Rose Larsen

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Rose Alvida Larsen

B. September 9, 1891 - Trondhjem, Norge (Trondheim, Norway)

M. September 23, 1911 - Adonijah Dolph Jr. (Divorced 1921)

D. June 10, 1963 - Michigan City, Indiana (Warren Clinic)

Rose (Rosa) Alvida Larsen was born on September 9, 1891 in Trondhjem (Trondheim), Norway to Anna Normann and Sivert Larsen (click her to see birth record). Rosa had a twin sister Lydia Borghild everyone called "Lil." Rosa was referred to as "Rose," but all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her "Nana." Nana and Lydia were baptized on December 13, 1891. Nana spent her first 15 years in Trondheim. She went to school at Trondhjems Folkskole (See her 1905 report card below). She was confirmed in the historic Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Catherdal) in Trondheim in 1905 (See her confirmation photo below). Nana and her family moved to the United States in 1907 to join Sivert who had gone ahead to Chicago to find a home for them in 1906. Nana left Trondheim (click to see emigration record) on April 30, 1907 with her mom Anna, brother Ingolf (Norm), sisters Alexandra (Alice) and Lydia (Lil) to Oslo (Kristiania), her brother Karl stayed back in Norway. We don't know which mode of transportation they used to travel to Oslo. On May 3, 1907 they set sail from Oslo to New York aboard the Hellig Olav (photos of the ship) arriving at Ellis Island on May 15, 1907 (Ship Manifest with Anna, Rose... Family). Nana hated traveling by sea and was seasick the whole trip. From Ellis Island New York they road the train to Chicago to meet Sivert. He was staying at 432 W. 42 Place Chicago, Illinois (click here for 2022 photo) at the time of their arrival according to the Ship Manifest. Sivert bought a farm on Youngren Road in Chikaming Township (Harbert), Michigan.

Nana enjoyed going to the Harbert Grange #1790 (grange halls were social associations common in rural communities) for social dances. She met her husband Addie there. We have a newspaper account of her going to St. Joseph for the day in November, 1908 with Adonijah Dolph Jr. (Addie). She married Addie on September 23, 1911 in St. Joseph, Michigan (click her for Marriage License). She had two children with Addie (Lillian and Sylvia)*. Nana and Addie had a rough go of their marriage. He was an abusive drinker and couldn't hold down a job so they moved all around the Three Oaks area, including in with Sivert and Anna. Nana was divorced March 29, 1921 (Divorce Record). She was engaged to Peter Anderson who lived down the street from her during the mid 1950's. He was Rose's escort seen in the video of Karen Ackerman and Bud Christopher's wedding. They did not marry. Nana also dated Lee Lathrup, the one who owned the gas station on the corner of Harbert Road and Red Arrow Highway near her home.

Nana worked as a domestic for most of her life, including for Carl Sandberg and his family while he lived in Harbert, Michigan (1926-45). She was the cook and housekeeper for their beach front home. Unfortunately, I only have two very small photos of the home, but you can learn more about Sandberg living in Harbert HERE. Nana's daughter Lillian (Grandma Ackerman) worked for the family also. Aunt Patty Branson remembers the Sandbergs and told me a story of how Mrs. Sandberg raised goats and was health conscious always wanting Nana to cut the pies into seven pieces, rather than the usual six. Nana rarely saw Carl because he was reclusive, spending his time mostly working upstairs on his writing. Nana worked for other families who came into the Harbert area for the summer, including readying their homes in the spring, often, Grandma Ackerman would help.

Nana was very frugal and accomplished much by hard work and her ability to save. Rose had her house built in Harbert in 1930 (see Rose's House) and owned a second home in Bradenton, Florida - 2211 6th Ave West - from December 31, 1948 through 1963. She spent most of her winters there in later life and rented it out when she wasn't there. The house was near Uncle Norm's (Ingolf Norman Larsen) house. Nana also rented out rooms in her home in Harbert.

Nana also enjoyed sewing and made many of her own dresses and some for Mom and Aunt Patty. The Dutch Painting hung above her sewing machine. She loved her family and spent much of her time with them either traveling or hanging out with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Patty and Mom or visiting Sal and her family in Texas. Mom wrote about Nana often in her "Reflections" document I have on Mom's page, here are a few excepts:

"My grandmother (we called her Nana) was very special to us. She lived next door to us until I was 12 years old. She was fun to be with. She traveled with us to Florida and Texas several times and was a great companion. On our journeys. We went to the Wisconsin Dells when I was about 9 yrs old. That was a great trip and Nana seemed to really enjoy it too. She had a good sense of humor most of the time, even when we played tricks on her. My Mother and Nana and us girls often went shopping together. My grandmother “Nana” taught me how to thread a needle when I was about seven or eight years old. When I was in 6th grade I was a Scottish girl in a red plaid kilt and cap. Nana made my costume and it was really pretty."

Nana became ill in 1963 while visiting her daughter Sylvia (Sal) in Texas. She came back to Michigan early in February and Rose was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that spring. The doctor performed surgery, but the cancer was too widespread. Nana died June 10, 1963 at the Warren Clinic in Michigan City, Indiana. She is buried at Riverside Cemetery just south of Three Oaks, Michigan next to Sivert and Anna's gravesite in the front row on the East side of Three Oaks Road.

Nana's frugality and generosity helped many family members. She bought the land Gib built his first home on (he repaid her in 1937). Bud and Karen couldn't have bought their home on 1010 Broad Street in St. Joseph without the inheritance they received for the downpayment. Gib was able to buy his boat when they sold her house in Florida. Nana left a great legacy of love from those who knew her.

* Addie and Rose did not marry until after both Lillian and Sylvia were born - click here to read about a genealogical mystery solved using documents and DNA.

Nana Letter to Mom - Dec. 1960s? (click on image to see full-sized photo)