Phyllis' Family:Information about Sigvald Sigvaldsen
Sigvald Sigvaldsen (b. November 28, 1880, d. November 30, 1916)
Notes for Sigvald Sigvaldsen:
Sigvald was born on November 28, 1880, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Sigvaldsen and he died 36 years later on November 30, 1916.Sigvald and his brother, Rasmus, worked on a farm near Cooperstown, North Dakota, their first year in America.In 1903, Sigvald went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and took up photography.He and Rasmus engaged in farming on their own account in the Wildrose-Skabo area.In 1911, when a cyclone struck the Skabo territory, Sigvalds's farm house was destroyed and Sigvald was left with a spinal injury which paralyzed him from the waist down.When the house was destroyed, Sigvald was taken with it.The stove fell on his back.Although he had been told he would never walk again, through sheer determination he was able to get along on crutches. Surgery on his spine had been scheduled, but he contacted pneumonia while planting trees on his homestead and he died before he could have the surgery.
Sigvald was an intelligent man and he had the talent of putting words together and producing a beautiful effect.He wrote many poems, and in his poetry he would often express his feelings of that moment.He was also veryskilled with his hands.While he was confined to bed and his wheelchair, he would carve, weave, make rugs, etc.His work was always beautifully done.When Marie and Sigvald were united in marriage in Crosby in March of 1907, but the Rev. Olaf Ylvisaker, this pastor questioned them about the people in their area and promised to visit them.It was on May 19, 1907 that Rev. Ylvisaker conducted the first service in the community at the home of Sigvald Sigvaldsen.The enthusiasm that was generated by that service indicated the hunger the oeople had for the spoken Word.It was after this service that the people decided to organize a Lutheran Church.Due to the fluctuation of the population at that time, nothing more was done to draw up a constitution or organize the congregation.As the community stabilized more, it was felt that there was a definite need of a formal church organization.This materialized on December 29, 1909, when officers were elected.Sigvald was elected its first trustee.
More About Sigvald Sigvaldsen:
Burial: Unknown, Skabo Cemetery,Divide County, North Dakota USA.
More About Sigvald Sigvaldsen and Kaia Marie Ellefsen:
Marriage: March 22, 1907, Crosby, North Dakota.
Children of Sigvald Sigvaldsen and Kaia Marie Ellefsen are:
- +Stanley Magnus Sigvaldsen, b. January 09, 1908, Divide County, North Dakota USA, d. February 24, 1960, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
- +Gudrun Elisabeth Synove Sigvaldsen, b. August 26, 1909, Divide County, North Dakota USA, d. September 09, 2000, Tioga, North Dakota USA.
- +Kenneth Maurice Sigvaldsen, b. August 05, 1914, Divide County, North Dakota USA, d. 1985, Tioga, North Dakota USA.