11 Nov 1938 of heart problems and complications. He is buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery. Julia continued to live in their home in Burr Oak but did spend some winters with her sister Melissa Groat. Julia passed away on 24 Jun 1950 at the Decorah hospital after a short illness. She is buried beside her husband at the Burr Oak Cemetery.

Olson, Peter and Julia (Emery)

(Willaim B. Price)

Peter Olson family
Peter, Olive, Lottie, Isadore and Julia.

Peter Olaus Olson was born on the Heimveg farm in Snasa, Nord Trondelag, Norway 16 May 1864, the oldest of 7 children of Christian Olsen and Marit Pedersdtr. Christian Olsen was born 24 Jan 1841 at Radeplassen in Snasa, Nord Trondelag, Norway, the son of Ole Andersen and Hanna Boletta Brostrupsdtr. Marit Pedersdtr. was born 1 Dec 1842 at Skavland, Nord Trondelag, Norway, the daughter of Peder Pedersen and Marit Tollovsdtr. Peter's mother, Marit died 19 Aug 1876 and his father died 5 Oct 1878 leaving him orphaned at the age of 12. He went to live with an uncle, probably a brother of his father’s and learned the blacksmith trade.

On 13 May 1883, just before his 19th birthday, Peter left Norway and came to America, arriving in Burr Oak, Winneshiek Co., IA 6 Jul of the same year. Two of his mother’s sisters had already come to the Burr Oak area around 1866, and Peter is believed to have first worked on an uncle's farm for a short period. It was in and around Burr Oak that Peter spent most of the remainder of his life, working as a blacksmith and in later years as a carpenter.

Peter married Mary Julia Emery 8 Oct 1890 in a marriage ceremony being officiated by Justice of the Peace, R. F. Gibson. M. Julia Emery was born in Bluffton 19 Apr 1871, the eleventh child of George Reid Emery Jr. and Diantha Mclntire, early Winneshiek Co. pioneers. After his marriage Peter worked as a blacksmith in Cresco, Bluffton and Burr Oak as well as living on at least two farms in Burr Oak Twp.

Peter was a lifelong member of the Burr Oak IOOF lodge, having joined in 1892, and served as secretary for many years. He was also a 30-year member of the Rebekah lodge and joined the Masons in 1901.

Peter and Julia were the parents of 3 daughters: Lottie Diantha born in Cresco, Howard Co., IA 8 Feb 1892; married Henry Arthur Price 20 Sep 1916 in Decorah; died in Decorah 11 Oct 1986. Olive Gertrude born in Bluffton, Winneshiek Co. 19 Feb 1894; married Claude Edmund Wicks 16 Apr 1913 near Burr Oak; died 29 May 1985. Mamie Isadore born 27 Dec 1896 in Burr Oak, Winneshiek Co. married Joseph Lester Mclntire on 1 Apr 1913; died 21 Sep 1974 in Centerville, Appanoose Co., IA.

Peter passed away in Decorah 11 Nov 1938 and was buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery. Julia died 24 Jun 1950 and was buried next to her husband.

Olson, Rocky and Janmarie (Moen)

(Kenneth Moen)

Janmarie Beth Moen was born at Decorah, IA the daughter of Kenneth and Virginia (Barth) Moen. She attended rural schools in Pleasant Twp. Winneshiek Co. and was one of the last students to attend the Locust School in Pleasant Twp. She attended Junior High and Senior High School in Decorah and graduated in 1967. Janmarie was very active in the Pleasant Livewires 4-H Club and the Winneshiek Co. 4-H until she graduated from high school. She began piano lessons when she was 7 years old and became the organist at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Locust, IA when she was 13 and continued through high school and college. In the fall of 1967 she became the accompanist for the Luren Singers and held that position until she graduated from Luther College in 1971 with a degree in elementary education. In 1969 she was Luren’s accompanist on their first concert tour of Norway.

Janmarie Moen Olson and Rocky Olson and sons.
Left to right: Rocky, Janmarie, Jashua and Ryan.

Janmarie married Rocky Dean Olson 12 Jun 1971 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Locust. Rocky was born in Ramona, SD 22 Jul 1950 to Conrad and Gladys Olson. He moved with his family to the Bakke farm in Frankville Twp. in 1956. Janmarie’s great-great-great-grandmother homesteaded the farm in 1851. Rocky attended grade