Baptism records found

September 12

I called Arlene Woolery mid morning. “I have the book,” she exclaimed on hearing my voice. “The Aune names are in here. Come on out and I’ll put the coffee on.” We drove directly to her house in Revillo, SD.

She and Charles appeared excited to see us. She held up the book as we entered the house. “They are in here but let’s have some coffee first.” After sipping and conversation regarding the Norwegian heritage here, she finally cleared the table and set out the book. The baptism records of Mabel, Conrad, Gilbert, Hjalmer and Clara were all there including dates of birth, dates of baptism, and a list of sponsors. I tried to photograph each listing. On our completion, Arlene suggested that we drive to the original Mebust farm (probably the fist residence) and on to the Zoar Lutheran Church.

The church is a small, white country church. The sanctuary is modest but beautiful. Stained glass windows and pews were added in 1949. The altar and railings are originals from the time of construction, 1901. The altar is oak and is trimmed with the Scandinavian winglike figures similar to those on the stave church in Minot.

We walked out into the cemetery which was directly out the back door of the church. Arlene guided us through each plot and explained the family connections. I think every family had roots in Selbu Norway. As I wrote yesterday, one of the families is Slind. Arlene explained that one of the Slinds, Ben, grew up in Marietta and moved to Ryder North Dakota and is buried there. Yes, we recall seeing the grave marker there not too far from Gilbert’s. That may have been Grandpa’s connection there in Ryder.

We said our goodbyes to Arlene and Charles. Again, good Samaritans had crossed our path and had led us to the point of discovery. Barb and I drove to the Mebust homestead and on to Marietta for one final inspection. We never found a title declaration or record of any Aune land in any of the three counties (one in MN, two in SD) surrounding Marietta and the Zoar church which is 5 miles out of Marietta. If Grandpa did own land here, and Karen’s narrative says he did, then the proof and documentation is left for you.

Before leaving Zoar Lutheran Church, I lingered in the sanctuary for some time. It is trite, but I thought "If only these walls could tell stories." This is the room where my father received his first religious training. I sat in the pews and imagined sitting on the benches with the old Norwegians, who all are now gone. I could see them bundled up against the cold on a winter Sunday. I could hear them singing a hymn in Norwegian. I turned to see young Karie sitting beside me, holding baby Clara with young Hjalmer, Gilbert, Conrad, Mable, and Gunder J., my dad, at her side. GG sat at the end of the bench. I turned to Karie and thanked her and God for the heritage she left me. She turned and looked at me in a puzzled way. At first I thought she was chastising me for talking in church. Then I realized that it was 1909 and she spoke only Norwegian.

We leave for Kasson, MN tomorrow. The drive is about 250 miles. Then the Gustafson (maternal grandmother) journey begins.