Finnestad Ancestry

Here is a census with two branches of the Finnestad/Vallem tree, Elabata Bertina (Vallem) Olson and Walter Orlando Sanderson.    Both families were living in Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois during the 1940 US census. Ella and family, found on lines 42 - 51 included husband George Olson and their children George Jr, Harold, Vernon, Stanley, Dorothy, Duane, Genevieve and Eugene.    George Sr was employed as a farmer and George Jr, Harold and Duane were farm laborers.   Vernon was a laborer for the 'corn dept' which I wonder whether that was DeKalb Ag Research which was a large employer in the area.    Stanley was employed as a manager of a poultry company and Dorothy was employed as a teacher at a rural school. Walter Orlando Sanderson, found on lines 55 - 64 was living with wife Mildred (Lindass) and their children, Donna, Wilma, Luann, Norma, Walter Jr and Mary Ann.   Also residing with the Sanderson family was a hired h...

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Walter Orlando Sanderson was born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson on July 19, 1902 in DeKalb county, Illinois (most likely Milan township). Walter married Mildred Jean Lindaas on February 21, 1925.    Mildred was born September 23, 1906 and died January 25, 1995. Walter died January 1, 1988 in DeKalb, Illinois and is buried at the Fairview cemetery.   Here is their headstone. Here is a closeup of Mildred's inscription. Here is a closeup of Walter's inscription. Walter's grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis P Vallem.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Walter Orlando Sanderson along with his confirmation class of 1915 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Walter is seated on the left side of the photo next to Reverend Johnson. Here is the ledger for the confirmation class of 1915. Walter was the son of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson, his grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Here is the 1930 US Census for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Walter Sanderson.  By 1930, Walter had moved away from his parent's home in Milan township, DeKalb County, Illinois and was living with his wife Mildred (Lindaas) and their two daughters, Donna and Wilma in South Grove township in DeKalb County, Illinois.    The Sanderson family also had a hired hand, Clayton Verdeaux living at their home. Walter was the son of Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson and the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem. Walter and Mildred's first two children, Walter Orlando and Mildred Jean both passed away prior to the 1930 census.   Walter was born in 1925 and died the same year.  He was buried at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.   Mildred was born in 1926 and died the same year.