Kevin Ellingson). Edward Halse died 18 May 1973 and Elaine resides in Decorah.

Kenneth Bernard born in Hartford was married to Christine Johnson 28 Mar 1951 in the Spring-field Lutheran Church, rural Calmar. Their children are: Sherry (m. Leon Bachelder) of Decorah; Kim of Garnavillo, IA; Steven of Ft. Atkinson, IA; Robyn Hageman of Calmar and Scott of Ft. Atkinson. A daughter, Linda, died in infancy and is buried in the Calmar Lutheran Cemetery. Kenneth and Christine live in Ft. Atkinson.

Rita Mae was born in Hartford. She was married in Calmar to Keith R. Groth 19 Oct 1952. They farm in northern Winneshiek Co. Four sons were born to them: Jeffrey lives in Red Oak, TX; Daniel in Winona, MN; David in Wausau, Wl; and Richard in St. Louis Park, MN.

Arnold and Thelma Kolass, February 28, 1926.

John Clifford was born in Decorah and now lives in Rochester, MN. He married Phyllis Smith in Decorah 22 Mar 1964, and they later divorced. Their children are: Julianne of Bozeman, MT; Jeffrey of Spring Valley, MN; and Matthew of Rochester. Melanie died at the age of 25 in Rochester and is buried there. John was married 6 Jun 1984 to Nancy Milow in Stewartville, MN. He has 2 stepsons: John and Scott Milow.

Kolaas, John and Martha (Vigdal)

(Shirley J. Hanson)

John Kolaas was born 11 Sep 1829 in Fresvik, Sogn, Norway, the son of Nels Kolaas and Mary Husebo. Martha Vigdal was born in Fresvik 6 Dec 1839. They were married there 19 Oct 1858 and had two children: Nels, who died in infancy in Norway, and Synneva.

In 1862, John, Martha and Synneva emigrated to the United States and settled the homestead in Calmar Twp, about 3 miles north of Calmar. Seven more children were born to this union. Amelia married Andrew Sjobakken and lived in Adams, MN. Nels and his wife Dora adopted Margaret, who came to Iowa on an orphan train from the east coast. They aiso raised Willie Austin. Benjamin married Clara Carsrud and lived in Hartford, SD. Anna was never married and moved to Minnesota in 1920. Johanna married Oscar Hanson from Adams, MN and moved to Hartford, SD. Martin was married in Austin, MN to Ottelia Sydow. They lived in Sioux Falls, SD. A son John died as an infant and is buried in the Calmar Lutheran Cemetery.

John and Martha (Vikdal) Kolaas

John and Martha farmed on the “Kolaas" farm until 1906 when Nels and Dora were married and took over the farm. They moved to Calmar and lived there the rest of their lives. John died 31 Jan 1910 and Martha died 10 Dec 1920.

John Kolaas was described as a man of a quiet and unassuming nature, just and honorable in all his dealings with mankind. Martha was a “grand" old lady, the mother of a large and gifted family. Their mortal remains rest in the Lutheran Cemetery in Calmar.

Kolaas, Kenneth and Christine (Johnson)

(Christine Kolaas)

Kenneth Bernard Kolaas was born at Hartford, SD in Minnehaha Co near Sioux Falls. His parents were Arnold N. Kolaas, the son of Benjamin and Clara (Carsrud) Kolaas, and Eleanor Thelma Falnes (daughter of Christopher and Tomina (Nali) Falnes). When he was six years old, he moved with his family to a farm near Calmar, IA. He attended country school at Winneshiek Co # 1 (Wheatman School) rural Calmar. In 1950 he graduated from Calmar High School. Christine M. Johnson was born at the home of her maternal grandparents north of Ossian, IA. She was the daughter of Christian L. Johnson (son of Ludvig and Margrethe (Strand) Johnson) and Signe M. Borness (daughter of Engvold and Cecelia (Thorbjornson) Borness). Her father, Christian, died of cancer shortly before she was born and she and her mother and older brother, Lester, made their home with her maternal grandparents for several years. In 1935 her mother married Bernard Ehler and they moved to the “Tovson" farm just north of Ossian. She attended the Lee country school nearby. They later moved to the Castalia