WW1: WWI Draft Card: John Robert Conn b. Jan. 6, 1900. He was a farmer and names Robert Edward Conn of Russellville as next of kin. He is tall and of slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
CHRISTENING: baptized January 1917 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
WW1: Served in France, WWII
Obituary: "The Aitkin Independent Age" - Wed. Jan. 30, 2002 is identical the obit below.
OBIT: "the Voyageur press of McGregor, January 29, 2002:" Andrew N. Williamson, Sr. "Andrew N. Williamson, Sr. 86 died Thur. January 10, 2002 at a nursing home in Fort Collins, Colo. Andrew was born on October 7, 1915 in Minneapolis to Orin and Alma Williamson. He was next to the oldest in a family of six children. He played basketball for McGregor High School graduating in 1934, followed by six months in FDR's work camps. He volunteered for military service in the fall of 1940, called up Feb. 21, 1941, and proudly served in the Army Air Corp stationed at Woodchurch, England in Kent County. Eventually this outifit was part of the occupation of Belgium, France and Germany during the closing days of WWII. Andrew served 58 months of active duty. The military remained an important part of his life. Following the war, he joined his first wife and young son, Andrew N. Williamson, Jr. to farm in northern Colorado. He served in the Air Force reserves and pursued a college degree on the GI bill. In 1963, he received a Masters of Science degree in Sociology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He started his career in social services in Larimer County, Colo. His work with troubled youth led him to a position at the Colorado State Boy's Home in Denver. Being divorced, he remarried while living in Denver. Andrew retired from the State's position in 1975, to return to his boyhood home outside of McGregor. He again divorced while living in Minnesota. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and planting native trees on the old farmstead until 1995, when he relocated back to Colorado to be near his son, Andrew Jr., his daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Moore, his three granddaughters and his two great-granchildren.
Andrew is survived by sisters: Blanche Elf, McGregor; Marguerite, Minneapolis; Ardis Denner, Payson, AZ; Helen Sobiech, Mission, TX. He was proceeded (sic) in death by his brother, Stan.
Following cremation by Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins, a graveside service has been planned for later at the McGregor Cemetery."
WW1: Served in France, WWII
Obituary: "The Aitkin Independent Age" - Wed. Jan. 30, 2002 is identical the obit below.
OBIT: "the Voyageur press of McGregor, January 29, 2002:" Andrew N. Williamson, Sr. "Andrew N. Williamson, Sr. 86 died Thur. January 10, 2002 at a nursing home in Fort Collins, Colo. Andrew was born on October 7, 1915 in Minneapolis to Orin and Alma Williamson. He was next to the oldest in a family of six children. He played basketball for McGregor High School graduating in 1934, followed by six months in FDR's work camps. He volunteered for military service in the fall of 1940, called up Feb. 21, 1941, and proudly served in the Army Air Corp stationed at Woodchurch, England in Kent County. Eventually this outifit was part of the occupation of Belgium, France and Germany during the closing days of WWII. Andrew served 58 months of active duty. The military remained an important part of his life. Following the war, he joined his first wife and young son, Andrew N. Williamson, Jr. to farm in northern Colorado. He served in the Air Force reserves and pursued a college degree on the GI bill. In 1963, he received a Masters of Science degree in Sociology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He started his career in social services in Larimer County, Colo. His work with troubled youth led him to a position at the Colorado State Boy's Home in Denver. Being divorced, he remarried while living in Denver. Andrew retired from the State's position in 1975, to return to his boyhood home outside of McGregor. He again divorced while living in Minnesota. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and planting native trees on the old farmstead until 1995, when he relocated back to Colorado to be near his son, Andrew Jr., his daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Moore, his three granddaughters and his two great-granchildren.
Andrew is survived by sisters: Blanche Elf, McGregor; Marguerite, Minneapolis; Ardis Denner, Payson, AZ; Helen Sobiech, Mission, TX. He was proceeded (sic) in death by his brother, Stan.
Following cremation by Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins, a graveside service has been planned for later at the McGregor Cemetery."
Obituary: "Aitkin Independent Age" Wed., 2 August 1989: "KNUTE ELF: Knute H. Elf, 72, of McGregor, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 1989, at the Aitkin Community Hospital.
He was born November 7, 1916, in Minneapolis, the son of John and Alfhild Elf. At the age of four he moved with his family to the Fleming area where he grew up and attended school. In 1936 he served with the Civilian Conservation Corps on the North Shore. He then went to Dunwoody Institute and studied to be a machinist.
He married Blanche L. Williamson on August 8, 1942, in Braham. During World War II he served in the Merchant Marines. After his discharge in 1945 he returned to Minneapolis and worked in a number of machine shops. In 1950 he was employed by the FMC Company where he worked until his retirement in 1974. He then returned to McGregor where he owned and operated a sawmill.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 29 at 2 p.m. from the Holy Family Catholic Church of McGregor with Rev. Lloyd Osborn officiating. Sally Nastoff played the organ and Lorena Kelley sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "Amazing Grace."
Pallbearers were John Quick, Jon Thayer, Tim Gaynor, Dan Gaynor, Rollie Nelson and Tom Nelson. Honorary pallbearers were Alf Nelson, Bud Reedy, Curt Johnson, Chester Lowe, Lester Marsh and Harold Wicklund. Interment was in the Lansford Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Blanche of McGregor; one daughter, Mrs. Donald (Sandra) Wamsley of Walden, Colorado; one son, Roger Elf of McGregor; two sisters: Mrs. Ron (Lil) Meyers of Buffalo, Minnesota and Mrs. Garland (Faye) Gleason of Thousand Oaks, California; five grandchildren: Tammy, Bob, Marin, Brandy and Chrissy.
He was preceded in death by his parents."
Merchant Marine Record: Knute served from Nov. 1943 to July 1945 with ranks of Junior Engineer, 103 hours, and Third Engineer, 225 hours. At enlistment he was 26 years old, 5 feet 10-1/2 inches in height, weighed 137 pounds, had light brown hair and blue eyes. Next of kin was his wife, Blanche L. Elf and they lived at 3138 Cleveland St. N.E. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He served on five ships in that time: "John Sedgwick" - Liberty ship; "Simon Newcomb" - Liberty ship; "Whitebird Canyon" - Turbo-electric; "Little Butte" - steam tanker; and "Phoenix" - steam tanker.