wide, the officers of the Citizens State Bank met at Otto’s home and decided to put up their personal fortunes so that the bank could remain open. As a result, customers received 50% of their deposits up front and the balance was later paid in full.

Mayme Horal Gunderson

For the rest of his life, Otto was actively involved in all the civic affairs of Ossian; he not only served on the town council and the local school board but also held various other public offices. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Decorah, the Masonic Lodge in Ossian, the Cedar Rapids Shrine Consistory, and the Knights Templar. Otto was a 32nd Degree Mason, and played an active role in raising funds for the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN.

On 19 Feb 1917 he was united in marriage to Miss

Otto Gunderson

Marie Elizabeth Horal of Eastman, Wl - the event taking place in Cedar Rapids, IA. They had two children, Kathreen Berthe and Gunder Fergus.

Otto Gunderson was generous to a fault. After his death from a heart attack at the age of 56, his family members were made aware of his many acts of kindness and generosity to the less fortunate members of the community. This was evidenced by the large attendance at his funeral. The church in Ossian was filled to capacity as was the church basement. Bleachers and a loud-speaking system was set up outside to accommodate the more than 2000 mourners.

Marie “Mayme” Elizabeth (Horal) Gunderson was the third child of William and Kathreen (Konicek) Horal of Eastman, Wl. She was born in Eastman, Wl on 19 Feb 1895 and passed away in Apr of 1962.

Mayme was a housewife and an active member of the Eastern Star Lodge in Ossian. She was also a member of the White Shrine Lodge in McGregor, IA, and the Royal Neighbors of America.

Mayme was especially noted by others in the community as a caring person who took a keen interest in helping the elderly and the disadvantaged. Many friends recall that she never forgot a birthday and was often found in the kitchen baking and decorating angel food birthday cakes for her wide circle of friends and relatives in the area.

Guttormson, Guttorm, Jr. and Palma (Qualley)

(Grace (Mrs. Harold) Spilde)

Guttorm and Elisa (Erlondson) Guttormson, Sr. came to America from Olso, Norway. Guttorm became a U.S. citizen in 1901. They had 5 sons and 1 daughter. The first 2 children were born in Norway, the third on the boat to America and the last 3 in America. The oldest son died in infancy in Norway. The other children were: Hilmer (6 May 1883-10 Apr 1968); Berger (16 May 1885-13 Apr 1971); Guttorm, Jr., (9 Sep 1886-6 Nov 1954, died of a heart attack); Elisa Marie (2 Sep 1888-3 Dec 1960); and George (15 Dec 1889-18 Jun 1976). The children all grew up in Ridgeway.

Guttorm, Jr. married Palma Qualley. They had 6 children: Helen Beatrice (22 Feb 1915-1927); Grace Pauline (b. 28 Dec 1918); Alice; Leona, Helen and Robert (12 Jul 1935-10 Oct 1991). Robert, like his father, died of a heart attack. I, Grace, married Harold Spilde; Alice married Louie Larson; Leona married Sidney Hilberg; and Helen married Everett Kuntz.

Dad, Mom, Helen and I first lived in a log house in Ridgeway. We later moved to a house on a farm on Highway 9 in Ridgeway. In about 1921 Dad and Mom bought a 40 acre farm in Decorah Twp. west of Decorah. Dad raised corn, hay, barley, oats, some wheat, hogs and cattle. We always had a large garden, including strawberries. In the winter we stored our potatoes in bins in the cellar and carrots in sand in crocks. Every year we made grape wine to go with the cod liver oil I had to take after having pneumonia as a child. Milk and cream was stored