Finnestad Ancestry

Here is a photo of Lillian Jordal and Kenneth Finnestad taken in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.   I am not sure of the date of the photo but I believe it to be sometime in the 1930's. Kenneth was the second son of Oliver and Mary Finnestad, the grandson of Caroline (Jonsdatter Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.   

Ole and Mari's grandchild, Oliver Finnestad, wife Mary and their children, Burdette, Kenneth, Harland, Oliver, Verlis and Lois were living in Alto Township, Lee County, Illinois during the 1920 census. It looks like the census taker wrote that they were living on County Road, though I'm guessing it was County Line Road.

Many of the Finnestad descendants resided in Ogle County, Illinois, several of which spent their lives in the small town of Creston, just east of Rochelle. My grandfather, Kenneth Finnestad owned a tavern in Creston Illinois. (Kenneth was the great grandson of Ole and Mari) Here is a story about the history of the building that was at one point my grandfather's tavern, which I came across while visiting the library in Creston. Here is a photo of the building, taken in August of 2008. I vaguely remember going inside the bar once when I was probably about 4 or 5 years old, before my grandfather closed the tavern.

I have had previously posted the obituary for my great great grandfather Ole Finnestad several posts back. I have not yet been able to locate an obituary for my great grandparents Oliver and Mary Finnestad, though here are the obituaries for my grandparents, Kenneth and Lillian Finnestad.