Christian August Hansen Hjermstad
Christian, the son of Rev. Ulrik Carl Severin Hjermstad and Georgine Christine Kolstad, was born on March 20, 1869 in Red Wing, Minnesota. He attended Luther Academy in Albert Lea, Minnesota, 1889-91; Luther College, 1891-95; and Luther Seminary, 1895-98 (C. T.). Christian was ordained in 1899. He was married on June 15, 1899 at the Halfway Creek Lutheran Church to Lillie Mae Gaarder. Lillie Mae, the daughter of Alfred Gaarder and Mary Hanson, was born on September 27, 1874 in Long Coulee, LaCrosse County, Wisconsin. She was baptized at the Halfway Creek Lutheran Church. Lillie Mae was confirmed in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in LaCrosse and graduated from high school in LaCrosse in 1893. She graduated from Winona State Teachers College.
Christian's first pastorate was at Manistique, Michigan where he remained for seven years, 1899-1906. On October 31, 1906, he moved to New Lisbon to serve the East and West Lemonweir Churches. In 1914, Christian and Lillie lived on a farm in Lisbon Township (section 30, 85 acres; New Lisbon P.O.). Christian served the East Lemonweir Church for 34 years, 1906-1941. He served as secretary of the Eastern District of the Norwegian Synod, 1916-17. Christian and his wife lived near New Lisbon until May 1941 when they moved to Onalaska, Wisconsin. Christian died on March 12, 1942 and was buried in the East Lemonweir Cemetery. Lillie died on May 31, 1965 in Lawrence, Kansas. Her funeral was held in the East Lemonweir Church and she was buried in the East Lemonweir Cemetery (Juneau Co Cem Bk 3, p. 228; JGS 5-60).
Children
Ulrick Gaarder, b. ca 1900; conf, 1915, ELC; res: CA.
Camilla, b. ca 1901, Manistique, MI; conf, 1916, ELC; m. Jul 19, 1931, Fountain Twp, Oscar E. Johnson (see); res: Hartford, WI.
Rolf Torstein, b. Sep 23, 1906; bp. Nov 4, 1906 (spon: C. C. S. Hjermstad, Georgine C. Hjermstad, Odd Larsen & h. Kristine, Hilda Larson, and Jacob Quamme); d. Apr 26, 1907; bur: E Lem (Juneau Co Cem Bk 3, p. 226).
Norvald Reidar (Rev.), b. Jan 5, 1908; bp. May 31, 1908, ELC (spon: Tormod & Disa Larson, Lars & Clara Quamme, Lars Benson and Ellen Severson); conf, 1923, ELC; res: Waverly, IA, 1965.
Frieda Adelheid, b. Jun 8, 1911; bp. Jul 2, 1911, ELC (spon: Georgine C. & Hans Hjermstad, Mr. & Mrs. John Anderson, Mrs. Marie Gaarder, and Bertha Quamme); conf, 1925, ELC; m. Jun 15, 1940, by Pastor Norvald Hjermstad, ELC, Rev. Ivar Martin Gjellstad (b. 1912/3, Verendrye, ND s of Conrad Gjellstad & Anna); wit: Berdella Sheggeby & Orville K. Wold.
Erling Tormod Seir, b. Jul 8, 1913, Fountain Twp; bp. Aug 17, 1913, ELC (spon:
Rev. & Mrs. L. S. J. Reque, Laura Johnson, and Marcus Johnson); conf,
1928, ELC; m. Aug 26, 1942, Northfield, MN, Evelyn Netland; d. Sep 28, 1973,
Cedar Rapids, IA; bur: Cedar Rapids Mem. Cem.