Finnestad Ancestry

 Another Finnestad family that attended Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee County was Mildred (Sanderson) and Ingmond Finnestad decades after my great great great grandparents, Ole and Mari Finnestad. Because of the same last name, there was an assumption we were related, but knowing how Norwegian family names come into play, I could easily dispel those rumors, though I found out several months ago that there is a marriage connection - through Mildred's grandparents.  Mildred was the third child born to Mable Eunice (Sanderson) and Charles M Knutson*.  Mable was the daughter of Caroline (Berg) and Charles Oliver Sanderson.  Charles Oliver Sanderson was the fifth child born to Anna (Maland) and Sondre Helyesen Sanderson. Seward O Sanderson was the 10th child of Anna (Maland) and Sondre Helyesen Sanderson.  Seward O Sanderson was married to Ellen Marie (Mary) Vallem, who was the daughter of Rachel (Finnestad) who was married to Lewis Vallem.   Rachel wa...

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Marion Vallem Sanderson with her confirmation class of 1925 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Marion Sanderson is sitting in the chair on the far left side.   Bertha Finnestad is sitting in the same row to the right of the Reverend. Ingmond Finnestad is in the second row from the top, third from the left.   Marvin Finnestad is in the same row, fourth from the right. Below is the church's ledger for the confirmation class: The bloodlines of Marvin, Ingmond and Bertha Finnestad were not related to Ole and Mari Finnestad.  Bertha, Marvin and Ingmond were the children of Elizabeth and Alfred Finnestad.   Ingmond would eventually marry Mildred Knutson which connected Ole and Mari Finnestad's descendants to the Sanderson family.   For more on that, read my previous post by clicking on the link . Marion Vallem Sanderson was t...

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Anna Isabella Sanderson along with her confirmation class of 1919 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Anna is standing in the back row, second from the right. Here is the ledger from the same year, which also includes the years 1918 and 1920.    Neither Burdette Sanderson listed in 1919 or Ester Finnestad from 1920 were descendants of Ole and Mari Finnestad.   I haven't checked Burdette's relationship, but Ester was the eldest child of Elizabeth and Alfred Finnestad.   Ester's younger brother Ingmond would eventually marry Mildred Knutson which connected Ole and Mari Finnestad's descendants to the Sanderson family.   Anna Isabella Sanderson was the daughter of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson.  Her  grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.