Ole and Cleo Kjonaas
Moorhead, Minnesota
Ole is the son of Dayton and Regina Kjonaas
Ole Dean Kjonaas (born January 26th 1927; In Park Rapids, Minnesota.) He
married Cleo Francis Mosbeck (born February 21st 1931; In Thief River Falls,
Minnesota ~ Died
December 17th 1986) November 10th 1948 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
They owned and operated a restaurant in Georgetown, Minnesota in the early
1950’s. After a few years they sold the restaurant and Ole bought a milk
truck, and owned a milk route. In about 1954 Ole started working for Matson
Oil Company. He was a Bulk Manager where he was in charge of delivering
fuel oil. He retired in 1992 at the age of 65. He now works part-time for
WW Wallworks in Fargo, North Dakota where he delivers new and used trucks
across the country.
Cleo died from Breast Cancer at the age of 55, in St. Lukes Hospital
now known as MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. She is buried in
the Georgetown Cemetery, along with a daughter Nancy Joanne Kjonaas who
died from a hole in her heart when she was a baby.
Cleo worked various part time jobs from cooking and cleaning for the
Moorhead School District, to working in an official liquor store, and was
also a waitress. She spent most of her time at home raising her children.
I remember when I was young. We would load up the car and head 150
miles east to Cass Lake, MN. To visit my dad's cousin Eugene Kjonaas. This
was almost an every weekend event. It was also one big party for the most
part. (For the adults of course.)
Eugene (Gene) used to take my dad and I fishing. It was really fun,
because Gene was a licensed Minnow dealer and he would set minnow traps
in small un-known about locations. He knew all of the small lakes. You
couldn't just drive up to them. they were back in the woods and we would
have to carry his 12' aluminum boat and 4 hp. motor about 1/8th of a mile.
I remember one small lake we were on, Gene told us that the lake had never
been fished before. We would always catch big fish. He liked to troll for
Northerns the most. Eugene died in 1979, and my dad and I wish we knew
where some of those small lakes were. The only thing is I was maybe 13
at the time and my dad doesn't know where they were either.
Cass Lake is a Resort area. I remember going into the Resort Bars and
all of the Indian / White wars that would go on. I remember many times
seeing the indians getting mad because they wanted booze (Off-Sale)
and they either didn't have enough money or were to drunk to sell to. I
remember once where they took over the bar and held everybody hostage.
I somehow managed to escape and was outside with my second cousin Clara.
We were too young to do anything, so we just waited. The indians inside
somehow managed to get ahold of another tribe from Waubon, MN., they were
on the way to Cass Lake but things sorta broke up before they got there.
I remember one resort owner saying if you get rid of the pool tables, the
indians wouldn't come around. There was alot of truth to that.
I remember a few times my mother would take me and my sister Tammy
fishing while dad was at work. We would go to some lake just to the south
of Audobon, MN. (about 35 miles east of home) I was maybe 9 or so. We would
catch mostly Perch. Not anything big, (I always thought they were because
I was small) but it was fun for us kids. I remember one time I caught a
small Bullhead. Nobody could touch it because of the "stingers". Mom came
to the rescue there. She drove the car over it to hold it so we could get
the hook out. I think it was then we left. :^)
My parents always thought of their children first. We were included
in almost everything. (Except their Friday night bowling) They did alot
for us kids. They taught us the difference between right and wrong as well.
I wouldn't say that I came from a poor family. Dad always seen to it
we had a mini-bike or a snowmobile to ride. He would come home from hauling
fuel in the cold weather and I was always there asking him to go out again
and start the snowmobile for me. He would hesitate for a minute, get dressed
and go outside. I have since learned what it is like to work all day and
go out into the cold when all you want to do is relax.
Dad was telling me parts of his life. He was in WW II and he came home
onetime unexpectedly and surprised his parents and family. He told me he
came home by train and a guy he knew offered to give him a ride to Georgetown,
MN. (about 15 miles away) When he got home, the family was all outside
and it was one big family reunion. He then signed up for another year,
after his brother Guy told him not to. Both Guy and Ray were over-seas
during the war and were wounded. My dad never seen combat because he was
drafted about 6 months before it ended. Ray was standing between two Army
trucks when one of them rolled forward, catching him between them. He was
almost cut in half. He had 6 inches of waist left. Ray spent over a year
in the hospital for that.
He also told me (February 98) he was very close to his grandfather
Ole A. Kjonaas. He remembers going into a bar with him to have a beer,
because dad had just returned from the service, and before Ole A. could
finish his beer, Edwin (son of Ole A. Kjonaas) came into the bar and pulled
Ole A. out of the bar and told him he didn't belong there. Dad said
that really bothered him. He also told me that his grandmother Emma wouldn't
allow Ole A. to have a cigarette either. Ole A. managed to keep some hidden
around the farm but Emma would eventually find them and destroy them. That
is the two things Ole A. couldn't do. My father Ole Dean would go out there
and Ole A. would ask him if he had a cigarette. Dad would give him one.
He also said he wishes he would have seen too it that his grandfather would
have had cigarettes and beer. If only.............
Dad's mother Regina was the same way. Neither Ole A. Kjonaas
or Date Kjonaas were heavy drinkers. They were hard working people trying
to make a living for their family.
My mother and father were a loving couple. Sure they had their spats
too, but they were sure to settle their differences after the kids were
in bed and couldn't hear them.
After Date died, Grandma (Regina) had the farm. It was sold in about
1966. Dad wanted to buy the farm from her, but she wouldn't sell it to
him because she told him he wouldn't know how to run it. He even offered
her $20 an acre more than she sold it for.
It was 1967 when dad moved a house he got for nothing out into the
country. He knew a guy Ned Henry who was going to tear a block of houses
down for some renovation in Moorhead. He told dad to find a house he and
mom liked and move it so he didn't have to tear it down. They found one
and moved it out into the country. It cost him $10,000 to have it moved.
It is a very large 2 story house that I bought from him in 1990.
Ole and Cleo had 4 children.
Patricia Lynn Kjonaas-James born in 1951 who now resides in Atlanta
Georgia.
Nancy Joanne Kjonaas born May 1st 1954 ~ Died May 15th 1954.
Tammy Lynette Kjonaas-Charbonneau born December 14th 1959 who now resides
in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Richard Dean Kjonaas born April 23rd 1963 who also resides in Moorhead,
Minnesota.
Patricia married Glen (Gary) James (date unknown) and they had 2 children.
Heather Marie James born (date unknown) about 1975.
Jason James born (date unknown) about 1978.
Tammy married Eugene Charbonneau December 21st 1977. They divorced a
short time later. They had 1 son.
Michael Paul Charbonneau born July 26th 1979.
Richard married Julie Kaye Kennedy February 28th 1987. They had 3 daughters.
Jennifer Lynn Kjonaas born January 19th 1983.
Ashley Ann Kjonaas born November 1st 1988.
Emily Jo Kjonaas born June 5th 1990.
Submitted by Richard Kjonaas March 10, 1998
Visit my web sight.
/Heartland/Meadows/3063/index.html
Visit Cleo's Memorial
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3063/mother.html
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