Jonas J. Larson (left) was born August 26th, 1865, son of Johan and Stine Larson, on a farm about two miles north of Mabel, Minnesota. Jonas along with his six brothers and sisters received Christian instruction in the Newburg and South Fork churches. His boyhood days were spent on the farm, and he attended the district school. In his youth he went to Volga, South Dakota, near which town he bought a relinquishment and established a farm house, where he endured many hardships. In 1888 he was married to Miss Ragnhild Evjen of Highland in Fillmore County, Minnesota, and they moved to the Dakota farm.

Two children were born to them; Edward and Sina (Mrs. Ole Nelson). Edward died while in the U.S. army fighting on a battlefield in France in the World War.

Ragnhild died December 28, 1891. The next seven years he spent partly on the farm near Volga, and partly in Fillmore county, his children being cared for mainly by their grandparents.

Bergitte Gudmundson was born in Norway Township, Fillmore county, Minnesota, on February 16, 1872. She was baptized by the Rev. Kr. Magelssen and on October 30, 1886 was confirmed in the Highland Prairie Lutheran Church by the same pastor. She attended the rural schools of her home community.

Jonas & Bergitte Larson

In 1898, Jonas was married to Bergitte Gudmundson. One son, Joseph, was born to this union. After the marriage they moved to the farm in South Dakota, where they took up permanent residence. After five years the family sold out and invested in a farm home in Polk county, Wisconsin, near Balsam Lake. In 1910, Mr. Larson sold out there, came to Mabel and bought a hardware store. He built it up into a thriving business and continued in that until illness interfered, and the son, Joseph, took charge. Jonas passed away on August 11, 1928. Bergitte was a member of the Mabel Lutheran church and a charter member of the Ladies Aid. She passed away at her home in the village last Saturday morning, January 06, 1951. They are both laid to rest in the Mabel cemetery.