Two sisters, Alice age 18 and Hazel age 16, came with Cora to help. On Friday nights, the cook’s day off, Cora was in charge of cooking for all the residents too.

Through her friend Ole Hippe who worked at Aase Haugen, Cora met his friend, Knut Hamre from Norway. It was love at first sight for Knut and Cora. In August Knut drove the 3 sisters back to Echo staying overnight at the Andrews Hotel in Minneapolis. Hazel recalled that they ate at restaurants, saw the Foshay Tower and went to the brand new Minnesota Theater where the orchestra rose out of the floor and also saw a show with elelphants—a very special time after a busy summer of work.

While Cora prepared for the wedding at her parent’s farm, Knut was back in Decorah checking on the building of their new house at 501 Winneshiek Ave. It was entirely paid for—paying interest on his passage from Norway cured Knut of paying interest again.

Knut, his sister Berit and husband Chris Qualley, and brother Jake, went to Echo for the wedding 30 Sep 1928 at Rock Valle Lutheran Church, held at noon after the Sunday church service. Sister Esther was maid-of-honor and her fiancee, Haaken (Ben) Benson, was best man. Cora’s sisters, Mamie, Alice, Hazel and Mildred were bridesmaids.

Knut and Cora lived with the Chris Qualleys (507 Winneshiek Ave.) until their house was completed.

Cora was active in the Ladies Aid at Decorah Lutheran. She was an excellent seamstress and also liked to do embroidery. She was very interested in the stories of the Dionne quintuplets born in the 1930's and kept a scrapbook of newspaper and magazine articles about them. She was a wonderful homemaker for her family. Cora died 25 Jun 1939 at age 34 of complications after childbirth. Baby Corrine died the following day and mother and baby were buried in the same casket.

Cora Knutson and Knut Hamre

Nora Headington Sharp, and later Manda Iverson, took care of Alice and Lilly, who were 9 and 6 at the time of their mother’s death. Having Aunt Berit Qualley, known as Bertha to Decorah friends and as Tante to the girls living three doors away, was a great help and comfort during difficult times.

Knut and Cora had 3 children: Alice Louise (m. Marcus W. Arneson ); Lilly Marie (m. Erlin C. Womeldorf ); Corrine (b. 25 Jun 1939 - died 26 Jun 1939). She weighed 13 1/2 lbs. at birth and lived only 1 1/2 days.

Hamre, Eivind L.

(Alice Hamre Arneson)

Eivind L. Hamre

Eivind L. Hamre was born 31 Aug 1894 in Valdres, Norway. Eivind was the 8th child of Lars H. & Berit J. Hamre. He came to the U.S. in 1910 as a companion to his uncle, Knut Neste, who became ill on a visit back to Norway and paid his fare. (Knut Neste born 16 Jun 1857 became Knut Hanson and had 13 children in Rock Rapids, IA.)

Eivind was a house painter, 5’ 7" tall, blue eyes and light brown hair. He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard 21 Jun 1917 and was discharged into the U.S. Infantry 12 Jul 1917. He was killed at Chatteau Thierry, France 26 Jul 1918.

Document: Eivind L. Hamre #100973, Private First Class Company E, 168th Infantry. Place of Burial: Grave #90, Section H, Plot 2. American Cemetery #608. Seringes-et-Nesles, Aisne.

Eivind was two and a half years younger than Knut. He was Knut’s closest friend in the family. Every time Knut talked about Eivind he got tears in his eyes and choked up. A large framed photo of Eivind in his uniform (full length) was on the wall of Knut’s bedroom for all the years I remember at home. I have it now. Eivind was not quite 24 years old when he died. He was not married.

Hamre, Ivar L. and Johanna (Wangen)

(Alice Hamre Arneson)

Ivar L. Hamre was born 25 Nov 1889 in Valdres, Norway. He was the 6th child of Lars H. & Berit J. Hamre. He died 1 Mar 1972 in Seattle, WA.