August 7 The Ranum Plot at Rindal

Rindal Church
Gate to Rindal Cemetery
The Ranum Plot

Plot 44

Hannah Nordhagen Opseth 1920

Andreas Opseth 1931

Olaff Andreassen Opseth 1948

Gustav Opseth 1949

Julia Clara Opseth Ranum 1966

Benhard Ranum 1977

Stanley Kenneth Ranum 1981

Ella Deloris Lundberg Ranum 2002

Gregory James Ranum 2002

There was a mix up when it was time to bury Greg. It was understood there was one grave left. As you can see, including Greg, there are nine graves in an eight grave plot! Greg's grave is the one with the metal marker and the flag holder. He was cremated and his urn is buried at Stanley's feet.

August 7, 2007

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August 6 The Rindal Cemetery

Look for the evergreen tree on the back corner of the church.
Do you see the tree in this picture?

Yes!

It is the same tree!

When visiting cemeteries one generally finds the oldest graves near the tallest trees!

Compare the pictures again. Do you see the row of evergreen's on the second picture which are not in the first?

A cemetery committee was formed. The group planted trees, dug a well, put a fence around the cemetery, fixed the tipped stones, and bought mowing services. Knute and Siri Ranum are buried under this tree, as are some of their childen. Cora Ranum Ostgaard has two markings in this cemetery. One is under the tree with her parents, the other is with her husband Severt and daughter Mildred. I don't think this is a common practice, however those of you searching cemeteries and if you see two markers for the same person, it may not be an error, like Cora having two resting places.

Cora's given name was Karina. She was the sister of Benhard Ranum. Mildred and Stanley were first cousins and shared a birthday, July 31.

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August 5 Rindal Church

This is a picture of the Rindal Lutheran Church before it was moved to its new location. This is how they decorated the altar at Christmas.

The Rindal Lutheran Church is located in New Solum, Marshall County, Minnesota. For those of you who need to know exactly where that is: It is on the NE 1/4 section of the SE 1/4 section of section 27. It is about two and a half miles north of the village of Rosewood.

The congregation was organized on February 28, 1886 and took the name of Rindal Norske Evangeliske Kirke. It was affiliated with the Lutheran Free Church of America.

Of the twenty-nine charter members is Andreas Opseth and family.

Before the church was built, meetings were held in homes of the members or the school house. Remember we learned the school house was a log cabin at this time.

A frame church was erected in 1900 on a two acre lot donated to the congregations; first by a verbal promise as early as 1898 and by a deed of conveyance from Ole O Nyhus and Johanna, his wife on April 17, 1900 and later from Gustav Nakken who had contract to purchase the farm on which the church and cemetery were located.

This information comes from the warranty deeds gathered at the Marshall County Courthouse in Warren, MN.

It states that on the 17th of April, 1900, Ole O Hyhus and Johanne Nyhus of Red Lake County and the state of Minnesota did sell to the Rindal Scandivavian Evangelical Lutheran Church of the township of New Solum in the county of Marshall did sell for five ($5.oo) the following:

Commencing at a point where the public highway crosses the quarter line between the northeast quarter and the south east quarter in Section twenty seven (27) in Township 155 (155) north of range forty four (44), west of the fifth principal meridian in Minnesota, thence running east nine (9) rods along the said quarter line, thence south thirty five (35) rods parallel with the said highway, thence west ten (10 rods to the said highway, thence north to the beginning, containing two (2) acres situated in the section, township, and range aforesaid. Deed number 23584

History states the church had the same sort of arrangement with the Nakken's. It is dated February 23, 1909 and the land was sold for one ($1.00) dollar. Although the land around the church and cemetery have been bought and sold; there is no additional information to support that additional owners sold the land to the the church for any amount. It appears that when Nakken's sold the acreage to the church it became property of the church.

A Young People's Society was organized in 1917 and later reorganized as the Luther League. The purpose was to encourage and direct the social and religious activities of young people. The Society helps arrange special programs and do things to promote the welfare of the church.

1918

The building committee put new front steps on the church

1920

Picture taken of the altar at Christmas party

Service men were honored

Repainting of the inside and a rubber mat to protect the floor

UNKNOWN DATE

Building and finance committee meets to discuss moving the church SOUTH of the cemetery.

NOTE: If the church had been moved to the south, it would have been on lower ground.

August 4, Rosebank School

This picture was taken later than when it was built. As you can see, it has a 'storm porch' on the front which isn't part of the original structure. If you look very close, you can see the oil barrel at the back and also a part of the out house.

Rosebank School — District #41 in Section 35 —

The first building was of logs built in 1902 on the west side of the ridge road leading to Strip.

The first teacher had just turned seventeen and had forty-one pupils enrolled. She had two months in the fall term and three months in the spring term — March, April and May.

She received $33 a month in wages for the first term and received a two dollar raise or $35 a month for spring term. She paid $8 dollars a month for board and room.

Later the "new" Rosebank school building was built on the east side of the road of cement blocks by the Opseth brothers. This building still stands there and is used as a 4-H clubhouse. In 1956 this was the last rural school in New Solum township closed and consolidated.

The part of the district on the south side of the County Road 2 joined the Thief River Falls school district, and the area on the north side con­solidated with Viking which is part of the Newfolden system.

We know know Harry and Stanley Ranum attended this school as did the oldest four Anderson children. Never was a trip to Rosewood with my dad that he didn't point out where he went to school.

Our ancestors insisted their children be educated. Five months of school doesn't seem like much but think about what we learned about Thief River Falls where school lasted only two months! Until this information was found, I always wondered how Harry and Stanley braved the brutal winters to get to school. They didn't have school! We know from previous posts that school was not in session during potato picking season nor was it in session at harvest time. We know that children as young as preteen picked potatoes and worked the harvest.

But what about the Anderson children? Certainly they went to school regardless of the month or the weather. OR did they? Did their parents keep them home when it was too cold to walk or did they take them to school?

I have heard stories about bringing potatoes to school and putting them on the pot bellied stove to cook. Does this jar anything in your memory about your families attending rural school? If you did not attend 'country school' can you think of any advantages? Disadvantages?

Could your community supply you with outlets to explore your hidden talents?

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August 3 Worship in New Solum

Here is the sort of transportation used to get the preacher.
Rindal Ladies Aid. Standing: Mrs. Thorinus (Pauline) Mellem, Mrs. Fred (Johanna) Styrlund and Mrs. Sivert (Johanna) Rafteseth. Seated: Mrs. Even (Maria) Anderson, Mrs. Andrew (Hannah) Opseth, Mrs. Ole Nyhus and Mrs. Martin (Ingrid) Nordhagen.

By the time the settlers had gotten their homes built, they began making plans for a place of worship. Congregations were organized and services were held in the various homes until the churches could be built. Most settlers brought their Norwegian Bibles and hymnals with them from Norway. The Bibles were bound in heavy leather, were large — 8" x 12" x 4", and had large print.

The first church in New Solum Township was Bethlehem Lutheran Church, built of logs in 1885, and later replaced by a frame structure. The services conducted by a Pastor were often three months apart, as he came from Crookston to Warren by train where he was met by a parishioner with a yoke of oxen and a two wheeled cart, being the members did not all have horses yet. But just the same, they each took their turn to bring their Pastor.

In the absence of the Pastor, services were conducted by lay­men of the congregation. The women would sit on the left side and men on the right on plank benches with no back rest, for as long as two hours. But no one complained of the length of the sermon in those days. Singing was usually led by a man, called the Klokker, who had a strong and clear voice and was familiar with the old hymns from Norway.

Rindal Lutheran Congregation of New Solum Township was organized on February 28, 1886. There were 29 charter members. The officers were elected as follows: Samuel Tun-heim, chairman; Sam Sorenson, secretary; John Kirkholt, treasurer; Guner Evenson, Olaf Johnsrud. and Peder Shoren-son, trustees; Ole O. Nyhus, Hans Stromsmoe. and Samuel Tunheim, deacons.

The building committee consisted of Per Sorenson, Andreas Opseth, and Bori Sagmoen. Ander G. Anderson of Holt built the church with the help of the members. The members hauled the building materials from Greenbush and Mud Lake. The sawmill was operated by Peder Sjasvold.

The Ladies Aid and Young Peoples Society helped pay for the church. Some of the members went out and asked for donations from nearby towns to help the building fund. The beautiful altar was made by Ole John and his brother.

New Solum Song

The photograph is of a quartet who sang the song below. It is said they were all very bright and musical as well. It is stated this song was sung at the Farmers Club meetings. The gentlemen in the photo may be the men that made up the song. As you look at the picture, the man sitting on the right, is Gust Opseth.

Here in New Solum we live so content and happy

Two and three, two and three

content and happy
Everything in New Solum grows so well.

Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

The wheat in New Solum is thick as a wall

Two and three, two and three

thick as a wall,

They also have willow brush and poplar and chokecherries,

Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

The potatoes in New Solum are big, can you believe

Two and three, two and three,

can you believe, From one to three pieces

are enough for a cow,

Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

The rye in New Solum was as long as a man,

Two and three, two and three,

long as a man,

And the flax half as long,
Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

Nothing grows like the oats,

Two and three, two and three,

like the oats,
Seventy-five bushels he got last fall,

Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

The barley grows like some weeds over all,

Two and three, two and three,

like weeds over all,
The ridges and swamps they are so awful,

Kjilla vip skal du sei, kjilla bom.

August birthdays and Anniversaries

Welcome to the August memorial calendar. This is offered to share the relationship between Kelsie Hagen and or Jaeme Thomae. It represents the past and present.

AUGUST


5. Elodee Johnson;
Jaeme’s Grandmother

7. Judy Sorum;
Kelsie and Jaeme’s grand aunt

12. Lynelle Schneider Dickey
First Cousin, once removed

14. Juanita Watne
Aunt of Kelsie and lst cousin once removed of Jaeme

19. Robert Duane Anderson
Jaeme’s grandfather
Kelsie’s grand uncle.

19. Maria Therese (Nenna) Arnold
Jaeme and Kelsie’s first cousin once removed

20 Ole K Olson
Third great grandfather of Kelsie and Jaeme

21. Heather and Vince Anniversary 13 years
Kelsie is their daughter
Jaeme is first cousin once removed

24. Linda Ageson (62)
First cousin, twice removed of Kelsie and Jaeme

26. Lynelle and Michael Dickey, 17
First cousin once removed to Jaeme and Kelsie

30. Joesphine and Andrew Lundberg, 121 years
Jaeme’s third great grandparents

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!