"CONTRIBUTED BY DAR HANSON"
"Auntie Verle" (seen here on far right with her family- son Paul, wife Karen, Lynn, Verle with Paul and Karen's two boys- around 2007) is actually my dad, Rudy's, 1st cousin- she was considered the matriarch of Skandia and still visits during summers..her full name is Verle Kellstrom (wife of Howard Kellstrom). They have two children- Lynn and Paul.
Verle is the daughter of Ida Victoria Hanson (7th child of Kristina and Pehr). Here is a picture of her mother Ida (seated bottom center at right) with the Bahrman sisters of Skandia.
Ida was born in Marquette, Mich Dec 6th 1889 and died young on July 12th 1939. Her hubby David Fredrickson served as postmaster, had a general store and full service station- all attached to the original homestead. It was the hub of community activity! see photo above. Verle herself served many long hours there..
Ida and David married in Skandia, Michigan Dec 2nd, 1922 & had four children- Vernon, Verle, Violet (Vi) and Gloria. Verle can remember her father was very strict and did not approve of dancing, drinking, card playing and the like! He was a generous and long valued member of the community and died there in 1947..
Daughter Verle just celebrated her 87th b'day with her family on oct 29th, 2011 @ Palm Springs, California.
Verle's future husband Howard first saw her as a young girl sitting on the steps of her fathers store the very day of her mother's death. It was his first day carrying mail for the Star Route - after awhile he asked her to the movies, they courted for a few years, then married. At first Verle didn't want to get married- she was only 18, but Howard insisted she was the one!
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