Wendy Perkinson, Ricky, Cindy Green and Kimberly, two grandchildren Kelsey and Kirsten Perkinson. Darrel is currently employed by Luther College and Carol by Wal-Mart in Decorah.

A son, William was born to Walter and Thea on 24 Jan 1929 and died the same day.

Walter and Thea were members of Big Canoe Lutheran Church which was founded by Walter’s grandfather Harold and great-grandfather Halsten. Walter was active with agricultural organizations, 4-H clubs, Highland Twp. Election Board and known as a breeder of purebred Hampshire hogs. Walter and Thea were well respected in their community and were always known for their generosity and hospitality.

Walter passed away 25 Sep 1989 and is buried in Big Canoe Cemetery. Thea passed away on 8 Feb 1990 and is buried alongside her husband.

Stoen, Wilbur and Eunice (Hexom)

(Wilbur Stoen)

Wilbur Stoen farm

Halsten Stoen and his family were one of the first families in the Big Canoe area arriving there in 1851. The area was heavily wooded at that time and timber had to be cleared before homes could be built and fields readied for planting.

Halsten Halstenson Stoen was born 27 Jun 1796 near Nesbyen, Norway. He married Ingebor and they had 5 children: Randi, Harold, Ole, Kari and Gunhild (she drowned in the river by the bridge near where they lived in Norway). The family came to America in 1851, and Ingebor died in their covered wagon and was buried in the farm field on land now owned by Eugene Stoen. There are about 12 people buried in that area without a marker, due they tell us because of a diphtheria outbreak. Halsten was 54 years old, so two of his sons went to Wisconsin to work in lumbering to get enough funds to purchase their section of Iowa land (at that time a little over $1 an acre).

The children of Halsten and Ingebor were: Randi married a Flatin; Harold (my great-grandfather) married Kari

Bergo; Ole married Guri Tobison and Kari married John Johnson.

A story which has been passed down by several is that when Harold was baptized, a young girl was holding him and was told, “Be careful, because some day you might grow up and marry him”, and this is what actually happened.

Eunice and Wilbur Stoen

The Stoen farm home was one of the first ones built in this area and many immigrants would stay with them, help with the work and then build their own homes. In gratitude these new comers presented the Stoens with a massive wood and leather couch and chair.

Harold and Kari (Bergo) Stoen also had five children: Halsten, Ingebor, Tosten, Margaret and Gunhild. The son, Halsten married Josephine Nordheim (my grandparents). They had four children: Henry Clarence, Knut (my father), Cora and Walter. My father Knut was born in 1891 and married Mildred Leikvold born in 1893. Mildred was raised in the Waterville, IA area. They were married 1 Feb 1923. Knut served in the Army in World War I and spent some time in France. They purchased their farm east of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church and raised four children: Betty married Norman Theis; Wilbur married Eunice Hexom; Norma married Max Schaffer; and Eugene married Caryl Dickman. Her father was the late Pastor W.T. Hexom at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Wilbur and Eunice were married on 29 Aug 1948 and are the parents of two children: Barbara married Don Dowd after both graduated from Luther College in 1975. They have three daughters: Shannon, Melissa and Molly. Son Bill graduated from Iowa State in 1980 and is now running the Stoen farm.

The original section was divided and the home farm has been farmed by five generations — Halsten, Harold,