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Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson

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Birth	:	29 Nov 1849 Brumunddal, Ringsaker kommune, Hedmark fylke, Norway
Death	:	26 Mar 1943 Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Lands Lutheran Cemetery, Hudson, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.1559700, -96.6096900
Inscription	:	Mother
Description	:	Sioux Valley News Article circa Nov 1936 Tilling Norway township soil for 62 years with the contingent hardships of the sod-house, the prairie fires, the grasshoppers, the blizzards, and even the Indian aware, is the record of Mr. and Mrs. Mickel Gilbertson, pictured above. This week, with Mrs. Gilbertson's birthday, this Norway township family will both have reached the age of 88. This week both look toward more years to continue their full live. Mr. Gilbertson's grandfather may have set a family precedent in reaching the 106 year-old age. The couple's reminiscences tell the typical story of... Read More	Sioux Valley News Article circa Nov 1936 Tilling Norway township soil for 62 years with the contingent hardships of the sod-house, the prairie fires, the grasshoppers, the blizzards, and even the Indian aware, is the record of Mr. and Mrs. Mickel Gilbertson, pictured above. This week, with Mrs. Gilbertson's birthday, this Norway township family will both have reached the age of 88. This week both look toward more years to continue their full live. Mr. Gilbertson's grandfather may have set a family precedent in reaching the 106 year-old age. The couple's reminiscences tell the typical story of the early pioneers. Rolvaag's book "Giants in the Earth," might logically tell this story, in part, of the life of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson Here in 1874 It was in 1874 that the newly-married couple came with his parents from La Crosse, Wis., to Sioux City by train. There Nels Larson, no longer living, met them with a covered wagon to bring them to Lincoln county. After camping out overnight, keeping under the wagon, the little party reached the place where the old folks homesteaded in Norway township, a farm a mile east and mile north of Moe. There they broke the virgin soil, first with an ox and a plow, later, as they could accumulate more savings, with a team of horses. They constructed the typical sod houses and in them the family grew as the children were born. 12 Weeks on Ocean Both were of Norwegian birth. They had crossed the ocean on sailing vessels which required twelve weeks to reach this continent. In La Crosse Mr. Gilbertson had been a tinsmith before he was lured to South Dakota by the prospect of buying land with the toil of his own hands. There in Norway township they toiled breaking one small piece of land after another, increasing their acreage of wheat, and battling the hardships of the land. Each fall, after the grain had been harvested, they would load up and travel down to Sioux City to market. There they would sell what grain they could and would have the remainder ground into flour for their own use. Sometimes they picked Elk Point or Sheldon, Ia., for their marketing. Then, after the marketing, they would prepare for the rigorous winter. Once, when Mickel had gone to Elk Point alone on business, a blizzard came to cover the little sod home. With the snow so high they had to dig out from the top, another addition came to the family when Mickel was finally able to make his way back home he found another daughter. Twisted Hay During the winter when their little house was nearly covered with snow the mother would sit by the fire all day long twisting hay for the flames. Fuel could not be found with the snow covering the entire ground. It was nothing, they will tell you, to be sitting at night and by the lamplight, to see wolves come to the windows, look in, and turn away. These same wolves frustrated their attempts to raise turkeys. On the cold nights Mickel would sit up until 12, 1, or even 2 o'clock reading the books he had gotten from the small nearby library at Moe. For Mrs. Gilbertson there would be the work of carding the wool, spinning her own yarn, and making mittens and stockings. Jesse James One day the word came that Jesse James and his brother-out-law, Frank, had gone through this section on one of their raids. Another day they heard of the Indians being in a war-like mood. They were then in Mankato, Minn., and were headed west. But the Indians never proved troublesome here, they said they were constantly on their guard and often afraid of that danger, however. That was until a Mr. Johnson came over one morning to advise "Don't be scared of Indians." He dispelled their fears of that type. Though the winters were hard, the summers also had their bad points. In the early days when so little of the land was broken, prairie fires could gain tremendous momentum. Once, they said, the fire came over their land. They hurriedly put the chickens out on a little piece of plowed ground and gathered the family inside the sod house. The fire came on, went right over the house, which had a thatched roof, and went on its way without harm to the little family. Hoppers Obscure Sun Then there were the grasshoppers. And when they speak of that pest it is with no little ill will that they tell of the pests swarming over the country in flights large enough to obscure the sun. Once they took a large sheet of iron, put some sticky substance on it, and caught a fabulous number of the insects. You wouldn't even see the ground, they were so thick, they said. Living in excellent health gives prof that the hardships of the early days proved to be no physical barrier. Until five years ago both boasted a perfect health record. At that time Mr. Gilbertson became ill. At the present time he is confined to the house and a wheel chair, although when this picture was taken he was permitted to be wheeled outside, the first time since last June. Mush and Milk Mrs. Gilbertson continues to use her active fingers which provided her children with clothing, to make quilts and do other fancy work. With a chuckle she'll tell you she used to serve mush and milk to the family every night, and they either liked it or went hungry. She was a charter member of the Lands church ladies aid society in the days when the congregation went from house to house for its meetings. After the church was built a prairie fire left its ashes in the wake. They Rev. Mr. Olson was pastor then. Mr. Gilbertson conducted his own business affairs completely until his illness five years ago. He was once a director of the old Moe Creamery and was a member of the school board of the Moe school district 22. Their children number four, their grandchildren seven, and their great grandchildren five. Gust and Arndt Gilbertson, the two sons, have managed the farm for the past 40 years. The daughters are Mrs. Hans Loe and Mrs. Mary Nelson.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson's memorial?
Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson's memorial is located at: Lands Lutheran Cemetery, Hudson, Lincoln County, USA.
When did Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson death?
Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson death on 26 Mar 1943 in Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Christina Mikkelson Gilbertson's memorial?
Latitude: 43.1559700
Longitude: -96.6096900

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Mikkel Gilbertson

(1849 - 1936)

Siblings

Children

Gustav Gilbertson

(1875 - 1960)

Johanna “Hannah” Gilbertson Loe

(1878 - 1959)

Mary Gilbertson Nelson

(1880 - 1969)

Martin Gilbertson

(1883 - 1904)

Johan Arndt Gilbertson

(1886 - 1968)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lands Lutheran Cemetery
Hudson, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1559700, -96.6096900

2. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery South
Hudson, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1530560, -96.5691670

3. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery North
Hudson, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1567001, -96.5681000

4. Romsdal Cemetery
Norway Center, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1565781, -96.6682739

5. Old Romsdal
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1568946, -96.6684787

6. Tuntland Cemetery
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1711006, -96.6866989

7. Nathanael Cemetery
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0971985, -96.5888977

8. Zion United Methodist Cemetery
Beresford, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1410141, -96.7331619

9. Fairview Cemetery
Fairview, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1927986, -96.4891968

10. Bethany Cemetery
Fairview, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2144012, -96.5053024

11. Gothland Cemetery
Beresford, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0764008, -96.6877975

12. Grand Valley Lutheran Cemetery
Canton, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2538400, -96.6287700

13. Eden Cemetery
Hudson, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1343994, -96.4692001

14. Nazareth Cemetery
Beresford, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1492004, -96.7664032

15. Bethesda Cemetery
Beresford, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0898400, -96.7542000

16. Pleasant Hill Pioneer Cemetery
Beresford, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1847000, -96.7758026

17. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Alcester, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0266991, -96.6192017

18. Beresford Memorial Park Cemetery
Beresford, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0695763, -96.7517853

19. Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Beresford, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0698280, -96.7529907

20. Beresford Cemetery
Beresford, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0699997, -96.7533035

21. Saint Johns Cemetery
Beresford, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0699997, -96.7549973

22. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Union County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0261002, -96.5453033

23. Forest Hill Cemetery
Canton, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2943993, -96.6307983

24. Beloit Cemetery
Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2902985, -96.5582962