Sivesind, Hans and Amanda (Halverson)

(Sally Leibold)

Amanda and Hans Sivesind 50th Wedding Anniversary, April 26, 1950,

Hans Martin Sivesind was born in Lansing, IA on 26 Nov 1871 and died on 18 Sep 1959. He was the son of Ole Hans Sivesind and Natalia Pederson-Vik. Ole was born in 1851 in Norway and died in 1919. Natalia was born in 1848 in Norway and died in Dec 1928. Hans brothers and sisters were: Peter August, Claus, Emil Ole, Albert Mathias, Alfred Bernard, Clara Otilia, Marie Signe and Thora Juliana.

Hans married Amanda Bramina Halverson, who was born 30 May 1879 in Glenwood Twp. and died 15 Oct 1954. She was the daughter of Peter Baard Halverson and Anna Skaim. Peter was born 8 Jul 1841 in Sogn, Norway and died 10 Aug 1923. Anna was born 3 Aug 1849 in Sogn, Norway and died 16 Jul 1931. Peter enlisted in Co. D, 3rd Iowa Infantry in 1861. He was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh on 7 Aug 1862, and was a patient in the hospital in St. Louis until the following spring, when he rejoined his regiment serving out his original enlistment and re-enlisting for the balance of the war. He was with General Sherman on the “march to the sea” and saw General Johnson, the noted Confederate leader, when he fell mortally wounded by a bullet from the rifle of Daniel Wise, who was standing by Mr. Halverson’s side when the shot was fired. Mr. Halverson was discharged on 13 Jul 1865 in Georgetown, near Washington. Peter and Anna were married 8 Dec 1865 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church outside of Decorah. Amanda’s brothers and sisters were: Bertha Severina, Andrew, John, Gjertina Marie, Benjamin, Henry Julius, Otto Nicoli, Eda Cornelia and Theodore Melvin.

Hans and Amanda were married 26 Aug 1900 in Glenwood Twp. They had five children: Nellie Amelia, Benny Oliver, Raymond Stanley, Gladys Irene and Lloyd

Merlin. All the children were born in Decorah. Nellie (18 Apr 1901 -18 Jul 1964) married Charles Gifford Stoen (20 May 1898-15 Oct 1992) on 17 Aug 1922. They had five children: Roger Carlton, Helen Eileen, Francis Laverne, Dorothy Lorraine and Mary Jane. Benny (18 Apr 1907-17 Mar 1932) died of Bright’s Disease (kidney disease) in Decorah. Raymond (18 May 1911-8 May 1977) married Margaret Gale Evens (b. 30 Jan 1916) on 14 Jun 1940. They had four children: Marcia Rae, Raymond Stanley Jr., Marilyn Gale and Terry Martin. Gladys (b. 5 Jul 1915) married Bernard Edward Johnson (15 May 1915-23 Sep 1977) on 9 Apr 1942. They had six children: John Bernard, Susan Elizabeth, Steven Lloyd, Douglas Craig, Rebecca Ann and Sally Lynn. Llovd (24 Jun 1918-5 May 1928) drowned in Decorah by the Mill Race on Dug Road.

Sivesind, Raymond and Margaret (Evens)

(Sally Leibold)

Raymond Stanley Sivesind was born 18 May 1911 in Decorah, IA and died 8 May 1977. He was the son of Hans Martin Sivesind and Amanda Bramina Halverson. Hans was born 26 Nov 1871 and died 18 Sep 1959. Amanda was born 30 May 1879 and died 15 Oct 1954. Raymond’s brothers and sisters were: Nellie, Benny, Gladys and Lloyd.

Raymond married Margaret Gale Evens on 14 Jun 1940. Margaret was born 30 Jan 1916. Raymond and Margaret had four children: Marcia Rae, Raymond Stanley Jr., Marilyn Gale and Terry Martin. Marcia Rae; Raymond Stanley Jr. married Julie Marie Josund on 6 Sep 1975. They are the parents of three children: Sonja Marie, Peter Martin and Paul. Marilyn Gale married Glen Allen Newton on 28 Aug 1971. They are the parents of two children: Joel Glen  and Rachel Gale. Terry Martin  married Peggy Swalheim on 22 Dec 1979. They are the parents of two children: Emily and Kane Ryan.

The Skaim Family

(Marlys Schulte)

In 1865 Johannes Skajim (20 Jul 1829-1913) left Sogn, Norway with his wife Brita Tokvam (25 Mar 1833-1912) and their 3 children Metta (8), Johannes (6) and Brita (3). They left to join their brother Nels and sister Anna who was married to John Loven and lived in northeast Iowa. Anna and Nels were among the first settlers in Glenwood Twp. in the early 1850’s.

Over a period of 1 1/2 years, Johannes and Brita traveled from Quebec, Canada by mule drawn canal boat and then by steam vessels through the Great Lakes. Teams of oxen carried them west to such trading posts as Prairie du Chien. Johannes and Brita arrived in northeast Iowa in 1866 - probably stopping first at the old Washington Prairie Store where pioneers bought supplies, received directions and sent and received mail. They headed north a few more miles and staked out a home