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SOMSEN HORIZON |
Volume 2, number.4 - November 1999 |
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TAKE-OFF TO BALDWIN by Theo
Somsen [227] One day it had to happen: a visit
to Baldwin, Wisconsin. Since the big reunion of 1997 the desire to it became larger
and also the invitations increased. 1999 seemed to me to be a suitable year,
all the more because it was in that year 65 years ago that my father visited
his aunt, and cousins in Baldwin. And it happened, because from 15 July to 10
August our son Marnix and I visited Baldwin: the largest small town in
Wisconsin. But it became a detour, because we
started in Florida and travelled from there through the Boston-region to
Wisconsin. An unforgettable journey, many heart-warming meetings and
conversations with hospitable family members and many impressions on the
fascinating country: America! My diary of that journey counts 86 pages (approximately the same as
the diary that my father kept) and that could fill four editions of Somsen
Horizon. Of course, that is not possible and that's why I will limit myself
to a picture-report of this journey. Pictures with captions, so that you get
an impression of what we went through.
Guest in Orlando, FL. l-r: Karen Somsen, Marnix and Jon Somsen (15 Jul 99)
Visiting in
Sarasota, FL. l-r: Heidi Somsen, Marnix,
Dolores Connellan-Somsen and Diana Somsen-Lagasse. (17 Jul 99)
Dolores with her daughters, granddaughter and
daughter-in-law 2nd row l-r: Carol Somsen-Ditch, Eileen Somsen-Morrow, Dolores
Connolan-Somsen, Diana Somsen-Lagasse and Heidi Somsen 1st row l-r: Beth (married to Diana's son Dax Lagasse) and Jennifer
Lagasse, daughter of Diana (17 Jul 99)
Eating lobster in Avon, CT. 2nd row l-r:
Joanne Somsen-Rappaport, Janet Flaskamp-Somsen, Ellen Strong and Jane
Somsen-Strong. 1st row l-r: Nicole Rappaport and Emily Strong. (24 Jul 99)
At the Atlantic coast: Hampton Falls, NH. l-r: Richard
Connell and Jeanne Somsen-Connell-Somsen ,in front of her water colour. (26
Jul 99)
Dining out in Boston, with our hosting family from
Norwood, MA. l-r: Greg, Alex, Paul Zavracky, Judy
Somsen-Zavracky and Jake. (29 Jul 99)
Meeting two lawyers in Rochester, MN. l-r: Henry N. Somsen [89] and Marnix [28] (02 Aug 99)
The beautiful, lazy hills around Baldwin, WI. (05 Aug 99)
The old Somsen-farm, in the sloping landscape
north-east of Baldwin (04 Aug 99)
We could not
wish ourselves a better hosting family. l-r: Marilyn (Berkseth) Lear-Olson and Ward Lear. (04 Aug 99)
Three Somsen generations 2nd row l-r: David, Irene Johnson-Somsen, Don Somsen. 1st row l-r: Jonathan, Suzanne, Gina and Patrick. (05 Aug 99)
The owners of the water sports resort on Balsam
Lake, WI. l-r: Jennifer, Gary Reed and Kathy Somsen-Reed (05 Aug 99) |
The Berkseth-girls Ann Kerr-Berkseth, Marilyn (Berkseth) Lear-Olson, Barbara
Berksheth-DeLander and Shannon Kerr (05 Aug 99)
The Rasmussens l-r: Theo,
Bettie Somsen-Rasmussen, Conny Rasmussen-Anderson, Sally Rasmussen-Berkholder
and Charles Rasmussen. (06 Aug 99)
The display on the Somsen-table in the library of
Baldwin drew some attention (06 Aug 99)
An unexpected meeting in the library with the
Bear-family from Jamestown, ND. David L. Bear is the son of Helen Genevieve
Somsen-Bear [865]. l-r: LeVonne
Bear, Theo, David L. Bear and daughter Nancy Bear-Leeson. (06 Aug 99)
The library of Baldwin now owns the Somsen-book and
the Somsen-video. The manager discovered that her maiden name Fern used to be
Fukkink. l-r: Theo and Cheryl Moe-Fern (library manager) (07 Aug 99)
On the garden balcony of Don and Irene Somsen 2nd row l-r: Irene Johnson-Somsen, Roger and Marilyn Dallman-Somsen, Ward and Marilyn (Berkseth) Olson-Lear, Theo and Marnix Somsen, Karen and Jon Somsen. 1st row l-r: Don Somsen, Gina, Jonathan and Suzanne. (06 Aug 99)
Mainstreet
Baldwin, just before the Big Parade during the
Dutch Days. (07 Aug 99)
The Clog dancers do not fail on any party (06 Aug 99)
Floats with the best cows, because Wisconsin is the
Dairy country of America (07 Aug 99)
The Wernlunds during a small family reunion and
pot-luck, that Marilyn organised for us. Lois Mae
Wernlund-McEvoy, Arlene te Beest-Wernlund, Briana Wernlund (Melissa's little
daughter), Amanda Lee Ricketts, Russell Wernlund, Sylvia Wernlund-Ricketts,
Melissa Wernlund, John Wernlund. (07 Aug 99)
Sometimes luck is favourable l-r: Cindy Somsen-Zignego, Conny Rasmussen-Anderson, Mary
Somsen-Gilbert, Theo, Paula Somsen-Crist and Sally Rasmussen-Berkholder (07 Aug 99)
In front of Marilyn's house with two new donors l-r: Theo, Phil Somsen and wife Evelyn, Marnix (07 Aug 99)
Just before
our visit to the church it turned out that Marilyn was wearing the necklace and
brooch of her great grandmother Janna Somsen-Rauwerdink wore. This necklace
and brooch still goes from oldest daughter to oldest daughter. (08 Aug 99) If we look at the path, we do not see the sky. We are earth people on a spiritual journey to the stars. Our quest, our earth walk, is to look within, to know who we are, to see that we are connected to all things, that there is no separation, only in mind. Native American, source unknown |
