-
American Midwest History, Civil War, Community Builders, Coping with Loss, Faith and Spirituality, Family Health Histories, Historical Genealogy, immigrant journeys, Lutheranism, Medical Mysteries of the Past, Musical Heritage, Norwegian-American Heritage, Rural Americana, Scandinavian Traditions, Strong Women, Surviving Tragedy
A Guest and a Stranger: The Resilience of Carrie Bergum
View story: A Guest and a Stranger: The Resilience of Carrie BergumIn the cold sanctuary of Lost Island Lutheran Church, Carrie Bergum sat surrounded by the remnants of her family, her heart weighed down by yet another loss. The organ began a familiar hymn, “Jeg er en gjest og fremmed, som mine fäder här…” – I am a guest and stranger, like my father here. The…
-
American Midwest History, Community Builders, Family Legends, Historical Genealogy, Norwegian-American Heritage, Politics, Public Service Legacy
Salesmanship in Print: O.H. Raleigh’s Civic Voice
View story: Salesmanship in Print: O.H. Raleigh’s Civic VoiceIn the quiet light of a dusty print shop, where ink lingered in the air like the scent of ambition, Olger Herman Raleigh—known as Herman to family—found his calling. Born to Norwegian immigrants on the vast farms of Iowa, Herman’s path might have seemed set in soil and harvests, yet he felt the pull of…
-
Ancient Healing, Faith and Spirituality, Family Legends, Historical Genealogy, Rural Americana, Strong Women, Timber and Railroads
“Oscar will not die”: The Prophecies of Mary Tinker
View story: “Oscar will not die”: The Prophecies of Mary TinkerOn February 11, 1940, the Irondale Assembly of God congregation prayed for young Oscar, who was gravely ill. Mary Tinker Pyatt prophesied he would live, but that someone else must die in his place. Three days later, Mary fulfilled her own prophecy when she herself died, leaving behind a legacy of faith for her family.
-
Mining for Joy: Delmer’s Musical Legacy
View story: Mining for Joy: Delmer’s Musical LegacyDelmer Earl Roney, a lead miner in 1961 Missouri, balanced hard labor with a passion for music and family. Known for his fiddle skills, he played in local gatherings despite personal struggles and a troubled marriage. Delmer’s legacy includes a dedication to foxhunting and cherished memories of joy and music.
-
Family Health Histories, Genetic Insights, Historical Genealogy, Medical Mysteries of the Past, Norwegian-American Heritage
Unraveling the Medical Mysteries of the Past: Alma Josephine’s Ancestral Story
View story: Unraveling the Medical Mysteries of the Past: Alma Josephine’s Ancestral StoryAlma Josephine (pictured above) held many roles over her short lifetime – secretary, Lutheran, teacher, wife, and mother. But it’s her role as the subject of a family medical mystery that is most intriguing to me. Could a genetic condition be the answer to why she and her sisters died young? Or was it simply…










