Book 2 - Nathan, Amy, Madison and Ethan Berga

truly present. Nothing else
could have made it like
this. Faith is very strong
and valuable.” 23
Her obituary reads, “On
April 24 she suffered a severe
stroke and paralysis
that resulted in her death
on Thursday morning,
May 2, 1946. She reached
the age of 75 years, six
months and two days. She
was preceded in death,
in 1921 by her daughter
Mildred; and is survived
by her husband and four
sons and daughter, Earl,
of Gilman; Victor, of
Minneapolis; Theodore, of
Gilman; and Helen (Mrs.
Lloyd Alton), of Minneapolis.
She is also survived
by 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Nelson,
of Spring Valley, and Mrs. Albert Ellison, of Shelton,
Washington; and three brothers, Christ Nordrum, of
Elmwood; and Sam and Anton Nordrum, of Maple
Valley, Washington Funeral services were conducted
on Saturday, May 4, at her home in Gilman and at
the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. The
Reverend S. Berven officiated. Special singing was
furnished by Russell Aamodt, with Mrs. H.M.Waller
as pianist. Interment was made in the St. John’s cemetery,
in Spring Valley.” 27
William Richard Vanasse was left alone. He died,
“September 26, 1947 at the age of 80 years. Six
months and one day, after a six month illness that
began with a stroke. His wife preceded him in death
by about a year and five months. He is survived by
three sons and a daughter, all of his brothers and
sisters: George Vanasse,
of Spring Valley; Thomas
and John Vanasse, of Seattle,
Wash.; Mrs. Josie
Keller, of Meyers Falls,
Wash.; and Luther Vanasse,
of Celville, Washington;
by ten grandchildren;
and one great grandson,
Paul Vanasse, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Wendell Vanasse,
of Eau Claire. The funeral
was held from the Geving
Funeral home and the St.
John’s Lutheran church
in Spring Valley Monday,
September 29, Rev. Berven
officiating. Special singing
was furnished by Mr.
Russell Aamodt, with Mrs.
H.M. Waller as accompanist.
Burial was made in
the Spring Valley Cemetery.
In his memory the Spring Valley Aid made a gift of
$5.00 to the home mission of the Evangelical Lutheran
church. Other gifts to the amount of $50.25 were
given in his memory.” 27
The Flood of 1942
by Joyce Alton Wada
The Valley was a typical Midwestern, small
town; like the TV program, Mayberry RFD. In my
childhood everyone knew everyone, the man at the
filling station, filled the gas tank and washed the car
windows; people sat talking in the restaurant while
drinking coffee, high school band concerts were held
on the school lawn on Saturday night, people went
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