Lars and Brita Bergstrom Bergsten

(Brita was my great-great-aunt; Hanna Bergstrom Olson's aunt)

Lars Johan (John) Bergsten, Henning Bergsten, Rengner Bergstrom

Helma (Hilma) and Ethel; Hanna Bergstrom

Brita, born September 21, 1835, was the daughter of Hans and Brita Persson who immigrated to Belle River Township, Douglas County, MN April 2, 1879. Brita’s sister was Christina Handotter Bergstrom who married John Bergstrom. Christina and John were the parents of our grandmother, Hanna Bergstrom Olson. Hans and Brita homesteaded a farm in Belle River Township, Douglas County, MN adjacent to Christina and John.

Brita married Lars Bergsten (5/01/1832 - 3/26/1911) June 24, 1864, while they were still living in Sweden. Lars was a shoemaker. They immigrated to Belle River Township May 10, 1870 and also homesteaded in Belle River Township. Brita and Lars had the following children: Lars Johan (also called Lewis and/or John) 12/27/1867 - 10/03/1954), Hanna Christina (01/19/1870 - 2/04/1889), Henning (7/07/1872 - 11/17/1954), and twin daughters, Hilma (aka Helma) and Wilma, born 3/08/1877.

Brita and Lars are buried in Fahlun Lutheran Church Cemetery.  Brita's gravestone shows the year of her death as 1935.  I have not been able to find a death certificate for Brita.  Minnesota Death Certificates list Lars' date of death as March 26, 1911.

Lars Johan never married. Our parents always called him John, and he lived on the farm originally owned by his parents and situated about one-third mile south and one-fourth mile west of our farm. John’s obituary states that about three one-half years prior to his death, failing health made it necessary for John to have nursing care. From that time until his death, John made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Art Eastman in Osakis, MN.

Lars, Brita, and Lars Johan (L.J. on the gravestone) are all buried in Fahlun Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Hanna married Olaf Daniel Mathison (2/21/1864 - 11/12/1948) April 14, 1888 in Douglas County, MN. They had a son Lewis T. Mathison (2/03/1889 - 3/21/1959) who married Inez Louisa Boulton, born 5/26/1887 in Ontario, Canada. They lived in Detroit, MI. Lewis’ obituary card states the funeral was at Mt. Hope Methodist Church, and arrangements by A.H. Peters Funeral Home, Detroit-Grosse Point Woods.

Lewis and Inez had a daughter Ida (1/17/1903 - 11/02/1994) who married Leo Soldatek, a son Milan, another daughter, and daughter Cecilia,

Henning worked as a carpenter in Canada and on the West Coast for many years. He married Severna Moen (born 1883) November 4,1927, in Douglas County, and they lived in Osakis, MN until her death May 6, 1937. Henning then moved to Alexandria and lived there until his death November 17, 1954. Henning is buried in Kink Cemetery, Alexandria, MN.

Hilma (Helma) married Peter P. Larson (4/18/1859 in Denmark - 8/21/1921) in Belle River Township) April 15, 1899 in Nelson, MN. Their children were: Ethel V., Alvin Eugene, and Hilda Ulvin. Hilma died October 4, 1959 in Douglas County, MN.

Wilma (twin sister of Hilma) - died in infancy

Lars Johan (John) Bergsten

Judy Alcott