We took the kiddos and passed a quick two days in Minnesota for Grandma Georgine's funeral. The weekend was bittersweet for me. It was great to see family (like Vanessa and Marco, who've been in Africa for two years and many cousins, some of whom I haven't seen in years), but I couldn't help but be struck by the finality of this visit, in that I wasn't sure if I'd ever fly back into Grand Forks airport, now having lost my main direct connection to Roome township in northwestern Minnesota (where the Arnesses lived for almost one and a half centuries), or be in the town of Crookston (where my Dad was born and where my Grandmother died) or Fisher (town of my grandparents' legendary farmstead) ever again.
(Disclaimer: also, please pardon the formatting, which came out a bit strange in this long, full-of-photos post).
Crookston, still a town of ~8000
While Georgine's celebration of life memorial service was mostly uplifting, as she lived a really good ninety-five years and was well remembered by many, I did cry. We took a lot of photos, and while it seems a bit inappropriate to post so many smiling photos, our family members had a fun time bonding with the boys, and we (barely-- the 6-hour drive home from San Francisco after two flights from North Dakota via MSP to California was brutal with overtired and screaming children) survived the considerable amount of travel on such a short visit from rural town to rural town with two little ones.
Mall playground at Santa Rosa on the way down
Playground at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport MSP, into and out of which I've probably flown a hundred times
Iver enjoyed some time in the "hot pool" at our AmericInn motel in Crookston
(bearing his Awesome Auntie onesie for the occasion)
Smiling at Grandma
We had a nuclear family dinner at a Chinese buffet in Crookston, where Kelvin was asked if he was Chinese.
The memorial was held on Saturday at Fisher Lutheran Church, where my Grandmother had been a congregant for decades before relocating to Crookston after the passing of my Grandfather in 1998.
Open (pink, as requested!) casket
There were beautiful pink and purple flowers on display, from Laurie & Brian, as well as many family photos.
Lovebirds Alton & Georgine
My sister let me keep this locket of my grandparents
1987
Arness Farm, summer in the 1990s (1883-1998)
Winter
Iver got a hold of my phone during family and community visitation.
Multiple people remarked that Niall inherited some of the Scandinavian genes!
Do you think he resembles 1948-born Craig?
Thanks to Kat for this side-by-side.
With Amy
It was nearly impossible to get a photo with both my Mom's eyes open and Niall smiling
Lyndsey (great-niece of Georgine and daughter of Teresa) traveled from Louisiana for the funeral (Nicole, another great-niece, Kristi's daughter, is in the background)
LeAnn (Arness-side niece and goddaughter), Brad (Le's husband), and Derek (great-nephew by Arness marriage)
The service was lovely and sweet.
Flowers in pink and purple matched the casket
My Dad, sister, and Lyndsey (for niece Teresa) gave heartfelt eulogies which captured the amazing strength, resilience, and quirks of this grand lady and her life, while Iver ran around the front pew asking, "Is it done yet?"
the small country church
We had a hot lunch (or Minnesotan "dinner") of hotdish with a side of pickles and, without fail, dessert (a love of which Iver shares with Georgine).
The kids played some in the church nursery after lunch
My cousin Tyler bought these pink shades for us to wear at the interment
We caravanned from Fisher Lutheran to Bardo Cemetary (the hearse missing the rural road turnoff once) for the burial.
You know when your very literal three-year-old has been reading Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman too many times when our conversation in the car went like this:
Iver: Where are we going?
Me: We are following the hearse to the cemetary.
Me: We are following the hearse to the cemetary.
Iver: What is a hearse?
Me: It is the lead car carrying Grandma's body to the burial site.
Iver: What about her head?
Bundled up at Bardo
(although it really, at only ~30F, wasn't that cold for northern MN!)
Amy with Niall
Twenty years later, Georgine rejoins her love
Placing flowers on the casket
The other Arness gravestones, dating from the 1800s
My great great great-grandmother who came with her husband Alexander from Norway to Roome Township in Minnesota in 1883.
My great great-grandfather, Albert, who immigrated as a child with his parents (Alexander and Radine [Randine])
(Albert's wife)
In the evening, we had a family dinner at the Crookston Inn.
Auntie V...
... whom Iver convinced to play tag
Babyholders!
Allison with Niall
Heather
Amy
Kristi fed N some sweet potatoes
Some family photos
The Wehus side
(from left in the upper row: Marco, Vanessa, Craig, Rekha, Lyndsey, Courtney, Tim, Kristi, Nicole, Lee)
The Arnesses
(upper row from left: Derek, Amy, Richard, Ty, Brad, David Peterson*, Marilyn, Le, Rekha, Allison, Craig, Cookie (Arness) Evenson*, DIL Erika, spouse John, and son Brent).
Family.
Frigid Minnesota.
Farewell.
Until we meet again.
