Nils Ofstedahl and Matilde Lunde – Part Two
Information on the Children of Nils and Mathilda . . .
In Part One on Nils Ofstedahl and Matilde Lunde, I included all information about Nils after he came to America, his life with his wife Matilda, information on her father and family; and then information about Matilde and the children until Matilda died in 1925. This volume picks up the story with information on each of the children as adults - with some of it being when they were off on their own before Matilda died.
Nils and Mathilda had three children who survived to adulthood – Alma and the twins Theodore and Charlotte. Theodore served in World War I, and then became the County Attorney for Goodhue County and moved to Minneapolis in the late 1930’s for various state positions. One sister was in Des Moines in 1920 and then both sisters were shown living together in Minneapolis. All three seemed to move to Arizona for the very last years of their lives. Only Theodore married and had children. Below are records and items from the period when they were on their own until their deaths. Theodore’s grave marker in Greens Acres Memorial Park in Scottsdale, Arizona is shown above.
Theodore N. Ofstedahl registered for the World War I draft in June 1917 in Red Wing, Minnesota.
At right is from the 1977 history of Red Wing. The 1977 history states that the 1933 history has a full listing of local soldiers who served. Since T. N. Ofstedahl was an officer, he made the cut to be listed here. It’s significant that it also states that he served in France. World War I service records appear to have been lost in a fire, so the only one available is to get the final payment record, which was stored at another site. I have not ordered that for Ted Ofstedahl.
Mike Collins, married to the granddaughter of Rudy Lavik, a son of the Rev. Rasmus Lavik (whose sister was Agate Lavik, married to Anders Ofstedal, and Nils’ mother), provided letters written while he was a World War I soldier to his future wife, Charlotte Larsen. One was dated June 11, 1918, from Camp Dodge. Camp Dodge was about ten miles north of central Des Moines, Iowa. From the letter:
“I had a little break in the program yesterday (Sunday). About 4 P.M. An orderly came out to our details with a message from Lieut. Ofstedahl (my cousin) to report at his girl's house in Des Moines P.D.Q. I hiked two miles, camouflaged a bath and shave and caught the 5:45 to town. Ted's girl is a U. of Wis grad and one of her classmates was with her. She, the classmate, was of a fussy disposition and the light of desire for man was in her eye. I was very cautious, however, but did considerable talking at random for pure entertainment. I can still tell my girl she has the best show with me. I returned about 1 P.M. After my first trip out of camp. I didn't fuss a bit. That statement may seem superfluous but I'm putting it in for good measure. My girl has a monopoly on me.” This appears to be about Ted Ofstedahl.
This excerpt indicates that the family of Rasmus Lavik was still in touch with the family of Nils Ofstedahl at the time of World War I. As shown in the previous volume, Rasmus Lavik was a witness at Nils and Mathilda’s wedding, and spoke at Nils funeral. There was probably also a connection through St. Olaf College.
At left is from the Cook County (Minnesota) News Herald of August 29, 1917. Theodore Ofstedahl is listed as having gotten a commission as a second Lieutenant in the Infantry. A similar listing ran in the Fargo newspaper about the same time. This matches the Lt. Ofstedahl above in the Rudy Lavik letter.
I show that the article at right was from the Zumbrota News of January 19, 1919. Theodore would have recently returned home from his service in World War I. There is a nice biography of him here where it mentions that he was at Camp Dodge - where it is likely that he is the Ofstedahl mentioned in Rudy Lavik’s letter home above, as he was in Camp Dodge at the same time. It is an auspicious start for a young attorney - partnering with a State Senator, a Rockne no less, in the biggest city in the region. I hope to have a future page on this site about Ofstedahls who served in World War I - and if I can get to it, I will include Theodore Ofstedahl.
In the 1920 census entry above, Alma Ofstedahl is shown at 668 42nd Street, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa - a lodger with William Smith and Family. She is listed as a stenographer in a railroad office. Charlotte is shown with her mother Matilda in Zumbrota - posted on the first page about Nils and Matilda.
In the 1920 census entry above, in the City of Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota, Theodore Ofstedahl is shown the third line from the bottom - age 28, single, an attorney at law - a roomer with Nils Lien and family at 517 Dakota Street.
This excerpt at right is from the 1977 History of Red Wing. Theodore Ofstedahl was elected the first president of the Kiwanis Club in 1920.
This brief biography of Nils' son Theodore, was contained in a 1933 History of Red Wing, Minnesota. It shows that he was born in Holden at the time that Nils was a pastor in that area.
The Rev. John Ofstedahl probate still had a property proceeding in the early 1920's (He died in 1911). Each of the six surviving heirs had to appear in front of a notary to deal with the deed coming out of that proceeding. My own grandfather, Carl Ofstedahl, found a notary in Charles Mix County, South Dakota – where he had just married my grandmother. Gerhard was still in North Dakota. Their brothers Elmer and Ledwin, and their sisters Amy and Borghild, were living with their mother in Minneapolis. Imagine my surprise, in going through this record, to discover that, for some reason, Elmer, Ledwin, and Amy personally appeared in front of their cousin Ted in Goodhue County, possibly in Red Wing, but his mother was shown in a Minneapolis directory in this year. The record does not say where the Ofstedahls appeared in front of Theodore Ofstedahl. It indicates that the branches of the family were in touch. It was a nice surprise to come across this reference in Walsh County (North Dakota) records.
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Red Wing City Directories . . .
In Part One about Nils and Matilda, there are references to members of his family in the 1907, 1909, and 1911 Zumbrota section of the Red Wing City Directories; of Theodore along with other Ofstedahls in the 1911 Northfield City Directory; and with Matilda and the children in the 1921 and 1922 Minneapolis City Directories. Each entry varies, but the name, occupation, and address are frequently listed.
Nils and Matilda’s family members continue to be shown in Minnesota city directories through 1950. There are some nuances. Sometimes the family members would be listed in two directories – the city of their residence and the city where they worked. Alma was shown with her mother in the 1922 Minneapolis City Directory, shown earlier in Part One, but below is her entry alone as a stenographer for a state agency in the 1922 St. Paul City Directory, listing her residence as Minneapolis. When Theodore was a state official he was shown in St. Paul with his job and then with his residence in Minneapolis. His son Theodore and daughter Lucille appear separately when they come of age. It also appears that Alma and Charlotte lived together for a number of years. In all these the occupation was also listed, so it’s helpful to see how they were promoted or changed jobs. This introduction would give context as I post each individual directory reference below.
Alma Ofstedahl, who was listed in the 1922 Minneapolis City Directory with her family, is shown at right in the 1922 St. Paul City Directory with her job. She is shown as a stenographer with the State Auditor in St. Paul and resides in Minneapolis.
Alma Ofstedahl is shown at left in the 1923 St. Paul City Directory as a typist with the Secretary of State, and residing in Minneapolis.
Theodore is shown at right in the 1924 Red Wing City Directory as T. N. Ofstedahl, an attorney in Red Wing at a downtown address.
At left is Alma Ofstedahl is shown in the 1924 St. Paul City Directory, still shown as a typist with the Secretary of State and a resident of Minneapolis.
At right is Alma Ofstedahl is shown in the 1926 St. Paul City Directory, still shown as a typist with the Secretary of State and a resident of Minneapolis.
The 1927 Minneapolis City Directory at left shows Alma and Charlotte living at the same location (which continued through the last directory entries in 1950), with Alma as a stenographer at the Municipal Probation Office and Charlotte as a saleswoman at Dayton’s (a department store).
The 1928 Minneapolis City Directory entry at right for Alma and Charlotte, with everything the same as it was in the 1927 entry.
The 1930 Minneapolis City Directory at left lists Alma and Charlotte at the same address as in the recent years, lists Alma now as a Deputy City Probation Officer and lists Charlotte as a clerk without listing an employer.
Alma and Charlotte Ofstedahl are shown above in the 1930 census in the 18th Ward of the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, in an entry taken on April 10, 1930. Alma is shown as in stenography in the probation office and Charlotte as shown as doing clerking in a department store. They are both listed as single. Their Mineapolis address in the census matches their address in the city directory – 3715 2nd Avenue South.
Theodore Ofstedahl and family are shown above in the 1930 census at 1268 W. Sixth Street in the Fourth Ward of Red Wing City, Goodhue County, Minnesota, in an entry taken on April 13, 1930. Shown is Theodore N. Ofstedahl, 39, lawyer occupation and employer County Attorney, born in Minnesota with his father born in Norway and his mother in Minnesota; with Lucille J., wife, 28, none as her occupation, born in Minnesota with her father born in Germany and her mother in Minnesota. With them was son, Theodore A., son, age two years and three months, born in Minnesota with both his parents born in Minnesota. Also, I have not yet found a marriage record for Theodore and Lucille, so it’s helpful that this record states that Theodore was age 34 at marriage and Lucille was age 24 at marriage. Theodore was born in April 6, and this census was taken on April 13, 1891 and Lucille was born on February 15, 1902 – so it means it’s likely they were married in early 1926.
The article at right is from the Winona (MN) Republican Herald February 8, 1932 – County Attorney Theodore Ofstedahl accuses café owner of spiking soft drinks with beer and city officials act with the café owner as a result.
The 1934 Minneapolis City Directory at leftshows Alma and Charlotte at a new address - with Alma working at Probation Municipal Court and Charlotte a secretary for F. T. Cavanor (type of business not identified – in a later record it appears to be identified as a doctor’s office).
The 1936 Minneapolis City Directory at right includes Alma, at the same address where she and Charlotte lived in 1934, and Charlotte, living at the Curtis Hotel. They both work in the same places as the prior directory.
The 1938 Minneapolis City Directory at left continues to list Alma and Charlotte. Everything is the same as in the 1936 directory - except both sisters now live at the Curtis Hotel.
To the right are the Ofstedahl listings from the 1940 Minneapolis City Directory. Alma and Charlotte are in the same jobs and still at the Curtis Hotel, where they were in 1938. Theodore is in Minneapolis for the first time, signaling a move from Red Wing in the years right before 1940. His wife Lucille is listed with him. John W. Ofstedal and Kathryn Ofstedahl are likely the children of Simon Ofstedal – and cousins of Alma, Charlotte and Theodore. I have not ascertained who Irvin Ofstedal is, he does not appear to be in the 1940 census in Minneapolis.
Alma and Charlotte are shown above in the 1940 census at the Curtis Hotel, 10th Street South and 3rd Avenue, in the Fifth Ward of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota in an entry taken on April 11, 1940. They are shown as single, sisters, both born in Minnesota, in the same place they were in 1935. Alma is shown as a stenographer in the county probation office, and Charlotte is shown as a secretary in a doctor’s office. With them is a lodger, Cora Adler – who is of the age to be the sister of Theodore’s wife Lucille, who was Lucille Adler before her marriage to Theodore. Core is shown as single, a clerk in a department store.
Theodore Ofstedahl and family are shown in the 1940 census at 4836 Harriet Avenue (which matches the address in the city directory), in Ward 13 of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota in an entry taken on April 6, 1940. Theodore is shown as an attorney for the state attorney, and the members of the household are shown as having lived in Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota in 1935. This is the first census with a full entry of Theodore and Lucille’s family – with Theodore Jr., age 12; Lucille, age 7; and Allan, age five months.
The 1941 Minneapolis City Directory at left shows Alma, Charlotte, and Theodore, all in the same jobs and locations as the 1940 directory.
This is Theodore Ofstedahl's World War II draft registry - dated April 25, 1942 - the front side above, and the back side to the right. The card is consistent with other records, but the personal details on the back side appear not to have been included in any other record.
The Ofstedahl listings from the 1944 Minneapolis City Directory are the two items at left. The listings for Alma, Charlotte, and Theodore appear the same as the previous listing – with the exception of Charlotte’s occupation. She is listed as an assembler for Minneapolis Honeywell - which would have been during the World War II war effort.
The 1948 Minneapolis Directory Ofstedahl listings are shown at right. Charlotte and Alma are listed at the same professions as in the previous listing. The address listed above, is the address of the Curtis Hotel, which is their residential listing in previous directories. Theodore N. Ofstedahl is listed as the State Commissioner of Securities and he and family members are listed at a new residential address – 5719 Portland Avenue. For the first time, Theodore A. Ofstedahl, son of Theodore N. and Lucille, is listed on his own as a student. It is unclear to me who E. Dorothea Ofstedahl is, although if she works at an Evangelical Lutheran Church, it’s hard to think she’s not a relative.
The listing at left for Theodore N. Ofstedahl with his job information, is from the 1948 St. Paul City Directory. He is shown above in the Minneapolis directory in the same year – and this entry shows his residence as being in Minneapolis.
At right is the listing for Ofstedahls in the 1950 Minneapolis City Directory. Alma and Charlotte now are listed at a different address, with the same occupations, but their employers are not listed. Theodore and Lucille are listed at the same address as before – and Lucille M., their daughter – is listed at their address as a student. There is a new Ofstedal listed – Jennie, widow of Ole – but that does not seem to be an Ofstedahl who is related.
At left is Theodore N. Ofstedahl's listing in the 1950 St. Paul City Directory. This is the same listing as shown for him in the 1948 St. Paul Directory. These two 1950 listings – for Minneapolis and St. Paul City Directories – are the last directory entries for the Ofstedahls that I have been able to find.
The article above about Theodore Ofstedahl changing jobs, from the Ackley (IA) World Journal of July 19, 1956, contains a good history of his career.
The article at left, which recounts that Alma Ofstedahl visited Huron South Dakota From Minneapolis, is from the Huron Huronite and Daily Plainsman of May 21, 1958. Earlier, in the Nils Part One Section, there is a brief article from 1915 that Alma Ofstedahl visited Huron in 1915. There was clearly some connection to there.
At right is Lucille Ofstedahl’s Obituary from the Arizona Republic of Tuesday, November 29, 1966.
At left is Alma Ofstedahl’s Obituary from the Scottdale Progress of July 31, 1972.
Theodore N. Ofstedahl’s Obituary – broken into two parts – is from the Arizona Republic of July 18, 1978.
Charlotte Ofstedahl’s Obituary, at right, from the Minneapolis Star Tribune of April 17 1986. She was the last of Nils and Matilda’s children and spouse to pass away – the last of that generation.
