The Mystery of the Four Women

1912

The gentleman in the picture is Reverend Olaf Anderson.

We don't know who the women are.

We know they are graduates of something.

If you were a minister, what sort of teaching would you be doing?

We think it is a confirmation class.

Yet, don't they look just a little old?

How old were you were when you were confirmed?

Do these women look thirteen?

The picture was taken in Thief River Falls.

We know the first picture was taken in 1912 as it was cropped from a picture where his son, Lloyd was a baby. Which picture looks older to you?

Since Reverend Anderson had churches in Rosewood and in Plummer, I am thinking it is a confirmation group from Plummer.

Let's do this: Let's send this picture to someone in the city of Plummer and see if we can get some leads! The only churches in Plummer now are both Lutheran.

The email is written, facts to follow!

e

LaVerne Bloom

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly our lives pass before us. Take the case of the LaVerne Bloom family.



The first picture shows them being married. Do you recognize anyone? Yes! That is Dorothy Anderson Schneider as the flower girl and Enid Mellem Sande as part of the bridal party.



The next photo is of their daughter, Cheryl who, with this picture won a beauty contest. She certainly was a darling, don't you think?



The Bloom's moved to Sunflower and worked in the ammo dump for a time before moving to Indiana where they would live and raise their daughter. Cliff and LaVerne were good friends for their entire lives. They kept in touch. In 1963, Cliff, Mel, LaVerne, Evie, and Cheryl went to Las Vegas in the fall for a talent show. We don't know the outcome for Cheryl's contest, there are no letters to back it up.



The last picture is of their anniversary.



In sorting through the boxes of pictures and cards from Walt and Ella's house, I found something that LaVerne had written. I want to share it with you because it is one of the few times I have seen that men can actually write about their images.




This is called Evie's Prayer. It is a letter written by LaVerne Bloom. LaVerne Bloom was the son of Carl Bloom and Nina Mellem Anderson Bloom; a half brother to Lloyd Anderson; they shared Nina as the mother.

"I want you to know how Evie's last days here with me ended before going home to be with her Lord and Savior.

Evie was diagnosed with bone cancer. It was weakening her bones so much that is was difficult for her to even walk. The last few weeks she was with me, the cancer had spread rapidly into her liver and lungs. Finally, her system could take no more and after just a few days in the hospital, she went home to be with the Lord on October 11, 1997.

............As I left the driveway at 5:45 AM the morning of October 11, approaching the street, a white dove crossed my view right in front of my car's windshield. The dove disappeared in the eastern sky just as the sun was breaking through. I did not think too much about it at the time, but I was puzzled about seeing a dove; I could not remember seeing a dove in Indiana. Evie had died before I got to the hospital. When I received Evie's death certificate, I noticed they had placed the time of her death at 6 AM. The white dove had special meaning to me."

Oh that I had wings like a dove I would fly away to my final resting place. Psalm 55, verse 6.

The Life and Times of the Clifford T Rye Farmily

Today's blog is about Cliff Rye, the son of Julia and Henry T. Rye. We are hopeful all of you have an uncle who impressed you. If you do not, I am certain he had enough to go around. Go ahead, adopt this magnificent person and his wife, Mel.

I like to use the newspapers to give us a time line.

1938
Clifford and Murvin Rye and LaVerne Bloom attend air show in Thief River Falls. Murvin is Cliff's brother and LaVerne is the son of Nina Mellem Anderson Bloom. Brother, Murvin, would be Cliff's best man at his wedding.

1939
Visitors at Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Anderson home where Mrs. Carl Bloom and LaVerne and Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye and Clifford.

Clifford Rye is in Kennedy looking for work.

1940
Clifford Rye visits Mr. And Mrs. Louis Cloutier in Perham. By now, his sister, Nora was married. We will feature Nora and Louis Cloutier at a later time.

Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye receive news that Clifford is in Chicago visiting LaVerne Bloom.

1941
Clifford Rye and Axel Bloom left Monday for Warren where they will seek employment

Clifford Rye and Murvin Rye are at Calvin, ND where they have about 20 days of threshing.

1942
Clifford Rye returned home Monday after having spent sometime at Perham at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cloutier

Clifford Rye of Sandpoint, Idaho arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye Friday afternoon where he will spend about 10 days visiting.

Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye entertained the following guests at a goose dinner Sunday; Clifford Rye of Sandpoint, Idaho, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Anderson, Dorothy, Richard, and Robert.

1942
Lloyd Anderson took Clifford Rye to Warren Sunday and from there Clifford went to Fort Snelling for his army examination. This was in April.

1943
Clifford Rye is with the Signal Corp of the Air Force and is stationed in Atlantic City, NJ

1943
Pfc. Clifford Rye is now stationed at Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado where he will attend the Aircraft Armament School and later the Aerial Gunner’s School


Sgt. Clifford Rye of Las Vegas, Nevada arrived Sunday evening at the home of his parents. Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye where he will spend his furlough. He will resume his duties as aerial gunner at Salt Lake City, Utah immediately after furlough.


Dinner guests at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Henry Rye on Christmas day were Sgt. Clifford Rye of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sgt. Clifford Rye left Wednesday from Grand Forks to Salt Lake City, Utah where he will continue his work.


1944
Word has been received from Sgt. Clifford Rye that he is now stationed at Airdrome, Okla.


1945

Word was received from Sgt. Clifford Rye of Ardmore, Okla. that he had been in an accident while landing an airplane. Something went wrong with the landing gear, so they couldn’t get it down and in that way the plane had to be landed without a landing gear. Nine crew members gathered in the radio room, which is only about five feet square. The pilot being the only one not in the radio room. The plane was damaged quite a bit but the crew was lucky not to have anyone seriously hurt. Sgt. Rye was the only one who was hurt in the accident and he received a cut above the right eye but reports that is healing nicely.

Sgt. Clifford Rye, stationed somewhere in England, has received another promotion, he is now a staff sergeant

S/Sgt. Clifford Rye who is stationed somewhere in England, has been awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster medal. He was given this medal July 17, 1944.

S/SSgt Clifford Rye, who is an aerial gunner on a B 17 somewhere in England has completed his missions and will return to the States, according to news received by relatives here last week

S/SSgt Clifford Rye spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Steinhauer

S/Sgt. Clifford Rye called at Thief River Falls on Monday afternoon

Sunday evening callers at the Lloyd Anderson home were S/SSgt. Clifford Rye, Oliver and Ralph Rye and Miss Ilene Rye and Melvina “Luckseer”.

Clifford Rye, who has spent about six and a half months overseas returned to the states November 4. He arrived at his parental home Friday, November 10. He will spend a 21 day furlough with relatives and then will report to Santa Ana, California.

Miss Melvina G LaCoursiere; the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank LaCoursiere of Red Lake Falls, and S/Sgt. Clifford T. Rye, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rye of Rosewood, exchanged their nuptial vows Wednesday evening, November 29, 1944 at 8 o'clock.

The single ring ceremony was read by candlelight by HA Larson in Black River Lutheran Church; which was beautifully decorated with ferns and bittersweet. Mrs. Carl Mosbeck played the wedding marches and also supplied other nuptial music.

The bride entered on the arm of her father to the strains of the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin". She was lovely in a gown of white chiffon with a shirred satin bodice. She wore a pearl crowned fingertip veil and her dress extended into a long train. Her only jewelry was a pearl necklace, gift of the groom and tiny earrings, gift of the bridesmaid. She carried a large bouquet of pink roses.

The flower girl, Diane Larson, wore a blue chiffon gown with a locket, gift of the bride and groom, and a basket of assorted flowers. Little Bobby Anderson, nephew of the groom, bore the ring on a white lace-trimmed pillow. ((There is a story about him being promised a gallon of ice cream. It has also been stated that he stood over a furnace grate and all wondered if the ring was going to fall off))

The bride was attended by Miss Lilly M. Hovden of this city, who was attired in a pink gown of net over satin. She wore a string of pearls and earrings, gifts of the bride, and carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums with matching flowers in her hair.

Mrs. George Swanson sang "I Love You Truly" and after the vows were exchanged, she sang, "O Promise Me" accompanied by Mrs. Carl Mosbeck.

The two mothers, wearing dark dresses with corsages of pastel shades, entered on the arms of the ushers, Ramon and Veral Mosbeck. The groom was attended by his brother, Murvin Rye of Rosewood. All the gentlemen wore pink rose boutonnieres.

A reception was held at the church parlors for several relatives and friends. The bridal table was decorated with pink and white streamers and was centered by a three tiered wedding cake topped by a miniature bride and groom. Several of the bride’s friends assisted in serving including Mrs., Roy Larson, Richard Mosbeck, Samuel Mosbeck, and Harry Helgenset.

The bride is a graduate of the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston with the class of 1943 and since that time has been employed in this city.

S/Sgt. Rye attended rural school at Rosewood, and in March of 1943 he enlisted in the army air corps and has been serving as a left wing gunner in the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress named "Lucky Lassie." He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement during bombing attacks on enemy targets in Germany and occupied Europe and has flown on missions to Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, and many other Germany war production centers.

S/Sgt. Rye also received his wings, the air medal, a presidential citation, and his campaign bars. He left Sunday night to report for duty at the Santa Ana, California and his wife will leave next week to join him.


09 17 1945
S/Sgt. Clifford Rye received his discharge orders from the US Army Air Corps Thursday, September 20 at San Bernardino, California.


November 1945
Cliff Rye and daughter, Linda Mae, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank LaCoursiere of St. Hilaire. Linda was born in August of '45.

Cliff, Mel, and Linda would stay in the area until the spring of 1947 when the papers state they were visitors from International Falls, MN. The trio would visit in the Thief River Falls area numerous times.

1950
In August of this year, the paper reports the Cliff Rye family visited from Sunflower, Kansas. The Korean War was in full swing and Sunflower was an ammunition making depot. Cliff owned a gas station near Sunflower called "Gas Island". Mel worked at the defense plant.

In the early sixties, they were living in Lawrence, Kansas and owned a roller rink. They would build houses or townhouses for a few years and move to Leavenworth, Kansas and start another rink.

Linda married Ralph Ageson from New Jersey. He was stationed at the Air Force Base in Topeka when they met. Ralph and Linda would take over the rink in Leavenworth and Cliff and Mel would move to Osage Beach, Missouri.

Linda and Ralph had two children; Jon (1968) and Chris (1970). Ralph died in 1998.

Cliff died in 1988.

Mel moved to Leavenworth and will celebrate her 81st birthday on October 29.

It would be hard to find a finer, harder working family.

e

A Wedding

Cliff and Mel Rye

This lovely couple went to the altar to in 1944. They said vows that would be kept until the groom died in the late eighties. His wife continues to celebrate life. They were a dear couple rich in personal ideas and like ideals. They worked together to form a marriage union and business union as well.

The little boy with the gopher curl in his hair was promised a gallon of ice cream for his services as a ring bearer. It is understood there was concern about the floor furnace grate, the pillow and the rings.

This little boy is now grown up and will attend the wedding of his own son today. At a dinner of the wedding party, nothing was heard of promises of ice cream at weddings as it was 60+ years ago.

Where you ever part of a wedding party? Perhaps you were an aunt and cut the cake, or a sister-in-law and opened gifts or encouraged guests to sign the guest book.

It is an honor to be a party of any celebration.

Today

we

have

a

wedding

I will light a candle

Won't you light one for them as well?

e

1 2 3

The children in this picture may remember having it taken. They may all have a copy of the picture. It is called the 1,2,3 picture.

Why is it called the 1,2,3 picture? Because the children were
1 Bob
2. Dick
3. Dorothy had not yet turned four. It was taken in early September.

One of the interesting things about old pictures of the forties, is the ones taken in studios are often colorized. This picture is colorized but it is a proof. That means it was offered but of all of this particular print, this is the only one I have seen tinted.

My son and I experimented with colorization using black and white film and food coloring. It had its merits. Years later, I copied the picture unto water color paper and doodled with it. I have a habit of overdue and it made a muddy, army green Easter egg sort of mess. So if you wish to try colorization, make copies, or use software.

My worn shoes are in California, I off to hug a red wood. Isn't there a song that goes, "It never rains in California" ?

Her Name is Lora

Her name is Lora

She was born on this day in 1954

She is the daughter of Ralph

Who is the son of Henry

Who was the son of Nels

She was less than 10 when I met her. On a few occasions, we would stay over night with her parents, although we lived less than 20 miles away.

Lora had this look of surprise on her face. She has a wonderful smile. The first time we did a sleep over, she came in early in the morning and sat on the bed and cleared her throat. When we woke up, she looked at us in surprise asking if she had awaken us. When one played a game with her, win or loose, she was surprised!

Lora had her own daughter in the mid eighties. She was an infant at the time and I haven't seen either of them since. How fortunate for this little girl to have a mother like her.

It wasn't until I was shifting though the pictures from the old trunk in the garage that I met up with both of them in still images. Lora still has that element of wonder and she and her daughter share a beautiful smile.

Happy birthday to a beautiful soul. May your light and smile shine today and always.

e

THORNIUS MELLEM OCTOBER 10, 1854

THORINUS MELLEM

OCTOBER 10, 1854 - NOVEMBER 9, 1949

*OCTOBER 24, 1927

A birthday party was celebrated in honor of T Mellem's seventy-third birthday last Sunday and the following persons attended: Mr. and Mrs. SS Nordgaard and family from Viking; Mr. and Mrs. Henning Backlund and family from Stratcona; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mellem; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mellem; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mellem, and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bloom from this place. A number of presents where left in remembrance, and the afternoon was spent socially.

OCTOBER 18, 1928

T. Mellem celebrated his 74th birthday in the midst of a number of his children and neighbors last Sunday. Mellem plans to leave on Wednesday for a two weeks visit with his daughter Mrs. Henning Backlund and family at Roseau and may be accompanied back by the Backlunds who plan to make an auto trip here.

OCTOBER 7, 1929

Twenty two relatives and friends met at the T. Mellem home on Sunday to give him a surprise on his 75th birthday. Beautiful remembrances were left and the afternoon was spent socially and terminating with lunch.

OCTOBER 14, 1937

T. Mellem was pleasantly surprised on his 83rd birthday when a number of relatives gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mellem. Those present were, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mellem and Family; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mellem and family; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mellem and family; Mrs. Carl Ranum; Mr. and Mrs. Christ Evanson; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Anderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Charley Larson and family of TRF. T Mellem was presented a blanket from the group that had gathered in his home. A large birthday cake with 83 candles was the center piece of the lunch table. The afternoon was spent in visiting and at 4:00 PM, the group listened to The Covenant Time on the station KFAM.

OCTOBER 16, 1941

T. Mellem was honored on his 87th birthday Sunday where the following gathered at the Carl Bloom home in his honor, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Mellem and Joyce; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mellem, Ervin, Enid, and Harlan; Mrs. Clarence Mellem and Douglas; Rev. and Mrs. Duerre; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Anderson, Dorothy, Richard, and Robert; Mrs. Minnie Mellem; Fern Mellem, and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bloom. A bed lamp was given to Grandpa Mellem by the group and also Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rye. Lunch was served by the self invited guests at the close of the afternoon of visiting.

OCTOBER 12, 1944

A surprise birthday party was held at the Mission church Sunday afternoon to honor T. Mellem who celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday, October 10. The speakers of the afternoon were Rev FG Duerre and Rev. O Sande. Mrs. Hjalmer Sunsten and Vernon Backlund of Roseau, grandchildren of Mr. Mellem, sang two duets. Fern Mellem, Enid Mellem, and Inez Hellquiest also sang. Rev and Mrs. O Sande sang two Scandinavian songs. Lunch was served at the Minnie Mellem home by all the children immediately after the service.

Those attending from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Henning Backlund; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Backlund and children; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Backlund, and Mr. and Mrs. Hjalmer Sunsten and family all of Roseau, Mr. and Mrs. Backlund of Strathcona; and Mrs. Carl Olson of Newfolden.

Mr. Mellem was given a cash purse as a token from his children, grand children, and all who attended.

OCTOBER 17, 1946

A group of family and friends helped T Mellem celebrate his ninety-second birthday at his home Wednesday. Those who attended were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Mellem; Mrs. Carl Bloom; Mr. And Mrs. Emil Mellem and Harlan; Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Anderson and children; Mr. And Mrs. H Rye and Oliver. Gifts from the group were presented to T Mellem and Lunch was served.

OCTOBER 28, 1947

Grandpa Mellem was honored on his 93rd birthday last Friday evening at the Emil Mellem home. Those who helped celebrate that evening were Mr. And Mrs. Henning Backlund and Mrs. Hjalmer Sunsteh of Roseau, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Sande and LaVerne Bloom of Thief River Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Mellem; Mrs. Carl Bloom; Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Anderson and family, and Mr. And Mrs. Emil Mellem and Harlan. A lovely decorated cake which was baked by Mrs. Rolland Sande was the centerpiece of the lunch table. Grandpa opened a large number of cards and gifts. He received cards from California, Washington, Michigan, New York and Oregon. In the afternoon of the same day, Mrs. Martin Swenson called on Grandpa Mellem and presented him with a gift and a card.

OCTOBER 1948

A birthday party was given in honor of Mellem on his ninety-fourth birthday on Sunday. Birthday cakes were brought by Mrs. Hjalmer Sunsten of Roseau and Mrs. Rolland Sande Thief River Falls. Dinner was brought by all. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Henning Backlund and Mrs. Hjalmer Sunsten and son Gary all of Roseau; Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Sande and son of Thief River Falls; Mr. and Mrs. PC Sorenson of Fargo; Mr. and Mrs. Perce Farrier and daughter Patty of Winnipeg; Mr. and Mrs. Pete Mellem, Vernon and Joyce; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mellem, Ervin and Harlan, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Anderson and children.

OCTOBER 13, 1949

The friends and relatives of Mr. T. Mellem gathered at the home of Mrs. Carl Bloom*** on Sunday to help Mr. Mellem celebrate his 95th birthday.

NOVEMBER 11, 1949

RITES SET FRIDAY

AT ROSEWOOD FOR THORENUS MELLEM, AGE 95 YEARS.

Funeral rites will be conducted by Rev Norman Ericson of Viking at the Rosewood Mission Covenant church Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. for Thorenus Mellem, 95 who made his home on a farm near Rosewood for 65** years.

Mr. Mellem who has been confined at a local hospital for some time, passed away Wednesday afternoon. He is survived by five daughters, two sons, 36 grandchildren, and 56 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren.

NOVEMBER 11, 1949

RITES HELD

This community wants to express their sincere sympathy on the death of their aged father, the bereaved Mellem family on Thorenus Mellem. He passed away at a Thief RIver Falls hospital Wednesday afternoon at the ripe old age of 95. The funeral rites were held at the Rosewood Covenant Church on Friday afternoon with Rev Ericson officiating. Pallbearers were Martin Swenson Sam Oswald, Albert Lappegaard, Selmer Haugen, Emil Helliquist and Victor Ranstrom and the burial was made at the Wildwood Cemetery in Rosewood, Minnesota.

NOVEMBER 17, 1949

THORENUS MELLEM LAID TO REST AT ROSEWOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Rev. C Norman Ericson of Viking conducted funeral services Friday afternoon at the Mission Covenant church at Rosewood for Thorenus Mellem, 95, who passed away at a local hospital on November 9. The body was laid to rest in the church cemetery.

Mr. Mellem was born October 10, 1854 in Trysil, Norway. He was married to Miss Pauline Pederson in Norway on November 16, 1875 and immigrated to the United States in 1882 working as a farm hand at Fargo, North Dakota until 1883 when they moved to New Solum Township near Rosewood.

On October 9, 1949 Mr. Mellem observed his 95th birthday at the home of his son, Emil at Rosewood. He has spent the past eleven years at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Carl Bloom at Rosewood.

He was a charter member of the Rosewood Covenant Church of which he also served as treasurer for 75 years. He was one of the organizers of the Rosewood school and served on its board for a number of years.

Survivors include six daughters:

Mrs. Nick Bergvall of Texas

Mrs. Alfred Carlson of New York

Mrs. Carl Larson of Spokane, Washington

Mrs. John Berglund of Pontiac, Michigan

Mrs. Henning Backlund of Roseau, Minnesota

Mrs. Carl Bloom of Rosewood, Minnesota

Two sons:

Pete Mellem of Rosewood, Minnesota

Emil Mellem of Rosewood, Minnesota

Also surviving are 36 grandchildren, 56 grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren. His wife, two sons and two daughters preceded him in death.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Certificate of Death, T. Mellem died at St. Luke's hospital in Thief River Falls. He had been a patient there for 21 days. He was 95 years and 29 days old when he deceased. His body was prepared for burial at the Gulbranson Mortuary.

Neil D Nickerson MD states he saw him from October 15 to November 9 in hospital. Mellem died at 11:45 AM of broncho pneumonia with senility and exfoliative dermatitis as other diagnosises.

*The dates used are the day of publication

** Later publication states 75 years

*** Different document states it was at the Emil Mellem home

Happy memories to all who knew and loved him as well as those who have heard stories about him.

e