Ole Ingvaldsen FLATEN

1842 - 1914  (71 years)

• Name	Ole Ingvaldsen FLATEN
  Birth	21 Mar 1842	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Gender	Male
  Baptism	17 Apr 1842	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Death	27 Feb 1914	Rice County, Minnesota
  Burial	Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota
  Notes	In the 1880 census, he was a farmer in Warsaw Twp, Goodhue County. From the book - RICE COUNTY FAMILIES. PUB. 1981: Flaten Families, 1868--. Ole Flaten and Maren Wangensten Stelle migrated from Valdres, Norway, to Dennison, Minnesota, just on the line between Rice and Goodhue counties, with their one year old son, Nils, in 1868. Shortly after Maren's death in 1891, Ole moved to Northfield with his family of 6 children: Nils, Randi, Sigrid, Ingvald, Dorothea and Ole Jr. In the early 1900s Ole married Anna Martin. They had a son, Rudolph, born in 1904. Ole Jr. has written of his father: "He was a poor farmer with 2 beautiful hobbies, books and violins. Whenever he had money with which to acquire those treasured possessions he would make a trip to Minneapolis. In addition to buying violins and books, father never failed to bring bananas home. This we considered a treat fit for the Gods." Ole continued "In his spare moments, father would work on his violin, affixing the strings and adjusting the bridge and tuning post. Then he would price and sell them, always keeping one for himself. Father played the violin very well. Often he would go into the parlor at night and there in the dark he would play Norwegian folk tunes. As a child I sat quietly. Some of the livelier tunes, such as the ‘Halling' would awaken bright emotions in me and I would then interpret the music by dancing. Perhaps I'd look up and see my father watching me and I'd run quickly to a corner." The elder Ole Flaten had received his education in a teacher's seminary in Norway. He taught parochial schools for 30 years in the Dennison and Northfield areas. He established the first bookstore at St. Olaf College and the first bookstore in Northfield. As the family grew up they scattered to homes elsewhere. Only 1 son, Nils, returned to make his home in Rice County. His story of working his way through college is a poignant one. He received his B.A. in Classical Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1893. He interrupted his studies for 2 years, working and teaching in Buxton, ND. He had retained his father's interest in the violin. As a violinist, he organized and directed a touring band in Buxton. He returned to work there following his graduation. In 1894 he met his future wife, Inez Ruth Olson, who was then teaching in nearby Hillsboro, ND. They were married in 1896. Nils writes, "Of our 3 boys, Olav and Arnold were born in Minneapolis, Olav October 18, 1897, and Arnold May 18, 1900. Sigurd was born in Northfield April 3, 1907." From 1896-1900, Nils taught at U.C. seminary and continued his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, receiving his Ph. D. in Romance Languages, Latin and Arabic in 1900. In 1900 he was elected to head the Department of Latin at St. Olaf College at a salary of $1,000 a year. It was said that Nils was born with an "itchy foot." Thus, in addition to the urge to improve and use his foreign languages, he found traveling to be a tonic both mentally and physically. He spent the year 1909-1910 as a student in Spain, Italy and France. He returned in 1913, touring by bicycle. He financed this trip by writing daily for Decorahposten (at $3.00 a column). He was stationed in Italy in 1918-1919 as a secretary to the YMCA to teach English to Italian officers. In 1921 he began his trips to Europe as conductor of tourist groups, continuing this routine every summer for 11 consecutive summers. In 1925, Inez consented, for the first time, to accompany him on one of his tours. Inez took pride in organizing ladies aids in several Lutheran churches of southern Minnesota. She died in 1964. Nils translated and published a number of books and numerous articles during the year 1924-1934. He continued to teach at St. Olaf College until 1947. Their oldest son, Olav Nicolas, spent his adult life in the lumber business in Wyoming and Nebraska. He established a small community named Northfield near Gering, Nebraska. The youngest, John Sigurd, graduated from St. Olaf College in 1929. While working in Wyoming he contracted TB. Complications of his illness remained with him for the rest of his life. He returned to make his permanent home in Northfield. He died in 1974. Arnold Wangensten Flaten came to Northfield in the year of his birth, 1900. His years in the public schools and at St. Olaf College were marked by his interest and participation in athletics and in the visual arts. The latter was inspired by his mother who studied oil painting and by his father's descriptive letters and cards from European art centers. Arnold earned his way through St. Olaf "College, largely by making posters. He graduated in 1922 and entered Luther Theological Seminary. During those years in Minneapolis he took courses at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Following his graduation in 1925 he accepted a call to a mission congregation in Laurel, Montana. There his art was put to use in transforming a former laundry into a church. These were rich years for Arnold. In 1928 he returned to Minneapolis as assistant pastor to Dr. J. A. O. Stub at Central Lutheran Church. It was here that he met his future wife, Evelyn Solberg. At this time, Dr. L. W. Boe, President of St. Olaf College, asked Arnold to start a department of Art at the College. This involved a 2-year study period in Italy and France. Evelyn and Arnold were married in France. They returned to Northfield in 1932. Arnold immediately went to work designing and helping in the construction of the first Art building on the campus, called "The Art Barn." This was the first Art department in a college of the American Lutheran Church, and second department of Art in a private college in Minnesota. Former students from those early years were to go on to graduate schools and return to establish art departments in other Lutheran colleges. The St. Olaf work began as a one man department in 1932 where it was necessary for Arnold to teach many aspects of art, such as drawing, painting, sculpture and the history of art and architecture. Soon the program grew and Arnold welcomed additions to his staff. Being on the ground floor with a knowledge of art and architecture as well as the theology of our church, Arnold accepted an invitation to teach a course at Lutheran Seminary. In addition, he was invited to lecture and to meet with building committees throughout the Midwest. Thus, as the need became apparent, he as an Architectural Consultant founded, with Edward Sovik (a former student), what is now Sovik, Mathre, Sathrum, Quanbeck Architectural firm located in Northfield. As Arnold's philosophy demanded that all art teachers should "produce," he supplemented his teaching with his work in sculpture. In 1974 his work as sculpture was summarized in a book entitled "Arnold Flaten, Sculptor." His early interest in athletics continued. He was admitted to the St. Olaf Hall of Fame as a result of his years of active participation in football, track and tennis. Arnold died June 1, 1976. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, who lives in Northfield, and their children: Anne Flaten Pixley, Claremont, CA, exhibiting artist in USA and European galleries; Robert Arnold, Arlington, VA, Deputy Assistant, Secretary of State for Congressional Relations; Mary Evelyn, Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, French teacher and stained glass craftsman; David Nils, LaVerne, CA, Director, Designer, Actor and Professor of Theatre.
  Person ID	I32871	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	8 Sep 2021

  
  

  Father	Ingvald Persson FLATEN,   b. 1819, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 1883 (Age 64 years)
  Mother	Randi Olsdatter BÖE,   b. 7 Nov 1820, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 20 Jan 1892 (Age 71 years)
  Marriage	28 Oct 1839	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Family ID	F22638	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Maren Nilsdatter WANGENSTEEN STEILE,   b. 18 Jul 1842, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 8 Jul 1891, Minnesota (Age 48 years)
  Children	1. Nils FLATEN,   b. 18 Mar 1867, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 17 Aug 1947, Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota (Age 80 years)   2. Rangdi FLATEN,   b. Abt 1874, Minnesota   3. Ingvold FLATEN,   b. 1876, Minnesota d. 1964 (Age 88 years)   4. Sigrid FLATEN,   b. Abt 1879, Minnesota
  Family ID	F22640	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	8 Sep 2021

  
  

  Family 2	Anna Margaret MARTINSON
  Children	1. Olav Nicholas FLATEN,   b. 18 Oct 1897, Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota d. 15 Jul 1972, Nebraska (Age 74 years)   2. Rudolph Eric FLATEN,   b. 26 Nov 1904, Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota d. 17 Apr 1985, Ramsey County, Minnesota (Age 80 years)
  Family ID	F22645	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	8 Sep 2021