Inger Helene Andersdatter (my great grandmother) was the wife of Hans Emahus Isakson. They emigrated from Nesna, Nordland, Norway to the United States (Hans in 1903, Inger Helene in 1904) and settled in Verona, La Moure County, North Dakota.

Inger Helene was committed to the State Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown on August 13, 1915 (See Inger Helene Andersdatter for the full story) at the age of 58. The Warrant of Admission document at Jamestown was signed by her daughter, Olina Johanna Hansdatter (known as Lena). Inger Helene would remain institutionalized for 13 years and 6 months until her death on February 23, 1929 .

There appears to have been some consternation in the family about the incarceration of Inger Helene.

“In an interview with Leatrice Voss [Leatrice Mae Hegardt Voss (daughter of Olina Johanna Hansdatter) and a granddaughter of Inger Helene] she said “She does not remember anything about Inger… Said that both Dena and Petra [two other daughters of Inger Helene] believed that she didn’t belong in the hospital.”

August 10, 2005 email from a great-granddaughter of Inger Helene

She is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in in Fargo, ND (2102 5th Street South, Fargo ND 58103, phone number 701-235-2671). 

A close examination of the records related to her death and burial reveal an intriguing question: who paid for the burial?

According to the Funeral Home Records (Hanson Funeral Home in Fargo):

• Informant: Hans Isakson, West Fargo
• Answer to “Have you suitable clothing?” – Answer: “No”
• Have you a Cemetery Lot? “No”

The burial information in the Riverside Cemetery book lists “Mrs. L. Hanson” as her closest relative/friend.

It is possible that Inger Helene’s daughter Olina Johanna Hansdatter (known at the time as Lena) purchased the plot. She lived Verona, La Moure County at the time of the 1910 and 1920 US Census although, according to Inger Helene’s obituary, she was living in Lakefield, Jackson County, Minnesota at the time of death.

I contacted the cemetery, and reached out to a cousin who was in the area, in 2008 without sucess:

If you are still anywhere near Fargo there is one huge favor you could do for me… I would dearly love to know who purchased the plot for Inger Marie (as well as information about who purchased the plot for Ragnvold and Lena Hanson) and when for both. I’ve left voice mail and sent a letter to the cemetery association but have never received a response…

13 October 2008 to a 2nd cousin

I contacted the Riverside Cemetery in 2016 to see if they had records indicating who purchased the plot for Inger Helene. They indicated that the area of the cemetery where she is buried was purchased one lot at a time and, consequently, no plot deeds were issued.

There is another intriguing possibility. The plots in this section of the cemetery are chronological – except for the plot next to Integer Helene. She was buried in 1929. The plot next to her (grave 2, row 91) has two burials that share a single head stone:

• Ragnvold Hanson (b. 1880, d. 1937)
• Lena Hanson (b. 1883, d. 1977)

Was this the “Mrs. L. Hanson” listed as the closest friend of Inger Helene in 1929?

“I talked with Patsy [probably Patricia Rae Ness, daughter of Petra Necholena Hanson, daughter of Inger Helene] this morning about Inger.  She also said how sad Grandma [Petra Necholena Hanson] was about her mother, Inger.  Petra used to say that she would pray to forgive and understand Lena [Olina Johanna Hansdatter, her sister] for what she did with their mother.  Patsy said that Petra was apprehensive when Lena came around.  Petra told her that Lena misrepresented Inger and was not truthful about her, I’m assuming when she committed her.  She also said that a woman came to Grandma [Petra Necholena Hanson] when her mother was in the state hospital.  Said she was either a patient there herself, or worked there.  She came because she thought so much of Inger and wanted to help, said she was being mistreated.  After hearing this, I began to think that maybe this woman’s name was Lena.  The Lena that is buried by her.”

August 8, 2005 email from the same great-granddaughter (emphasis mine)

Why was Lena Hanson involved in the burial of Inger Helene Andersdatter? Was she, or was her husband (Ragnvold Hanson), a distant relative, or a caring neighbor?

Hans Ingvald Ragnvald Carlsen Hanson

Hans Ingvald Ragnvald Carlsen Hanson was born in Oslo, Norway on 29 Dec 1880. He was enumerated there on the 1900 Norwegian Census. He married Ragna Petra Pedersen (b. 1880) on December 1, 1901 in Oslo, Norway.

The National Archives of Norway-Arkivverket; Norway; Church Books 1815-1960; Reference Number: SAO/A-10848/F/Fa/L0013, Page 256, Entry number 181.

They had three children in Norway:

• Ragvar Hugo Norman Hanson, b. 14 May 1902 in Oslo, Norway
• Ragnhild Hilda Hanson, b. 7 September 1904 in Oslo, Norway
• Ruth Ingred Inger Hanson, b. 17 September 1907 in Oslo, Norway

The family traveled together to the United States, arriving in New York on 8 April 1908.

The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at and Departing from Ogdensburg, New York, 5/27/1948 – 11/28/1972; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715, 1897-1957, Lines 2-6.

It does not appear that they stayed together for very long: according to the 1910 US census they were not living together:

• Ragna is enumerated on the 1910 Census living in Flowing Township, Clay County Minnesota with the three children working as a servant. [Year: 1910; Census Place: Flowing, Clay, Minnesota; Roll: T624_693; Page: 3b; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 1374706].
• Ragnvald is enumerated on the 1910 Census living as a Roomer in Fargo. [Year: 1910; Census Place: Fargo Ward 5, Cass, North Dakota; Roll: T624_1140; Page: 7b; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1375153]

One of the other servants working at the house with Ragna was Sigurd Berg. It appears that they got married, emigrated to Canada in 1912 and settled in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada. They are enumerated there in the 1921 and 1931 Canadian census, and are documented entering the United States in 8 September 1942 to visit his brother in law [John Lee living in Ashby Minnesota] for 29 days. [The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Manifests of Alien Arrivals At Havre, Loring, Opheim, Raymond, Turner, Westby, and White Tail, Montana, 1924-1956; NAI: 4526571; Record Group: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 – 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3448; Roll Number: 007]

Ragnvald married Lena Hanson on 6 July 1912 in Cass County, North Dakota. [Ancestry.com. Web: Cass County, North Dakota, U.S., Marriage License Index, 1873-1944 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.]. Lena gave birth to their first child 6 months later (on January 12, 1913).

Lena Hanson

Karoline Petrine Hansdatter (Lena) was also born on 07 January 1883 to Hans Martinussen and Ane Marie Kristine Knutsdatter in Molde, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. She was enumerated on the 1891 Norwegian census living with her parents and again in 1900 working as a servant.

1906

She emigrated with her sister Klara (born 1889) to the United States in October 1906, just a few years after Inger Helene Andersdatter arrived (1904). They departed Norway on 03 October, sailed to Hull, England, departed Liverpool on 10 October on the Baltic, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York on 10 October. According to the ships manifest, they were traveling to Barnes, North Dakota to see a friend, John Olson (Box 118, Kathryn, Barnes, North Dakota).

This is of interest: Kathryn is near Fort Ransom (15 miles to the south), the home of Benjamin Isakson, Hans’ younger brother (see Benjamin Isakson: A Biographical Sketch). He was the first member of the family to emigrate to the Untied States (in 1889), and his home was the destination for many family members when they made they emigrated.

• This was where Hans came when he emigrated in 1903.
• It was probably the destination for sons Anton and Ludvig when they arrived in 1904 and for Inger Helene and daughters Dena and Petra later that same year.

Englevale was home to many of Benjamin’s descendants.

Throughout the years the [Benjamin] Isakson home was always open to the new immigrants and at times there were as many as fourteen people to accommodate…

“Benjamin Isakson: A Biographical Sketch” by Jon Miller, his Great Grandson

So it is possible that the Lena and Ragnvold got to know Inger Helene and others in the family at this time.

1910

There is a Lena Hanson enumerated on the 1910 US Census who could possibly be the Lena Hanson of interest. She was working as a servant in the A. J. Craig household at 402 4^th Street in Fargo (located 3-4 blocks from where Ragnvold was living at the time: 1307 1st Ave N).

• Her stated age (27) indicates that she was born about 1883 in Norway.
• The record indicates that she emigrated in 1907.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Fargo Ward 1, Cass, North Dakota; Roll: T624_1140; Page: 5b; Enumeration District: 0038; FHL microfilm: 1375153

1912

Lena Hanson married Ragnvald in Cass County, North Dakota: the marriage license was issued on 6 July 1912 and the marriage occurred on July 30. [Ancestry.com. Web: Cass County, North Dakota, U.S., Marriage License Index, 1873-1944 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.]

They lived in Fargo and had six children together:

• Ragnar Norman Hanson (b. 12 January 1913) – born six months after Lena and Ragnvold were married.
• Ruth Lillian Hanson (b. 6 August 1914)
• Marie E Hanson (b. 4 September 1916)
• Edna J Hanson (b. 9 September 1918)
• Helen Florence Hanson (b. 6 March 1920)
• Norma Carol Hanson (b. 18 December 1923)

1915

Inger Helene Andersdatter, who had been living in Verona in Lamoure County was admitted into the state hospital in Jamestown on August 15, 1915.

1918

When Ragnvald registered for the WWI Draft on September 12, 1918 he indicated that Lena Hanson was his wife and that they resided at 109 10^th street in Fargo.

1920

The family (Lena, Ragnvald, a son, 3 daughters and a lodger) was enumerated in the 1920 census living at 109 10^th Street in Fargo. [Enumeration District: 0015; Description: Fargo City, Ward 4 (part), Precinct 1 including North Dakota Childrens Home Society 804-10th S and Cass County Jail bounded by Northern Pacific Railroad, 6th S, 1st Ave S, 8th S, City limits, 11th S]

• Lena’s stated age (37) indicates that she was born about 1883 in Norway.
• The record indicates that she emigrated in 1907.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Fargo Ward 4, Cass, North Dakota; Roll: T625_1332; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 15

Inger Helene in the 1920 United States Census: State Hospital for the Insane (n.p: Jamestown, Homer Township, Stutsman County, Supervisors District 246, Enumeration District 224, Sheet 12B, Line 54, n.d)

1925

Lena is enumerated in the 1925 North Dakota state census:

• Her age was reported to be 41, and her birth year was reported as “abt 1884”.

North Dakota. 1915 North Dakota State Census and 1925 North Dakota State Census. State Archives and Historical Research Library, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, North Dakota.

1929

Inger Helene Andersdatter died on 23 February 1929 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, North Dakota.

1930

Lena is enumerated in the 1930 census (April 3^rd) living at 923 1^st Avenue South in Fargo with Ragnvald, 6 children and 2 lodgers.

• Her stated age (47) indicates that she was born about 1883 in Norway.
• The record indicates that she emigrated in 1903.
• Her recorded age at first marriage (29) is consistent with an 1883 birth date.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Fargo, Cass, North Dakota; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0037; FHL microfilm: 2341467

1936

Ragnvald filed his declaration for U.S. citizenship on February 29^th 1936. According to information provided on the form:

• He and Lena were married in Fargo on July 30^th, 1912.
• Lena was born in Molde, Norway on January 7^th 188?.
  • The last character was typed over other information on the form and is nearly illegible. It could be a 3, 6 or 8. Comparing it to other typed numbers on the form it most closely resembles a 3 to me.
  • Molde is town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
• Lena entered the United States in New York on October 1906.

Application for Ragnvald Hansen – The State Historical Society of North Dakota; Bismarck, North Dakota; North Dakota, Naturalizations, 1873-1952

1937

Ragnvald died on 16 October 1937 from a “Neck Fracture” and was buried next to Inger Helene at the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo.

I contacted the Red River Genealogical Society for information about his death and burial. They do not have records for the sale of cemetery plots and referred me to the Riverside Cemetery.

They (Red River Genealogical Society) included information from the burial information they did have from the Riverside Cemetery Association book (Entry Number 5247): He was born in Norway on Dec 29, 1880, His cause of death was “Neck Fracture”, his attending physician was W.G. Brown, he died on Oct 16, 1937 he was buried on Oct 18, 1937 by M. Moore undertakers in grave 2, row 91 .

1940

Lena was enumerated as the Head of the Household on the 1940 US Census. Three daughters were living with her: Edna (Age 21), Helen (Age 20) and Norma (age 16). Their address was 1203 2nd Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota.

Year: 1940; Census Place: Fargo, Cass, North Dakota; Roll: m-t0627-02996; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 9-43, Lines 10-13.

1947

Lena applied for Social Security on 12 August 1947. Her address was 1203 2nd Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota, the same address listed in the 1940 Census. At the time she indicated that she was working at the Fargo Laundry.

This it the first document that identified her parents, Hans Martinson and Matie Knutson.

1950

Lena was enumerated as the Head of the Household on the 1950 US Census, living at 120 13th Street South in Fargo, North Dakota

National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Fargo, Cass, North Dakota; Roll: 1726; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 9-67, Line 1

1977

Lena is buried with Ragnvald at the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. According to the grave marker, she died in 1977. I believe that I have found her death certificate showing the exact date of death to be 15 August 1977:

• The name on the death certificate is “Lena Hanson”.
• The place of death was Kirkland, King, Washington.
• The informant on her death certificate was Norma Odegard
  • Lena has a daughter (Norma Carol) who was married to Norman Konrad Odegard.
• Of note: Lena’s country of birth was reported (incorrectly, I believe) to be the United States.

What is known about Lena

To summarize the information about Lena that can be obtained from the available records:

Birth Date: 07 January 1883

• While the year of her birth in inconclusive in Ragnvald’s declaration for U.S. citizenship, the US Census records consistently indicate that the year of her birth was 1883. This is confirmed in her Social Security application.
• Ragnvald’s declaration for U.S. citizenship and her Social Security application both state the she was born on January 7th.
• Her birth record from Norway confirms that she was born on 07 January 1883.

Birth Place: Molde, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

• All records indicate that she was born in Norway.
• Ragnvald’s declaration for U.S. citizenship states that she was born in Molde, Norway.
• The place of birth on her Social Security application appears to be “Ramsdalen”.
• Her birth record from Norway confirms that she was born in Molde, Møre og Romsdal, Norway.
• Google Maps identifies one town named “Molde” in Norway (View on Google Maps), located approximately 136 miles (218 kM) southwest of Trondheim, Norway.
• According to Wikipedia:

Molde (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈmɔ̂ɫdə] ^ⓘ) is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molde

Emigration: Entered New York, New York October 1906

• The information provided on Ragnvald’s declaration for U.S. citizenship (New York, October 1906) appears to be the most authoritative, although no manifest has yet been found so the year is questionable.
  • It agrees with the date specified on the 1930 Census (1906).
  • It is close to what was specified on the 1920 Census (1908).
  • It conform even closer to what was specified on the 1910 census (1907).
  • Norwegian records confirm that she left Norway, traveling to North Dakota, in October 1906.

Date of Marriage to Ragnvold: July 30^th, 1912 in Fargo

• The date of her marriage to Ragnvald (July 30^th, 1912 in Fargo) is documented in Ragnvald’s declaration for U.S. citizenship.
• As noted above, I believe Ragnvold had a previous marriage. However, his response to the “Year of 1st Marriage” question on his 1930 US Census (31, which translates to 1911) does not reflect this fact.

What was the connection?

Lena, Ragnvold and Inger Helene came from different parts of Norway.

• It is doubtful if they met in Norway.
• They do not appear to be related.
• They all traveled to the United States as different times.

• Inger Helene was living in Verona (~100 miles to the Southwest of Fargo) according to the 1910 census, and that was where she was living at the time of her commitment in 1915.
• Lena appears to have lived in Fargo from 1910 through (at least) 1950.
  • She does not appear to have been committed to the State Hospital at any point in her life.
  • It is possible that she was employed at the hospital sometime between her arrival at Kathryn in 1906 and 1910 (when she appears to be living in Fargo), but this is well before Inger Helene was committed.
• Hans was living with his son (Ludvig Martin) in Barnes (located on the Western outskirts of Fargo) at the time of the 1920 Census. This was about 7 miles from where Lena was living at the time (see map below). He was still living in Barnes at the time of the 1930 census, so that is why Inger Helene’s body was transferred to Fargo when she died in 1929.

What about Petra Necholena Hanson’s Contact?

The person who contacted Petra about her mother was either a friend/neighbor, or else she was an employee at the hospital.

• Dena was living in Verona with Inger Helen when she was committed to the hospital in August 1915.
• She was married (to Leo Oliver Ness) in Moorhead, Clay, Minnesota on April 5 1919.
• Her first son (Howard) was born in Berlin, La Moure, North Dakota on 16 June 1919.
• She and Leo were living in Badger Township, La Moure County, North Dakota at the time of the 1920 US Census.
• Phyllis (her first daughter) was born in Berlin, La Moure, North Dakota on 1 September 1921.
• Her next two children (Lloyd and Leo) were born in Iowa in 1923 and 1924.
• Betty Lou and Harold were born in Clyde, Cavalier, North Dakota in 1927 and 1929.
• She and Leo were living in Lansing Township, Towner County, North Dakota at the time of the 1930 US Census.

It does not appear that Ragnvold or Lena lived anywhere near Dena at the time Inger Helen was incarcerated in Jamestown.

Therefore, it is likely that the person who contacted Dena was in all probability an employee at the hospital.

Conclusion

I reached out to the Riverside cemetery again (in May of 2024) to see if their records revealed any more information about this mystery, and their response indicates that Lena Hanson most likely was not involved in Inger Helene’s burial:

The records for single grave sites weren’t always recorded well. All I know is in 1937 when Ragnvold passed away Lena Hanson purchased that grave for him. She paid a total of $175

Riverside Cemetery Association Email dated 23 May 2024

Although Olena was in her 3rd marriage at the time of her mothers death and was the wife of Charles Hegardt, it is possible that she identified herself as/was known as Lena Hanson when she purchased the plot. It is also possible that she anticipated the death of her father and purchased two plots when Inger Helene died in 1929. When Hans died in 1932 he was buried near his brother Benjamin in Fort Ransom, eliminating the need for a plot in Fargo. So conceivably, the second lot could have been available when Ragnvold died in 1937.

Epilogue

We also went to the cemetery in Fargo and I found Grandma Inger’s grave.  You had sent me photo, but it was wonderful to go myself.  As soon as we stood over them, Uncle Harold [Harold Wayne Ness] said, “Grandpa [Leo Oliver Arthur Ness] bought this headstone”.  We’ve had much discussion on this.  As soon as he said this, it brought back  memories of Grandpa Leo talking about buying headstones.  I remembered him talking about it, but didn’t connect it with Inger Isaacson.  So, when we returned to my little house in Egeland, I called my Uncle Bobby [Robert Ward Ness] and asked if he remember Grandpa ever buying headstones for anyone and if so, who.  He answered that Grandpa bought one for Grandma’s Mom, which is Inger.  Headstones were very important to Grandpa and he felt strongly that he needed to do it.  Everyone remembers it happening in the 1950’s. 

email from a 2nd cousin dated 13 octobre 2008