North Sidney Church & Cemetery Historical Association



North Sidney Messenger Newsletter

May 2008 Number 30

Greeting
Website
Heritage Wall
Newest Association Member
Cemetery Lots
Cemetery Grounds
Memorial Day Service & Volunteers
North Sidney Book / Niels Christensen
Memorium
Friends & Family in the Armed Services
Events
Salutation
Subscriptions, Dues & Address Changes


Greeting

This is Newsletter No. 30. North Sidney Messenger is sent to you once a year to bring you news since last Memorial Day to present time. If you are a first-time reader of the letter, we say WELCOME. Thank you to long-time readers for your continued support and interest.
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Website

If you have ideas on how to improve it or information that could be added, just send Krista a note. Also, if you have any news or information that you would like to share for next year’s newsletter just send us a note or an email.
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Heritage Wall

When you visit the Church please check out the Heritage Wall. There are many pictures of previous year's services as well as from the past. See how many faces you recognize!
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Newest Association Member

Congratulations to our newest member William Wolz who married Pamela Kinney April 12 and the North Sidney Church. Our thanks to Linda Olson who opened the church for their big day.
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Cemetery Lots

At this time there are no more grave sites available for purchase. If you know of someone that owns a lot but isn’t going to use it and would like to sell it, let Wesley Thomsen, our Sexton, know.
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Cemetery Grounds

The cemetery is being taken care of by a professional lawn service. Jon Kooi has done an excellent job the last few years for us. If you have any concerns about your lot care contact Wes Thomsen and he will contact Jon.
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Memorial Day Service & Volunteers

Please plan on attending the Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26. Final plans will be made at the Annual Meeting on May 14. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Church.

The Memorial Day Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Luke Dudenhofer has again agreed to deliver this year's message. Luke and his wife Melissa grew up in the Stanton/Sidney area and now live in Chicago. Luke is pastor of the New Life Community Church in the Bridgeport neighborhood and they have two adopted sons, Josiah Wesley, 3 years old and Titus Charles who will be 2 on June 1.

The week prior to Memorial Day we are looking for volunteers to spend a few hours to keep the church open and greet visitors. Please let Jennifer Thomsen know if you are willing to do this, so we can make sure the church will be unlocked.
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North Sidney Book / Niels Christensen Family

We still have copies of the North Sidney 1884-1984 book. There is much information on the Sidney area and families in the area. Contact Jennifer Thomsen, print out the order form and mail it in with your check, or pick one up at the Church on Memorial Day.

This year my “Focus on Our Area Families” is Niels Christiensen. Niels Peter Christensen was born in 1874 in Denmark. In 1889 at the age of sixteen he came to America with his mother and father, Christian Sorensen. His two sisters Anna and Sophie also came at that time. His two older brothers, Ludwig and Peter and his two older sisters, Christine and Marie, with their husbands, had already come to America.

As Niels was the youngest child in his family, he became a citizen when his parents became naturalized as citizens of the United States. He was under age and automatically became a citizen then.

When he first came to this country, he worked as a farm hand out on a large farm on VanDiense Ave. east of Greenville. When he was 20 years of age, he homesteaded 40 acres three miles west of Stanton.

Niels lived as a bachelor until at the age of 35 he met and married Caroline A. Hansen. Caroline who was also known as Lena, was born November 15, 1888 in Grand Rapids. They were married on December 8, 1908 by the Rev. Ole Amble.

On November 6, 1910 a daughter, Marie C. was born On December 12, 1912 another daughter, Christina J., and on January 25, 1915 the first son, Robert was born. On March 31, 1920 another son, Roy Chris was born. Then on September 14, 1923 a third daughter, Harriet A. was born. All the children were baptized by Ole Amble. Marie and Christina were in the last group Ole Amble confirmed. Rev. Kildegaard confirmed Robert, Roy and Harriet.

All the children were married and have families of their own. Marie married Stanley R. Zank; Christina married Howard Sharpe; Robert is married and lives in California; Roy is married and has five step-children. Harriet married Frederick Johnson.

You can find more information on this family and more by purchasing the North Sidney Area book.
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Memorium

In the last year we have had several friends and family members leave us Pamela Noah, Leon (Junior) Howell, Morris (Jimmy) Hansen, Leo Block, Diz Oswald and Mary Jane Peterman. I?m sure we have missed some special people in your lives. All will be greatly missed.
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Friends & Family in the Armed Services

Please remember and pray for all of our men and women serving in the military. May they all return soon. Flags are placed on the grave of Veterans each year. A special thanks to Sidney Township for furnishing the flags and John and Lillian Christophersen for placing them on the grave sites.
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Events

Memorial Day Service, May 26, 2008, 2:00 p.m.
Fall Meeting, September 10, 2008,67:00 p.m.
Spring Meeting, May 13, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
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Salutation

As I close for another year, I want to thank everyone who assists with keeping the Association running smoothly whether it is with donations, volunteering to help during Memorial Day week, bringing cookies to share or helping with clean up. Thanks to all who attend the Memorial Day Service and hope to see you there. ~Marilyn Thomsen
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Subscriptions, Dues & Address Changes

If you know of someone that would enjoy the newsletter and currently doesn’t receive it, let one of the officers know and we will make it happen. Also, if your address has changed, make sure we get updated information so our postage expenses aren’t wasted with returns.

Please send dues or donations to Jennifer Thomsen, Treasurer. Due to the increase in the cost of stamps receipts will no longer be sent if you pay dues by check. Donations will be recognized.
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