffridge)

(Ransome Bolson)

Erlene is the daughter of Jerome Roy and Gertrude Anna (Young). She was  baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church by Pastor Carl Losen 27 Apr 1930 and confirmed by him in 1943. She attended Locust Grade School and graduated from Decorah High School in 1948. While in high school she was a member of the Library Club, worked in the Principal's office and was treasurer of her sophomore class. After high school Erlene worked at Decorah State Bank until Dec 1951. Erlene married Robert Clair Fisher  at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, IA 4 Sep 1949 by Pastor Carl Losen.

Erlene, David, Carlene and Robert Fisher.

Robert was confirmed at Locust in 1939 by Pastor Losen. He attended country school Turner #9 and graduated from Decorah High School in 1944 where he played baseball, sang in the mixed chorus and played cornet in the concert and marching bands. He served in the U.S. Navy from Mar 1946-1948. After his discharge he worked one year at the Model Cleaners in Decorah. He later worked for Interstate Power Co. for 3 years during which time they lived in Decorah. Mar 1952 they moved to a farm in Pleasant Twp. about a mile from Erlene’s home place where they continued to farm until Robert passed away 9 May 1980. Erlene continues to live there. She worked for New York Life Insurance from 1981 -1992. She now works part time for the Lutheran Credit Union in Decorah. They were the parents of 2 children David and Carlene.

David Robert was born at Decorah Hospital and baptized 13 Apr 1952 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust by Pastor Orville Running and confirmed there in 1967 by Pastor Dennis Heifner. David was in grade school during the time of school reorganization so he attended kindergarten south of the Big Canoe Church, Pleasant #2, followed by Locust School, then Pleasant #5 near Canoe Creek and graduated in 1970 from Thomas Robert High School in Decorah. After high school he attended Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar and St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing, Rochester, MN. He is employed as assistant Head Nurse in the Orthopedics Department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Carlene Luann was born at Decorah Hospital. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran in Locust 7 Sep 1958 by Pastor Glen Vanderbilt and confirmed in 1973 by Pastor Doliver Thogerson. Carlene attended the Decorah Public School system and graduated from