Dr. Thorlief T. Naae Family

NAAE, NAA, OVERHEIM, THORESON, HAVDA, WOLCOTT, PETERSON, LOFTSGAARD, SULLIVAN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/13/2006 at 17:02:15

--From Graettinger [Palo Alto Co, IA] Centennial 1893-1993
p. 305-306

DR. THORLIEF T. NAAE FAMILY

Thorlief T. Naae was born on July 26, 1862 in Naa, Hardanger, Norway. He was one of the first children bon to Thorlief Olson Naa and Synneva Overheim. They lived on a farm and raised fruits like red and black cherries, apples and pears. (The name Naa is one of the oldest farm names in Norway.)

He immigrated to the United States in the fall of 1883, at theage of twenty-one. He lived in Canton and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He worked as a clerk, a farmhand, school teacher and college professor of English and Mathematics at Canton Academy. In 1900, he graduated from Keokuk Medical College. He wasa physician in Clay County from 1900 to 1901 and in Graettinger from 1901 to 1940.

He was active in the Lutheran Church and he was the church secretary for thirty-five years. In 1910, he traveled back to Europe and visited his family and relatives in Norway. His hobby was the study of William Shakespeare and he wrote the book, “The Key to Shakespeare,” which was first published in 1915. It was later updated and expanded as a new edition by Meador Publishing in 1935.

On May 31, 1900, he married Birgit Susanna Thoreson. She was born in Lost Island, Palo Alto County, on December 18, 1872, one of ten children of Lars (Havda) Thoreson and Guri Olson Loftsgaard. Her brothers and sisters included Theodore, William, Helene, Marie, Anna, Ole, Gena, John and Halvar. Her father was born in September of 1842, in Norway, and immigrated in 1866. His surname was originally Havda but he changed it to Thoreson when he came to the United States. Her mother was born in Norway in February of 1843 and she immigrated in 1853.

Susanna was also active in the Lutheran Church as a Sunday school teacher and as president of the ladies aid.

After Dr. Naae and Susanna Thoreson were married, they lived in Fostoria before moving to Graettinger in 1901 where they lived the rest of their lives. Dr. Naae died on August 5, 1941 and Susanna died in 1952. They had four children: Gudrid, Lloyd, Marion and Regnald.

Gudrid Synneva Naae was born on December 29, 1903. She graduated from high school in 1921, attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and graduated in 1925. She returned to Graettinger and taught school. She also worked for Spies Farmlands and at the light plant. She then moved to Story City and worked at the Sunset Nursing Home for twenty-one years. She retired in 1970 and moved to Spencer where she lived until her death on April 13, 1988.

Lloyd Thorvald Naae was born on October 4, 1906. He graduated from high school in 1924. On May 25, 1930, he married Genevieve Vera Wolcott in Laurens. They lived for a while in Paullina where Lloyd was a barber. In 1940, they moved to Graettinger when Lloyd took a job with the Rock Island Railroad. They subsequently moved to Bricelyn, Minnesota and finally to Emmetsburg. They hd three children: Beverly, Patricia and Lloyd Kent.

Marion Godfry Naae was born on March 13, 1909. He graduated from high school in 1927 and from the University of Iowa with a degree in electrical engineering in 1937. He married Eileen Sullivan on October 22, 1936. They lived for four years in Hammond, Indiana and in 1941, they moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where Marion worked for the Iowa Public Service Company. They have one son, Ronald.

Regnald Theodore Naae was born on May17, 1912. He graduated from Graettinger High School in 1930 and attended the University of Iowa for one year. He married Ivis Ethel Peterson on March 9, 1938, and they made their residence in Graettinger. He was the local postmaster from 1950 until his retirement in 1977. They have one son, Douglas.