Laverne Sandberg, Tribe of Irene

At The Fair

Bev Sandberg writes about LaVerne Sandberg memories, from 2000

LaVerne didn’t remember Hulda much and not anything much of Otto. He also didn’t have much memory of Roger or even of Rudy. He has a lot of memories of the Wood River church and some of the pastors, especially Delmer Dahl as that was when he was in high school. His middle name, Everett was the name of a pastor, I think Everett Backlin but someone else might remember that better. Campbell was pastor when we were married and when I first came up to Grantsburg. The cemetery was next to the church and has many of the Otto’s kids buried there plus many relatives and Wood River church members.

I remember when I first came up to Grantsburg, being almost overwhelmed of all the cousins, aunts and uncles, but they were all so welcoming and I have enjoyed them ever since. Othelia and Vic and family were on the old Otto Peterson farm, Delroy and Verone and family were in Alpha, also Lavone and Irvin. Don and Parnell were in Grantsburg next to Memory Lake and Maurice and Agnes and girls were across from the golf course. Annie and Fred were near Viola Lake. I remember the many Sunday get togethers with the relatives and the fun they always were. I am still so glad to be a part of that big family.

Some of LaVerne’s memories are of water skiing or surf boarding on a big plywood board about 6 by 4 with a rope on one end that went on behind a boat. It seemed that uncle Don got him started on that before there were water skis. He also remembers uncle Don taking him out on the ice on Big Wood Lake in a car and letting him drive on the ice when he was too young to drive otherwise. Uncle Don’s cabin was a frequent gathering place where everyone did a lot of swimming. LaVerne and Irene owned the two cabins on Wood Lake that are now owned by Paul and Carol. They rented them out a lot so we swam more at Uncle Don’s. He and some of his sisters would swim across the lake from their cabins to what was a cow pasture but which now is where our cabin is that my parents bought when Phil was a baby. The lake still is a frequent relative gathering place.

LaVerne Everett Sandberg – Born November 20, 1936

Retired farmer on our farm near Alpha, farmed by his father, LaVerne Sylvester and before that his grandfather Fred E. Sandberg, who all raised and milked registered Guernsey cows.

LaVerne has had Parkinson’s for over 20 years which caused some falling. He had a bad fall with traumatic brain injury in February 2013 and now has had to reside in the Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg and is mostly in a wheelchair. He still has good physical strength and fairly good memory. He still likes to sing and can sing all the old hymns from memory.

We recently celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary at the nursing home.

Beverly Elaine Bruns Sandberg – Born May 2, 1939

Retired registered nurse who worked at the hospital in Grantsburg. Continues to live at home on the farm in our 100 year old house that LaVerne’s grandfather built in 1914. In the winter I stay in town at our daughter and son-in-law’s house that is close by the nursing home making it easier to visit with LaVerne almost daily. I have gotten involved in the local Historical Society and in facilitating a county Parkinson support group. We remain members of the Falun Baptist Church.

Phillip Irving Sandberg – Born September 4, 1966

Philip is a non-verbal autistic adult who now resides at a nearby family group home and continues work at Diversified Services Inc., a sheltered type work, which he enjoys going to. He comes home every other weekend to be with mom and visit dad.

Joy Irene Tebow (Charles Thomas Tebow) – Born May 8, 1968

Married to Tom Tebow and is in Thailand serving with her husband for Wycliffe Bible Translation. She home schools their three children and does a lot of quilting and running. They purchased a house in Grantsburg the year they were on furlough and continue living here in the summers when they come to the U.S.

Zachary Thomas Tebow – Born June 9, 1998

Zach is a senior in high school and will graduate from Grantsburg high school this spring. He has gone there second semester for several years and one entire year in 2013. He loves playing baseball and has been playing on the Grantsburg team each spring and on little league before that when the family was here summers. He has been accepted at Bethel University next year and is very good at math and computer.

JoAnna Grace Tebow – Born August 5, 2000

JoAnna has been homeschooled and has enjoyed summer school classes here, gymnastics classes and recently being counselor at Wood Lake camp. This year she is attending a new Christian school one week every few months in China.

Eleanor Hope Tebow – Born February 16, 2004

Ellie is also homeschooled. She enjoyed summer classes here in gymnastics and also played in girls softball teams at Grantsburg. She also enjoyed going to camp here. All the kids have enjoyed our cabin on Wood Lake and enjoy swimming and water activities.

LaVerne and Bev Sandberg, Tribe of Irene, Memories, from 2000

bev house 15_ottobook There were many Peterson family get-togethers here and at the other Peterson homes, all here in Grantsburg. They were always a lot of fun and lots of good food—potluck style; music was a high point in the families. Singing the Doxology in four-part harmony.

Joy Sandberg Tebow, Tribe of Irene, Memories, from 2000

Christmas Eve parties, various second cousins coming out to the barn with us to see the cows.

Pete Sandberg, Tribe of Irene, Memories, from 2000

As a member of the third generation of Otto’s kids, I was too young to remember the “cousin gatherings” of the clan. But I do remember the brothers and sisters gathering together at my Grandma Irene’s and later our home. The singing and food remained great although they certainly struck me as “old person” get-togethers.

I have had a lot of fun in the last few months with Otto’s list and all the cousins’ comments. It’s been interesting to see the family from a rather different perspective.

My other memories mostly revolve around showing other third generation kids (especially the Johnsons) around my dad’s farm when their parents came back to Grantsburg to visit.