On 7 Mar 1987 she married Michael Edward Ford, son of Gerald and Jeanette (Corley) Ford of Orient, IA. He was born in Jonesboro, LA. He attended Orient-Macksburg grade and high school in Orient. In 1981 he graduated from high school there.

While growing up Michael was active in 4-H, F.F.A., football, baseball, wrestling, and raised beef cattle and hogs. Michael graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1985. He was active in the Animal Science Block and Bridle Dept. Club, chairman of Beef Field Day and I.S.U. Livestock Judging Contest, and member of the Meat and Meat Animal Intercollegiate Judging Team.

Michael has worked at the following places: IMC/Pit-man Moore, Animal Health Sales Representative; Nutrition Specialties; Area Representative of National By-Products and at the present Marketing Manager.

They have 3 children: Brennan, Carissa and Kelsey. Brennan Jon was born  in Ames and baptized at Decorah Lutheran Church on 2 Dec 1984 by Pastor Hovda. He attends Coolidge Elementary in Cedar Rapids, IA, and is active in Scouts, 4-H, bowling, basketball, wrestling, baseball and church activities. Carissa Ann was born  in Cedar Rapids and baptized at Gloris Dei Lutheran Church by Pastor Dell Shiell 18 Oct 1987. She attends Coolidge Elementary School and is involved in Scouts, ballet, tap, soccer, gymnastics, and church activities. Kelsev Marie was born in Cedar Rapids and baptized 22 Jan 1989 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church by Pastor Sjur Isaksen (from Norway). She attends Coolidge Elementary School and is involved in Scouts, T-ball, ballet, tap, gymnastics, and church activities.

The Ford family became members of Gloria Dei Lutheran 18 Oct 1987. Julie has been active as Sunday School and Bible School teacher, WELCA secretary, and served on the Youth Education Committee.

The Forde Brothers

(Marcella Amundson)

People who emigrated from the Voss area of Norway were known as Vosser or Vossinger. Among the Vossinger who came to America between the years of 1849-1865 were the 7 Forde brothers. The Forde farm is located on Vossestranden (brook or creek) near Stalheim. The Forde farm is a very beautiful place and now is a well known tourist attraction.

In Norway John and Ineborg (Vinge) Forde had 9 sons. Seven of those sons - Halvor, John, Amund, Andres, Erick, Per (or Peter) and Lars - emigrated to America. Two -Little Ole and Big Ole - remained in Norway.

Halvor J. Forde and John J. Forde were the first in the family to emigrate. They left Bergan, Norway 17 May 1849 on the shipKong Sverre. They first went to the Koshkonong settlement in Wisconsin. In 1851 they moved to the Big Canoe settlement in northern Winneshiek Co. The Big Canoe settlement was 15 miles northeast of Decorah. It included Pleasant, Canoe, Highland and part of Hesper Twp. and extended into Allamakee Co. Halvor J. and John

J. Forde, Haakon Mestad, Ole Magnuson Sattre, David Hallestad (or Davidson) and Magne Mestad all came together to the Big Canoe settlement.

In later years Halvor J. Forde helped his other brothers and their families come to America. The Forde brothers all settled on farms starting at the Sattre Store (named for Ole Magnuson Sattre) extending down the road to what is known as the Coon Club Cabin. At one time this area was known as “Fordegarden” or Johnsonville (because they were the sons of John Forde).

Halvor J. (16 Aug 1825) married Anna Bottolfson. They had 9 children: John H., Bottolf H., Ole H., Lars H., Erick H., Ingeborg (Belle), Lena and Sarah. Another son named Erick died in infancy. (See Halvor J. Forde story)

John J. married Eli Selland (daughter of Erick Selland). They had 4 children: Olai, John, Ingeborg and Sigrid. Ingeborg never married. Sigrid married Casper Finholt. The Finholts had 6 children: Arthur, Martin, John, Ella, Clara and Sarah. Martin Finholt was the only one to have children.

Amund J. (2 Feb 1817-1896) married Synneva Lufte (1819, Sogn, Norway). They had 4 children: Ingeborg, Nils, John and Torgjorg. Ingeborg (1847) married Johannes Jossendahl in 1881. They had 3 daughters: Synneva, Julia and Olga. Synneva married John Opheim and had 2 sons: Ingolf and Ernest. Julia never married. Olga married A.A. Thompson of Spring Grove, MN and also had 2 sons. The Rev. Nils A. (1849-1917) married Nora Erickson of St. Paul, MN in 1882. Their children were: Walter, Rev. Gerhard (Starbuck, MN), Magelena (Preus), Agnes (Ralph) and Laura. (The Preus family has figured predominately in the history of both Luther College and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.) John (1851-1924) was born at Voss, Norway. John A. Forde’s first wife was Bertina Jarland. They had 2 children: Oliva and Rubert. Bertina died in 1884. In 1888 John A. married Martha Bergh. John and Martha had 7 children: Gerhard, Ella, Magna, Ingolf, Walter, Sylvia and Lloyd. Torbjorg (1857) married Knute Langeland. Their children were: Tina (m. Marten Vinge), Magne (1864-1917) married twice and had a daughter, Amanda (m. John Halvorson), Clara (m. Charley Olson and had 4 children: Harold (Highlandville, IA), Thelma (m. Hamlet Peterson), Palma (m. Knute Bidne) and Agnes (m. Clarence Osmundson). Anna (m. Lewis