Vick, Herfred and Mary (Hellestvedt)

(Eleanor Womeldorf)

Herfred and Mary Vick June 4, 1912.

Herfred Vick, son of Nels and Karen Vick, was born 4 Dec 1889 in Glenwood Township. He worked as a painter and janitor of the Pontoppidan Church. It was his job to ring the church bell three times on Sunday—8:30-an invitation to worship; 9:30-at beginning of church service; and 10:30-at close of church service. He was a member of the Gauken Singing Society for 32 years.

Herfred married Mary Hellestvedt on 4 Jun 1912 in Springfield Twp. with her father the Rev. Hellestvedt officiating who was a substitute pastor of Springfield Lutheran Church. Mary was born Mary Thorson in Marseillies, IL weighing only 3 pounds at birth. Her mother died in child birth and her twin sister died at the age of 3 weeks. Mary was raised by Rev. and Mrs. Hellestvedt.

Herfred and Mary lived on a 2-acre plot in Glenwood Twp. When they bought this plot it was over-run with oak, elm and wild cherry, so they had to clear most of the ground. They bought a log cabin which came from the Gene Williams’ farm, moved it to their 2-acre place and reconstructed it with the help of neighbors.

The Vick family operated the Nasset telephone switch which they set up in the living room of their home. It had 16 rural lines and was owned by the Glenwood Telephone Company. Mary Vick was known to say, “We handled quite a few long distance calls too—even from the West coast." They installed a night bell upstairs as they operated a 24-hour service. Herfred also worked as a lineman for the telephone company. Prior to the Vick family, the Nasset switch had been operated by Martin Woldum, Gust Johnson and Walter Williams.

Herfred and Mary lived most of their lives in Glenwood Twp. Mary died 23 Mar 1962 at Smith Memorial Hospital in Decorah and Herfred died 9 May 1964 at the same hospital.

Herfred and Mary raised 7 children: Myrtle Kristina (18 Apr 1913) was married 14 Jun 1933 to Bernard (Bennie) Boe (26 Apr 1906- 19 Jul 1986). Hilda Marie (9 Jul 1915 - 11 Nov 1971) was married 5 Jun 1935 to Emil Melvin Jevne (22 May 1897 - 18 Feb 1975). Norman Joseph (30 Aug 1917 - 1 Jul 1988) was married 14 Nov 1940 to Mildred Joyce Johnson (12 Mar 1922). Eleanor Josephine (24 Nov 1918) was married 25 Mar 1937 to Walter David Womeldorf (16 Apr 1916 - 26 Jul 1985) (See separate article) .Gladys Dorthea (27 Jun 1921) was married 14 Jun 1942 to Truman Clement Engen (25 Sep 1922 - 27 Oct 1968). Second marriage 16 Oct 1976 to Don Pecinovsky (11 Sep 1917). Vernon Richard (4 Aug 1923-30 Aug 1981) was married 14 Jun 1954 to Helen Mitchell. Cora Isabelle was married 8 Oct 1950 to Gordon Roy Ostrander.

Vick, Knute Tollef and Bertha (Haukedahl)

(Charlotte Wilkins Lee)

Knute Tollef (Tollif) Vick (b. 17 Apr 1867 - d. 17 Feb 1949) married Bertha Gurina Haukedahl (b. 14 Oct 1875-d. 11 Apr 1955) on 28 Dec 1898. (See: Vick, Tolleiv). Their children were Alice, Otto, Lueila, Florence and George. Knute was a farmer. He and Bertha lived down the gravel road from the old Union Prairie Lutheran Church that was located near Highway 52 between Decorah and Calmar, IA. They are buried in the Calmar Lutheran Cemetery.

Alice Charlotte (b. 30 Oct 1899, Calmar) married Louis (Louie) Anderson Vetter (b. 1 Sep 1896 Buena Vista, IA) in First Lutheran Church, Decorah, on 6 Jun 1934. Alice graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College Ames, IA and taught Home Economics and coached girl’s basketball at the DeWitt, IA High School before she was married. Louie was a farmer. They had 4 children: August, Louise, Alice and Naomi. Alice died 22 Jan 1985 in Davenport, IA and Louie died 21 Sep 1984 in DeWitt. They are buried in Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Buena Vista (rural Calamus, IA).

Knute Vik

August (Augie) Knute (b. in Davenport) married RogeneVerdel Longe in Moline, IL. He is a farmer and truck driver, and she is a homemaker. They have 3 children: Carmen, Paul and Eric.