For Veterans Day

 

For Veterans Day

 

Photos: Ruth And Carl -- 1940s, 1950s -- Newell, South Dakota

These photos were given to me by Jan at the "Cousin Reunion" in Rapid City, September, 2025, hosted by Charlotte Wilson. 

Mom always looked so excited when photographed with her kids, and the kids always looked so happy. There is nothing to suggest the family had nothing but a wonderful life despite incredible hardship compared to what the grandchildren and great-children of Ruth and Carl. 

Williston
Bruce, Yvonne, Karla, Craig

July, 1954, Williston
Bruce, 3 years old; Yvonne, 2 years old; Karla, a few months old. 

October 30, 1954, Newell, SD
Bruce, Yvonne, Karla and parents Ruth and Carl

Yvonne is saying, "I want some gum."

 

Ruth
Lavonne

Fonda home, South Main.

Russell and Myrtle's wedding?
John Wilson born in 1945
Wedding likely in 1944?
Carl: far left
Oscar: far right
Christine just to Oscar's right
Paul just behind Christine and Eddie
Is that Clara behind and between Eddie and Russell?
Maid of honor to Myrtle's right
Parents of Russell behind and to Carl's left?

 

 

1965
Craig, Bruce, Yvonne, Kathy, Karla

1965
Perhaps the most well-known photo 

of the Carl and Ruth Oksol family.
Jan: 1 1/2 years old.

December 1, 1941
Sport -- very shy -- was this Carl's dog?
handwriting on reverse appears to be Carl's

The two boys; which of the three is missing?
Clara

Christine (mom)
Myrtle

Paul (dad)

Unidentified.
These two look like part of the family unidentified in a photo farther down.

September, 1953
Oksol farm south of Newell, SD.
Russell, Eddie (in front of Russell)
John Paul
Who is that to the Eddie's left, in between Eddie and Ruth -- is that Carl (who took the photo?)
Ruth holding Yvonne
Sy holding Bruce
Charlotte to the immediate left of John Paul
Gradma Oksol (Christine)

Beverly in front of Christine
Grandpa Oksol (Paul) behind Christine
Myrtle

Nothing on reverse.
Definitely Carl.
Possibly 1941?
Location unknown.

Farm south of Newell
Undated: 1941, 1953?

Nothing on reverse.
Carl with Sport?
Oscar?
Paul Oksol?

Nothing inscribed on reverse.
Grandpa Paul and Grandma Christine
(2nd and 4th from left in back row)
Unidentified mother and father
1st and 5th from left in back row
if so, unidentified family with two boys and four girls

December 1941
Oksol House, Newell, South Dakota

Nothing inscribed on reverse.

Anne Tangvald Viseth, sister of Christine
Lived in Mayville, ND
Sons Jerome and George

Inscribed on reverse:

 

 

Norwegian note on back a single word and not able to interpret.

Photos: Second Generation -- September 16, 2025

 

The five children of Paul and Christine Tangvald Oksol:

Myrtle, Carl
Edward, Clara, Oscar

 

a

Anne Tangvald -- Christine's Sister -- Posted September 15, 2025

I just found her Ellis Island entry (link here: https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result. I didn't have her first name so I only typed in Tangvald and lo and behold, this "Anne" from 1913 came from the very same village / town / location as Christine (Kristine): Stjordalen, near Trondheim.

In the graphic below, "Oscar II" is the name of the ship she sailed on.

Link here.

Russell Wilson's Sister Lavina Catherine Wilson Roske -- June 15, 1917 - October, 2021

Link here.

Lavina Roske returned to her heavenly home October 8, 2021, at the age of 104 after surviving the 1918 pandemic and Covid-19.  Lavina always attributed her longevity to “good genes”. 

     Lavina Catherine Roske was born June 15, 1917, to John Peter and Hattie L. (Halverson) Wilson, in Newell SD.  She attended school in Newell and obtained a 2-year teaching certificate from Augustana College in 1937. She taught for 6 years in rural South Dakota schools from 1937-1943.

     On June 8, 1943 she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during WWII.  She served until July 12, 1946, and retired as Chief Yeoman. Following her military service, she worked for 29 years with the Navy Relief Society.

     On April 15, 1954, she married Charles Roske.  She resided in California from 1943 until moving to Sandstone Assisted Living in Spearfish, SD, in 2018.  She was very active in the Lutheran Church throughout her life. 

     Lavina was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, husband, her only brother, Russell Wilson and his wife Myrtle (Oksol) Wilson, as well as all of her first cousins.  

She is survived by her stepson David Roske, San Mateo, CA, her nephew John Wilson and his wife Marlene, Charlotte NC, her niece Charlotte Wilson, Sturgis SD, and many second cousins.

     Inurnment will be in Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota, at a later date.  Memorials may be made in her memory to the charity of your choice.

 

Memories

 

I would rather spend four or five days in Los Angeles showing Judah and Levi around rather than visiting Disneyland.