Finnestad Ancestry

Here is the death certificate information for Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Clara Risetter. Clara was the third child born to my great great grandparents, Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. Clara was buried at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois, which I posted about a year earlier.

As far as I know, Clara Lettie Risetter was the only Finnestad buried at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois. Lettie married Christopher Risetter in 1909. She was the daughter of Ole and Caroline Finnestad, granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad. Of all the cemeteries I've been to of the Finnestad family, this appears to be the largest grave marker I've come across.

The above news article appeared February 2, 1909, announcing the pending marriage of Ole and Caroline's daughter, Clara Lettie Finnestad to Christopher Risetter. Clara and Christopher were married February 15, 1909 at the Calvary Lutheran Church on Perry Road in Lee County, Illinois, according to their log entry. Clara was the first child of Ole and Caroline to be married. Listed in attendance were her brother, Oliver, Jane Quitno, most likely a cousin, and her father, Ole Jr.

The above photo was taken in 1904 of the confirmation class of 1903 at Calvary Lutheran Church on Perry Road, Lee County, Illinois. Clara Lettie (Olette) Finnestad is seated in the middle row, 3rd from the left. Clara was confirmed December 6, 1903. In attendance was her father, Ole Jr Finnestad. Clara was 14 at the time of her confirmation. She is the granddaughter of Ole Sr and Mari Finnestad.