Erlin was married to Ellen Jensen in1928 and three sons were born to this union: Ernest Richard, Donald Frederick and David Orlando. Ellen passed away from cancer 7 Apr 1942.

Lorraine and Erlin Lomen, September 3, 1995

On 3 Sep 1945 Erlin married Lorraine Guernsey and they have 3 children: Dale Erlin, Nancy Lorraine and Dorothy May. Lorraine (b. 19 Aug 1919) was the daughter of Allen and Ida May (Allshouse) Guernsey from Ruthven, IA. Lorraine was the Winneshiek Co. Flome Economist before their marriage. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1942.

Erlin sold Farm Bureau Insurance for 44 years and was one of the first agents when the company was founded in 1939. Fie was a member of 18 local and state organizations for a total of 190 years. He was a board member and officer in 14 of these organizations. Erlin was a Farm Bureau member 67 years and president for 5 years, and had association with: the Holstein Association, Spring-field Lutheran Church, Decorah Twp. School Board and Decorah Twp. #9, Decorah Community School Board, Fair Board, Aase Haugen Board, Nordness Creamery, Lutheran Credit Union, Lions, Iowa State Safety Council, Winneshiek Co. Cancer Society, and Northeast Iowa Life Underwriters.

Lorraine was active in the Farm Bureau Women's Program for many years, served as a 4-H leader of Washington Prairie Peppers, and was active in Springfield WELCA.

Erlin and Lorraine celebrated 50 years of marriage 3 Sep 1995. Now, at 93, Erlin is living a full busy retired life.

Lomen, Ole A. and Marit (Nordthorp)

(Erlin R. Lomen)

The Lomen history in Winn. Co. began when Ole A. and Marit (Nordthorp) Lomen came to America in 1848 from Valdres, Norway. After 2 years in Wisconsin they came to Springfield Twp. Ole A. was one of the first to purchase a farm from the government.

A son, Ole 0., (b.27 Nov 1867) stayed on the Spring-field farm and was married to Sarah Knutson 12 Jun 1889. Two children were born to this couple: Herbert Orlando (b.1 Apr 1890) and Grace Melvina (b.30 Apr 1892). Herbert is deceased but Grace is 103 and lives by herself in Mason City Manor Apartments. Ole’s wife Sarah passed away 24 Sep 1892 from lung fever. She is buried in the Washington Prairie Cemetery.

Later Ole O. married Marie Ness on 20 Dec 1894. Marie (b.14 Sep 1867) was the daughter of Stener and Torgun (Aakre) Ness. Stener was born in Valdres, Norway. He immigrated to America when he was 14 years old. Mrs. Ness was born in Winneshiek Co. Stener was one of the organizers of the Springfield Lutheran Church located 7 miles south of Decorah on the middle Calmar road.

Ole O. and Marie became the parents of 5 children: Ernest Stewart (b.18 Jun 1896 who drowned in the water tank on the farm 3 Jun 1899), Ethel Theoline (b.28 Jul 1900-d.12 Jan 1901 of a stomach disorder), Seth Erlin Reuben (b.12 Aug 1902), Maurice Tolman (b.27 March 1904) and Eleanor Marie Amalia (b. 27 Nov 1907-d. Mar 1993 of lung cancer).

Ole O. spent 5 years 1879 - 1884 in the military. He played the flute in Decorah in the Fife and Drum Corps for many years. He was the first Farm Bureau President in 1918. On the farm a large orchard was planted and the farm became famous for its many varieties of apples and other garden produce. He displayed his apples at the county fair and was responsible for a booth at the State Fair displaying produce from the entire Winneshiek Co. Ole O. was a soldier, farmer, horticulturist, showman and churchman until his death in 1923. His wife died in 1956.

Lommen, Anders O. and Sigrid Ingebret (Hagen)

(Dean A. Lommen)

Anders O. Lommen

Let’s start in 1716, near the town of Lomen, Norway, which is located on the Vestre Slidre, of the Valdres. The Lommen farm was located right outside the town of Lomen where Ole Olsen Lommen was born. Norway ran a census of 1801. He was 85 years old at this time and still on the family farm. Ole’s oldest son Alf Olsen Lommen took over the farm. Alf was born in 1754. His wife’s name was Sigri Halvarsdtr. On the 1801 census, he and his wife were 47 years of age. They had 9 children: Sigri (1778),