A history of rural Koochiching County could be written through the life story of Mildred Aronson who died on Sept. 26th at age 92.
Her father, Lars Heiberg, left Sel, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, to establish a homestead in Meadowbrook Township in 1905, a year before Koochiching was organized as an independent county. After he married Dagne Jorgenson, also from Norway, they built a log house that was grand for the time -- two rooms upstairs, two downstairs and a screened porch. Mildred was the first-born of their seven children.
It was an era when draft horses worked the fields, and self-reliant homesteaders honed a range of survival skills. From butter to clothing, Dagne made everything from scratch. Lars lent his healing touch to help neighbors with sick cattle.
Despite primitive roads, the county's rural townships were vibrant social centers that helped shape Mildred's gregarious nature. She swam with friends in the Bear River, walked for miles to visit neighbors and learned to melt into a rich ethnic stew. Speaking Norwegian, she took a desk at school alongside students who were fluent in German, Swedish and other languages. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1933.
Shortly before graduation, she had gone to a country dance where she met Axel Aronson who was playing accordion and violin in the band. They married four years later and moved to Minneapolis where daughters Rose Marie and Sharon were born. But Koochiching County was home and they returned in 1947 to a farm they bought in Lindford Township, west of Littlefork.
They worked the dairy barn and fields together while Axel carried on the logging tradition his family had brought from Sweden. Another daughter, Marcia, was born there. Mildred thrived on the hard work of farming and looked for more to do -- relentlessly scouting for everything edible that grew on wild bushes. Pity the bear who tried to compete in a blueberry patch! Still, there was time for card games with neighbors, fishing in the Bigfork River, church and civic activities including Sons of Norway, Lindford Go-Getters, 4-H Club and garden clubs.
Like many modern-day rural residents, she eventually moved on, spending winters in Texas and summers with daughters in International Falls, Minneapolis and Idaho. She died at Kootenai County Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she was being treated for pneumonia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Evelyn Richardson, brother Arthur Heiberg, and son-in-law Ronald Jonson.
She is survived by daughters Rose Marie Jonson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Sharon Schmickle (Patrick Doyle) of Minneapolis, and Marcia Wall (Mike Wall) of Coeur d'Alene, as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Her brother, George Heiberg, lives in International Falls as do her sisters: Myrtle Constantine, Signe Hardwig and Esther Ludwig.
A memorial service is set for Saturday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. in Littlefork Lutheran Church with interment following at Oakley Cemetery.
- Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
---------------------------------
1920 Census: Lars Heiberg (42) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1913, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (27) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred (5), Arthur (3), and Evelyn (1).
1930 Census: Lars Heiberg (52) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1905, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (37) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred V (15), John A (13), Evelyn G (12), Esther W (10), Signe (8), Myrtle (6), and George H (4).
1936: Marriage of Axel Aronson & Mildren Heiberg, May 27 1936 in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
1940 Census: Axel Aronson (28) born about 1912 in Sweden, was living in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Occupation - sheet metal worker. His inferred residence in 1935 was rural Koochiching County, Minnesota. He was married to Mildred Aronson (25) born about 1915 in Minnesota. Her inferred residence in 1935 was Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. They had one child - Rose Marie (2).
Her father, Lars Heiberg, left Sel, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, to establish a homestead in Meadowbrook Township in 1905, a year before Koochiching was organized as an independent county. After he married Dagne Jorgenson, also from Norway, they built a log house that was grand for the time -- two rooms upstairs, two downstairs and a screened porch. Mildred was the first-born of their seven children.
It was an era when draft horses worked the fields, and self-reliant homesteaders honed a range of survival skills. From butter to clothing, Dagne made everything from scratch. Lars lent his healing touch to help neighbors with sick cattle.
Despite primitive roads, the county's rural townships were vibrant social centers that helped shape Mildred's gregarious nature. She swam with friends in the Bear River, walked for miles to visit neighbors and learned to melt into a rich ethnic stew. Speaking Norwegian, she took a desk at school alongside students who were fluent in German, Swedish and other languages. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1933.
Shortly before graduation, she had gone to a country dance where she met Axel Aronson who was playing accordion and violin in the band. They married four years later and moved to Minneapolis where daughters Rose Marie and Sharon were born. But Koochiching County was home and they returned in 1947 to a farm they bought in Lindford Township, west of Littlefork.
They worked the dairy barn and fields together while Axel carried on the logging tradition his family had brought from Sweden. Another daughter, Marcia, was born there. Mildred thrived on the hard work of farming and looked for more to do -- relentlessly scouting for everything edible that grew on wild bushes. Pity the bear who tried to compete in a blueberry patch! Still, there was time for card games with neighbors, fishing in the Bigfork River, church and civic activities including Sons of Norway, Lindford Go-Getters, 4-H Club and garden clubs.
Like many modern-day rural residents, she eventually moved on, spending winters in Texas and summers with daughters in International Falls, Minneapolis and Idaho. She died at Kootenai County Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she was being treated for pneumonia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Evelyn Richardson, brother Arthur Heiberg, and son-in-law Ronald Jonson.
She is survived by daughters Rose Marie Jonson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Sharon Schmickle (Patrick Doyle) of Minneapolis, and Marcia Wall (Mike Wall) of Coeur d'Alene, as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Her brother, George Heiberg, lives in International Falls as do her sisters: Myrtle Constantine, Signe Hardwig and Esther Ludwig.
A memorial service is set for Saturday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. in Littlefork Lutheran Church with interment following at Oakley Cemetery.
- Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
---------------------------------
1920 Census: Lars Heiberg (42) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1913, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (27) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred (5), Arthur (3), and Evelyn (1).
1930 Census: Lars Heiberg (52) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1905, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (37) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred V (15), John A (13), Evelyn G (12), Esther W (10), Signe (8), Myrtle (6), and George H (4).
1936: Marriage of Axel Aronson & Mildren Heiberg, May 27 1936 in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
1940 Census: Axel Aronson (28) born about 1912 in Sweden, was living in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Occupation - sheet metal worker. His inferred residence in 1935 was rural Koochiching County, Minnesota. He was married to Mildred Aronson (25) born about 1915 in Minnesota. Her inferred residence in 1935 was Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. They had one child - Rose Marie (2).
A history of rural Koochiching County could be written through the life story of Mildred Aronson who died on Sept. 26th at age 92.
Her father, Lars Heiberg, left Sel, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, to establish a homestead in Meadowbrook Township in 1905, a year before Koochiching was organized as an independent county. After he married Dagne Jorgenson, also from Norway, they built a log house that was grand for the time -- two rooms upstairs, two downstairs and a screened porch. Mildred was the first-born of their seven children.
It was an era when draft horses worked the fields, and self-reliant homesteaders honed a range of survival skills. From butter to clothing, Dagne made everything from scratch. Lars lent his healing touch to help neighbors with sick cattle.
Despite primitive roads, the county's rural townships were vibrant social centers that helped shape Mildred's gregarious nature. She swam with friends in the Bear River, walked for miles to visit neighbors and learned to melt into a rich ethnic stew. Speaking Norwegian, she took a desk at school alongside students who were fluent in German, Swedish and other languages. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1933.
Shortly before graduation, she had gone to a country dance where she met Axel Aronson who was playing accordion and violin in the band. They married four years later and moved to Minneapolis where daughters Rose Marie and Sharon were born. But Koochiching County was home and they returned in 1947 to a farm they bought in Lindford Township, west of Littlefork.
They worked the dairy barn and fields together while Axel carried on the logging tradition his family had brought from Sweden. Another daughter, Marcia, was born there. Mildred thrived on the hard work of farming and looked for more to do -- relentlessly scouting for everything edible that grew on wild bushes. Pity the bear who tried to compete in a blueberry patch! Still, there was time for card games with neighbors, fishing in the Bigfork River, church and civic activities including Sons of Norway, Lindford Go-Getters, 4-H Club and garden clubs.
Like many modern-day rural residents, she eventually moved on, spending winters in Texas and summers with daughters in International Falls, Minneapolis and Idaho. She died at Kootenai County Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she was being treated for pneumonia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Evelyn Richardson, brother Arthur Heiberg, and son-in-law Ronald Jonson.
She is survived by daughters Rose Marie Jonson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Sharon Schmickle (Patrick Doyle) of Minneapolis, and Marcia Wall (Mike Wall) of Coeur d'Alene, as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Her brother, George Heiberg, lives in International Falls as do her sisters: Myrtle Constantine, Signe Hardwig and Esther Ludwig.
A memorial service is set for Saturday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. in Littlefork Lutheran Church with interment following at Oakley Cemetery.
- Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
---------------------------------
1920 Census: Lars Heiberg (42) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1913, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (27) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred (5), Arthur (3), and Evelyn (1).
1930 Census: Lars Heiberg (52) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1905, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (37) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred V (15), John A (13), Evelyn G (12), Esther W (10), Signe (8), Myrtle (6), and George H (4).
1936: Marriage of Axel Aronson & Mildren Heiberg, May 27 1936 in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
1940 Census: Axel Aronson (28) born about 1912 in Sweden, was living in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Occupation - sheet metal worker. His inferred residence in 1935 was rural Koochiching County, Minnesota. He was married to Mildred Aronson (25) born about 1915 in Minnesota. Her inferred residence in 1935 was Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. They had one child - Rose Marie (2).
Her father, Lars Heiberg, left Sel, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, to establish a homestead in Meadowbrook Township in 1905, a year before Koochiching was organized as an independent county. After he married Dagne Jorgenson, also from Norway, they built a log house that was grand for the time -- two rooms upstairs, two downstairs and a screened porch. Mildred was the first-born of their seven children.
It was an era when draft horses worked the fields, and self-reliant homesteaders honed a range of survival skills. From butter to clothing, Dagne made everything from scratch. Lars lent his healing touch to help neighbors with sick cattle.
Despite primitive roads, the county's rural townships were vibrant social centers that helped shape Mildred's gregarious nature. She swam with friends in the Bear River, walked for miles to visit neighbors and learned to melt into a rich ethnic stew. Speaking Norwegian, she took a desk at school alongside students who were fluent in German, Swedish and other languages. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1933.
Shortly before graduation, she had gone to a country dance where she met Axel Aronson who was playing accordion and violin in the band. They married four years later and moved to Minneapolis where daughters Rose Marie and Sharon were born. But Koochiching County was home and they returned in 1947 to a farm they bought in Lindford Township, west of Littlefork.
They worked the dairy barn and fields together while Axel carried on the logging tradition his family had brought from Sweden. Another daughter, Marcia, was born there. Mildred thrived on the hard work of farming and looked for more to do -- relentlessly scouting for everything edible that grew on wild bushes. Pity the bear who tried to compete in a blueberry patch! Still, there was time for card games with neighbors, fishing in the Bigfork River, church and civic activities including Sons of Norway, Lindford Go-Getters, 4-H Club and garden clubs.
Like many modern-day rural residents, she eventually moved on, spending winters in Texas and summers with daughters in International Falls, Minneapolis and Idaho. She died at Kootenai County Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she was being treated for pneumonia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Evelyn Richardson, brother Arthur Heiberg, and son-in-law Ronald Jonson.
She is survived by daughters Rose Marie Jonson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Sharon Schmickle (Patrick Doyle) of Minneapolis, and Marcia Wall (Mike Wall) of Coeur d'Alene, as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Her brother, George Heiberg, lives in International Falls as do her sisters: Myrtle Constantine, Signe Hardwig and Esther Ludwig.
A memorial service is set for Saturday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. in Littlefork Lutheran Church with interment following at Oakley Cemetery.
- Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
---------------------------------
1920 Census: Lars Heiberg (42) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1913, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (27) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred (5), Arthur (3), and Evelyn (1).
1930 Census: Lars Heiberg (52) born about 1878 in Norway and immigrated 1905, was living at Meadow Brook, Koochiching, Minnesota. Occupation - farming. He was married to Dagne Heiberg (37) born about 1893 in Norway and immmigrated 1913. Children: Mildred V (15), John A (13), Evelyn G (12), Esther W (10), Signe (8), Myrtle (6), and George H (4).
1936: Marriage of Axel Aronson & Mildren Heiberg, May 27 1936 in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
1940 Census: Axel Aronson (28) born about 1912 in Sweden, was living in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Occupation - sheet metal worker. His inferred residence in 1935 was rural Koochiching County, Minnesota. He was married to Mildred Aronson (25) born about 1915 in Minnesota. Her inferred residence in 1935 was Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. They had one child - Rose Marie (2).
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
