Last day in Ryder

Sunday, September 9

We attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roseglen. This is the church that consolidated with Bethlehem Lutheran, the church that my grandfather helped build in 1917. There were about 70 people in attendance. Pastor Galloway had been my first contact in Ryder. I had contacted him through the ELCA website about a month ago and he had been diligent in responding to me. Pastor Galloway serves in four churches in rural ND and preaches in 3 churches every Sunday. We talked with Darwin and Alice Vangsness again before the service. They had a picture of my father and my aunt Mae at their confirmation in 1918.

After church Barb and I returned to the RV in Ryder, hooked up, and drove a very leisurely drive to Fargo where we spent the night.

Monday, Sept 10

We drove just 120 some miles to Madison, MN which is just 10 miles from Marietta. Marietta is the town to which my grandparents and my 2 year old dad immigrated to from Norway in 1903. We, again, went to the courthouse and found birth records for Aunts Mae and Clara, and Uncle Hjalmer. We found nothing on the twin uncles, Gilbert and Conard. Also, we found no legal description for any land transactions. So, hopefully, the Lutheran Church in Marietta will have some info.