Finnestad Ancestry

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Elmer Seward Sanderson was born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson on September 1, 1898 in DeKalb county, Illinois (most likely Milan township). Elmer married Evelyn Zada Anderson in 1924 or 1925.   Evelyn was born in 1904 and died in 1992. Elmer passed away in June 1979 in DeKalb, Illinois and is buried at the Fairview cemetery.   Here is the headstone for Evelyn and Elmer. Here is a closeup of Evelyn's inscription. Here is a closeup of Elmer's transcription. Elmer's grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis P Vallem

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Lawrence Alvin Sanderson was born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson on November 21, 1896 in DeKalb county, Illinois (most likely Milan township). Lawrence was married to Nora Elma Peterson, though I do not know the date of their marriage, probably late 1916.  Nora was born August 25, 1897 and died in December, 1981. Lawrence passed away in August 1976 in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois and is buried at the Fairview Cemetery. Here is a closeup of Nora's inscription. Here is a closeup of Lawrence's inscription. Lawrence's grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis P Vallem

Here is a photo* of Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem and family. Back row:  Ole and Peter Middle row:  Linnie, Lewis, Josephine, Mary, Rachel Front row:  Ella, Iverdena   This photo would have been taken probably in late 1888 or early 1889 based upon Iverdena's birth of April 16, 1888. Rachel's son with Jacob Jacobson, (after the death of her husband, Lewis Vallem) had not yet been born (1893) at the time of this photo. *Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Genevieve Berg.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Elmer James Vallem was born August 2, 1893 in Steward, Lee County, Illinois to Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem and Jacob Jacobson (after the death of Rachel's husband, Lewis Vallem). Elmer died November 28, 1943 in Rochelle, Ogle county and was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery.    No marker or headstone was placed to indicate his plot, but here is a photo of the burial space next to his brother-in-law Ole P Hall and half sister, Isabel (Vallem) Hall. Here is a photo of the Vallem and Hall family plot.   Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem's headstone is in the foreground, her daughter Isabel Hall is buried next to her, Ole P Hall, then Elmer Vallem.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Elabata "Ella" Bertina Vallem was born on December 26, 1885 to Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem in Lee county, Illinois. Ella was married to George Olson in Indiana sometime in November 1908.    Ella passed away May 21, 1975 in Aurora, Kane county, Illinois. Ella and George were buried at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.     Here is a photo of their plot.    Unfortunately a bush has grown over the monument so it is difficult to locate, however their headstones are clearly visible to the west. Here is a photo of the monument hidden by the bushes. Here is a more visible photo of the monument. Here is a photo of Ella's headstone. George was born in Illinois in 1886 and died in 1947.    Here is a photo of his headstone. And another shot of Ella and George's headstones together. ...

Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Ole Lewis Vallem was born April 29, 1875 to Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem in Lee County, Illinois. Ole Vallem married Sophia Halverson in 1910 in Lee County, Illinois.    Ole died August 19, 1940 in Marengo, McHenry county, Illinois and is buried at the Marengo City Cemetery. Here is a photo of the Marengo City Cemetery. Here is a photo of Sophia and Ole Vallem's plot. Here is a closeup of Ole's headstone. Here is closeup of Sofia's headstone. Here is a map indicating the location of the Vallem plot.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, William Roosevelt Olson was born on February 10, 1901 in Cylinder, Palo Alto county, Iowa to Mary (Knutson) and Stephen Olson. William married Dorothea C Lagerquist on June 28, 1937.    William died on October 25, 1960 in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois and was buried at the Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Rockford. Here is a photo of Dorothy (Lagerquist) Olson's headstone. Here is a photo of the Lagerquist/Olson family plot. Here is a photo of the entrance to Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Here is a map of the Lagerquist/Olson plot. William was the grandson of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas 'Andrew' Knutson.