rolled it in the government set-aside program known as C.RR. Since 1984 Duane has worked for McDonalds Restaurant in Decorah.

Ruffridge, Jerome and Gertrude (Young)

(Ransome Bolson)

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Ruffridge

Gertrude Young was born 15 Sep 1901 to George, Sr. and Minnie (Gutzka) Young on her parents’ farm about 4 miles east of Burr Oak, IA in Hesper Twp. She was baptized by Pastor Knut Seehus at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Locust, IA and confirmed by him on 16 Apr 1916, Her older sister Elsie was also confirmed on that date. Gertrude was a life long member of the Locust congregation. She was active in the Ladies Aid, sang in the choir, helped organize the Sunday School and was the first Sunday School superintendent. She attended rural Hesper Twp. School #3. Gertrude helped her parents on the farm. On 7 Sep 1927 she was married to Jerome Roy Ruffridge by Pastor Carl Losen at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Jerome was born 27 Nov 1892 to Will and Amelia (Matter) Ruffridge of near Locust. He attended the Locust school and was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran in 1910 by Pastor Knut Seehus.

Jerome and Gertrude lived on the Ruffridge farm. They had 2 children: Erlene Ruth and Duane Jerome. Jerome passed away suddenly at the Decorah Hospital 12 Jan 1965. Gertrude continued to live on the farm with son Duane. When Duane married she moved to Decorah in 1971 into the house her in-laws had built years before on the corner of Decorah Ave. and Riverside. Gertrude was eagerly getting ready to serve Locust Circle the coming week. She went to bed on Saturday night and never woke up (13 Nov 1988). Jerome and Gertrude enjoyed life. Gertrude enjoyed her garden and flowers and Jerome his hunting and fishing. They were “always good for a hearty laugh.’’ They were fun to be with. Both funeral services were at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Locust, with burial in the Locust Cemetery.

Russett, Ole and Agatha (Sjoboen)

(Agnes Blumhagen)

Ole Russett was born in Trondhjeim, Norway 11 May 1874. Agatha Sjoboen was born in Bergen, Norway 8 Apr 1869. As young people they came to the United States in 1891 and were married in Decorah, IA 4 Aug 1893.

Ole and Agatha lived in the Ossian area and Maynard, IA area where Ole followed the occupation of a section foreman on the Rock Island Railroad. In 1904 they returned to Winneshiek Co. and began farming near Washington Prairie. In 1913 they moved to Bloomfield Twp. where they purchased land in the Moneek area.

They were the parents of 8 children: Jennie (b. 1895) died as young woman, aged 20; Edgar (b. 1896) married Esther Lange. He was a police officer in Beverly Hills, CA; Clarence (b. 1899) married Lorraine Schroeder. Later years they lived in Waukon, IA; Oscar (b. 1901) married Laura Snitker. He was a painter and farmer and lived near Monona, IA; Grace (b. 1905) never married. She lived in Postville, IA; Daniel (b. 1909) married Dorothy Kneeskern. He was a trucker. They lived near Calmar, IA; Agnes (b. 14 Feb 1911) married Lloyd Blumhagen. They were farmers in Bloomfield Twp.; and Olaf (b. 1912) married Mae Dreier. He was a carpenter. They lived in Ulysses, KS.

Ole died 11 Jun 1939 and Agatha died 14 Mar 1957.

Rustad, Martin Christianson and Descendants

(Donna Bahr and Sonja Hicken)

Ole Martinsen Rustad, son of Martin C. Rustad.
Ole Rustad owned and operated the Nordness General Merchandise Store
in Springfield twp., from 1909 to March, 1921.

In America, his name was Martin Christiansen Rustad, but, before he left Norway, on 30 Mar 1883, he was a farmer who lived his first sixty years on different farms, which meant he had several surnames, the last one being Kallerudstad. In the rural areas of Norway, at the time