5 Nov 1988. Aage married Muriel Bye 31 May 1943 and had 2 children. Donald married Virginia Bye (b. 18 Oct 1919 - d. 14 Aug 1976) and had no children. He lives in Decorah. Edward married Genevieve D. Haugen (b. 1 Oct 1914 - d. 19 Jul 1973) and had 2 children, Howard and Kathryn (Ronnigen). Edward died 26 Jan 1991. Bjarne was married and had 3 sons. He died 15 Oct 1966.

Karl was born 17 Dec 1884 and died at Clear Lake, Wl in the fall of 1918.

Olga Katherine was born 27 Mar 1887. She came to America with her sister Marie in 1905. In 1908 she married Louis Overbye in Hudson, Wl. She now lives in Portland, OR.

Kitty Marie was born 23 Aug 1888. She lives in Portland, OR.

Elisabeth Kristine was born 26 Sep 1890. She came to America in May 1909. In 1913 she married Sigurd K. Dahle in Hudson, Wl.

Opsahl, Eugene and Isabel (Josvanger)

(Frances M. Jeffers)

Back: Robert Eugene Opsahl.
Front: Isabel (Josvanger) and Marilyn Isabel Opsahl.

Saturday, 12 Jun 1926 at Thor, IA Eugene Gerhard Opsahl (b. 23 Oct 1903) son of Rev.TG. and Helene Opsahl married Isabel Magdelena Josvanger (b. 15 Jul 1907) youngest daughter of H.O. and Isabell G. (Bakken) Josvanger. Eugene was a talented architect living most of his life in the Chicago and later Florida areas where he pursued his profession. Eugene died in 1990. Isabel and Eugene had 2 children: Robert Eugene and Marilyn Isabel both born Decorah. Eugene and Isabel were divorced.

Isabel operated a flower and gift shop in Decorah for several years. Her artistic talents were many: textile painting, baking, macrame, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, decoupage, weaving, quilling and sewing. When she left Decorah and moved to Columbia, SC—closer to the areas where her children lived—Isabel shared her talents with others at an army base there. The talents of the parents were inherited by their children: Robert is an architect living in Columbia and Marilyn is the designer of the Joshvanger” trolls and lives in Florida. She has sold them several years here in Decorah during the Nordic Fest. Isabel died 19 Apr 1994 in Columbia, SC. Isabel and Eugene are survived by their 2 children, 8 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Opsahl, Rev. Theodore and Dr. Helene (Aasen)

(Frances M. Jeffers)

Helene Bertha Aasen was born 13 Dec 1871 in Freeborn Co. MN the daughter of Eric and Aagot Aasen. She was the first student registered at the Albert Lea Luther Academy where she received her high school education. On 4 Sep 1892 she married the Rev. Theodore G. Opsahl at Albert Lea, Rev. Opsahl was ordained in the First Lutheran Church in Decorah in 1891. The Opsahls made their home at Waco, TX until about 1896 when they moved to Seneca in Kossuth Co. IA. In 1902 Rev. Opsahl accepted a call to Callendar where he served until his death 21 May 1908. Five children were born to this union. One died at an early age.

Shortly after her husband died, Mrs. Opsahl accepted a scholarship from the Palmer School of Chiropractics at Davenport, IA graduating on 13 Sep 1909. Together with her 4 sons, Helene moved to Decorah in Oct 1909 and opened a chiropractic practice making it possible for her sons to attend Luther College.

Three of her sons attended Luther Academy and one attended Clifton (TX) Academy. However, all 4 graduated from Luther College: Julian, Hubert, Alert, and Eugene.

Helene Opsahl died 29 Apr 1955.

Oraker, Ingvar and Berit L. (Hamre)

(Alice Hamre Arneson)

Berit L. Hamre was born 8 Mar 1897 in Valdres, Norway and died 4 Nov 1987 in Norway. She was the 9th child of Lars H. and Berit J. Hamre. She married Christian C. Qualley and Ingvar Oraker. (See other articles Lars Hamre & Christian C. Qualley)

Berit had helped her sister on the saeter and was just 10 years old when Marit left for the U.S. in 1907. It now became her duty to take care of the cows on the saeter during the summer making the butter and cheeses for the family for the winter. “Mother said I did a good job”— the only stoic praise given! She did this alone for 6 years.