The Star City Guestbook

08/03/06 W. Wayne Livdahl of Vancouver, Washington

Hello Velva, North Dakota!
I am writing as a result of reading a 'life history' of my aunt VELVA Mildred LIVDAHL.  In her story she states that she was born on June 6, 1907 and was first daughter of Gustav N. & Olive Wold Livdahl.
In her words written when she was 83: "I was named Velva after the town in which I was born, Velva North Dakota.  A big shot in the church synod, a friend of my father was in Velva promoting a college he had started in Wisconsin.  He suggested to my parents that I should be called 'Velva', the first daughter of the first mayor of Velva.  My mother had some other ideas of course, but I am glad my father had his way. Mother said she tried calling me Mildred for a while but everyone else called me Velva, so she did also. This man to whom I owe my name was Erasmus B. Amderson, who sent me a copy of his biography for H.S. graduation in 1925.  I thought it was boring then, but in recent years find it has some interesting stuff.  He was Ambassador to Finland, a professor at Wisconsin U in Madison, a relative of Old Bull, the great violinist from Norway."
She goes on to write about the 'big house' that they lived in (now believed to be a Bed and Breakfast?) and it was located across the road from Eric Sevareid and Donald Dickenson who were her 'constant companions'.
I am off to a family reunion in McKinleyville, CA this weekend to celebrate the life of Velva and her husband Bruce Wallace as well as Velva's younger sister Thelma Evargeline Livdahl and her husband Kasper I. (Ted) Ingerbritson.  Thelma was also born in Velva on May 9, 1909.  I will driving down to McKinleyville, CA for the celebration with Dorothy Wallace, daughter of Velva who I have not seen for some 50 years.  It should be and interesting weekend!
My father, Norman Thurston Livdahl born 9/05/01, his brothers Orlin L.  9/14/03, Gerald F. 1905 and youngest sister Grace O. 9/6/11 were all born in Velva.  All have passed away and there is only the youngest boy Philip V. who is still with us.
Velva writes very fondly, as does her brothers and sisters, of her growing up in Velva.  I hope to visit your fine town some day.

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07/31/06 Edith (Nelson) Alexander

Hey, just found this fantastic website!! My father Swen Oscar Nelson) homesteaded South of Velva in 1905, an immigrant from Sweden. I was born in 1939, youngest of 10 children, and grew up there on the farm, which is now in the 3rd generation, Curtis Nelson. In 1953 my father retired and moved into Velva, across from the School. I lived there with him until 1954, when I eloped with my present husband and moved to California. I now have 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 greatgrands. I last visited Velva in 2004. I love this town, and have so many fond memories, and wonder what happened to my closest friends at that time. I only keep in touch with one old friend, Jeanne Kambietz. We were neighbors of the Wasson family in town, and saw that name on this site. I send my best regards to all you Velva residents, and long for the "good old times"! "Hi" to the Taylor family, the Miller family, the Fiests, Newmans, Mills, Hage, Shaw, Brekke and many others that I can't think of right now.
God Bless you all, Edith (Nelson) Alexander

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