Lydia Bremseth Family

Lydia (Bremseth) Lawstuen the tenth child of Arndt and Beret Bremseth was born on November 23, 1998
on a farm near Lenora, Minnesota. She was baptized in the Garness Lutheran Church.

When still a small child, the family moved to a farm near Highland. Lydie attended the Elstad School,
Dist. #27 through the 8th grade. She also attended parochial school in a school house on the Sethre
farm. Lydie was confirmed at the Elstad Lutheran Church by Rev. Magelssen in 1913. We know very
little about her as a child and teenager, so we presume she was just a normal girl.

Lydia married Clifford Lawstuen on Dec ember 20, 1917. They started farming on the farm where her
son Robert Lawstuen and his family now reside.

In October, 1918, twins, a boy and a girl, were born prematurely. They lived only a few hours. As son,
Donald was born on August 19, 1921 and another son, Robert, was born January 19, 1925.

Lydie drove the family car, so she could go to town, visit or shop which she liked to do. She enjoyed
playing cards, dancing, sewing, crocheting, and embroidering. She was famous for baking angel food
cake, pumpkin pie and her graham bread was the best in the country. Even today the grandchildren
remember going to visit Grandma, as he always had milk and white cookies for them. She always had
many house plants. Some place in the yard, she had morning glories blossoming every summer.

Lydie and Clifford left the farm and moved to Lanesboro in 1953. They lived in Brooklyn in the house now
occupied by her grandson Mike Lawstuen and family. When they first moved to town, Lydie worked in
the IGA store for awhile. She liked ot relax outdoors in the shade and listen to birds singing to her. She
worshipped at Elstad Lutheran Church and was a faithful member of their Ladiess Aid. For many years
she sang in the Ladies Chorus and the church choir. They were members of the Sons of Norway, and she
was a long-time member of the Daughters of Norway, which disbanded with her final meeting with her
at Harmony Nursing Home this past summer.

Clifford died in March, 1966. Lydie lived alone in the house until August 1, 1982, when she moved into
Kenilworth Apartments. She lived there until the spring of 1989 when she went to Harmony Nursing
Home, where she still resides. She is getting close to her 92nd birthday. Lydie has 16 grandchildren, 20
great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Lydia Bremseth, Born: November 23, 1898, Married to Clifford Lawstuen on December 20, 1917, he
died on February 28, 1966, 4 Children

Their 4 Children: Lydia, Clifford, Donald Rodney, Robert Duane

1. Lydia (Twins), Born: October 23, 1918, Died: October 23, 1918
2. Clifford (Twins), Born: October 23, 1918, Died: October 23, 1918
3. Donald Rodney, Born: August 19, 1921, Married to Eleanor Hennessy on August 19, 1943, she
died on December 6, 1969, 9 Children
a. Rodney Francis, Born: December 31, 1943, Married to Mary Gartner November 1963,
(Divorced), 3 Children
 i. Richard Lynn, Born: October 16, 1964, Married to Pam Kobeska on April 15,
1989, 1 Child
1. Ali Beth, Born: August 20, 1989
ii. Jeanne Marie, Born: December 14, 1965, 1 Child
1. Jenna Lydia, Born: February 3, 1989
iii. Christine Margaret, Born: June 25, 1967
Rodney Francis Married Carla Johnson on August 31, 1971 (Divorced), Remarried Carla
Johnson 1987 (Divorced), Married Alice Anne Melby on June 23, 1989
b. Robert Allen, Born: February 27, 1945, Married to Joanne Peterson September 1963
(Divorced), 3 Children
i. Shelly Renee, Born: February 28, 1964
ii. Timothy Robert, Born: January 28, 1965, Married to Jody Dahl on August 19,
1989, 3 Step Children, 1 Child
1. Chad (Step-son), Born: March 20, 1978
2. Sheena (Step-daughter), Born: April 2, 1982
3. Trista (Step-daughter), Born: May 22, 1983
4. Natasha Jo, Born: December 10, 1988
iii. Lisa Kay, Born: May 7, 1966, Married to David Barlow September 21, 1988
(Divorced 1989)
c. Donald James, Born: October 30, 1947, Married to Carmen Walker April 1971
(Divorced), 2 Children
i. Rhonda Lynn, Born: October 17, 1971
ii. Jeffery James, Born: July 21, 1974
Donald James Married Sue Dian Draper on June 2, 1979, 2 Step-Children
iii. Nicole Jean (Step-daughter), Born: December 13, 1970
iv. Danielle Lin (Step-daughter), Born: May 5, 1972
d. Catherine Jane, Born: November 11, 1950, Married to William Allen on April 26, 1975, 1
Child
i. Justin William (Adopted), Born: September 9, 1979
e. Patricia Margaret, Born: December 6, 1952, Married to Royce DeCook in 1978, 4
Children
i. Daniel John, Born: August 8, 1973
ii. Brent Tyler, Born: February 23, 1979
iii. Aaron Royce, Born: January 30, 1982
iv. Katheryn Lydia, Born: August 31, 1983
f. Joseph Clifford, Born: August 26, 1954, 1 Child
i. Andriana Nicole, Born: July 5, 1980
g. John Raymond, Born: March 12, 1956, Married to Karen Palmer on January 11, 1975, 1
Child
i. Israel John, Born: June 27, 1975
h. Peter Gerard, Born: October 10, 1958
i. Paul David, Born: November 27,, 1959

Donald Rodney Married Pearl (Berge) Olness on August 8, 1971

4. Robert Duane, Born: January 19, 1925, Married to Ellen Jane Semman on March 7, 1953, 7
Children
a. Carl Jacob, Born: September 8, 1953
b. Robert Michael, Born: July 21, 1954, Married to Kalleen Boyum on July 9, 1977, 3
Children
i. Matthew Michael, Born: August 26, 1981
ii. Michelle Marie, Born: November 20, 1984
iii. Mark Mitchell, Born: September 29, 1988
c. Richard Ellery, Born: September 27, 1955
d. Mary Ellen, Born: December 25, 1957
e. Barbara Christine, Born: April 11, 1959
f. David Arndt, Born: January 27, 1962
g. Rebecca Lynn, Born: November 26, 1969