Finnestad Ancestry

While searching for the 1940 US Census for Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad Sr's son, Rasmus, I came across his 1930 US Census. The census listed the last name as "Finister", which is why I was unable to track it down earlier using an index system. Rasmus and wife Carrie (Dirdall) were living in Ludwig precinct, Snohomish county, Washington.  The 1930 US Census reflects the first US Census for Rasmus since he left for Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada sometime after 1910.

Here is the 1940 US Census for Lettie (Finnestad) Risetter, granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr. Lettie is listed (lines 43 - 46 at the top of the census) with husband Christopher and their son, Hamilton  and niece, Betty Lou Risetter. Lettie was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr.     Betty Lou was the daughter of Lettie's younger sister, Lillian May (Finnestad) and George Risetter. The Risetters were living in Willow Creek township, Lee county, Illinois.

The 1940 US Census was released last week.       Here is the census for my great grandparents, Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad (starting at line 53). In 1940, three of their six sons, Oliver Jr, Verlis and Robert and two of their three daughters, Lois and (Alice) Leota were living with their parents.    Mary and Oliver Finnestad were living in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois. Oliver and was still employed as a farm laborer.     Oliver Jr was working as a meat cutter at a retail establishment and Verlis was employed with a grain company. Some of the questions on the census are difficult to read.   Below is a legible blank census form as an explanation of symbols. Oliver was the son of Carline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Sr.    His grandparents were Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr.

Yesterday I posted the relationships between the Finnestad family and the Travland (Trӕvland) family.   The Travland family website can be found here and the family always be in the right hand margin, listed under "related links". This was a significant event in the lives of both families.

Lawrence Vallem, great grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr may have been the only individual in the family buried at a national cemetery. Lawrence had served in the US Army during World War I.   He was the eldest child born to Lena Josephine (Travland) and Peter John Vallem on October 26, 1898 in Alto township, Lee county, Illinois. Following his service in the military, Lawrence married Jennifer Cecelia Blanford on January 8, 1920 in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois.     Jennifer was born in Illinois on September 20, 1900 and died in Downey, Los Angeles county, California on March 4, 1995.  I do not know where she was buried. Lawrence passed away August 8, 1991 in Long Beach, Los Angeles county, California and was buried at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Riverside county, California. Here is a photo of the sign and entrance to Riverside Memorial Cemetery. Here is...

Hamilton Ordean Risetter, great grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr was born in May 1910 to Clara Olette "Lettie" (Finnestad) and Christopher H Risetter.   Hamilton married Kathryn King, most likely in September 1945 as the Dixon Telegraph newspaper had an announcement of an engagement or a marriage in their September 19, 1945 edition.    Hamilton passed away in May 1969.  Kathryn was born in 1914 and passed away in 1971 and was buried at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Lee county, Illinois next to her husband. Here is a photo of the Risetter plot. Here is a photo of Kathryn's marker. Here is a photo of Hamilton's marker. Hamilton was the grandson of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr.