mother to do hardangersom. This young Norwegian woman was a favorite of Jennie’s and was like a sister to her.

When Jennie was about 20 years old, she became very ill. Eventually the doctor diagnosed her condition as appendicitis and recommended surgery. In those days this was considered a "new tangled" idea. Her family was adamantly opposed to surgery, fearing she would die. But as her condition deteriorated, they relented. She had surgery at LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital. Following a slow recovery her health improved.

Jennie Wennes and James H. Kjome 1953 on 35th anniversary.

the companionship. After she broke her hip in 1986, her mobility was limited. However she was mentally alert and enjoyed her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Jennie was a good role model on how to grow old gracefully. Her faith helped her accept and cope with the changes that are part of growing old and frail. She lived to be 97 years old and was alert to the end. She died 16 Mar 1989 at the nursing home. She is buried at Highland Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Kjome, June Creola

(June Kjome)

June Kjome was born in Decorah, IA 12 Dec 1920. She was the eldest daughter of James and Jennie Wennes Kjome. In 1925 the family moved to Austin, MN. She was confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. In 1938 she graduated from High School then attended Albert Lea Junior College for one year. Later she worked as an aide in a nursing home in Minneapolis. During this time, she felt the call to be a missionary nurse. After completing her nursing education at the University of Minnesota in 1943, she did public health nursing in St. Paul and attended Lutheran Bible Institute to further her preparation for missionary work.

In Jun 1945, she sailed for South Africa to begin work as a missionary nurse in Zululand, South Africa under the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America (now ELCA). She studied midwifery at the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital in Johannesburg, graduating with honors in 1947. For the first 7 years she worked at Luwamba.

After her mother died suddenly from a heart attack in May 1916, Jennie remained at home running the household for her dad and siblings. She married James Kjome 20 Mar 1918, in Highland Lutheran Church. (See biographical sketch of James for details of their life and family).

Jennie was known for her cooking, baking and flower garden. She had spectacular gladioli, asters and dahlias. The cookie jar was never empty at her house - a fact the neighbor children soon discovered. Jennie took baked, canned goods and handiwork to the Mower Co. Fair exhibitions and won many ribbons.

Jennie was a full time homemaker and participated in her girls’ church and school activities. She was always active in the women's groups of her church. She organized a church circle in her area, involving mostly younger unchurched women. When the family lived in Crane Addition, Jennie assisted a local doctor with home deliveries. This came about when the midwife was unavailable. In the emergency Jennie was asked to assist. This went well and the doctor asked her to continue helping him with home births and care for the mothers and babies. She enjoyed this very much because she always wanted to do nursing.

After James died in 1975, Jennie lived alone for 5 years in Spring Grove, MN. In 1980 she moved to the Tweeten Memorial Nursing Home. She was active and enjoyed

June Kjome

She and Millicent Haugebak began mobile clinic work in order to reach the Zulus living far from hospitals.

June returned to the United States for her first furlough in the fall of 1952 visiting Norway, Sweden and Britain on the way. While on furlough she attended Bible school, took a short course in tropical diseases at Loma Linda