Ivan Lyseng and Gerd Snipstad
written by Doug and Margaret

The Ivan Quentin Lyseng family history began with the birth of a baby boy on the Carl Lyseng farm on December 30, 1921, the fifth child of Carl and Ragna Lyseng.

When Ivan was three years old, something very important happened in Norway. Gerd Snipstad was born on August 16, 1924 in Vardal, Norway, the eldest of three children born to Jenny and Kaspar Snipstad. Gerd's brothers are Rev. Richard and Harold Snipstad.

The Snipstads immigrated to Canada in 1926 and settled south west of Meeting Creek, where they purchased a quarter section of raw farm land. Gerd attended school at Big Timber which was 21/2 miles from her home, 'til grade 9, then she attended Donalda High School where she graduated in 1943.

Meanwhile, Ivan was receiving an education at Thordenskjold School, about 2 miles west of his home. A horse and cutter or buggy, was the usual means of transportation, so there were few holidays from school due to blocked roads. He says that one of the things he remembers most about school was trying to eat frozen sandwiches which had been kept in the entry until noon. Usually the sandwiches were eaten frozen or thawed out on a stick over the fire.

Ivan decided that he would farm with his father. After finishing school he remembers vividly, breaking twenty acres of land when he first began full time farming. He used a brushcutter pulled by six horses. This brushcutter cut most of the bush with the exception of the biggest trees. Then the bush was piled by hand and burned.

Ivan managed to scrape together $7.00 which he used to purchase a 45 gallon drum of gasoline. That was enough to run the old Case tractor long enough to break the land. Then it was necessary to pick the roots and cultivate the land with equipment pulled by horses. After the harvest was over, and the bumper crop of oats hauled to the elevator, Ivan was able to declare a $90.00 profit!

Gerd, meanwhile, entered the world of teaching and in 1943 entered Normal School. Three months later, she was a fully certified teacher and at 19 years of age stepped into a grade one to eight classroom in Bloomingdale, west of Edmonton. Other teaching spots included Mirror Lake, Kensington, west of New Norway and the Cottage School in Camrose.

While teaching in Camrose, Gerd decided to attend a Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation (L.D.R.) meeting at Scandia Church in Armena. As was a regular occurance at these meetings most of the single men in the area also attended. One of these young men was Ivan Lyseng. After a years courtship, Ivan and Gerd decided to get married, and were engaged on the same day that Everett Grue and Ruth Ramstad got married.

Then on August 19, 1949, Ivan and Gerd were married in the old Camrose Lutheran Church (now the performing Arts Centre), by Rev. Grundahl. They made their home in the same yard that the Carl Lyseng home was situated.

The Ivan Lyseng family grew to five with two sons and a daughter being born.

Douglas was born on June 30, 1950, Keith on January 3, 1954 and their daughter Carol, who finally arrived much to Ivan and Gerd's delight, on April 15, 1957. All three of the children attended Armena School for their elementary education. Douglas graduated from Hay Lakes High School as class valedictorian.

Keith and Carol graduated from Camrose Lutheran College.

Douglas and Keith played hockey for the C.L.C. Vikings during their years at College.

The three children went on to receive a University education. Doug obtained his Bachelor of Education degree from C.L.C. and the University of Alberta.

Keith received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, also from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, while Carol became a Registered Nurse, completing her training at the University Hospital.

Over the years Doug, Keith and Carol chose their life partners and are raising families.

Doug married Margaret Jensen of Camrose on May 26. 1973, and have a son Matthew and are expecting an addion to their family soon. Douglas teaches at Hay Lakes and does some farming where they live just outside of Armena, and where they have built a home.

On August 6, 1977, Carol married Gordon Fadum of Bawlf. After spending two years at Grimshaw where Gordon taught school and Carol Lyseng was a nurse. They moved to a farm near Bawlf, and carry on with their chosen professions. They are soon expecting their first child.

Keith was married on April 4, 1981, to Terri Bertrand. They now live in Edmonton but are hoping to take over the family farm sometime in 1982. Ivan and Gerd will move into Camrose where they have purchased a home.

During the growing years Ivan and Gerd were very busy as well. They operated a dairy farm until 1967, when Gerd decided to go back teaching at Hay Lakes. Ivan sold the dairy cattle at this time and began a cow and calf beef herd as well as grain farming. Gerd taught in Hay Lakes until June 1981, and Ivan still has his beef herd.