The House that Oliver built and Gold Star Moms

OP Granum is considered to be the patriarch of the Granum family tree as we know it.

• Olaus Pedersen Granum b.2.2.1856 in Gudbansdalen area of Norway in the Oppland Filka Province near Gjovik.   d. 8.5.1941
• Emigrated in 1867 with his parents (father Peder Olsen Granum b.5.15.1814 d.6.23.1887 in Brookings County SD)

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Happy Birthday-1937 OP and Nellie

Olaus or Oliver was often referred to as OP Granum.

OP married Nellie Thomte. 

• She was born 12.24.1860 and died 1.13.1940.   
• Her family settled in the Middle Coon Valley area between Coon Valley and Chaceberg.

OP and Nellie had several children (9):

• Clifford (b.1884, d. 1917, settled in Brookings, SD area)
• Selmer (b. 1886, also settled in the Brookings SD area),
• Oscar (b.1889 d.1919)
• Henry (b.1891, d.1971)
• Gladys Gullickson (b.1894 d.1974)
• Helen Lund (b.1897 d.1989), 
• Oris (b.1901 d.1993), 
• Norman (b. 1904 d.1978)...our grandfather!
• Melvin (b.1909 d.1985).   

The log house that the Granums lived in when they first arrived from Norway.  Yes, parents and 8 children in this small two room cabin with a loft.  It had been built two years before OP and Nellie moved in by a Mr. Bolsvien.  Currently it is owned by the Jostad family trust and not lived in.   It is used as a hunter warming building.

The next is the barn, one of the two remaining buildings on the Granum farm and now is owned by the Fercal Farm club and used as a sports venue (skeet shooting) and a tree farm.

The Granum monument in Halfway Creek cemetery bares a photo of Oscar who died in France during WW1.  He was buried in France and later his remains were returned to the US.

Grandma Granum "Nellie", was one of the 3 Gold Star Mothers from Holmen and all three women lived within a few miles of one another.

This photo shows Nellie or Grunella along with Mrs. Maria Snugerud and Mrs. Mary Wallem.  All three women were gold star mothers and lived within 2 miles of one another.  Oscar Granum died of illness rather than battle wounds.  His remains along with Morris Snuggeruds are buried at Halway Creek.  It is unclear where Wallum is buried as there is no special or matching monument honoring him in the Halway Creek Cemetery.

Many of the children of OP and Nellie are buried in Halfway Creek Cemetery:  They include Henry, Gladys, Helen, Oris and Melvin along with their spouses.