LOIS B. WINTERSTEEN:

Edmund Beaver was born July 23, 1906 in Dodge County, Minnesota, to Peter Christian and Bertina (Bjornson) Beaver. He graduated from Luther College in 1929 and from Luther Theological Seminary in 1932. On September 7, 1933 he married Linka Eleanore Njus. He served Lutheran congregations in north central Minnesota from 1932 to 1947 before moving to Texas, Iowa, and eventually Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Edmund died January 1, 2002.

Linka was born December 3, 1907 in Greenbush, Minnesota, to Nils J. and Ellen Njus. She grew up in rural New London, and went to high school at Red Wing Seminary in Red Wing. She trained at Fairview Hospital School of Nursing and graduated with an RN degree. She died April 15, 1990.

Lois Berthel Beaver, a daughter of Edmund and Linka, was born November 9, 1934, in Roseau County, Minnesota. She was educated at Luther College and at Western Reserve University. She married Richard Thomas Wintersteen in September 1959, and the couple had four children: Alan, Lisa, David, and Sarah. The Wintersteens lived in various places over the years, including Rochester and North Saint Paul, and they lived in England from 1972 to 1974.

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The collection includes letters written by Edmund while a pastor serving in Littlefork and Blackduck, Minnesota, detailing his work, life, and family. The letters were intended for extended family, seminary colleagues, and friends. There are also letters received by Edmund from his mother while he was a student at Luther College and at Luther Seminary, and letters sent by him to his children.

Linka's letters to family and friends detail her experiences, family news, and volunteer work in Littlefork, Blackduck, and other areas of north central Minnesota, and were forwarded from family member to family member.

Lois' letters to her parents, to her husband's parents Thomas and Sue (Garson) Wintersteen, and to friend Betty Rikansrud Nelson discuss family matters, school, life in England (1972-1974), social work activities, and the family's cabin on Lake Kabekona Lake.

Wintersteen prepared and included further explanations of the letters, including biographical details and explanations of abbreviations and family relationships.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Lois B. Wintersteen. Beaver family letters. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 17,105; 17,241

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 008447949

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Church work -- Minnesota.

Lutheran Church -- Minnesota -- Clergy.

Lutherans -- Minnesota.

Norwegian Americans -- Minnesota.

Vacation homes -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Beaver, Bertine T., 1872-1956, author.

Beaver, Edmund, 1906-2001, author.

Beaver, Linka, 1907-1990, author.

Beaver family.

Beavers family.

Wintersteen family.

Places:

Blackduck (Minn.)

Kabekona Lake (Hubbard County, Minn.).

Littlefork (Minn.)

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