ing. Bob and Judy’s only child, Timothy Michael, was born in Decorah.

While vacationing in Grants Pass, OR. in 1991, Bob and Judy fell in love with the area and decided to make it their home. Timothy attends Junior High School in Grants Pass, where Judy is affiliated with the hot lunch program for the schools.

Kvammen, Gary and Elayne (Evanson)

(Alfred G. Kvammen)

Gary and Elayne Kvammen, July 31, 1981.

Gary Lou Kvammen was born in New Effington, SD. He was the son of Alfred G. and Eleanor (Bisek) Kvammen.

Gary graduated from Decorah High School. After high school Gary served in the U.S. Army. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict. In 1961, Gary graduated from the University of Oregon at Corvallis.

After graduating he was a physicist (civilian employee) at the government’s Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA where he was the coordinator for the VX-5 and the Range Department. Gary also owned a large crane and in his spare time operated it in development and construction projects in the China Lake and Ridgecrest areas.

Gary married Elayne Evanson of Racine, MN in Oct 1961. They were the parents of two sons: Gary Roy and Robert Keith. Both sons were born in Ridgecrest, CA. Gary Roy served in the Nuclear Division of the Navy for 6 years. He married Annette Monday in California 23 Dec 1988. They have two children: Raef and Amanda. Gary Roy is employed by the Planters Peanuts Co. in Virginia Beach, VA where they reside. Robert married Elizabeth Rosario in Las Vegas, NV 9 Jun 1990. They have a daughter, Shar. Robert is a member of the Army Reserves and they live near Sierra Vista, AZ. He had served six years in the Army.

Gary’s wife Elayne, graduated from Luther College in 1958. She taught school in Ridgecrest until she became ill with pancreatic cancer. Elayne died in October 1981 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Gary later married Marjo Miles of Ridgecrest. Gary died 6 Aug 1990 at Ridgecrest of multiple myeloma.

Kvammen, Rev. Mads and Karen (Nyhus)

(Alfred G. Kvammen)

Mads Andreas Kvammen was born 13 Jan 1867 at Kvammen in Sunnfjord Norway. Leaving his parents, brothers and sisters behind, Mads emigrated to the United States in 1893. Mads graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. In 1905 he graduated from the United Church Seminary, St. Paul, MN (later known as the Luther Theological Seminary).

Mads married Karen Nyhus in 1898 in rural Portland, ND. Karen was born 29 Nov 1878 in Portland. Mads and Karen had eight children: Alfred, Elmer, Malvin, Olga Kvammen Gandrud, Arthur, Luella, Elwood and Kermit.

From 1914 to 1933, Pastor Kvammen served the Springfield Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, IA. He also farmed 70 acres adjacent to the parsonage and for several years wrote a weekly article for the Decorah Posten (a Norwegian language newspaper) entitled “Farmen og Haven" (Farm and Orchard).

For many years Pastor Kvammen was president of the Sunnfjord Laget (association). One of his responsibilities was to organize tours of Norway for the organization. Pastor Kvammen made five trips to Norway. On his last trip in 1932, he was accompanied by his son Alfred.

Kvammen family, 508 Hillcrest Drive, Decorah.
Back, left to right: Olga, Malvin, Elmer and Alfred. 
Center: Arthur. Front: Rev. Kvammen, Elwood, Luella, Karen (Mrs. Kvammen).

After Rev. Mads Kvammen retired from his pastorate at Springfield Lutheran in 1933, he and his wife built a home on Lake Osakis at Osakis, MN, where they retired. Rev. Kvammen died 23 Apr 1943; his wife Karen died 20 Dec 1950. Both are buried in the Osakis Cemetery.