FAMILY STORIES

Vernon H. Thompson Sr. and Alforretta Forsythe, December, 1926

District 70 school before moving to Wahoo with his mother and sisters after his father died when he was nine years old. He graduated from Wahoo High School and attended Midland College in Fremont.

   Vernon was united in marriage to Alforretta Taylor Forsythe on February 19, 1927 in Omaha. She was born January 31, 1905 in Frederick, Maryland to Fanny Taylor and James Pythias Forsythe. Her family lived in St. Paul, Minnesota during part of her youth, and later moved to Wahoo in 1923. Her father was the contractor for the building of the Saunders County Bank (now Wahoo State Bank), and did part of the marble work in the Nebraska State Capitol.

   Tom, as he was more often called, and Alforretta lived in Omaha for twenty years, where he was employed by Roberts Dairy Company. Two sons and two daughters were born to this marriage: Vernon H. Thompson, Jr., born November 30, 1927; Jean Louise, December 6, 1928; James Everett, born June 12, 1935; and Mary Jane, on December 13, 1938.

   In 1946, the family returned to Saunders County to operate the family farm, and resided there until 1952 when son Vernon took over the farming. Vernon Sr., returned to Roberts Dairy, and they moved to North Platte, and later to Lincoln.

   Jean graduated from Omaha North High School, attended Luther College, and taught school in Saunders County. In 1949, she married W. Tom Lindau of Wahoo, and they have three children. Dr. James A. Lindau married Sheryl Lundgren of Wahoo. They reside in Wayne with their children, Elizabeth and Michael. William T. Lindau and his wife, Lori (Blaike), live in Auburn, and have two children, Kevin and Teresa. Lindau's daughter, Jane Sue, married Mikel Kralik of Wahoo. They live in Wahoo with their three children, Matthew, Ann, and Katherine.

   James graduated from Wahoo High School in 1953 and attended the University of Nebraska before joining the United States Air Force. He married Elaine Thayer of Superior, and their baby daughter Janet was only a week old when Jim was tragically killed in a B-52 plane crash in 1958 in Maine. Janet is now Mrs. Tim Hill and lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

   Mary Jane attended school in Omaha and Wahoo, and later graduated from North Platte High School and Midland College. She married Gary McMichael of North Platte. They reside in Walla Walla, Washington. Their sons, Tom and Jerry, attend the University of Oregon, and Joe is a senior in high school.

   Vernon, Sr. retired in Lincoln after 41 years of service with Roberts Dairy Company. He passed away on February 22, 1972, about two years after the death of their son, Vernon, Jr. Alforretta soon after moved to Wahoo, where she still resides. She is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, is active in the community, and enjoys being near her grandchildren.

   Vernon Jr. was the first son of Alforretta and Vernon Herbert Thompson Sr., born November 30, 1927 in Omaha. He was also nicknamed Tom. After his graduation from Omaha North High School in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Medical Corp. He graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture in 1951, after which he taught veterans' classes in agriculture in the Valparaiso area.

Vernon Jr. and Ruth Thompson

   On April 12, 1953, Vernon married Ruth Eleanor Olmstead at the First Methodist Church in Seward. She was born March 1, 1928 in Seward to Josephine and Ira Olmstead, graduated from Seward High School, attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, and later was employed by the University of Nebraska. The couple lived on the Thompson farm near Wahoo, where Vernon farmed the land his grandfather and father had farmed. In addition, he worked for several years at the Saunders County ASCS Office, and later became manager of the Fremont and Wahoo Production Credit Association offices.

   Six sons were born to Tom and Ruth during the years they lived on the farm. Four of the boys attended District 70 School before the Thompsons moved to Wahoo in 1967. All became members of the First United Methodist Church of Wahoo. Vernon became seriously ill in 1969 and died on May 4, 1970 at the age of 42. He was very devoted to his family and would undoubtedly be proud of the sons he was not able to see grow to maturity.

   Michael James, born August 23, 1954, graduated from Wahoo High School and the University of Nebraska. He is a teacher and coach at Scribner. Mike married Judy Johnson of Cedar Bluffs in 1980, and their baby son, James, born April 24, 1982, is the first of the fifth generation of Thompsons.

   Scot Alan, March 16, 1957, graduated from Wahoo High and the University of Nebraska, and is band instructor at Tri-County Schools at DeWitt. He married Leann Torrens of Wahoo in 1982, and she teaches kindergarten in nearby Wilber.

   Nicholas Vernon was born September 28, 1958, and is also a graduate of Wahoo High School and the University of Nebraska. He is an engineer employed by Ingersoll-Rand Company in Hastings.

   Thomas Jeffrey, June 9, 1961, is a Wahoo High graduate and is in his fourth year of Engineering College at the University.

   Chris David, born July 1, 1964, graduated from Wahoo High in 1982 and is a freshman in the College of Engineering.

   Daniel William, June 5, 1966, is presently a junior in Wahoo High School, and also plans to attend the University.

   Ruth continues to manage the Thompson farm where all six sons have spent time in the summers, helping farm the land which their great-grandfather purchased in 1895.

   Albert Thoms was born near Varchinnhagen, Pommern Province, Germany on March 10, 1852. In 1879, on December 12, he took for his wife, Mathilda Amelia Mix. By 1879, they had added three children to the family: Otto, Emil, and Ida (Edith -- Mrs. Orie Daharsh), Albert was in the service of the army at the time of his marriage, but did not choose to continue in that line. So in 1882, the entire family left Germany for a new life in the United States. They resided in Courtland, Minnesota for the first year where Albert worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and, with the birth of Willi, the family grew.

Thoms Farm near Ithaca

   Albert's old friend, Barney Schroeder, persuaded him to come to Saunders County, and settle in the Ithaca area.

   In 1883, the Thoms family moved to Nebraska and rented a house in Ithaca while Albert worked for Gus and William Smith. Within a year, he rented a farm from C.H. Cornell and was on his way to establishing himself in the farming business. In 1890, he purchased 80 acres just north of Ithaca, to which he added 40 acres a few years later. The Thoms farm was always recognized by the evergreen trees which Albert took great care in trimming to a large cone shape with a small cone at the top. The entire family worked very hard together to make this farm become a very successful operation.

   The years not only added land but children to the Thoms household. In 1884, Albert was born, followed by Helena (Lena -- Mrs. Barthel Johnston), Hugo Karl (Charlie), Anna (2nd Mrs. Barthel Johnston), and Emma (Mrs. Fred Filbrandt). The joy of the new children was offset by the deaths of Otto, Willi, and Albert due to disease in the late 1880's. In the early 1890's, George and a child not named died in infancy. These early deaths in the family gave start to the Thoms plot in the Indian Mound Cemetery at Ithaca.

   Albert and Mathilda Thoms had been active German Lutherans and became part of the Lutheran Church located south of Ithaca. The formal religious education, as well as early schooling of the

page 441

family, was conducted in the German language. It was used extensively in the home and with other German immigrants in the area.

   Mr. and Mrs. Thoms made a single return trip to Germany in 1913 to visit relatives and old friends. Their years of labor had proven productive for the couple. In 1915, they moved from the farm to the town of Wahoo, leaving Emil to run the farm.

   On January 29, 1927, Albert passed away and Mathilda joined him in death on March 26, 1942. They were both laid to rest in the Ithaca Cemetery next to their children, who had preceded them. The stone of the family plot is inscribed with the German words from Revelations 13:13. "Selig sind die Toten ..." "Blessed are the dead." By Mrs. Inez Olsen

   My parents, Eilt Schmidt and Mary Hoffman, were born in Luxemburg, Germany. They were married in Kansas. We lived in Miltonvale, Kansas until I was seven. My father visited his brother, Dedrich Schmidt, who had settled in Saunders County. He liked this land and bought 160 acres in 1917.

   It was quite an experience for me and my three brothers, Charley, Herman, and John, when our family made the move to Nebraska. All of our possessions, including our horses and cattle, were put on the freight train and my father and Charley rode on the same train to take care of them. After they had things settled a bit, my mother and the rest of the family came by passenger train.

   We children went to country school District Number 6. We all helped with the farming and the chores.

   On Febr. 19, 1930, Harry Thoms and I were married in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebr. We had known each other since our move to Nebraska, for our families were neighbors and we all had gone to the same school.

   We rented the farm owned by Harry's grandmother, Mrs. Albert (Matilda) Thoms. It was two miles northwest of Ithaca, Nebr. Our son, Duane, was born here in 1934. After living on this place for ten years, in 1940 we moved to the farm 4½ miles northwest of Memphis where I still live. Our second son, Garry, was born in 1941. At first we rented but in 1955 we bought the farm.

   We lived through the depression and drought years of the Thirties that all farmers experienced but we also lived in the area of the hail storm of August, 1958. The first storm struck and things looked bad when it was over. Several hours later a second one hit us. When it was over there was nothing left, not even leaves on the trees.

   We had lots of good years, too. We were privileged to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary on Febr. 19, 1980. After suffering a stroke my husband died on June 6, 1980. Our sons who live close by continue to farm the land. By Susie Thoms (Mrs. Harry Thoms)

   Kent Thomsen was born in Spencer, Iowa in 1944 to Alvin and Adeline Thomsen. He was the first of their three children. He was raised on a farm at Estherville, Iowa. Here he attended high school and junior college. He then spent time in the U.S. Air Force.

Kent Thomsen Family 1982, Rebecca, Kent, David, Sandra, and Myron

   In 1971, he married Sandra Hageman of Ithaca, Nebraska. She was the first child of Robert and Leora Hageman of Ithaca, Nebraska, born in 1947. She attended rural school District #16, Mead High School, and graduated from Westmar College of Lemars, Iowa in 1969 with a degree in Home Economics. She taught home economics in East Monona High School in Moorhead, Iowa.

   After their marriage they resided in Esterville, Iowa where Kent worked at a garage as a mechanic and at a repair shop. They moved to Nebraska in 1977. Kent now works for the University of Nebraska Field Lab at Mead, Nebraska. Kent and Sandra now reside in Ceresco, Nebraska.

   They have three children, Rebecca, born in 1976, David born in 1978 and Myron, born in 1982.

   My parents, Rev. and Mrs. Arnold V. Thoren, were married at high noon, July 28, 1925, at my mother's childhood home in Malmo, Nebraska.

The Thoren Family. Standing, Left to Right: Paul Nathanael Thoren, Arnold Victor Thoren, Jr. and Clara Pauline Thoren; Seated: Rev. Arnold V. Thoren, Mrs. Arnold V. Thoren (Clara Christine Holtorf Thoren) and Winifred Mathilda Thoren

   My father had lived in Malmo as a small boy when his father, Victor Nelson Thoren, was pastor of the Edensburg Lutheran Church, 1901-02. Later, as a newly-ordained pastor, my father served the same congregation (Swedish), 1923-24. At that time, my parents as young people, had initiated a community choir which my mother directed.

   I was born August 16, 1926, Crosby, Minnesota. My father served congregations in Crosby and Deerwood, Minnesota, 1924-26. We moved to Hooper, Nebraska, where my father was pastor of the Elim Lutheran Church (Swaburg), 1927-36.

   I am the oldest of four children. My sister, Winifred Thoren Elmborg (Mrs. John), Blue Rapids, Kansas, and my brother, Dr. Arnold Victor Thoren Jr., Boone, Iowa, were born in Malmo, Nebraska, and my youngest brother, Paul Nathanael Thoren, Lincoln, Nebraska, was born in the parsonage at Swaburg. Our family lived in Strandburg, South Dakota, 1936-41 where my father was pastor of churches in Strandburg and LaBolt, South Dakota.

   When I was a senior in high school, my father accepted a call and we returned to Crosby, Minnesota where my father again served congregations in Crosby and Deerwood from 1941-46. It made it possible for me to graduate from the high school in the town where I was born. From 1946-54 our family lived in Smolan, Kansas, where father was pastor of the Salemsborg Lutheran Church. This gave all four of us a chance to go to Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas. Our mother was our music teacher; she directed choirs and was organist in several of the communities where we lived.

   I graduated from Bethany College in 1949 and taught school in Preston, Bennington, and Sylvan Grove, Kansas. I came to Lincoln, Nebraska and taught school until I was married to Leon H. Rottmann, August 7, 1959. I continued to teach school; we lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Omaha, Nebraska where we were divorced in 1967. At present I am Director of Library Media Services for the Lincoln Public School System.

   I have directed choirs and been organist in several churches including First Lutheran Church, Lincoln, where I now have my membership.

   There are three very important pastors in my life: Rev. Victor Nelson Thoren (my grandfather); Rev. Arnold V. Thoren (my father); and Rev. Arnold V. Thoren, Jr. (my brother). My brother, Arnie, is pastor of Augustan Lutheran Church, Boone, Iowa. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children: Pamela, Christine, Elizabeth and David -- my very special nieces and nephew.

   Our mother, Clara Christine Holtorf Thoren, has three sisters still living: Pauline Roehrkasse (Mrs. Raymond), Grand Island, Nebraska; Mathilda Holtorf; and Josephone L. Jenny (Mrs. Joseph), Malmo, Nebraska.

   When I think of Malmo, I think of loving family, church bells ringing, lawn tennis, porch swing, my Uncle Joe's ice cream parlor, my Aunt Jo's post office, and my Aunt Milly's beautiful flower garden. Submitted by Dr. Clara Thoren Rottmann

   My mother, Clara Christine Holtorf, and my father, Arnold Victor Thoren, were married in Malmo, Nebraska, July 28, 1925. My father was pastor of the Edensburg Lutheran Church in Malmo, 1923-24.

Paul Nathanael Thoren

   I was born in the parsonage of the Elim Lutheran Church, Hooper, Nebraska, July 22, 1935. As a small boy I visited my grandmother, Mrs. Wiebke Holtorf, in Malmo. The big attraction was her lily pond where my brother and I sailed our boats. I also enjoyed visiting my relatives -- aunts, uncles, and cousins.

   I am the youngest of four children. I have two sisters: Clara Thoren Rottmann, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Winifred Thoren Elmborg, Blue Rapids, Kansas. My brother is Arnold V. Thoren, Jr., Boone, Iowa. Our family lived in Strandburg, South Dakota; Crosby, Minnesota; and Smolan, Kansas. Our father was pastor of the Salemsborg Lutheran

page 442