Cora Taylor sends this Feb. 2010 reminiscence:

"Days Not To Be Forgotten"

"Pearl, my only sister, remember the day Papa bought that Santa Claus sled, and fit all of us into it. I was so amazed he would do that as he never would give Santa the glory. Then when the winter was getting colder by the week, he built a hood over the top with glass windows to see where we were going. [It was so cold out evenso] I recall I still cried and my tears froze hanging over my face as we [after riding the Santa Claus sled to school] we piled around the big wood stove at the school house. Our only teacher Mrs. Ruth Olsen hugged me while she peeled back the frozen tears. Then do you recall we'd put on ice skates and go down to the slough to skate? I have a proof that if one falls backwards, like I did hitting my head on that frozen ice--I saw stars! No kidding!

"Just received your letter and all those 100th celebration pictures of you and posters. Wow!

"Papa also made a simple, long board for us to ride on the snow with. Just think, 7 girls all standing, holding on to one another facing the same direction. He hooked one horse up and away we would go. If one fell, she would pull the rest off unless she fell in a nice deep snow ban. No crying, just laughing!--Your only sister, Cora"

Please go soon to the new Cora and Carl page, with Cora's "Died with His Shoes On," telling of Carl's homegoing in 1990 in the Southern Cross of the May issue.

"Died With His Shoes on," by Cora Taylor

Her account contains the miraculous conversion of the Brazilian telephone lineman, right after Carl Taylor's tragic accident--a direct connection to God's miraculous grace through the fulfilment of a scripture verse he had marked in his devotions shortly before the fatal accident on the road! So don't miss it!"

GOD IS MOVING ON MORE LOVING HUMAN HEARTS TO GIVE! The funds are coming in for the Heritage Center from friends outside the family circle but still well within our circle of love. A former landlady and longtime friend to Jerry Ginther, Pearl Ginther's son, has contributed $100. This below represents the hundred dollar bill given in honor of Pearl Stadem Ginther by her eldest son Darrell R. Ginther. We would like to see many more such bills! Got one to give, this heritage center would be a wonderful investment in children and adults and countless visitors!

THIS AND THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS ON THIS PAGE FOR YOU!

HOW DOES THE HERITAGE CENTER FIT IN TO TODAY'S CRISIS OF A DRIFTING SOCIETY THAT HAS CLEARLY LOST ITS MORAL COMPASS? BILLY GRAHAM, RECEIVING WITH RUTH GRAHAM THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL OF FREEDOM, WARNED AMERICANS AND SAID AMERICA HAS FORGOTTEN GOD AND WAS HEADING DIRECTLY TOWARD JUDGMENT! HOW? WE NO LONGER DEFEND HUMAN LIFE, IN THE WEAKEST MOST VULNERABLE FORM--THE CHILD IN THE WOMB! IT IS SAD WE HAVE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT, LEST WE STADEM DESCENDANTS COVER UP WHAT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED AND REPENTED OF--NAMELY UNIVERSAL "ABORTION" GOING ON THROUGHOUT SCANDINAVIAN AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING AMERICA. THERE IS A VERY DARK CLOUD HANGING OVER AMERICA AND THE WESTERN COUNTRIES TODAY. THAT DARK CLOUD IS GOD'S JUDGMENT, FOR OUR KILLING THE INNOCENT, LITTLE UNBORN CHILDREN IN THE WOMB. WHAT IF WE STADEM AND HOLBECK DESCENDANTS LOSE OUR TRADITIONAL, GODLY REVERENCE FOR THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE--WILL WE ULTIMATELY LOSE OUR MOST CHERISHED VALUES AND FREEDOMS? THAT IS CALLED A RHETORICAL QUESTION, AS THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS: YES! YES, WE WILL CERTAINLY LOSE OUR MOST CHERISHED VALUES AND FREEDOMS, FOR REGARD FOR THE SANCTITY OF GOD-CREATED LIFE UNDERGIRDS ALL OUR OTHER VALUES. GOD'S "THOU SHALT NOT KILL" PROTECTS EVERYTHING ELSE FROM HARM AND INJURY. HOW THEN CAN WE CONDONE STEM CELL RESEARCH USING AND DESTROYING HUMAN EMBRYOS IN ORDER TO CREATE NEW MEDICINES? THAT ISN'T GOD'S WAY OF DOING THINGS, AS HE WOULD NEVER SANCTION DESTROYING HUMAN LIFE IN THIS WAY, KILLING HUMAN LIFE TO PERSERVE OTHER HUMAN LIVES.

A DEAR FRIEND OF THE GINTHER FAMILY, A PASTOR, HAS JUST COME OUT WITH HIS NEW BOOK WHICH SHOWS OUR COUNTRY'S CHRISTIAN FOUNDING AND HERITAGE. "CAN THESE BONES LIVE", WHICH SHOWS HOW THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ESTABLISHED AMERICA, IS A MUST-GET BOOK FOR ALL OF US! PARTICULARLY YOU PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS NEED TO GET A COPY AND BE INFORMED TO SHARE WHAT THE BOOK HAS GATHERED TOGETHER FOR US IN ONE EASY FORMAT. SERIOUSLY, WE MUST NOT RELY ON OUR GRADE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY, WHICH WAS SO DEFICIENT. SO MUCH IS AT STAKE IF WE LOSE AMERICAN VALUES AND CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS AND OUR GOD-GRANTED INALIENABLE RIGHTS. WE MUST TAKE THIS EFFORT NOW, WHATEVER OUR AGES, TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE GIVEN BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS IN AMERICA, LEST WE BE ROBBED OF IT BY REVISIONISTS REWRITING THE HISTORY AND DISTORTING ALL THE FACTS. YOU CAN ORDER THIS BOOK DIRECTLY FROM THE AUTHOR, PASTOR DAVID PETT. HIS EMAIL ADDRESS AND WEBSITE ARE BELOW THE BOOK. WE WILL BE BRINGING SOME COPIES TO THE REUNION IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR TO ACQUAINT YOU WITH IT EVEN MORE, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET ORDERED AND READ YOUR COPY.

To order Pastor David Pett's book, CAN THESE BONES LIVE?

Somebody who knew full well what "born again" by the Spirit of God really means: Here is Pearl Ginther's sister Myrtle giving her testimony Sept. 13, 1989 to Pearl in a birthday card, about how she was saved and born again as a teenager thanks to Pearl's timely, loving admonition:

"Pearl, it was you whom the Lord used to turn me from the World to Jesus Christ!

I stayed with you in Sioux Falls one night. I came home from a filthy movie (with a guy of course) and you looked at me so lovingly and intently and said, 'Myrtle, you'll lose your faith if you keep living like this.' It resulted in me going to Bible camp next day where I made a personal commitment to Jesus!! Praise God!!"

"I knew and was loved almost to pieces by Aunt Myrtle, and can testify she went through all storms of life and the onslaughts of the Enemy with her flags unfurled and her spirit undaunted. She was truly a victorious saint of God, her strength based primarily on prayer and daily intercession for needy people and the church, and her own commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as her saving and sustaining Savior, as well as her submitting to the cross daily and obedience to the Lord in all matters. I mean every word of this and more. It is not just words that sound nice. She stood in the most extremes test of her faith in Jesus, and triumphed as pure gold! Her life bore fruit that is stupendous to behold. Her memory is sacred to me, as it should be. You can tell a tree by its fruit. Her life testifies she is a child of God, a woman of God, and now a glorious, heavenly saint of God. She left an incredible legacy for her children and relations to enrich their own lives with. I did not get to give my tribute to the Memorial given her at the Farm by the Svanoe Family, but this has to be it, besides my previous writes in tribute to her and Uncle Bill.--With love and eternal gratitude, her nephew, Ronald Ginther

Cora Stadem Taylor, in a New Year 2009 letter, also writes to Sister Pearl about her conversion and salvation experience:

"Thanks for the lovely Christmas Cards, they just arrived today. Carleen says thanks too. I'm so glad you add verses of Scripture to the cards that you send them [to the Seafarers, added to the gift packages Pearl makes up each year for the foreign seamen off the ships]. It could be just what they needed. I lived 19 years before I understood Salvation was only by Grace. I tried to figure out how I could be saved by that little water on my head [sprinkling of water in infant baptism]. It wasn't until I was at the Academy [Augustana Academy, Canton, SD]and they had invited a young Lutheran pastor to take over the 2 weeks of "Special Emphasis Weeks" at 10 a.m. Chapel, morning and every night, and he used so much scripture I realized I needed to admit to the Lord I was a lost sinner and said to Jesus, 'I take you as my Savior, praise your Name for forgiving me of ALL my sins.' Praise your name, Jesus. Love, Cora."

For Pearl Stadem Ginther's Scripture Garden, the Reunion Graphic for 2000, and Janet's Smith's Ancient Norwegian Calendar Stick

THE STADEM FAMILIES REUNION OF 2009 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. Please read the account by Rennard Svanoe, Historian for the families:

Stadem Reunion 2009 Account by Rennard Svanoe, Historian

Stadem Families still on vacation after the 2008 Reunion stopped at the Black Hills and its manifold sights, including this magnificent replica of the all-wooden "stav" churches in Norway, which are 800 years old or even older. There is the Hopperstad stav church, in Vik, that looks just like this one in the Black Hills.

Pearl Stadem Ginther, oldest surviving Stadem in the Alfred and Bergit Stadem clan, now matriarch of the clan, is pictured in the center with some of her family beside the Black Hills stav church. She is "only" 99 years of age in this picture. But a reunion for 2010 will no doubt include some more celebration of her centennial birthday at the Farmstead, for those who were not able to attend the birthday in Washington State, her home since 1942.

Both children and adults are delighted when they see the herds of magnificent buffalo restored in numbers like this herd, one of many now grazing the pastures and mountain slopes in western South Dakota and in the Black Hills.

Pearl Stadem Ginther has appeared in the Lutheran Water World Ministry Newsletter (Summer 2008):

With picture, quote from Pearl Ginther: "Sometimes God brings special projects into our lives and gives them a home in our hearts."

A new series: Stadem reunions!

Stadem Reunion--1994, "Memories of Reflection"

A tribute by Estelle Stadem-Rangen to her beloved Mama!

Estelle Stadem-Rangen's "Tribute to Mother"

OUR STADEM ROOTS IN NORWAY:

Lawrence Lundring (son of Katrine (Catherine) Holbeck Lundring, with his grandchildren:

Recently, Carolyn Roberts, a daughter of Lawrence, has contacted us and given her family's history and brought it up to the present day. We appreciate this contact greatly, and hope for more contact in the near future. She and her family are all invited to join in at the Farm with their Stadem and Holbeck cousins at the Heritage Center opening and also the reunions. Cousin Carolyn was given by a Lundring cousin a piece we wrote about Aunt Tena, her great-grandmother, which featured Aunt Tena Holbek Lundring's birthday card and remarks to Pearl Ginther, plus a poem she wrote, and this brought her to contact us of the Alfred Stadem line and share a number of pictures of her own family. The Aunt Tena card and remarks can be accessed at:

Aunt Tena's Birthday Card to Niece Pearl Ginther, & Poem

Bergit Wilhelmina Holbeck-Stadem's Church in Vatnedal, Norway:

Grandma, in telling how things were in Norway when she was still living there, related on tape and in conversation and in writing how the church in Norway where she attended grew cold and formal, so they would go by boat to get to another church meeting in a home and worship God there. The lack of faith in so many Christians in large part drove was a big reason she left her homeland for a new life in America. She never looked back. In America she found many people with hearts burning with love for God and His people and was well satisfied she had made the right decision, even after a young man once came to try and get her to go back.

Stadem churches:

Just days ago the great granddaughter of Kristine Stadheim, the first Stadem born in this country in the family of Sjur and Oline Stadheim or Stadem, contacted us! How exciting this is, and she said she and some of her family would be coming to my mother Pearl Ginther's centennial birthday celebrations in September. In tribute to Kristine Stadem this poem is gratefully submitted for the Stenes and Fjelstads and Yuges and all descendants of Kristine Stadem:

"Kristine Stadheim: In Heartfelt Memoriam"

Our roots were brought from Norway over the sea.

Stadems came to build new lives in the land of the free,

and settled first in Iowa's Worth County.

Kristine was the first to be born of our family,

but as soon as she bloomed a young wife and mother,

her petals closed early.

Slender, tall, of striking beauty,

her wedding cape flowed down gracefully.

Andrena was her daughter's name--

it's found in Norway just the same.

My mother too has her Aunt's name,

a link to Kristine, no little fame.

And Great Grand Aunt, she would be to me; I hold her picture,

a fine-stemmed rose with many buds

whose blooming she would never see.

And yet she was first,

like Christ her Namesake born,

and like Him she went before us all.

--by Ronald Ginther, Gr Grand Nephew of Kristine Stadem (Stadheim)

Emigrants at Oslo (formerly Kristiana), and arriving at Ellis Island for immigration into the United States in the early 1900s:

1903 was a great year! From the Franklin Mint Magazine: "Wasn't 1903 a remarkable year? Henry Ford starts his company. The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle is created. And the Wright Brothers rewrite history by creating the first powered aircraft that can actually fly." We also can add to 1903's epic events: Bergit and Katrine's sailing from Norway to America! That trip changed history, as far as we Stadems and Holbecks (with or without a "c") are concerned!

The Epic Journey of Pioneering Faith made by Katrine ("Tena" Holbek also the fully Americanized "Catherine") and Bergit (Americanized to "Bessie") Holbeck to America on the Norwegian American Line passenger steamship OLAF HELLIG in 1903!

Pearl Stadem-Ginther, daughter of Bergit and Alfred Stadem, relates her mother's memories of that voyage: "When my mother Bergit Holbeck (Stadem) and Katrine Holbeck (later Lundring) came over in 1903 to America on the HELLIG OLAF ship from Mandal, Norway, water was coming in on one end of the boat [perhaps from high waves or the wash of the wake]. So to stop it they had to start moving their luggage to the other end so no more water would come in. When the Statue of Liberty appeared, that made my mother happy that it was close to their arrival to S. Dakota, where she got married to Alfred J.P. Stadem and raised 9 children."

"Ballad of the Voyage of Faith," Centennial Tribute (1903-2003) of Bergit and Katrine "Tena" Holbeck leaving their family home in Mandal and their epic Voyage from Kristiansand, Norway, to America and the start of new lives.

We are receiving startling information about the Holbeks! Pearl Ginther has just received a letter and a genealogical extract from Norwegian genealogical archives from Mabel Helland, a Holbek relative residing with her husband in Minnesota! The writer wishes Pearl Ginther a most wonderful birthday, adding by saying that she found out really how small this world is when she lately discovered that she has Holbek relatives, not only here but in Norway. She visited Andreas and Dagny Holbek over in Norway too. At that time Andeas had a Christian bookstore. Mabel Helland's husband worked with Joseph Rangen (husband of Estelle Stadem Rangen) in the church planting of the Lutheran Brethren Church for many years. The genealogical extract dealing with Pearl's Holbek ancestors, Andreas and Berta Holbek, who were Bible Colporteurs in Norway, is in Norwegian, and we must seek a translation before we can present it here for your enjoyment and knowledge. Please return for it here, or contact us and we can send you a copy.

The Stadems departed Norway a generation earlier than the Holbecks:

The Stadems of Vik i Sogn and Bergen were emigrants in steerage in a sailed fixed-rigged bark called BODRENE, sailing from Bergen in 1866 via Quebec, Canada. You can trace this truly exciting history and the genealogy of the Alfred Stadem line back to Sjur and Oline Olson Stadheim (and even earlier) in Stadem/Vorseth descendant Barbara Benson's wonderful genealogy book and a printed and illustrated supplement. Sjur/Syvert Stadheim and his wife Oline Madsdatter Vikoren left Norway with their family, sailed on one of those wooden ships with all the sails aloft, and emigrated to Worth County, Iowa, via Quebec, Canada, after sailing all the way up the St. Lawrence River by ship, a considerable lengthening of their entire voyage from Norway. This intrepid couple and their growing family started new lives in America, and though they could not read or write English, their children, as young as 1 year old, soon learned how! Sjur/Syvert is the father of Peder Stadem, who is the father of Alfred Stadem, the husband of Bergit Holbeck, who together brought forth the 9 Stadem sons and daughters that are featured in these Plain View Farm websites. There must have been a lot of Sjur and Oline's vim and vigor and vision in Alfred when he came along in the second generation to be born and raised in America, as the pioneering spirit remained strong in Alfred, who prided himself greatly on being a son of the pioneers.

If you can get access to Barbara Benson's excellent genealogy book and supplement (at least get the supplement, which gives a lot of information), you can trace out these great ancestors and their descendants, as multiple family lines developed soon after they landed and put down roots in Iowa and, soon after, South Dakota. She may have some copies left, for the cost of her copywork (but add S and S, and little love gift of thanks!). We have used her pictures of the Stadem churches and the Norwegian bark, and thank her for them. Her email address is:

BVorseth@prodigy.net

We will reprint some pages in this section, when there is time available to do it.

In connection with this book of Genealogy, which costs only $10 plus shipping of $2.70 postage, Barb Benson offers at no charge a Powerpoint Slide Show of the Stadem Ancestors and homes and churches in Norway, drawn from the Genealogy book, along with text. It can be emailed to you by contacting her. You can enjoy it free on your own computer. It can also be ordered from her for $25, in a book printed in color. She gave a book to Pearl Ginther for her 100th birthday, and it is well worth the $25, which is the cost of printing it out herself. You and your family will love the printed out version, which makes a great Christmas gift!

Vik i Sogn, Norway, the home town of the Stadems:

The Stadem (Stadheim) Farms are in Yellow Highlight on Right of the Fjord in Enlargement.

Barb Benson is in this picture of the Vorseth families, along with her mother and father and sisters. Can you pick her out? She is the cutest little girl in the picture, with the biggest smile!

Using her book, we have identified the three Koistinen graduates from Bryant High School, shown in the graduation class pictures in the May 13 issue of the BRYANT DAKOTAN, as cousins! There are two lines of these Koistinens, descending from Anna Sophie Stadem, youngest daughter of Oline and Sjur Stadheim (Stadem). Anna married Erik Hanger. They had eight daughters. Two were Edna Hanger and Anna Hanger. They both married Koistinens. There you have it! Thanks, Barb! Now we can tell our cousins, the Koistinens, who have just graduated, and we would like to see the Koistinens and the other families descended from the Hangers come to our reunions too! They are most welcome! By the way, a Koistinen family owns and operates a brand-new motel in Hayti, SD, which is not far from Bryant. Perhaps they are also relatives.

Cousin Barbara Benson, our Stadem Genealogist, is descended from Andrew Vorseth and Martha Stadem. Her grandfather is shown here receiving a no doubt delicious birthday cake in a local nursing facility.

Pearl Stadem Ginther has a new story, on how she got minnows from her Uncle Andrew Vorseth for the pond on Plain View Farm! Please go to the Pearl's Stories section below for it and others.

According to Bernice Schaefer, Martha Stadem helped Bergit Stadem with the delivery of at least one of the numerous Stadem children on PVF. We look for more visits and participation from Martha Stadem's descendants and other branches of the Sjur and Oline relationship:

RETURN OF STADEMS' BLESSING TO NORWAY!

In 1994 the nationally (and internationally) touring Augsburg College Quartets that were created over many years, combined in a grand Centennial Choir, traveled to Norway to present the people, and king, with Norwegian-American songs in praise of the Lord, and our wonderful Scandinavian heritage, as a special thank you to Norway's beloved people and our revered ancestors who embarked on boats to come to America long ago. In this choir were two Stadem descendants, grandsons of Alfred and Bergit Stadem:

The Ganddal Girls Choir from Norway a while back came over to our country in their beautiful clothing, which has to be one of the more beautiful costumes worn by Norwegians. We are presently enjoying a cassette recording of their concert, done in the 1980's and still sounding clear and beautiful. They sang a medley of Norwegian songs and American patriotic songs, as well as the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. This cassette will be recorded on disc and saved for the Russell Schaefer Archives at the Heritage Center.

OUR PLAIN VIEW FARM CHILDREN'S STORIES ARE NOW ILLUSTRATED. Check them out, in "Tales for a Lille Tupin and Tuta," Norskie language for "Tales for a Little Boy and Girl," as told to various Stadem descendants or from the immediate Stadem family members. These stories are true, and you won't find their like in any other place but here! We NOW HAVE THE VIDEO LIBRARY UP AND ON-LINE to introduce the stories to you and your children, with Pearl Stadem-Ginther telling her exciting farm and animal stories herself, or else retold by her sons in their own individual mode. Go to the PLAIN VIEW FARM VIDEO LIBRARY ON OUR WWW.OARINGINTHERIVER.COM MASTER DIRECTORY for the Stories on the new Video Library page. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Video Library, click, and the list of the stories newly filmed are seen, then clink on the stories we have so far (the Heritage Center explanation by Ronald Ginther, first on the list, is long, so please be patient for it to download, or go to the shorter stories after it first:

PLAIN VIEW FARM VIDEO LIBRARY ON WWW.OARINGINTHERIVER.COM

We also have a video of the Stadem daughters of Alfred and Bergit Stadem, including granddaughter Mim Rinderknecht, reading the PVF stories, while on PVF! We hope to have it transferred to DVDs, so it can be available to users of laptops.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: CHILDREN'S STORY BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATORS CALLED FOR (IN PRAYER!), PLEASE COME FORWARD TO GET THESE MARVELOUS STORIES OF PEARL GINTHER OUT TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD! WE HAVE WONDERFUL ARTISTS RIGHT IN OUR OWN STADEM FAMILIES, AND MAYBE THEY COULD DO IT, BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS WILLING, WITH A HEART FOR CHILDREN AND HAVING A DESIRE THAT JESUS TO BE MADE REAL TO THEM. LET US KNOW WHO IS THE ONE TO DO THIS PLAIN VIEW FARM CHILDREN'S BOOK SERIES, USING ILLUSTRATIONS, BY CONTACTING PEARL GINTHER OR ELOISE HEFTY. THEY COULD ALSO BE USED FOR ANIMATIONS ON CDS OR VIDEOS AND PLAYED ON PBS FOR CHILDREN. A BIG CHALLENGE FOR YOU: TRY AND FIND BETTER STORIES TODAY THAN THESE! PEARL GINTHER WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE STORIES PUBLISHED OR EVEN ANIMATED SO THAT ROYALTIES INCOME EARNED COULD GO TO PLAIN VIEW FARM AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES AT THE HERITAGE CENTER.

Pearl Stadem-Ginther, turned age 100, September 13, 2009, told her real-life stories of the Farm Life of Yore on Plain View Farm, Reunion 2006, with her great-grandchildren present!

Stadems Saga Continues Home Page, for Tales for a Lille Tupin and Tuta

Check out these exciting stories too, which are part of a growing "farm-folio" of Pearl Stadem-Ginther's we would like to see someday featured in a Heritage Center Puppet Show: "How Pearl Got Home in the Dark with Horse and Buggy," "How Pearl Stopped a Runaway Windmill," and "Rooster in the Dark," not to mention, "How Pearl Got Rid of Rats on Plain View Farm", and "Pearl and her Mama Made Ice Cream," and "How Bernice's Horse King Laid Down on the Job":

"NEW STORIES" by Pearl Stadem Ginther on the Buffalo Mound Website:

"Pearl and her Mama Made Ice Cream," by Pearl Stadem Ginther

"How God Provided Pearl with Popcorn," by Pearl Stadem Ginther

Pearl's Childhood Stories Central #2

Or individually:

"How Pearl Got Rid of Rats on the Farm"

Pearl's Newest Stories of Bygone Days:

"Pearl Finds Honey for the Family," by Pearl Ginther (age 99)

"How Pearl Got the Fishes for Papa's Pond"

"How Pearl's Horse, King, Got the Wrong Message," by Pearl Ginther

"How King our Horse Laid Down on the Job," by Pearl Ginther

"I was on my way to school, riding the horse alone because Bernice was sick and couldn't go. She was only six and I was seven. We rode across country, not by the road, as that was the shortest way, and it wasn't far. But as we got to the hill just beyond the barn the horse laid down! I couldn't get him to go, so I tried all I could to get him going. I shouted, and "nudged" him with my foot, and "patted" him with my hand, but he wouldn't go. I had to run all the way to school so I wouldn't be tardy, but I made it on time. I looked back once on my run, and saw him get up and look back at me, then he went home. Evidently, he felt something was wrong when Bernice wasn't on his back, and he refused to carry me alone. He was okay the next day, though, and took us both all the way to school."

NEW STORY!--"How the Cream was Saved!", by Pearl Stadem Ginther, As Told to Son Ronald Ginther

"Don't cry over spilt milk," is a common saying. How about if it is the more expensive cream? Can you cry then?

One day Pearl and her Mama went to town with the cows' cream to sell. It was very heavy stuff filling a big metal can, and so the can was not easy for a ten year old Pearl to lift into the back of the surrey, a horse drawn buggy which has an open back, not like the wagon. They had made the trip before in the surrey without a hitch, but this time it was going to be a bit different. Before they could reach town they hit a bump. Out fell the big can of cream and over into the ditch! The can came open and the cream spilled out! What to do? Cry over spilt cream? No! Pearl quickly scooped up all the cream she could back into the can. What saved it from being lost was that the cream spilled out on thick grass, so it didn't sink into the ground. Soon Pearl had most of it back in the can. They continued to town, and Mama, honest soul that she was in everything she did, told the man at the market what had happened. She was so concerned. Would he still want to buy the cream? Oh, that's no problem! the man assured her. He would put it in their Separator, a machine that cleaned and made it, removing all the bits of grass. So the cream was saved and Mama got the money they needed! Mama Stadem and daughter Pearl rode happily back to the farm with the money for the cream in Mama's purse.

"Rooster in the Well!", by Pearl Stadem Ginther, as told to Ronald Ginther

"How Pearl Got Home in the Dark..."

"How Pearl Stopped a Runaway Windmill"

NORSKE CHUCKLE OF THE MONTH:

Sven was going for his morning walk one day when he walked past Ole's house and saw a sign that said, "Boat For Sale." This confused Sven because he knew that Ole didn't own a boat, so he finally decided to go in and ask Ole about it.

"Hey, Ole," said Sven, "I noticed da sign in your yard dat says 'Boat For Sale', but ya don't even have a boat. All ya have is your old John Deere tractor and combine."

Ole replied, "Yup, and dey're boat for sale."

LIZ AND LEROY STADEM PERFORMED THEIR OWN VERSION OF CLASSIC NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN COMIC CHARACTERS "PER AND LENA" THIS LAST REUNION ON THE FARM IN 2007. LIFE-SIZE FIGURES OF THEM ARE FEATURED AT A LOG HOUSE IN THE BLACK HILLS AREA. SOME OF THE OLDEST MAY ALSO REMEMBER "PER AND OLA" FEATURED IN THE "FUNNIES" OF THE RURAL DAKOTA TOWN PAPERS FOLKS HAD ON THE KITCHEN TABLES AND ALL ENJOYED THERE. OUR STADEM FAMILY WAS NO DIFFERENT--AND HERE IS A LITTLE TASTE OF SCANDINAVIANS POKING FUN AT THEMSELVES GOOD HUMOREDLY AND NOT OFF-COLOR EITHER. PEARL GINTHER-STADEM, THE OLDEST IN THE STADEM CLAN, AGE 98, RELATES HOW SHE WOULD GO TO THE MAIL BOX A MILE FROM THE FARM AND ALWAYS ENJOY THE PER AND OLA IN THE PAPER AND THEN PROCEED HOME--HAVING HAD HER WELCOME BIT OF AMUSEMENT FOR THE DAY, WHICH ENLIVENED A ROUTINE TASK, GETTING AND BRINGING BACK THE MAIL WITH A LONG WALK!

"Per and Ola," Back by "Popular Demand"

Some more farm chuckles from Pearl's joke book:

"Why do watermellons have water in them? Why because they were planted in the spring!"

"Why do cows wear bells? Their horns won't work!"

"Do you know what happens to a sheep when he goes to get a hair cut? He goes to the Baa Baa shop."

For even more wacky but CLEAN Scandinavian humor, you might check out our "Scandin-Avian" toons about an odd extraterrestrial, duck-like species that supposedly invaded Scandinavian countries and took on (or brought with it) Scandinavian characteristics, even coming to love lefse and lutefisk and the use of the single swear word, "Uffdah!"!

Scandinavia: Duck Heaven Toon Central"

Norwegians, not the more reserved Swedes, are justly famed for their offbeat (but not off-color) humor. In Washington State, we had a Norwegian humorist in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest for many years whose name was well-known to thousands. But even closer to home, we have a dear friend of the Ginthers, June Durnell, who puts on Norwegian costumes and gives humorous monologues with a thick Norwegian accent that could curdle cream. Here is one good specimen of Norwegian humor from South Dakota: "Torvald for President!"

A new center and page is added to our site called "Archives of Heritage Center," featuring many items we post first on this page, then moved to the Archives Heritage Center page. There is a Liberty Township History article now available, researched and written by the pupils of Dist. 124 school in Liberty Township, Day County (in NE South Dakota, near Webster, between Aberdeen and Watertown). This article compares very closely with the experience of settlers of the Bryant area. We have new items, among them "Bernice and Russell Schaefer's Letter to Luther Svanoe," June 19, 1994, and Cora Fjelstad's Funeral Service and Bio.

Now here is a salvation-concerned message to a much younger, dying nephew of the Schaefers, the Schaefers' letter:

"Bernice and Russell Schaefer's Letter to Luther Svanoe," June 19, 1994

A Truly Memorable Letter to Pearl his sister from Brother Leroy and His 'Better Half," Liz, From the "Warm and Recent" Archives of Nov. 6, '09:

"Dear Sis Pearl, Thank you for your card and writing to me on my 82nd Birthday. Yes, it's 82. You outlived Mama and I have gone past Papa's age. Don't you think about how our parents gave up so much for us kids. And how they grew in their love for the Lord and others. Can't forget how Papa asked Ben and Norman to kneel with him and pray for the Lord to take away their drinking habit--AND THEY DID AND HE DID!

Yes, Sister--you have been a blessing in countless ways. To be the oldest wasn't always easy, I'm sure. It was such a highlight when you and Bob and the Kids would come home at Christmas, and other times too.

The others in the family liked your quotes too, like, 'He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.'

Yes, Pearl, I feel young too. Glad you do too. Liz is making tea for me and then I go play tennis. Sunday I take over the services at Freeman about 50 miles SW of S. Falls. They are a small group, but appreciative. Wish they would have a nice church as your little white church. My how nice it was to meet there [in the restored chapel of the Mt. Lutheran congregation where Pearl has been a member for 66 years] for Norwegian pancakes and the fellowship meeting. You did right to save it.

I'll let Liz write a little too. Love you! Greet everyone."

"Hi there, Pearl honey. Ron tells us you are a little more confined. But you have a beautiful new chair. We hope you are enjoying it.

We have to tell friends about our great 100 yr. old sis in Washington, and of the great children who put on the most wonderful party.

Leroy and I keep busy. Tomorrow, Steve's wife and I will go to 1st Lutheran Bazaar [First Lutheran Church was Pearl and Bob Ginther's church when they lived in Sioux Falls in the thirties, up to 1942]. It's the greatest. Then in the afternoon, Augustana [College] has a big game at their new stadium. Vets are being honored, so Leroy will go. Bless you hon. Keep up your good work. Love, Liz"

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Pearl Stadem Ginther is known for asking people whether they they are ready to go through the Pearly Gates of heaven. The following account is called "The Matchless Pearl," and tells the story of a Indian diver and the huge, perfect pearl his son found, which he wanted to give to a beloved missionary friend for nothing, since the pearl had cost his son his life and he could not sell it or let it go for any amount of money. Read how the missionary responded. You will be surprised, just as the old father was who was offering the treasure as a free gift.

"The Matchless Pearl," How an Old Indian Diver Found The Entrance to the Pearly Gates

Follow Pearl Ginther into her diminutive, postage-stamp sized kitchen garden in the back of her mobile home in Puyallup's Golden Rose Mobile Home Park beside the Puyallup River, where every little flower seems to speak of God's grace and love and will minister to you if you just step into her "scripture garden" offered here:

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Mama Bergit Stadem's Personal History

Can you read this Norwegian grace? If you took Norwegian in school (I took a year in college, but needed more to really get it under my belt!), or picked it up from Norwegian-descent parents, you are fortunate. The rest of us can guess, or use Google's translator. Or I can always get my Norwegian mother to translate!--Ronald Ginther

"Mama's Perfect Day," to find out exactly how Mama Bergit Stadem's day went from dawn to dark. Don't miss it, you will be out of breath when you get through seeing what a whirlwind of activity she really was, though she moved so slowly you would think she could never get it all done!

"Mama's Perfect Day"

"In Jesus Name we go to the table,

Eat and drink of Your Word.

To God we praise and us be blessed,

We then receive food in Jesus' Name.

Amen"

"Let Us Break Bread Together"--A Traditional Communion Song based on an old Negro Spiritual

How about some Rommegrot? It sounds awful, and looks like something so bland, you might not like it, being made of primarily flour and milk. But despite how it looks or how it is named, it is delicious! So delicate in flavors, it simply melts in the mouth, as anyone who has had a real dish of it can testify. Here is the recipe from First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, SD., which Pearl Ginther offers to you all with her Nowegian blessing! If you have ever had a bowl of Rommegrot, you are hooked for life!

Mama Bergit's Recipes Published in the Bryant Dakotan Paper