Strombotne / Specht

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Memoirs of Gena Arnsdorf

Written May 30, 1984

My father, John Christopher Strombotne was born July 4, 1856, near Nemnes, Norway, on a farm called Stromen I botne, meaning bottom of the stream. He was a boat builder and spent the winters fishing in Lofoden. He had a brother Ole, who was a teacher in Oslo. His two sisters, Pernilla and the other both married teachers. When he was 26 years old, he came to America in 1882. His father, Christopher, lived with a daughter, and died at the age of 99 years. Father took the name of Strombotne for his last name instead of Christopherson, because of the uniqueness. He traveled to Meneota, Minn, to his cousin, Ole Myrvik, a farmer. He learned of a new town, Watertown, S.D. And knew there would be need of carpenters, and settled there.

He sent a ticket to Anna Jacobsen Tybeck in 1885. She sailed in steerage or third class. One month later she arrived in Watertown, South Dakota, USA. She worked for Ben Lee as a hired girl until they were married Jan. 25, 1886, by a Lutheran Pastor Nelson, grandfather of Leslie Mathieson. They lived in a room in the Goss Block, on the floor above Krieser Drugstore.

Later Father built a small home at 316 2nd St. N.E., then called Elm Street. The four children were born at home. He then remodeled the house. Jacob Martin was born July 9, 1888, Christopher July 6, 1890, Olga Mensena, July 20, 1894, Bergena Johanah, February 19, 1897.

Father built many homes in Watertown, and several farm buildings, for the Steins north of town. Some of the homes I know were Helbings in Southeast, Nelson of Nelson & Reed Hardware, Robert Best on maple and Fourth N. E. Abe Sherin (grandfather of Ford Sherin on 2nd st. N.E. & 4th Avew. Two cottages for Mrs. Jurney on 2nd St. N.E. (between 4th & 5th Ave.) across from Gus Hanson, also built by Father. The cottage owned by Jennie Sikkink (504 N. Brdy) and many more.

In the early years when it was too cold to build, he worked at Stokes Milling Co. There were some of his blueprints in the attic, but were not kept. He was naturalized in 1894, and I have the certificate. Anna Strombotne, my mother, told of the hardship of crossing the Atlantic with the storms and wind and conditions of the ship, which was probably a sailboat. She was not used to the cold winter winds in S.D., as there were no winds in Norway where she lived. She would like to go out on her snowshoes in Norway. She was thankful for the sheepskin robe to keep her warm as the house was not finished when they moved in.

Her first romance broke up as Mother’s older sister got the farm to live on and Mother could not live there. Her next love was a poor boy who was not considered financially secure, so her mother and sister broke up their friendship. My father and mother worshipped in the same Lutheran church but lived in a different fjord.

After their second son was born, Mother had several miscarriages, and stayed in bed 10 months so as not to lose Olga. She then became interested and was healed in Christian Science. Then Gena was born.

Mother’s sister Jacobia, (Jenny) came to America and worked in Minneapolis, married there, had a position of keeping house and cooking for several college students. Her husband, Mr. Matson, died and later she took up a claim near Minot N.D. She too became a Christian Scientist and used to stop in Watertown after attending a C.S. Association in Sioux CityIowa, USA. After proving up the claim, she bought a building in Minot, N.D. Where she had roomers and boarders. She married Albert Thompson and they had one child, Ethel, later married Al Johnson.

Martin, the oldest, learned Norwegian, his first language, but soon learned English at the Grant School. So Mother & Dad learned English quickly. While in Sioux City on one trip, Mother bought a large Webster’s Dictionary. We often had to look up words for her. She wanted the correct pronunciation and also the meaning. She hired my fourth grade teacher to come and correct her while she read the Christian Science lesson each week. So Mother lost her Norwegian accent.

Several friends called or came to see Mother for help or prayer which she gave lovingly without pay, sometimes she received a gift. We all had Mother’s help as long as she lived. All her grandchildren went to Christian Science Sunday School.

Martin and Chris were discriminate in school as their parents were from a foreign country. Mother spoke some broken English when we were young, so we did not have much help with our school work. Once she said, “You can correct me, but do not criticize.