On 12 Oct 1894 Gustav married Helena Melaas (b. 2 Apr 1874), the daughter of Hans and Mam (Knutson) Melaas natives of Norway. Helena died 6 Dec 1911 while their 2 children - Ida Marie and Ole Henry - were young. Ida (b. 13 Jan 1896) married Carl Haga, the son of Martin and Martha (Gronland) Haga. They had 2 children - Helen and Glenn. Ole (b. 17 Jan 1901) married Pauline Baker, the daughter of Stewart and Lula Baker. They had 4 children - Gerald, Howard, Roger and Phyllis.

Gustav Bakken died 23 May 1946 in LaCrosse, Wl. He is buried in the Madison Lutheran Cemetery.

Gustav was a Director at the Decorah State Bank for many years.

Bakken, Howard O. and Mary Anne (Helgerson)

(Mary Ann Bakken)

Howard Orin Bakken was  born 26 Feb 1936 in Decorah, the son of Ole H. and Pauline (Baker) Bakken. Ole Bakken was born 17 Jan 1901 in Madison Twp. Pauline (Baker) Bakken was born 3 Jan 1910 in Bluffton Twp. Ole and Pauline were married 27 May 1931 at the Madison Lutheran Church parsonage. Howard's brothers and sister were: Gerald Wayne, Roger Duane and Phyllis (Bakken) Leistikow.

Howard married Mary Anne Helgerson. Mary Anne was the daughter of Milton N. and Mabel L. (Roffman) Helgerson. Milton was born 11 Aug 1909 at home in rural Clermont, Fayette Co. Mabel was born 20 Jul 1912 at home in rural Postville, Allamakee Co. Milton and Mabel were married 31 Dec 1930 at the East Clermont Lutheran Church. Mary Anne’s brother is Milo Duane.

Howard and Mary Ann were married 14 Oct 1967 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Castalia. They had 3 children: 

Howard died 6 Jan 1988 and is buried in the Madison Cemetery. Mary Anne still lives on the Bakken family farm in Madison Twp.

Bakken, Ole H.

and Ingeborg Gautesdtr (Bakke)

(Frances M. Jeffers)

Ole Helgeson Bakken and wife, Ingeborg Gautesdtr (Bakke), Madison township.

Ole Helgeson Bakken was born in Hadeland, Norway 22 Jan 1828. In 1854 he came directly to Winneshiek Co settling on Washington Prairie. For several years he worked by-the-day or by-the-month and 3 years for William Beard. Later he bought a piece of land east of Decorah but soon traded it for land in Madison Twp. which was “grub and brushland” at the time. It took a man of ambition and tireless industry to conquer such difficulties. There being no modern machinery, hay was cut with a scythe and grain with a cradle. Later he and his brother Andrew bought a hand-rake-reaper, then after a few years, a self-rake reaper.

Tenacity and hard work were rewarded with abundant prosperity. Ole acquired 600 acres in one piece and 600 in 3 other farms, owning over 1200 acres at one time.

On 8 Dec 1860 Ole Helgeson married Ingeborg (Gautesdtr.) Bakke, Rev. V. Koren performing the ceremony. Ingeborg was born 24 Aug 1841 in Aurland, Norway, the only daughter of Gaute Eriksen and the widow Ingeborg Gillerhus Bakke. She had come to America with her parents in 1851, first to Koshkonong, Dane Co., Wl and to Frankville Twp. in 1852

Ole H. and Ingeborg Bakken were the parents of 10 children, 5 of whom died in infancy: Clara Henrietta (25 Sep 1872-8 Oct 1906); Isabel Gustine (b. 21 Aug 1864), married H. O. Josvanger 31 Oct 1886 (d. 8 Dec 1917); Gustav Edgard (b. 15 Jan 1866) married Helene Melaas 12 Oct 1894 (d. 23 May 1946); and his twin Benhart Oliver (b. 15 Jan 1866) married Thea Fulsaas 5 Apr 1891 (d. 23 Jan 1935); and Edwin Ferdinand (b. 6 Nov 1880) married Georgine Marie Guttormsen 3 Nov 1909 (d. 8 Jun 1958). The Bakkens are all buried in the Madison Lutheran

Church Cemetery.

Bakken, Ole Henry and Pauline (Baker)

(Darla Bakken)

On 17 Jan 1901 in Madison Twp., Winneshiek Co. Gust and Helena (Melaas) Bakken were blessed with a son, Ole Henry Bakken. Ole joined an older sister, Ida Marie