One time he suffered severe burns on his face and arms when he was shutting off the controls to prevent an explosion at the plant.

On to Aug 1904 Ruddie married Rose Karmann. They had 2 children: Ronald Martin (b. 28 May 1909) and Kathryn Elizabeth (b. 5 Feb 1913). Ruddie and Rose’s last home in Decorah was at 804 Sumner Street. They then lived with their son Ronald and his wife, Albertine, in Evanston, IL. Ruddie spent his final years with his daughter, Kathryn, in Des Moines, IA.

Nordheim, Curtis and Eileen (Nicholson)

(Eileen Nordheim)

Curtis Nordheim was born to Victor and Gyda (Brunsvold) Nordheim while the family farmed in Pleasant Twp. He has one sister Mildred (m. Richard Dinger) and 2 brothers: Kermit and Gerald.

Curtis attended the rural Sattre school and graduated from Decorah High School in 1942. He joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Carteret in the Pacific. During World War li they delivered troops to Iwo Jima, Saipan, Guam, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and the Philippines. He also served on a tanker in the North Atlantic as a Boatswain’s mate 2nd class.

Curtis returned to Decorah 5 Feb 1946 and married Eileen Nicholson, daughter of William and Ella (Rognlien) Nicholson, at First Lutheran Church 9 Jun 1946. Curtis and Eileen farmed near Locust for 4 years. The next 4 years they rented a farm near Frankville from Harriet Letchford. Harriet owned a livestock auction market where Curtis worked on sale days. Thus began his love of sale barns. The Decorah barn was purchased from the Aspensons in 1952. For a time Curtis, Art Ernst and Walter Witt operated 3 sales a week in Ossian, Waukon and Decorah. Curtis purchased the market north of Waukon and built up the Northeast Iowa Sales Commission, selling out in 1972.

The 80 acre farm on Locust Road was purchased in 1959 from Ed Seegmiller. The North Home Housing Development begun in 1965 has 43 units they have built. The Nordheims are especially proud of “Nordheim Park.”

Curtis and Eileen had 5 children: James Edward, Neil Allen (stillborn 12 Aug 1953); Randall Dean,  Laurel Jean and Michael Kent.

Curtis and Eileen also operated the Cresco Livestock Market and Curtis is still attending many sales as a cattle buyer for farmers in the tri-state area.

Nordheim, Edwin and Clara (Hover)

(William D. Wilkens)

Edwin “Ed” Nordheim was born in Winneshiek Co., IA 18 Sep 1875 to Knut G. and Martha (Bidne) Nordheim. Knut was born 30 Sep 1835 and Martha was born 20 Jun 1837, both near Voss, Norway. Ed’s 7 brothers and sisters were: Albert, Josephine (another sister with the same name died in infancy), William Oliver, Caroline, Anna

Bertina and Anna Marie. Edwin’s parents are buried at Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery in Pleasant Twp.

Ed married Clara Helen Hover, born 19 Jun 1872 in Winneshiek Co. to Edwin and Bertha Marie (Christian) Hover. Her father was born 5 Feb 1845 at Valdres, Norway and her mother was born 17 Jan 1846 at Locust, Winneshiek Co. Clara’s 6 brothers and sisters were: Matilda, Edward H., Elmer, Alice, Idellaand Alma. Clara’s parents are buried at Big Canoe Methodist Cemetery in Pleasant Twp. Ed and Clara were married 14 Sep 1898 at Locust. They had 5 children: Victor Erwin, Beatrice Meredith, Wallace Mondell, Gladys Lucille and Esther Clarene, all born in Winneshiek Co.

Victor (b. 25 Jun 1899) married Gyda B. Brunsvold. Their children are: Kermit, Gerald, Curtis and Mildred. Victor is buried at Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery in Pleasant Twp. Beatrice “Betty" (b. 12 Jan 1901) married Willard Otto Barney Dresselhaus. Their children are: Doris, Arlys Doreen, Robert and Paul. Betty died 15 Oct 1966 and is buried at the Canoe Methodist Cemetery in Canoe Twp. Wallace fb. 19 Oct 1904) married Ulah I. Bollman 13 Jun 1931. Their children are: Shirley (deceased), Phyllis, Ellen and Evelyn (twins), Ruth, Kenneth, Robert and Ardith. Wallace farmed in Pleasant Twp. for many years on the family farm located about a mile west of Sattre. Wallace died 18 Jan 1971 and is buried at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Ulah died 8 Dec 1995. Gladys (b. 21 May 1908) married Elmer F. Dresselhaus 13 Jun 1931. Their children are: Elton (deceased), Richard and William Edward. Gladys is living at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Esther fb. 15 Nov 1909) married William Herman Wilkens 21 Aug 1934 at Decorah, IA. Their children are: Marlys, Wilbur, William D. and Mary. Esther died 18 Mar 1995 and is buried at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Ed and Clara farmed about 300 acres in Pleasant Twp., one mile west of Sattre. Ed was known for his farming skills, especially for selecting prime seed corn from one year's harvest for planting the next season to improve his yields. He also raised a large crop of watermelons every year and hosted watermelon parties for large numbers of family and friends. Family history has it that he occasionally had to fire a shotgun into the air to scare watermelon thieves away from his highly prized patch. Ed had a player-piano in his dining room that visiting family members would often load with a roll of music and then pump furiously on the pedals to make it play. Clara was known for her skill at making clothing, especially mittens and socks. She would host lefse parties at which family members would gather for the day to make large quantities of authentic Norwegian lefse.

Nordheim, Wallace and Ulah (Bollman)

(Phyllis Nesteby)

Wallace M. Nordheim was born 19 Oct 1904 in Winneshiek Co. to Edwin and Clara Helena (Hover) Nordheim. He lived his entire life on the family farm located one mile west of Sattre, helping his father and later buying the farm. His father was born 18 Sep 1875 in Winneshiek Co. and his mother was born 19 Jun 1872.