Bernice and Ole did not have any children.
Ole Flotterud was
a widower, whose first wife was "Signa J".
Ole and Signa had two sons, Clifton and Harold.
Bernice Svee
1899-1965
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Ole Flotterud
1893-1946
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Company "D" before going to Mexican border to defend against Pancho Villa
Soldiers leaving Zumbrota
for WWI in 1917
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Grave location of
Ole Flotterud
Ft. Snelling, Minnesota
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Click on tombstones and soldiers for larger pictures.
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Bernice Josephine
Svee
March 18, 1899--September 25, 1965.
Bernice was born at home. She was a rural school teacher.
Bernice Josephine Svee, graduated from Zumbrota High School in 1915. There were 20
people in her class, 11 girls and 9 boys.
She, like her sisters Celia and
Lena was very involved with the
American Legion Auxiliary. Bernice served as
Department President (President of the American Legion in the state
of Minnesota) in 1954-1955 and
District President in 1947-1948 and in
1956 was National Committeewoman.
Mrs. A.S. Lewis (Lena Svee) was elected District
President in 1935 and Mrs. Henry Satrum (Celia Svee) also served as District
President in 1941. Celia Also served 2 years as District Secretary. She was
also President of the local Zumbrota American Legion Auxiliary in 1939, 1942,
and 1946.
She married Ole Flotterud,
a widower, whose first wife was "Signa J".
Ole and Signa had two sons, Clifton and Harold.
"Bern" was capable with a
gun and could fire a 45 caliber pistol as well as a "varmint gun". She worked
as a sales person at "Elmes Ladies Shop" at the northwest corner of 4th Street
and Main Street in Zumbrota, Minnesota later in life as well. One of her
traits, which helped her with this job, was her ability to remember people's
names and information about them.
Ole Flotterud
November 30, 1893--January 10, 1946
Ole served in
Company "D" of the
"Zumbrota Guards".
He was a corporal in 1916
when Company D was mustered into federal service to serve on the Mexican border
after "Pancho Villa" raided Columbus, New Mexico. Their camp was 6 miles from
the border.
He served as a Sergeant in World War I in the 136th Infantry,
34th Division. He also served in World War
II. While we don't have details of Ole's
World War II service, he was listed
as a "World War II veteran who served at the
Commander of American Legion Post No. 183 (Zumbrota)". Since he was Commander
in 1944 it means he served in WWII during or before 1944.
Some history about the Zumbrota Guards:
The Zumbrota Guards was
organized as a militia in 1885 by a group of young men from Zumbrota. They
furnished their own uniforms and later the government provided some old 50
caliber rifles.
SPANISH
AMERICAN WAR
The Third Minnesota Infantry
regiment was organized in 1887 and the Zumbrota company was admitted as
"Company D". In 1898 the company volunteered for service in the Spanish
American War. On May 8, 1898 the company was mustered into the 14th Minnesota
Infantry and went to Chickamunga Park, Georgia. They were sent then to
Chattanooga, Tennessee and then Knoxville Tennessee before returning to St. Paul
Minnesota where they resumed their former status in the Minnesota National
Guard.
MEXICAN BORDER
("Pancho Villa")
In 1916, members of
Company D were mustered into federal service and served in Llano Grande Camp,
Texas. Francisco "Pancho" Villa had raided Columbus, New Mexico and President
Wilson called the troops into service for border duty. They received a
"clothing allotment" of $43.05, with an additional monthly allotment of $7.18.
If the $7.18 did not cover the clothing needs for the month, the men had to
purchase any extras out of their salaries of $15 per month for privates, $21 per
month for corporals, and $30 per month for sergeants. 18 cents per day was
allowed for subsistence for each man. Ole Flotterud served with his company at the Mexican
border.
<CLICK
HERE FOR A PICTURE OF THE TROOPS WHO WENT TO MEXICO>.
WORLD WAR I
The United States entered into World War I on April 6, 1917. On July 10,
1917, Company D was mustered into Federal Service. After a farewell banquet by
the citizens of Zumbrota, the men left for Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico.
Company D was trained as an artillery unit which was then split up with the men
going to the 125th, 126th and 126th Field Artillery regiments. Practically
every man in the company saw overseas duty and many were in active fighting.
Ole served as a sergeant with
this group of men of Company D.
<CLICK
HERE FOR A PICTURE OF THE TROOPS LEAVING FOR WWI>.
Enlisting at a later time
and also serving during World War I were brothers of the woman he would later
marry, Bernice Svee. These brothers were Henry J. Svee and Arthur Leonard Svee.
Of the Zumbrota men who served in World War I, 9
died.
SOURCE: "Zumbrota, The First 100 Years, 1856-1956".