I would like to welcome all those who have signed on for the Oppland Mail List. <PJMARSOLEK@aol.com> <cajamc@pacbell.net> <THORAMB@aol.com> <sjfeulner@att.net> The archives for the Nor-Oppland list are located here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/NOR-OPPLAND.html> Please post your family information and questions if you wish and tell us who you are interested in researching in the Oppland area of Norway. I am open to all suggestions or ideas for the betterment of the list. Contact me anytime. For those who are new to Norway research, there are also other lists available to join. You can find more information about them here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/> I hope you all have a peaceful New Year. Margit

I would like to welcome all those who have signed on for the Oppland Mail List. <johnstonb@uwstout.edu> <sddakota@msn.com> <nordan6@juno.com> <jeff.jordan@mchsi.com> The archives for the Nor-Oppland list are located here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/NOR-OPPLAND.html> Please post your family information and questions if you wish and tell us who you are interested in researching in the Oppland area of Norway. I am open to all suggestions or ideas for the betterment of the list. Contact me anytime. For those who are new to Norway research, there are also other lists available to join. You can find more information about them here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/> I hope you all have a peaceful New Year. Margit

Anton Sletten Anton was born in Norway on March 8, 1889 to Peter and Marit (Lein) Sletten. When he was 5 years old, he came to America with his parents and his brother. He served with the Minnesota Home Guard and was stationed at Fort Snelling during WW I. He had never married. He farmed and worked as a carpenter. He also worked in an iron foundry in Hibbing for several years and also worked as a lumberjack. He died January 12, 1965 and is buried at Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery in Flom Township. Paul and Gina (Thorpe) Sletten Paul was born in Norway on January 3, 1891 to Peter and Marit (Lein) Sletten. He came to America with his parents when he was 3 years old. Gina Thorpe was born October 30, 1886 in Rockwell Township of Norman County to Halvor and Gunhild Thorpe. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith, attended rural area schools and was confirmed in Zion Lutheran church by Rev. J.R. Vaaler. Paul and Gina were married in Crookston in 1917. They lived at Hibbing three years and then moved to Rockwell Township in 1921 and to Fossum Township in 1954. Three children were born to Paul and Gina: Palmer, Gifford and an infant daughter who died. Paul died in August of 1975 at Twin Valley, Minnesota. He is buried at Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery. Gina died March 23, 1969 at the Lutheran Memorial Nursing Home in Twin Valley. She is buried at Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery. Peter and Marit (Lein) Sletten Peter Sletten was born in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway on February 15, 1863, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Per Sletten and attended Norwegian Parochial schools there. In 1882, he married Marit Lein. They came to America in 1894 and settled in Flom Township with his wife and small children. Much of the land was covered with timber and had to be cleared. His time was spent cutting trees and grubbing stumps. He also worked five winters at a logging camp near Hibbing, Minnesota. He also dug many wells in the area by hand. Peter also helped dig both basements of the former and present Wild Rice Churches, along with considerable work on the church yard and cemetery. He had unusual physical stamina. When he was nearly ninety years old, he helped cut and piled 1,400 oak fence posts for a neighbor. He prided himself in raising gardens, and his specialty was raising strawberries. During the depression years, he spent some time with his nephew, Peter Haugen and family at Maddock, North Dakota. Peter and Marit had two sons: Anton, who was born in 1889 and died in 1965. Paul, who was born in 1891 and died in 1975. His wife Marit, died April 27, 1930 and is buried in Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery. Peter died June 8, 1965 at Ada, Minnesota and is buried in Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Ole and Ronnaug (Johnson) Ronning Ole Ronning was born in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. He married Ronnaug Johnson in Norway in 1903. In 1904, we find him leaving Norway for America. Ronnaug was born in 1876 in Nordre Fron, Oppland, Norway to Johan Olsen Kaltrud and his wife Lisbet Ostendsdatter who were married November 3, 1870 in Sodorp, Oppland, Norway. In the 1900 census of Norway, we find her living on the Kaltrud Farm with her parents and her son, Sigurd O. Kaltrud who was born July 14, 1899. Also living there are her brothers Osten J. Kaltrud b.1874 in Vaage, Oppland, and Paul J. Kaltrud b.1893 in Nordre Fron, Oppland. Two of her sisters were also living on the farm: Anae J. Kaltrud b.1883 and Anna J. Kaltrud b.1886, both in Nordre Fron, Oppland. Ronnaug¹s brother, Ole Johnson b.7/23/1871 also came to the Flom area. Ole and Ronnaug lived just south and west of Flom on the cart trail known to many in the area as Ronning¹s Trail. Here they raised their children. John, Carl, Edwin, Helmer, Gustav, Orville, Sigurd, Alvin and Anna. John did carpenter work in Flom area. He also worked for E. A. Narum at Narum's store in Flom. He married a girl from White Earth, Mn. They resided there where he was employed by the school. Carl was born on February 19, 1913. Worked construction with the Swenson Brother¹s of Flom, Mn for many years before retiring and moving to Ulen, Mn. Carl was a veteran of WW II, he was a SGT US Army during WWII. Carl died on January 28, 1992 and is buried at Aspelund, Flom. Edwin was born in March of 1919. He worked for various farmer¹s in the area. He was well noted for being the one who would pick berries in the fall for canning. Many gallons of Chokecherries, Cranberries and grapes were picked by him. He was a kind and decent person. I can remember one Christmas when he stayed at my parents (Vernon Dorseth¹s) that we were all sitting and opening up our presents. Edwin sat and watched us three girls with the excitement of the holiday season and giggling with delight as we opened our presents. We handed Edwin his gift from under the tree and he just sat there not knowing what to do, holding back tears as he looked at the beautiful package with his name on it. When Edwin opened that gift, there in the box was a simple pair of slippers for him to wear in the evenings after coming in from chores. Edwin choked back tears as he told us it was his best Christmas ever, one would have thought we had given him all the gold in the world, but it was just the simple gesture of friendship and the true meaning of giving at Christmas that has always stayed in my mind. Edwin died sometime in the fall of 1979, the date says November 3, 1979. He had disappeared in the fall, a local person was out deer hunting when he happened to come across the body. Edwin is buried at Aspelund Lutheran Church, Flom, Mn In 2000 Jacob Klemetson made him a foot stone to mark his grave as a 4-H project. He received Grand Champion at both the local Mahnomen County level and also at the State Fair, along with it he received the community caring hands award. On the footstone are the words: Amazing Grace ŠŠ.. I once was lost but now am found. Helmer J. was born on July 9, 1908. He worked in Flom for Art and Reggie Thorstenson at their IGA Store. He served his country in the military as a Pvt 1st Class Co. C 359 Inf WW II BSM-PH. In World War II he received the Purple Heart. He never married. He worked for Thorstenson¹s for twenty five years and when they moved to Detroit Lakes, Mn he moved with them. Helmer died on September 7, 1964 and is buried at Aspelund. Gustav Adolph lived at home and never married. He died on September 28, 1956 and is buried at Aspelund. Orville was a born on July 28, 1921. He never married. Orville served his country during WW II as a Pvt lst Class in the Army. After he came back from the service he worked for the Flom Co-op then he moved to Moorhead and worked for Sioux Oil. Orville was a good guitar player, he like to play the guitar and sing. He died on July 25, 1996 and is buried at Aspelund, Flom, Mn. Sigurd was born on July 14, 1899 in Norway. He came to America at the age of 6. He lived at home and was a carpenter by trade. He never married. He was in the process of building a barn on the Vernon Dorseth farm when the scaffolding went down and Sigurd fell to his death. He died at the scene on June 20, 1959. He is buried at Aspelund. Flom, Mn. Alvin was born on December 20, 1915. He grew up in the Flom area and served his country in the military. He served with the troops that were sent in to liberate Norway. He was among the unit of "Ski Troouper", he was among the first to be sent in beause he could speak fluent Norwegian. He met and married Bernice Reynold on July 26, 1967 at Moorhead, Mn. She had two sons James and Bernard and two daughters; Delores ( C. Moss) and Darlene (James Loock)They lived in Moorhead, Mn where he worked for Power Construction Co. Alvin is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, ND. Anna married Nels Johnson Flom 125th History Book

Hans Erlandsen and Anne (Thorson Volden) Skansgaard Hans was born at Sodorp, Nord Fron, Oppland, Norway on June 16, 1863 to Erland and Beret Skansgaard. He was baptized and confirmed in his native country. In 1882, he emigrated from Norway to America. He came to Flom Township and lived in Section 27. He married Anne Torsdatter (Thorson) Volden on May 14, 1903. Anne was born to Tor Olsen Volden and Marit Iversdatter Milsteinstuen in Nord Fron, Oppland, Norway on June 26, 1865. She had two brothers who also came to America, Ole and Thorvald. Anne immigrated to America with her parents in 1883. Her family also first went to the Starbuck area in Pope County of Minnesota as many Norwegians did who came from the Gudbrandsdalen Valley of Norway. Both Hans and Anne were very active in the Community and at Aspelund Church. When Hans was courting Anne, he wrote her the following poem: Fossum, Minn Feb. 4th 1894 Oh gentle thought speak to my heart Whenever life feels long and hard Do sweetly fade out every pain And cause me smile through tears again Three children were born to Hans and Anne, they maybe would have had more, but were 38 and 40 years of age when they married. Edgar (see Edgar and Mabel Skansgaard) Magda (see Bill and Magda Lusso) Harold (see Harold and Martha Skansgaard) Hans died on May 8, 1953 and Anne died August 28, 1954. They are both buried at Aspelund Lutheran Church Cemetery at Flom. Flom 125th Anniversary Book

Erland Hansen and Berith (Nilsdatter Loken) Skansgaard Erland Hansson Kjorstadmoen was born in Sodorp, Nord Fron, Oppland, Norway to Hans Hansen and Anne Jacobsdatter on December 4, 1827. He was baptized and confirmed in Norway. He married Beret Nielsdatter Loften on November 27, 1851. Beret was the daughter of Niels Erichsen and Ragnil Thronsdatter. She was born in 1825 in Sodorp, Nor Fron, Oppland, Norway. She had the following siblings: Johannes, Kari, Thore, Mari, Mari and Erik Nielsen Loften. Four sons were born to Erland and Beret: Iver, (see Iver and Anne Skansgaard) Hans, (see Hans and Anne Skansgaard) Amund Niels The family is found living on the Skansgaard farm in the 1865 census of Norway and the 1875 census of Norway. Skansgaard was a small farm under Kjorstad in Sor-Fron. It was a husmannsplass. It was named Skansgaard when a husman came back from a war and named it so. The name is not rooted in farm names in Fron. Loften was a husmannsplassar in Nord-Fron. Not much is known about Amund and Niels. Amund was born on January 10, 1859 and Niels was born on October 11, 1854. Amund emigrated from Bergen, Norway on March 24, 1880 on the Stjerne Line. His place of residence was given as Haus. The day before, on March 23, 1880, his brother Niels emigrated from Bergen, Norway on the Inman Line. His place of residence was given as Haus. It is not known if the brothers were in this area when they came here. We do know that they lived on the West Coast, probably in Washington State. Amund changed his name to Edward Holmer and Niels changed his name to John Ring. It is known that Amund/Edward worked on ³Bergen¹s banen² in Norway in 1880. The road was built at that time from Bergen to Voss. Amund/Edward also used the name A.E. Holm. He stated in one letter to his parents that he had changed his name because it was hard for people to pronounce Skansgaard. Both men were known to have been in the Salt Lake City, Utah area at the turn of the century. One letter was received from Niels/John that was written on April 29, 1894 from a hospital in Salt Lake City. He talks of being very sick and about going to San Francisco to receive treatment from a Chinese doctor. That letter he signed Neils Erlandson. Amund/Edward died in 1936 in Washington State it is presumed. A letter was received from the Royal Norwegian Consulate in Seattle, Washington. It was to do with an estate that was left after his death. Erland and Beret emigrated from Oslo, Norway on April 25, 1884 on the Rollo. Their passage was prepaid, more than likely by one of their sons who were already all in America. Their place of residence was S. Fron and Storback was their destination in America. They landed in Quebec, Canada in May of 1884. Starbuck, Minnesota is where they first went to when they arrived here. His contract #16575 with Allan Brothers & Co. for his and Beret¹s passage, reads as follows: Erland Hansen has received of the undersigned, (against payment of passage-money, including landing money in Quebec, Boston, Halifax, Portland or Baltimore, as specified) Through ticket #16575 for 2 adults to be forwarded to Starbuck, Minn. in the following manner: 1. By Steam-Ship to Hull, where the separate Steam-Ship ticket is to be given up; 2. By Railway to Liverpool; 3. By Steam-Ship to Quebec, Boston, Halifax, Portland or Baltimore; 4. By Railway to destination. During the whole journey hence to America, passengers will be supplied with good and sufficient food as well as with suitable lodging; and this arrangement stands equally good in the event of any unavoidable delay or accident interrupting the journey, which in that case will be continued as soon as possible in a satisfactory manner. Passengers must attach a full and plain address to each of their luggage packages. 10 Cubic feet Luggage per Steam Ship and 100 pds per. Railway free for each passenger above 12 years old; for children between 1 and 12 years of age, half the quantity. On arriving in England, passengers must not hasten to go on shore, but wait until they are fetched by our Correspondents¹ people, who will make themselves known by showing a list of all the Passenger¹s names. Passengers should not have any dealings with Interpreters. Tins and bedding should be bought in Norway or in Liverpool. On arriving at America, Passengers must be careful not to let themselves be persuaded to take Lake-Steamer tickets instead of their railway tickets. Passengers should hold to this contract and show it as often as they have occasion, but not give it up until they arrive at their destination. A deposit of 20,000 Norwegian Kroner has been made to the Norwegian Government as security for due fulfillment of this contract. E. H. Skansgaard made his Declaration of his intention to become a citizen in Pope County of Minnesota. He could not write, so he signed with an X and it was witnessed by A.L. Brevig. We do not know how long they stayed in the Starbuck area. When they came to Flom Township, they lived in Section 27 on a farm. Beret died May 24, 1898 and Erland died November 29, 1909. They are both buried in Aspelund Lutheran Church Cemetery. Flom 125th Anniversary Book Sodorp Parish once was called Nord Fron. Sodorp church is located in Vinstra. In the 1920s the seventeenth century church was moved to a new location in Vinstra. A chapel was built at the old site which is surrounded by the old cemetery. In this old cemetery is a monument to Per Gynt of Grieg/Ibsen fame. My grandfather's birthplace is close by the chapel site. So Sodorp is in Gudbrandsdalen and in Oppland fylke. Skansgård is a husmann plass in Sør Fron, not Nord Fron. From the bygdebok, pages 282-283In 1865 Nordgard Kjorstad had seven husmenn Moen nedre, Steindalen, 2 places Haugom, Baukolshaugen, Skansgård, and Dondro. Namnet Skansgård skal vera oppstått ved at ein husmann som låg ute i krigen i 1808-14 hadde kvarter på ein gard som heitte Skansgård, og da han kom heim att tok han namnet på denne garden som namn på plassen sin. Det er ei rimeleg forklaring. Namnet Skansgård har ikkje oppstått med rot i bygdamålet på Fron. It was named Skansgård when a husman came back from a war and named it so. The name is not rooted in farm names in Fron.

Iver Erlandsen and Anne (Pedersdatter Aspehaug) Skansgaard Iver Erlandsen Skansgaard was born in Sodorp, Nord Fron, Oppland in Norway in 1852. His parents were Erland Hansen Skansgaard and Bereth Nilsdatter. He was baptized on March 21, 1852 and confirmed in his native Norway. When he was about 28 years old, he decided to emigrate from Norway to America. He left from the Bergen, Norway Harbor on May 5, 1880. When he first came to Minnesota, he lived in St. Paul and worked for the railroad. While in there, he met and married Anne Pedersdatter Aspehaug. Anne was born August 18, 1861 in Oier, Oppland, Norway, in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley. She was baptized on September 29, 1861. Her parents are Peder Knudsen and Sicil Pedersdatter Aspehaug. Anne had many brothers and sisters. Her brothers were: Amund Mellum, Knud, Anders, Johannes, Matias & Ole. Her sisters were: Sina (Stueness), Anne, Karen, Anne & Ingeborg. Amund Mellum came to America with his family, but lived out his last years with the Iver Skansgaard family at Flom. He is buried at Aspelund Lutheran Church Cemetery. Sina was married to Peter Stueness and died shortly after giving birth to a daughter who also died. She is buried in Immanuel Cemetery in Flom Township. Anne left Norway in 1889 and was heading for Baldwin, Wisconsin. Later, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she met and married Iver. Their first child was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cecelia (Sophie) Skansgaard, on September 22, 1891. Iver at that time was working for the railroad. He saw that with his lack of knowledge with the English language, there would be no chance for advancement. He and his wife, Anne and daughter Sophie, moved to Flom Township in Norman County. They settled down in the SW 1/4 of Section 28 and lived there until their deaths. Iver can be remembered as being seen walking to Flom carrying his cream to the Creamery. This was a daily trip in his later years when he was unable to drive his horses. Their other children are as follows:Cecelia (Sophie) Skansgaard was born on September 22, 1891 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She never married. She was a lifetime member of Aspelund Lutheran Church and is buried in the cemetery there. She died in January of 1971. She did housework in the area and later made a home and cared for Oline Hanson of Perley, Minnesota.Emil Skansgaard, born January 3, 1893 in Flom Township, he died November 17, 1967 and is buried at Aspelund Lutheran Cemetery. He never married and lived at home with his family.Nels Skansgaard, born September 26, 1894 in Flom Township, (See Nels and Caroline Skansgaard) Oscar Paul Skansgaard, born September 10, 1897, (See Oscar and Ruth Skansgaard) Alfred Skansgaard, born September 17, 1899 in Flom Township, (See Alfred and Gladys Skansgaard) John Skansgaard was born Herman Skansgaard, born July 12, 1905 in Flom Township. All the children attended the Flom School, located in Flom, Minnesota. Flom 125th Anniversary Book

Hello, I have the following names and families in Oppland Area. Margit 1 Oscar Paul Skansgaard. Born on 10 Sep 1897 in Flom Township Norman County Minnesota. CHIL @E684@. Oscar Paul died in Flom Township Norman County Minnesota, on 8 May 1970; he was 72. DEAD @E4929@. Buried in Wild Rice Lutheran Church Cemetery Flom Township Norman County Minnesota. On 20 Oct 1921 when Oscar Paul was 24, he married Ruth Stolen, in Flom Township Minnesota. 2 Iver Erlandsen Skansgaard. Iver Erlandsen died in Flom Township Norman County Minnesota, on 25 Jan 1949; he was 97. DEAD @E700@. Born on 8 Jan 1852 in Sodorp Nord Fron Oppland Norway. In 1890 when Iver Erlandsen was 37, he married Anne Pedersdatter Aspehaug, in Minneapolis Minnesota. 3 Anne Pedersdatter Aspehaug. Born on 17 Aug 1861 in Oier Oppland Norway. Anne Pedersdatter died in Flom Township Norman County Minnesota, on 11 Sep 1924; she was 63. 4 Erland Hanssen Skansgaard. Born in 1828 in Norway. CHIL @E692@. Erland Hanssen died in Norway in 1909; he was 81. DEAD @E699@. Born on 23 Oct 1826 in Sodorp Nord Fron Oppland. Erland Hanssen died in Norman County Minnesota, on 29 Nov 1909; he was 81. On 27 Nov 1851 when Erland Hanssen was 23, he married Beret Nielsdatter, in Nord Fron Oppland Norway. 5 Beret Nielsdatter. Born in 1825 in Sodorp Nord Fron Oppland Norway. Beret died in Norman County Minnesota, on 24 May 1898; she was 73. 6 Peder Knudsen Aspehaug. Born in 1814 in Oppland Norway. On 31 Jan 1839 when Peder Knudsen was 25, he married Sicil Pedersdatter, in Oier Oppland Norway. 7 Sicil Pedersdatter. Born abt 1818 in Oppland Norway. 8 Hans Erlandsen. Born in 1793 in Oppland Norway. Hans married Anne Pedersdatter. 9 Anne Pedersdatter. 10 Niels Erichsen. On 19 Nov 1820 Niels married Ragnil Thronsdatter, in Sodorp Nord Fron Oppland Norway. 11 Ragnil Thronsdatter. Born in 1800 in Norway. 16 Erland Hanssen. Born abt 1734 in Norway. Erland married Marit Johnsdatter. 17 Marit Johnsdatter. Born abt 1759 in Norway. 20 Erich Mortensen. Born abt 1748 in Norway. Erich married Kari Iversdatter. 21 Kari Iversdatter. Born abt 1757 in Norway. 22 Thron Johannesen. Born abt 1768 in Norway. Thron married Berit Amundsdatter. 23 Berit Amundsdatter. Born abt 1763 in Norway. 40 Morten Nielsen. Born abt 1722 in Norway.

I would like to welcome all those who have signed on for the Oppland Mail List. <nanoh@eudoramail.com> <jingles02@earthlink.net> <robsue@dellepro.com> <skarvold@mindspring.com> <allez@charter.net> <3petes@chibardun.net> <blitz@execpc.com> The archives for the Nor-Oppland list are located here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/NOR-OPPLAND.html> Please post your family information and questions if you wish and tell us who you are interested in researching in the Oppland area of Norway. I am open to all suggestions or ideas for the betterment of the list. Contact me anytime. For those who are new to Norway research, there are also other lists available to join. You can find more information about them here: <http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/NOR/> I hope you all have a peaceful New Year. Margit