Vi’S First 90 Years

Violet Marie Flatau Born November 19,1919 in Perham, MN

Vernon Rhoda Violet Rodney Vi’s Family Albert Elsie

Grandma Marie Elsie’s mom lived with Albert & Elsie from the time Violet was born until her passing in 1954

Violet was born in this house that was built by her grandfather, August Beckman, in 1909.

Violet Vernon Rhoda 1924 Rhoda Vernon Violet

The family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1927 where Albert worked as a hod carrier. The family lived in the garage (above) at Walter & Ida Locke’s home. Ida was Albert’s sister. They stayed for a year and a half in Oregon before moving back to the Perham, MN area.

Rhoda, Violet Rodney, Vernon 1927 Taken while living in Portland, OR

Violet School mate Marie Gable Rhoda All in same grade 1927

In the car: Rodney, Vernon, Vi, Rhoda, Elsie Emil, Liz, G. Marie, Art, Margie, Pearl, Laverne - 1928 A car similar to the one above was the transportation to Portland, OR. Can you imagine the highways in 1927 and camping along the way? Albert & Elsie slept on a narrow bed supported by the back window ledge and front dash board. The front passenger seat was removed & placed on the side of the car. Grandma Marie slept on it (along with Violet, Rhoda, and Rodney). Vernon slept on driver’s seat.

1928 Rodney, Violet, Rhoda, Vernon Violet age 9

1929 Vernon, Violet, Rodney, Rhoda

1933 Rodney, Violet, Rhoda, Vernon Violet age 14

Rhoda age 12 and Violet age 14

Vi’s Mom, Elsie Aunt Marie Aunt Louise Aunt Emma Grandma Marie 1936 Vi’s father , Albert, came from a family of 12 children. Vi’s mother ,Elsie, was the youngest of 12 children. As Violet grew up there were many family gatherings. Since Grandma Marie lived with her family most of the gatherings were at Albert & Elsie’s. The summers were always filled with visitors coming to see Grandma Marie.

Violet’s Aunts and Uncles August and Marie Beckman (Elsie’s parents) Theodore and Mina Flatau (Albert’s parents) Martha (died at age 13) Albert & Martha (died at 5 months) Wilhelm (died at age 1) Emma Parks - Marr. Clint Ida (Locke) Bell - Marr. Walter; Marr. Harry Augusta (died at age 2) Amanda Flatau - Marr. Carl Louise Schriner - Marr. Pete Ernest Flatau - Marr.Mabel Bill Beckman - Marr.Marie Louis Flatau - Marr. Minnie John Beckman - Marr. Ann Albert Flatau - Marr. Elsie Marie Friestad - Marr. Anker Theodore and Emma Flatau Clara Walther - Marr. Alex Otto (died in infancy) Minnie Hielman - Marr. Johnny Marr. Fred Robert Flatau Herman Flatau - Marr. Sophie Emil Beckmann - Marr. Liz Marr. Helen Elsie Gustavson - Marr. Sivert Walter Flatau - Marr. Agnes Elsie Flatau - Marr. Albert

Laverne Shriner, Elsie, Albert, Louise Shriner, Rhoda, Grandma Marie, Lucille Parks, Nona Jean Friestad, Violet, Margie Shriner, Bonnie Parks, Emma Parks, Anker Friestad, lower row: Vernon, Frank Parks, Rodney, Inez (Inie) Parks ,(Marie Friestadtook photo - 1936)

Marie Friestad, Elsie, Albert, Grandma Marie, Violet , Rhoda Violet age 19

Grandma Marie and the four kids Vi and Rhoda 1938 graduation (Violet age 19)

Violet attended Central Dakota Commercial College in Jamestown, ND from 1938 to 1939. She lived with her Aunt Louise and her Mom (Elsie) came often to visit. Age 19

In 1939 (age 20) Violet started working with Nash Finch Co. in Jamestown, ND Age 22 1941

Rhoda, Vernon, Rodney, Violet Albert & Elsie - 1941

Age 22 Rhoda & Vi - 1941 Age 20

In 1943 (age 24) Violet was transferred to Nash Finch Co. in Sheridan, WY where she lived and worked for over a year.

Violet Age 25 (1944) In 1944 Vi moved back to Perham, MN where she took a job with Perham Jobbing Co and later in February 1946 worked for Perham Mfg. Co.

Grandma Marie, Vi, Karen Koehnen, Vernon, Liz and Emil Beckman, Elsie - 1946

Rodney in 1944 Vernon, Vi, Art Beckman, Karen in 1946

Vi at the ball game with friends! Age 27 1946

Vi met Walt at a dance in 1946 after Walt’s sisters (Helen and Eleanor) introduced them!

Walt & Vi were engaged to be married on July 27th

Walt & Vi were married on August 10th!

In case you didn’t do the math. Met June 27th, engaged on July 27th and were married August 10th . That would be 45 days! In 2009 Walt & Vi celebrated their 63rd Anniversary. Very nice.

38 Mrs. Walter E. Johnson August 10, 1946

Rodney, Vernon, Walt, Vi, Bernice Jahn, Marian (who later married Rodney) Jerry Krueger, Winnie Flatau

The newlyweds took a two week honeymoon while traveling to their new home in Waukesha, WI.

Walt had taken a job at the Waukesha Motor Company. Shortly after, Vi started work in the office until the birth of their first child Walter E. Johnson, Jr.

Walter Edwin Johnson, Jr. Born August 1947

Walt, Vi and baby Wally moved back to the Perham area in March of 1948. They bought a 50 acre farm and Walt became a farmer and Vi became a homemaker.

The house had only three small rooms, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing. In later years the farm was affectionately known as ‘the little place’

Kristin Louise was Born March 16, 1950 Norris Lee was born February 18, 1949

In October 1951 Walt, Vi and the three kids moved to a 365 acre farm where they raised hogs and sheep. The brick house was built in 1911. There was plenty of room with seven bedrooms. Photo courtesy of Dale & Linda Flatau

A night out with Walt & Agnes on Maurice & Mary Skoogs wedding, Oct. 17, 1953

On October 2, 1956 Debra Marie was born. Judy Kay was born December 8, 1957

In 1958 Walt and Vi were told by their doctor that both Judy Kay’s hips were dislocated…probably since birth. Judy (age 1 ½) spent the next 2 years in and out of Gillette State Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Sometimes Judy stayed in the hospital for six months at a time. Walt and Vi would make the long trip to St. Paul as often as they could to see Judy during the only visiting hours: 2 hrs. on Sat. & 2 hrs. on Sun.

It was a very difficult time for them. The photo shows Judy with a pin through her knee to allow the weight of a sandbag to pull on her leg and reposition her hip. Today it is almost unimaginable that as a parent you would not be allowed to be with your child, especially when your baby just had an operation.

Judy had a special chair built to allow her to sit with a mostly full body cast. Judy and Debra playing on the floor

In 1958 Vi started the Eagerettes 4-H Club in Gorman Township. Many of the neighbor kids were involved and all enjoyed taking their livestock, cooking, sewing, or garden project to the yearly Perham Fair. The club had a popular booth at the fair that sold the best Buns & Bar-b-que in the county. Wally and his sheep that he took to the fair.

Rhoda, Bud, Lorraine, Vernon, Vi, Walt, Marian, Rodney In 1959 Vi was instrumental in starting a local Homemaker’s Club. Her sister-in-laws and her mom were members of this group and it is still a functioning club today.

Vi has always been a photographer. She is a great genealogist , photographer and historical record keeper. She has a daily journal from 1963 to today. Interesting events that her children enjoy reading about…or sometimes not. Christmas 1962 Vi was the photographer

took a trip out west to visit relatives in Port Angeles, WA. The decision was soon In August 1963 the family made to relocate to Port Angeles. The family returned to Minnesota and made preparations to move. In October 1963, they sold the farm and had an auction.

In 1965 the Johnson’s move into the house on 608 Whidby. As of 2009 Walt & Vi have been residing at this house for 44 years.

Note from Kristin: “Not my glasses. They belonged to the photographer!” 1965

Vi on snowmobile in 1967 Vi is sitting behind Karen on the snowmobile. Later Vi was driving it by herself. She followed the guys up a steep hill and slid right off the back end and rolled down the hill. Age: 48 Rod and Albert in the background.

In September of 1970 Vi started an in-home childcare business. Some of the fondest memories are of the yearly Easter Egg hunts in her back yard. Vi operated her in-home childcare business until June 1975.

1973 The fisherman (Walt) is tickled that he got the land lover (Vi) into the boat.

1977 Vera and Vi having a hilarious time playing PONG. What a hoot!

Jessica & Joel Greg and Gary Walt Brad 1988

On their way to Alaska. One of their many trips. 1989

Judy &Hannah Jennifer Gary Norris Kristin Erik Joel Lisa Vi Debra &Scott Walt Jesse Jack Beau Brad Sara Dale 1990

1994 Joel Lisa Jack Brad Sara Beau Jesse Scott Erik Hannah Dale

Julius Jack Alissa Orin Dale Brad Sara Erik Joel Hannah Lisa & Marissa 2005

Vi’S First 90 Years

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