Halley is married to Jerry Sutton. They live on a farm in Sec. 31, Canoe Twp. In addition to farming, Jerry is an electrician. Halley is employed at the Oneota Riverview Care Facility as a registered nurse. She also is a Winneshiek County First Responder. Halley has 3 children: Samuel Wise Drenth, Joseph G. Sutton and Ruth Ann Sutton.

Svanoe, Harold and Lucille (Brue)

(Lorene Fortini)

Harold Cecil Svanoe was born in Oslo, Norway on 15 May 1910 and came to the U.S. with his family when he was nine years old. He was the son of Atle and Martha (Simomson) Svanoe. His father was born in Ashevold, Norway in 1869. His mother was born 13 Jan 1877 in Yankton Co., SD. She married Atle while he was in the U.S. in 1906. Martha's parents had come from Norway and homesteaded near Mission Hill, SD. Harold's brothers and sisters were: Ansgar, Sigvart, William, Richard and Kirsten.

Lucille Jeanette was the daughter of Edward and Rachel (Johnson) Brue. Her father was born 29 Aug 1884 on the Island of Bru, near Stavanger, Norway. In 1907, at 17 years of age, he came to the U.S. following a brother who had come earlier. Her mother was born in Turner Co., SD 20 Nov 1884. Her parents had also come to the U.S. from Norway. Edward Brue and Rachel were married at her parents’ home in Hurley, SD 16 Dec 1909. Lucille’s brothers and sisters were: Edna, Melvin, Everett, Lester and Arlene.

Harold and Lucille Svanoe and their children and grandchildren on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, July 24, 1985.

Harold and Lucille met while attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. They were married 24 Jul 1935. Before moving to Decorah in 1957, they had lived in Centerville and Milank, SD and Warrensburg and Fayette, MO. Harold and Lucille had 3 children: Lorene, Edward and Philip. Lorene is married to Anthony Fortini and lives in Federal Way, WA. She has 2 sons: Dean Sheldon (Toledo, OH) and Edward Sheldon (Atlanta, GA). Edward is married to Orunn. They live in Stillwater, MN. He teaches in the St. Paul Public Schools. They have a daughter, Carreen (Stillwater, MN). Philip is married to Barbara and lives in Des Moines, IA where he is self-employed in financial services. Philip has 2 daughters: Sirkka and Annika (Boulder, CO). Edward and Philip graduated from Decorah High School in 1959 and 1963. All 3 children graduated from Luther College.

Both Harold and Lucille were teachers. Harold taught at Luther College in the Speech Department from 1957 until retiring in 1975. Lucille taught in the Decorah Public Schools from 1960 until retiring in 1975.

The Luren Singing Society is a favorite pastime for Harold. He has been a member for 38 years. He was instrumental in arranging and coordinating the Luren tours of Norway in 1969, 1973 and 1983. Harold, along with others, developed the Scandinavian high school exchange program. He and Lucille were members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Lucille died in 1989 after a long illness.

Svendsen, Arthur and Mary (Brown)

(Mary Svendsen)

Arthur John Svendsen, son of Johannes (b. 24 Dec 1877) and Anna (Mikkelson) (b.1 Jan 1891) Svendsen, was born 18 Aug 1921 on the Svendsen farm in Bloomfield Twp. His brothers and sisters were: Mildred (b. 1916), Reuben (b. 1918), Norman, Ellen and John. He attended school at Bloomfield No. 8 school. Arthur worked as a farm laborer until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in Aug 1942. He was discharged from the Navy in Dec 1945. Arthur and his brother, Norman, farmed with their father until Arthur was married.

On 29 Dec 1946 Arthur married Mary Brown. Art and Mary continued to farm with Art's father until Mar 1950 when they moved to the William and Nora Beckman farm. They lived there until Mar 1952 when they moved to Frankville Twp. In 1954 they moved back to the Svendsen farm. They continued to farm with Art's father until 1963 when they bought the farm. They retired in 1980 and moved to Castalia.

Mary M. Brown, the daughter of Charles (6 Sep 1892) and Orpha (Thias) (b. 6 Jul 1905) Brown, was born 10 Nov 1928 at Aurora, IL. She graduated from Postville High School in 1946. Mary has always been a farm wife. When her children were grown, she became a Nurse Aide and Medical Aide at the Postville Good Samaritan Home. In 1995 Mary was chosen as Employee of the Year by the Good Samaritan Home staff.

Art and Mary are members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia. Mary is now serving as the President of the Zion Lutheran Church.

Art and Mary have 4 children: Evelyn, Larry, Norma and David. All their children graduated from South Winneshiek High School.

Evelyn married Gary Sorenson (deceased). They had 2 children: Carmen S. and Rachel L. . Evelyn is now married to Duane Einck. Their children are: Adam J. and Bree E.. Evelyn is an office assistant.