| The Story Of Helfred Matson & Mary Garson |
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| I knew some of Syver & Hellene?s grandchildren. Of course, I knew all the children of Helfred Matson & Mary Garson. Syver & Hellene?s Children, their spouse, and their Children: Ragna Matson & Nickolai Paulson?s Children: Helen, Marshall, Clifford, Hazel, Bill, Violet, Norris, Ruby, and Seymore. Oliana Matson & Mark Rice?s Children: Signor, Werner, Melba, Georgia, Hubert, and David. Otillia Matson & Paul Holte?s Children: Hulda, Selma, Henry, and Palmer. Helfred Matson & Mary Garson?s Children: Roy, Norval, Carla, and Mariann. David Matson. He died at age sixteen before he might have married. Martha Matson. Martha did not marry. I knew and worked with Dad?s cousin Sig Rice. Dad always referred to him as ?Cousin Sig?. I knew him as a middle age and older man and was fortunate to work for him one summer during college, 1963, I think, removing telephone poles in the Strum area. I believe Sig was a bachelor, not sure if he ever married. Sig owned a farm north of Strum. He was a frugal man. When I worked for Sig that summer, we saved everything we removed from the land. Every pole, no matter the condition, every piece and length of wire, and every telephone pole insulator. I am sure that Sig made out ok on that contract. I didn?t realize then, of course, but Werner Rice and Melba Butek whom I knew especially from Sunday School and church, were also Dad?s first cousins. Melba was the Sunday School director at one time, I believe. She was a vibrant sort, full of energy at church and probably everywhere else. I had typing class in high school with Nancy Rice and knew her well. Nancy is a daughter of Werner Rice. I had no idea that she was and is a second cousin of mine. I remember Melba?s daughter Eileen Butek, also from church. Melba seemed to have liked me, now I know why, sort of. If before I began this family research, I knew Helfred?s sister Otilia?s descendants, the relationships didn?t register with me. I vaguely recall some trips with Dad to the country south of Eleva and perhaps to the churches there. We sometimes went to the Norden church, I believe. I used to think, why would we come here? I am only now beginning to learn about these relatives that I knew very little about. This is happening because first I reconnected with Marlys Hanson of Strum who grew up on Maple Street as did I. It turns out that Marlys is a blood-line third cousin of mine through Hans Pedersen Frodahl & Marie Iversdatter, the Frodahl connection. |