My genealogy search is in Norway for the following histories. The farm or location names of; Svorstol, Svoa, Hoyvik, Bjørkedal, Fauska, Aalen, Sela, Solheim, Nordvik, and Andal are contained in the genealogy reports in the report section below.
My Grandfather was Andreas (Andrew) Karl Rasmussen Bjørkedal, who came to the USA in 1882 via the Thingvalla Line, with wife Marie Nordvik. They settled in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Andrew was son of Rasmus Henrikson Bjørkedal.
Sincerely, (Don) Oscar D. Rasmus.
Much of the earliest information on ancestors in Norway in the report section below was assembled by Ola Stubhaug in the late 1800's. He was a teacher and spent several years after his retirement gathering information from church, land title records, archives and various other records. The information on families in Norway is supplemented in places by Henry Andal, who in 1946 assembled much of the early information on families who moved to North America. Mrs. Louis Hanson, Miss Elise (Lizzie) Rasmus, Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Rasmus, Mr. & Mrs. Ray (Adelaid Rasmus) Bergh, Mrs. Mary (Oscar Rasmusdotter) Thacker also supplied information on these families in 1946.
The next update was in 1996. That information was compiled and assembled by (Don) Oscar Donald Rasmus and his brother Loren Andrew Rasmus, sons of Oscar A. Rasmus, the son of Andreas (Andrew) Rasmussen Bjørkedal, who emigrated in 1882 to America, who was the son of Rasmus Henriksen Bjørkedal, the son of Henrik Henrikson Bjørkedal, the son of Henrik Ananiasson Sela, the son of Annanias Steffenson Svorstøl Svoa, who was born in 1723. This 1996 update was placed on a computer.
This latest update has been by (Don) Oscar Donald Rasmus in 1999. Much use was made in this last update of volunteer genealogists from Norway, utilizing the World Wide Web, and many e-mail conversations. The records for people in Norway were updated from some of the various Bygdeboker's from the regions the people were born in or lived in.
Ola Stubhaug, after gathering much of the earliest genealogy information made the following remarks.
One can say without hesitation that in these families there were a number of men with unusual ability both in practical and theoretical work. Men like Sele, Henrik Bjørkedal and Walentine Aalen were much more than ordinary farmers.
In later years we find other men with unusual abilities who were well liked and respected by all. Others were at least, well up to average. There were of course exceptions. A few were addicted to drink and some might have held rather strongly to their opinions.
Most of those from the Bjørkedal and Andal families were above average in height but the Aalen families were below average in height but heavy set and strong.
From birth and death records it can be seen that a number lived to be quit old, and there is nothing to indicate that there were any hereditary sicknesses or weaknesses.
Quite a number of the Bjørkedal and Andal families were good singers---- mostly among the ladies. A good number of men took interest and part in local government i.e., school and municipal.
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- Don's grandmother Ingeborge (14 KB)
Ingeborge (Eriksdatter) Thompson. Photo taken in 1930's.
- Don Cleo and Children 1969 (111 KB)
Front row l-r: Kyle, Cindy, Tim
Middle row l-r: Cleo, Don
Back row l-r: Shelly, Jeff
- Don and Cleo July 2000 (92 KB)
Don and Cleo July, 2000. Church Directory Picture.
- Don and Cleo's Airplane (176 KB)
Cessna-150. Don and Cleo used it to fly home to Eau Claire, Wi. Also to visit other places and relatives in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Photo taken in 1990.
- Don and Cleo's children 1994 (62 KB)
L-R: Shelly Holverson, Cindy Flatt, Jeff, Tim, Kyle
- Don's St.Louis Baseball salary agreement (370 KB)
Salary agreement for minor league contract with St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Org,
- Don, & Brother & Sisters in 1964 (432 KB)
Front L-R: Beverly Triplett, Jim Thacker, Mary Thacker, Helen Lindmark.
Back L-R: Wasiel Triplett, Don, Don's wife Cleo, Loren Rasmus, Jo Mersdorf, Bob Mersdorf, Bob Lindmark.
- Don's Dad, Rasmus grandparents, aunts and uncles. (297 KB)
Front row l-r: Hjalmer, Grandmother Marie (Nordvik), Adelaid Bergh, Grandfather Andrew, Levi, Don's dad Oscar.
Back row l-r: Ammelia Nogle, Robert, Minda Rasmus (Minda never married) Photo taken in 1904
- Don's mother Gudrun (347 KB)
Don's mother Gudrun. Not sure of the date of photo but would guess in the 1960's.
- Don & Brother & Sisters 1982 (278 KB)
L-R: Helen Lindmark, Bob Lindmark, Bev Triplett, Loren Rasmus, Mary Thacker, Jim Thacker, Don's wife Cleo, Don, Bob Mersdorf, Jo Mersdorf.
- Cleo's Mother, Reiter grandparents aunts uncles (476 KB)
Cleo's mother is second from the left in photo.
Picture taken in 1940's.
- Cleo Cheerleading 1951 (227 KB)
Cleo is on far right.
- Don's Dad Oscar May 1912. 21 Years old (172 KB)
Picture taken in Bloomer, Wi.
- Don's Mother and Dad (133 KB)
Oscar and Gudrun (Thompson) Rasmus. Picture taken in 1950's
- On Third scale Sopwith Pup (52 KB)
Don's one third scale Radio Controlled Sopwith Pup Airplane.
- Green Bay Packers Stock Certificate (193 KB)
Received from children Christmas, 1999
- Cleo's Mother and Dad (275 KB)
Walt and Eleanor (Reiter) Clark. Photo taken in 1990's.
- Don's qtr. scale Mustang (257 KB)
Don's quarter scale Radio Controlled P-51 Mustang Airplane.
- Map of Naustdal, Norway (445 KB)
Home Parish of Bjorkedal's and my Rasmus Heritage
- Don's Dad and city football team (324 KB)
Don's dad Oscar is second from right in back row. Oscar was 24 years old in 1915. He played center and linebacker.
- Cleo Cheering 1951 (233 KB)
Cleo as cheerleader in 1951. Cleo is on far right.
- Town of Naustdal, Norway (327 KB)
The Parish that Don's ancestors went to church in. It is accross the Fjord from the Bjorkedal Farm.
- Don's High School footbal team 1948 (234 KB)
The line l-r: Stan DuFrane, Bill Fesenmier, Hugh Mills, Leroy Ming, Don LaMont, Tom Widule, Jack Badger.
Backfield l-r: Bob Sanasak, QB Don Rasmus, Bob Hessler, Aubrey Olson.
- Cleo Growing Up (190 KB)
Pictures of Cleo from very young thru High School.
- Bjorkedal Farm (617 KB)
This is Picture of building in Bjorkedal. Sent to me 12/22/2000 from Inge Fitje of Norway.
- Cleo Cheerleading, 1950 (204 KB)
MacDonald Senior High School. Cleo is on far right.
- Don setting up camp Oshkosh 1989 (58 KB)
Don setting up camp next to his airplane at Airfest Fly in at Oshkosh, Wi. August of 1989
- Naustdal, Norway 1970 (779 KB)
This is Picture of Naustdal, Norway. It was home Parish of Don's Bjorkedal and Rasmus ancestors.
- Family Portrait August 26 2001 (80 KB)
Don and Cleo's 50th wedding anniversary family picture.
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