| Summary: | early day pioneer. He was married to Anna Holde, who had immigrated with her family, and lived on an adjoining homestead. She had come by way of Canada from Skarbu, Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of five children, Arne who lives in Tucson, Ariz, and is married to Bernice Hammer. He works with a construction company. Harry works with construction in Spokane, Wash. Edwin. Annie & Edna live in Divide Co. Annie (Mrs. Sam Larson) lives in Crosby and they also have a farm in Twin Butte Twp. They have three children, Selmer who married Georgia Molander and lives on a farm near Alamo with their two children, Susan and Steven. Arlene (Mrs. James Myers) lives near Ambrose and they have six children, Marilyn, Carol, Donna, Cheryl, David and Ronald. DeeAnn (Mrs. Robert Stuart) lives near Crosby and they have three children, Byron, Laura and Scott. Edna (Mrs. Jacob Skarphol)lives near Noonan and they have three children, Betty, Carol and Jay. Mr. Johnson passed away in 1958 and Mrs. Johnson lives in Crosby. MR. AND MRS. STEPHEN LARSON Mrs. Jana (Madsven) Larson was born in Losna, Gulbransdalen, Norway in 1886. She was baptized and confirmed in the Fovang Lutheran Church. She was musically inclined, played the organ, and sang in the choir, but because of weak eyes she had to discontinue her music. She and Mrs. Carl Lundquist migrated to the U.S.A. in 1906, coming to the home of her Uncle Iver Madsven, at Dazey, North Dakota. She was a seamstress and brought with her from Norway a portable hand operated Singer sewing machine. She still has this little portable sewing machine in her possession. Her hobbies included, crocheting, reading, letter writing, and raising flowers. In June 1909 she was united in marriage to Stephen Larson of Leal, North Dakota. He too, was an emigrant from Norway, coming here at the turn of the Century. Stephen was born June 1, 1881 at Bremnes, Norway. He took his turn at Military training after which he had an Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Larson interesting life, that of a fisherman and sailor. He sailed in all the waters of the North Sea, and often told of his travels to Russia, Germany, Iceland, and Greenland before the urge came to him to be a "dryland farmer" in North Dakota. They lived on a farm at Leal, North Dakota, for five years, but land was impossible to buy in that area so he came to Divide County and purchased land from C. J. Christianson and from Pickett, in Twin Butte Township. They shipped their household goods, livestock, and machinery by rail to Ambrose in 1915. They lived on this farm until they retired in 1942, then bought a home in Crosby. While they were still living at Leal they went back to Norway and took Thelma and Leonard with them. Their daughter Stella was only a few months old when they moved to Divide County. They celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1934. Janna and Stephen both took an active interest in Community doings. They were members of the Immanuel Church where Stephen took his turn at various offices, and Janna was active in the Women's Missionary Society (Ladies Aid). Stephen also served on the Township and School Boards. Their life on the prairies was typical of most pioneer families. There were good times and bad. It wasn't all hard work. Twin Butte had a Community Club that met every three weeks, which was active for over twenty- five years. They always had a program which would consist of plays, skits, debates, musical numbers, etc., after which refreshments would be served, following a social hour. In the winter time there would be skating parties, whist parties, and in the summer time, kitten- ball and croquet. The entertainment usually included both young and old and there was a feeling of good comradeship for everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Larson took a trip to Norway in 1947. Mr. and Mrs. Lars Thompson took a trip at the same time. They also flew up to Anchorage, Alaska, to visit their daughter Thelma. In January 1957, Stephen passed away quietly in his own home and was laid to rest in the Immanuel Cemetery, south of Ambrose. Janna has since made another trip to Norway and two trips to Alaska, once driving with her daughter up the Alcan Highway. Her son, Leonard, married Rodella Hanson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hanson of Colgan, North Dakota. They were married September 26, 1936 and have three children. Loren, a Lieutenant in the Army, is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He married Jeanne Rhyme in Okinawa, March 9, 1963. Her parents were formerly of Ridgewood, New Jersey. They have a son Loren R. Larson II, born June 3, 1964. Kathryn is a Senior, majoring in Home Economics at North Dakota State University at Fargo, North Dakota. Renee is in the seventh grade at Crosby Public School. Janna's daughter, Thelma, married Hans Norheim of Anchorage, Alaska. After some extensive traveling they will make their home at Tre Piedras, New Mexico. Stella married Arnold Bleken of Williston, North Dakota. He is office manager of Leigland Contractors Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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