From Sweden to Michigan: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Ida (Hanson) Fredrickson's Obituary

Verle Kellstrom- matriarch of Skandia

"Aunt" Verle Kellstrom (Rudy Hanson's 1st cousin) - as told to Dar Hanson:

Today is October 28th, 2011- Auntie Verle's 87th birthday! She is the daughter of Ida Fredrickson-Hanson and granddaughter of Kristina Hanson.

Verle lives now in Palm Springs, California with her daughter and son-in-law. Her son and family are also close by in Laguna Beach.

Verle was reluctant to leave her dear Skandia having lived there all her life- and in the same house (with attached post office) her father built. Here's a pic of her house there in Skandia.

After her husband Howard died she had a long time boyfriend named George-a dutiful suitor (see photo below) and also like Verle, a highly valued member of the community. When he passed away she decided it was time to pack up all those memories and head west.

Reminiscing from what her mother told her, today she recalled the story of her being born in 1924 in that house in what was then the "music" room- delivered by her own grandmother Kristina Hanson- it was said Verle's younger sister Gloria was the last baby Kristina delivered before she retired (at the ripe old age of 70) from being the midwife of Skandia, Michigan.
My Uncle Robert Hanson (Rudy's little brother) is friends with the new owner and works on his vintage autos in the "car barn" on Verles old property.

Verle was very much the matriarch of her community (having served as postmaster too) and is still much sought after when she visits "little shag lake" (near Glen Hanson's old "camp") in the summertime.

Here's Verle with Judge Judy (Larry King in backround)

Below singer, Jerry Vale with Verle. Both pictures taken in Palm Springs.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Great Uncle Otto Hanson

FROM DAR HANSON AS TOLD TO BY LEONA HANSON COPPO
My Great Uncle Otto was my Great Grandma Kristina's last child. He was almost a year old when his father (Pehr) drowned in a terrible accident at Lake Superior at Marquette, Michigan. Uncle Otto served in WW 1 in Brooklyn New York. His assignment was burying the dead from the infamous flu epidemic of 1918. He buried bodies for his entire stint in the service and was never sick a day! Leona said her father told her that the bodies were piled up like cord wood- from babies to the elderly. This before the advent of antibiotics. I'm told Great Grandma Kristina was not pleased about him going to war, pacing back and forth grumbling "I raised this child by myself - they have no right to take my baby!"

"My" 1967(?) Chevy convertible!

Dean driving at age 3. Rudy seems too relaxed!

My Grandpa Axel Hanson

Grandpa Axel was the town butcher in Skandia, Michigan back in the 1920's. Everyone brought their hogs all fattened in the fall for him to butcher. My dad rudy remembered watching him and his uncles do the hard work of processing the hog.