| The Story Of Helfred Matson & Mary Garson |
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| Otilie was the last child to come from Norway. Otilie married John J. Nelson Indgjer. She died and is buried in Strum. Toale, born in 1873 in Toten, Norway, came to Strum with his mother. He married Gunhild (someone). Mary Garson?s Siblings Many of Mary Garson?s siblings were special to me and to our family. These were my great aunts and uncles: Arrup, Nettie, Ruth, Hans, Fritz, Thora, and Ellen. Each of these held a special place, but some because of my age and their age, held a very special place in my life. Uncle Arrup was always talked about and difficult to forget by reference. Arrup was the child who sported a wooden leg, who later married Myrtle Halverson and when she died, married Agnes Endal. There are stories about how Arrup used that leg to his advantage. I don?t remember Arrup but I know Beatrice (their daughter) and Juneau Johnson from our family get togethers. I cannot recall Hans and his family. Fritz and his wife Alma I recall from family events. The four children of Nils Garson & Clara Frodahl, for whom I have a great deal of recollection and affection are Nettie, Ruth, Thora and Ellen. They all lived in and around Strum. First let?s talk about Ruth and Ghenard Strand. Ruth and Ghen lived on Elm Street, one block east of downtown and across the street from the Volunteer fire department building. Their house was the house that today still stands in the northwest corner of this block. Ghen was the town funeral director, following in the steps of his father. Ruth, I believe, worked in the bank. As a child, I would visit Ruth and Ghen fairly often, just stop in. The house that Ruth and Ghen lived in is still in the family with their daughter and grandchild. Three of the daughters of Nils Garson and Clara Frodalen married three brothers: Nettie married George Bretson; Thora married Otto Anderson; and Ellen married Harold Anderson. Obviously, these men didn?t stick with their same last names on coming to America. These girls were born in Strum, and all these boys were born in Norway. The marriages, each of these, were years a part. Nettie and George lived in north Minneapolis for as long as I can remember, on Upton Avenue. Dad and I used to visit there. Nettie was a career sales clerk with Daytons in downtown Minneapolis and George was ? ............ One of George?s hobbies was woodworking and it might be fair to talk about driving his car as another. He was a wise man with clear and definite thoughts and ideas. He loved to drive and was a tough customer when he did. He bought his cars, Chevrolets, at Harold?s Chevrolet, then on Lake Street in south Minneapolis. The story goes that George would drive down a |