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.
 http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Meadows/3063/index.html
 
Visit Cleo's Memorial
 http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Meadows/3063/mother.html
 
 

 
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