addition to being taught at home. Nelson learned woodworking and farming from his father. His sister, Sarah Agnes had married Elias T Reed in 1877 and died when her baby daughter was but nine months old. When Nelson was married 3 Sep 1889 to Aasine Anderson, they lived with David and Mary. Apparently David was not in vigorous health as he died the end of Oct 1891. In David’s will, he left the farm and all their belongings to his wife Mary A. Their son and his young wife were needed to carry on the operation of the farm. Mary married Albert Wheeler in 1893 leaving the farm to Nelson and Aasine. Sarah’s 2 children were remembered in David’s will with a 1/5th share each.

Back, left to right: Ella, Frederick, Albert, Minnie, Emma. Front: L. Nelson and Aasine “Sena” Womeldorf. Taken in 1907 after their return to Pleasant Township.

Aasine was born to Erik W, Anderson and Mari Torsdtr Solstad (both immigrants from Norway) 8 Oct 1867 in Pleasant Twp. It appears that Aasine was the oldest of the Anderson children. However, after her sister Oline and brother Ed Theodor were born, their mother died. Erik married again to Mary Gudbrandsdtr Hagen and bore three sons: Martin E., Johan Gustav and Endre Olaff. Their mother died 8 Dec 1887. Until her marriage, Aasine “Sena” was the homemaker for her younger sister and brothers. When David Womeldorf died in 1891, Sena had a son and could no longer help out at her father’s home. Sena and Nelson farmed on the Womeldorf farm until 1902. They now had six children: Albert (b. 19 Apr 1890), Frederick (b. 25 Jan 1892), Minnie Delia (b. 24 Sep 1893), Ella Emilie Agnete (b. 16 Jul 1896), Emma Lillian (b. 2 Mar 1898), and Hattie Mathilde (b. 26 Sep 1900). Hattie was a sickly child dying in the spring of 1901. Sena was not well after this time. The farm was sold and the family moved to Monte Vista, CO. Their stay was but a few years. Tradition has it that a Lutheran church was not nearby, and it was time for Freddy (Frederick) to be confirmed, so back to Pleasant Twp. they came. Fred was confirmed in 1907 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church by Rev. Scarvie.

The Womeldorfs bought the farm that Milton Young’s father later purchased in about 1916 when Nelson and Sena retired and moved to 607 Center Avenue where they lived the remainder of their lives. Nelson was a naturalist; was especially fond of transplanting wild flowers to his beautiful garden. The basement of their home smelled so good because that was where Nelson, the “beekeeper” extracted the honey. He and his daughter raised prize gladiolas winning first prize often at the Winneshiek Co. Fair. When Nelson was gone to his twenty acres of land just south of Decorah, Sena would gather some of the wonderful vegetables from his garden at their home and take a basket full to some of her neighborhood friends who had none. Often she'd have one of the grandchildren "run the errand" — but “Don’t tell Mr.” — her designation for Nelson. The twinkle in his eyes let you know he recognized what she’d done.

Nelson died at home after an illness of about 2 months on 2 Nov 1951. Sena died 19 Sep 1954. Both are buried bedside Nelson’s parents, David and Mary Womeldorf, and their 2 daughters, Minnie and Hattie, in the Freeport Cemetery.

Womeldorf, Lilly (Hamre)

(Lilly Womeldorf)

Lilly Marie Hamre was born in Decorah to Knut and Cora Hamre. She joined a sister Alice Louise. As a 3 year old an article was written in the newspaper about how she got temporarily lost one day walking to meet her dad coming home from work. Another momentous event was as a 6 year old in early May 1939, being chosen to present a bouquet of flowers on behalf of Decorah Lutheran Church to Crown Princess Martha, wife of Crown Prince Olav, who was to become King Olav V, the father of present day King Harald.

Lilly Marie Hamre presenting flowers to Crown Princess Martha of Norway
May 1939 by Decorah Lutheran Church.

When Lilly and sister Alice were very young, summer trips to the Echo, MN farm of maternal grandparents Andrew and Caroline Knutson were fun times. Uncles Clifford and Bobby Knutson were the youngest of the Knutson family and were still living at home and helped work the farm. Bobby had a make-shift "house” in the woods and Lilly and Alice had fun playing make-believe there, bak