Gary Daniel Aanestad

Notes:

!BAPTISM: Trinity Lutheran Church.
EDUCATION: Porterville College, Porterville, California, 1959.
MILITARY: PFC, Army Reserves (USAR), Feb. 1, 1957 - Oct. 29, 1963.
RELIGION: Lutheran.
OCCUPATION: Drought technician for beer distributorship, later a guard at a
state prison facility.
DEATH: Pancreatic cancer.
BURIAL:

Helge married Josephine Walzak Josephine was born on 12 Jun 1908 in North Dakota, United States; died on 1 Dec 1996 in Porterville, Tulare, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

!STATUS: 07-24-89 INCOMPLETE:
PROBLEM: Her husband, H. G. Aanestad says she has no middle name. Check this
with her data sheet when it arrives. FGR-65, Judy says her middle name
is Frances. D-040 lists middle name as Magdaline.
Aunt Jo has not sent data sheet.
OCCUPATION: Homemaker
LR: Porterville, CA

Notes:

!SO: A-036, Several others.
STATUS: CAP
NOTES: Helge died 2 days after his 100th birthday. He and Anna were married
76 years.
BURIAL: Roselawn Cemetery.
EDUCATION: Luther Normal School, (now Augustana Normal), Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, 1896-1899.
Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1905-1908.
OCCUPATION: Lutheran minister, served Carpio, North Dakota, 1908-13; Esmond,
North Dakota, 1913-47; retired in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1948-77.
He taught school and was a church singing leader in Olmsted County,
1899-00. From 1900-1905 he farmed and carried mail at Sherman, S.D.
A-042 shows him as pastor of the English Lutheran Congregation in
Cottonwood, MN, 1904-05. A-042 lists the names and history of the
various churches he served.
From Milton Hackett we read, "Anna and Helge's first home was at
Sherman, where oldest child Ditlif was born. From there they moved
to Cottonwood where Anna lived while Helge attended Luther Seminary
at St. Paul. Three children were born meanwhile: Gerald, Wilhelm,
and Ragnvald. Helge was ordained into the ministry in 1908 and was
called to Carpio, N.D. They were in Carpio for 5 years: son Orwoll
was born there. In 1913 the family moved to Esmond, N.D. where
Helge became pastor in response to the Esmond call. He served
three congregations: Trinity (in town), Emanual and St. Olaf. In
Esmond were born Solveig Lois, Harald, and Alf. The retirement
years, beginning in 1947, were spent in St. Paul (at 2343 Carter
Ave.). Their home, near daughter Lois and son-in-law Woody
Thorstenson remained a haven for the family members and a gathering
place for the clan." (ORWOLL DOC 'A')
He was Pres. of Northwestern College Corporation, 1913-1914.
Helge was Secretary of the N.D. District of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church and witnessed the merger of the Norse-speaking
Lutheran congregations in 1917, the merger in 1942 of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and as Emeritus Pastor, the merger
forming the American Lutheran Church.
In the 1900 Federal census he is listed, with his parents on the farm at
Sherman, SD, single and working on the farm. In A-020-V he tells that he
thinks the family (then Hege, Raghnild, Helge, Alma, Carl, Henrietta and
Walter) moved to Sherman the fall of 1886. The Rosendal Church was just
west of the Ostedal place. That building blew down and the new church was
built 1/2 mile east of their home. While the church was being built,
services were held in the 2nd floor of the parsonage (the early home known
by Alert Palmer Aanestad). Then mentions the Rosendal
congregation, the size (no details), the split. He tells that his grandfather,
(Gunul), came to the U.S. with his family, but when asked about the name,
Gunhild Bekkeset, Helge does not know that name. Helge says he was born at the
Skarshaug's place (Groth place?) east of Clermont. Mentions that he believed
Holstein Groth went to Elgin to trade, but that we (Helge) knew Clermont best.
Says he (Helge) was born in Clayton Co., about 4 miles east of Clermont. When
Helge, Clara and Carl were kids they lived near Clermont. When their father
went to the semenery, they lived near Lansbobro, MN. When they later moved
west in 1884, the got on the train at Lansbobro. Speaks of visits to
Skarhaug's when kids. Mentions a play threshing machine. Goes on to tell of
living at Lansboro, the move to Laverne, the call to Rosendal and the first day
of school. Helge mentions something about an injured heel made by Rev. Turmo.
No details given but mention is made of visiting Skarshaugs, Langs (when Alert
Palmer Aanestad) was a small child, the Enersons (Enen and Tom, who had 1 son
and 5 daughters). Names the children: Theodore, Minnie, Alma, Julia, Stina,
Nora. Thinks Nora had written to Lois Thorstenson at one time and was living
in Austin, MN and might be a good source about "Faster" and the Bekkeset line.

Helge married Anna Dahl on 26 Jun 1901 in Cottonwood, Lyon, Minnesota, United States. Anna (daughter of Hans Christian Hanson Dahl and Siri Louise Orwoll) was born on 2 Mar 1879 in Lucas, Lyon, Minnesota, United States; was christened in 1879 in Cottonwood, Lyon, Minnesota, United States; died on 8 Jan 1979 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States; was buried on 12 Jan 1979 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

!STATUS: CAP
BIRTH: At home, on the family homestead in Lucas Township near Cottonwood.
BAPTISM: Easter Sunday, what is now the English Lutheran Church, Cottonwood.
BURIAL: Roselawn Cemetery.
EDUCATION: Luther Normal School (now Augustana College), Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, class 1900. It was here, at a basket social, that she met
her husband to be, Helge M. Aanestad, from Sherman, South
Dakota. An interesting finding from the 1900 census (CA-001 and
CA-002), taken June 1900, was that Anna's occupation was listed as
`at school' and Helge's was `works at home'. Helge's sister, Alma,
was listed as living as a boarder at that time with Anna's mother,
Sara. How did Alma come to board with Sara? Did Alma introduce
Helge to Anna?
RELIGION: Lutheran.
OCCUPATION: Milton Hackett, Anna's nephew writes, "their service was truly a
partnership affair, with Helge preaching and both of them teaching,
counseling, and leading and assisting in the numerous church-
centered affairs . . . musicals, festivals, and societies.
Ranking next in importance to church and family to Anna and
Helge, were interests in music and education. These interests they
imparted to their children. Somehow, on the less than adequate
resources available to a country preacher in the depression days,
they managed to see that all eight children attended college.
Life in a country parish on the prairie is aptly described by
the title of Anna's memoir. 'Chuckles and Tears'". (ORWOLL DOC 'A')
Anna was the N.D. District Historian of the Women's Missionary
Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
NOTES: Anna and Helge were married 76 years. He died 2 days after his 100th
birthday. She died just 2 months before reaching her 100th
birthday.
PROBLEM: A-035 lists name with middle initial, Anna C. Dahl.

Other Events:

• Naturalization: 1872
• Residence: 1880, Amherst, Fillmore, Minnesota, United States
• Residence: 1900, Highland, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States
• Residence: 1910, Garretson, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States
• Residence: 1920, Garretson, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States
• Residence: 1930, Sherman, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States

Notes:

Birth:
Notes as per Bill Aanestad.

Grandson Ragnvald-80 lists the birthplace as Haa, Jaederen, Kristiansand, Norway. (Lois Thorstenson-82 (A-004) relates that the Aanestad area is south of Stavager, near the town of Varhaug. Descendants of Mathias, Helge's brother, still live on the old homestead near Varhaug.)

PROBLEM: In (A-020-O) Henrietta lists the b. place as Haa Prestegjaeld, Norway. A-043 lists Hå, Jaederen, Norway.

A-047 lists HÅ, Jæren, Norway. (HÅ is a larger area, similar to a county, Jæren is a district in HÅ and Varhaug is a town adjacent to Ånestad both within these larger areas. I am using the data from A-047.

NOTE: In 1994, my wife Dorothy and I, brother Sam and Susan visited the Aanestad area in Norway. On the road heading south from Stavanger, and just before arriving at Varhaug is a sign pointing to Ånestad. It is a collection of farms all by the same name located between two rivers.

Halvard Aanestad, who we visited in Varhaug took us out to the farm in Ånestad on which his half-brother, Svien and his wife, Olaug were still living and farming.

At this time, Svien was remodeling the old farmhouse because his son, Morten (a newspaper reporter) and his wife Kristin were in the process of moving onto the farm and Svien and Anne were planning on retiring to a new house in a new housing development near the edge of the farm.

We also visited this new house. The craftsmanship and wood interiors of both were simply beautiful. My outstanding memory of the new house was a walk-in refrigerator! Hanne Brit Sandsmark, who wonderfully compiled the Norwegian and American names into a published genealogy lives just up the road on the way to Stavanger. Our time was limited by the departure of our cruise ship so we were unable to try to see her and her family. Our immigrant ancestor, Helge (my great grandfather) was a brother of Karl (Hanna's great-grandfather) and also a brother of Mathias (Hallvard's grandfather). Hallvard is an electrical contractor in Vaurhaug. We had a very enjoyable meeting in his home and Mary served us lunch including lefse and we were made to feel very welcome. Hallvard explained that Aa or Å indicates a relative size of the area of land bordered by two rivers, so Aanestad gets its name from that idea. Interestingly, Hallvard spells it Aanestad while Svien spells it Å. Both continue to insist they have the preferred spelling!

Helge married Ragnhild Gunderson Korsgarn in Abt. 1876. Ragnhild (daughter of Gunnel Svenson and Kari Knutsdatter Korsgaard) was born on 16 Feb 1852 in Numedal, Norway; died on 8 Sep 1933 in Sherman, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States; was buried on 12 Sep 1933 in Sherman, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Possible Norwegian Hits:

Ragnhild Jensdatter, b. 9 Nov 1851, paa Østre Stabæk, Asker Parish
Ragnild Johnsdatter, b. 1 Dec 1851, Sjølie, Ytre Rendal Parish
Ragnild Jørgensdatter, b. 21 Aug 1852, i Atnedalen, Lessøe Pr., Ringebu Parish
Ragnild Johanne Carlsdatter, b. 30 Sep 1853, Houde, Ørsta Parish
Ragnhild Barothea Knudsdatter, b. 26 Jul 1851, Løghelle, Lenvik Parish
Ragnhild Johnsdatter, b. 7 Mar 1852, Tverfjord, Hammerfest Parish
Ragnhild Nielsdatter, b. 29 Jul 1852, Eibugt, Hammerfest Parish


1900 US Census year of immigration is 1867

!SO: Birth and Death dates from Ralph Aanestad-95 record.
PROBLEM: Lois lists name as Ragnhild Korsgaard Gunderson.
Ralph A. lists name as either Ragnhild Korsgaard or Raghnild Gunderson
A-036 lists last name as Ragnild Gunderson Korsgaard.
Sammie Lang (A-011) explains that all the brothers and sisters took on
the name Gunderson except for Raghnild, who kept the last name,
Korsgaard. Also that she was called "Rachel" in America.
Perhaps the answer comes from a letter (SO: A-014) dated 3-24-90 from
Walter F. Kelley, who explains the reason for the name, Korsgaard, was
that her father married Kari Korsgaard, who was an only child. She
inherited the Korsgaard Farm and Ragnhild thus acquired the name.
A-020-O lists name as Ragnil.
A-020-h states that the name in Norway was Ragnil (Gunelsdatter) Krosgrn
(Korsgaard in 'bokmaal" spelling)
A-033 lists name as Ragnild. born 2-15-1852.
BIRTH: Numedal is 100 miles NE of Bergin. (From (A-004): up at the north end
of the Numedal Valley is the town of Rodberg which is not far from the
farm [Korsgarad] where her family lived. The farm is now owned by the
Bergs. Ragnhild was baptized in the stave church at the little town of
Nore which is in the Numedal area.")
PROBLEM: A-020-O says all Ragnhild's brothers and sisters were born at
Nore. Norway. A-020-M says all born at Nummedal. Nordahl Skarshaug lists Jorund's b. place a Uvdal, Norway.
EDUCATION: In Norway (From A-014)
RELIGION: Lutheran.
NOTES: Solveig Thorstenson relates that Ragnhild immigrated to America with her
father, Gunulf Knutson Bekkeseth, (Sammie Lang believes the name
should be, Gunull Svenson, and that his name was Americanized to
Gunder, and that Gunder, Iowa is named for him) who was a widower,
(also see Notes for Gunnel Svenson-497)
and her brothers and sisters in 1862 when she was 10 years of age.
Walter Kelley (SO: A-014) states that his mother Henrietta gave him
information in 1932 for a college paper and gave the emmigration date
as 1865. A-014 indicates that Ragnhild lived in Clayton Co., Iowa until
1879, Filmore Co., Minnesota until 1884, and Luverne, Minn. until 1885.
Ralph Aaanestad relates, "Grandmother Ragnhild could bake the best rye bread in
the entire Minnehaha County area in my estimation and she always had some on
hand when I brought her a load of corn cobs for the kitchen stove or some oats
and corn for her chickens. She told me she was born in Numdal, Norway, on Feb
16, 1852. Numdal is about 100 miles northeast of Stavanger. Grandmother cameto America when she was nearly 15 years old. She spent 18 years on the home
place where Wilson F. Kelley lived for many years. In early days she used to
twist flax straw for fuel in the family stove and she had a small flock of
chickens on hand from earliest days of marriage until her death in 1933. Yes,
some of those chickens had names and they were afraid of anyone other than
Grandmother. She also used to choip up small kindling for her kitchen stove
and I have her small, very sharp axe used for this chore. Grandmother managed
many duties around the parsonage and farm, for the family was engaged in
farming along with the pasoral duties of Grandfather. Ragnhild was a hard
worker all her days until the last year or twwo when her health began to fail
her. She told me that at one time she could have made a return trip to Norway
but turned it down for it took 3 months to come over on a boat when she
emigrated to the United States and she didn't want any more of that. She was
the mother of 9 children, five boys and four girls, all of whom survived her.
She was very happy when her children were present for her Golden Wedding in
1926."
A-020-O. Henrietta relates that when her grandfather and children came to the
U.S. her mother, Ragnhild, "was 13 years old. She had to find a home, to work
and support herself and help the younger ones. Hers has been a life of
sacrifice and no complaint."
A-020-f tells she came to U.S. with father and family March 1866. Lived in
Clayton co., Iowa, Fillmore MN, Luvern MN, Sherman SD. Died at Sherman of a
cerebral hemorrage.
A-031 lists her sir name as Korsgaarden, same as for her father.
A-044 a letter written by her husband, Helge, indicates her illness began with
a light stroke which incapacitated her memory and usual busy lifestyle and after
7 months death seperated them. Helge describes the funural service and some of
his feelings. He spells her name, Ragnil, in the letter.

Name:
Korsgarn is the name given on the birth listing for Alert Palmer in South Dakota Births, 1856-1903 Record

Korsgaard is the name given on Helge M. Aanestad's Minnesota death record.

Notes:

Estate was probated in 1916. Died from lingering illness after being
struck by lightning. Date of death is from Milton Hackett.
Known as Christian H. or Christ H. Dahl.
Family took the name Dahl when they immigrated to America in 1867.

Hans married Siri Louise Orwoll on 30 Nov 1877 in Sandnes Township, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, United States. Siri (daughter of Sylfest Lasseson Orwoll and Marta Kristiansdtr Bjedla, * *) was born on 31 May 1859 in Arkdale, Adams, Wisconsin, United States; died on 20 Aug 1949 in Cottonwood, Lyon, Minnesota, United States; was buried on 24 Aug 1949 in English Lutheran Cem, Cottonwood, Lyon, Minnesota, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes: