Monkelien, Charleene Mae

MONKELIEN, RATH, VOSS, TOLLEFSRUDE, PETERSON, JOHNSON, KNUDSLIEN, SYNSTELIEN, HANSON, ROSTAD, HUNT

Posted By: Kara Cayem (email)
Date: 9/10/2023 at 23:45:52

Charleene Mae Monkelien was the third daughter born to Clarence Elvadore Monkelien (1886-1966) and Minnie Rath (1893-1963). She was born at the farmhouse in Section 28 Grant Township, Pocahontas on 26 Nov 1928 and died in West Covina, CA on 31 Dec 2005.

Her grandparents were Anton Nils Monkelien and Julia Ann Tollefsrude. On her mother's side were August Rath and Caroline Frederike Voss. Her Great Grandparents were: Nils Olsen Monkelien, Maria Kolterud, Hans Christian Tollefsrude and Bereth C Lund. These pioneers from Norway founded the small community of Rusk and homesteaded the farm still in the family today. On her mother's side were Johannes Rath, Charlotte Uln, Carl Voss and Friederike Mathiess all from Germany.

Charleene had two sisters Leona Marie Monkelien (1913-2008) and Lauretta Ruth Monkelien(1920-2006).

Leona married Clarence "Dutch" De Young (1896-1962) on 24 Feb 1945. They had no children of their own but Clarence had been married before to Tillie Bertha Hatteberg (1903-1965) . They had two sons Raymond Lewis De Young (1928-2010) and Richard Laurence De Young (1928-2014). Clarence and Tillie were divorced before 1945.

Lauretta married first William Joseph Blackwell "Bill" (1918-1969) 5 July 1941 in Missouri. They lived in Kansas City, KS and had two sons. William Joseph Blackwell " Billy Joe" (1949-2020) and David Monkelien Blackwell (1956-2006). After William Joseph "Bill" died she married second William Monroe Dooley "Bud" (1912-1993) in 1971 also in Missouri.

Charleene Mae Monkelien attended school in a one room school house #8 in Grant Township. She became a teacher early and met Robert Hughes Kneedy at Iowa State Teachers College. They married 29 May 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grant Township, Pocahontas Co. The land for Trinity had been donated by her grandfather Anton Nils Monkelien. She enjoyed having cousins all around her and was confirmed on Pearl Harbor Day.

Charleene attended Pocahontas High School and graduated in 1946. She was in the band playing saxophone, was in musicals and was in the Honor Society. Charleene had a beautiful voice and was in church choir for many years wherever she was living.

Robert and Charleene taught in Alta and Spencer before moving to California in 1954. Charleene taught a total of 51 years -45 in California.

Charleene received her BA from Iowa State Teachers College in 1948 where she was honored to be named to the Honor Roll and received her MA from Cal State Los Angeles in 1960.

Charleene was elected Teacher of the Year in 1972 and 1994, received the Honorary Service Award from PTA and the WHO award from the Teacher Association of West Covina. Charleene was also involved in League of Women Voters, Delta Kappa Gamma, was nominated for Citizen of the Year in West Covina in 1977 and was Worthy Matron numerous times for Eastern Star. In addition, she was also a member of Daughters of the Nile, Women's Cub, Scottish Rite Women's Group and a member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church as a charter member.

Charleene and Robert had three daughters Kristin Lynn born 19 Feb 1958. She married Charles Richey in 1979 and they have two sons Nathan and Joshua.

Dr Kara Ann Kneedy was born 15 Oct 1960. She married Dr Maurice Cayem 8 Dec 1984 in West Covina, CA and they also had two sons: Dr Daniel Robert Cayem born 23 Jan 1987 and Timothy Andrew Cayem born 31 July 1991. Daniel was married to Kathryn Bergslien 25 June 2011 and they have three children Grace Taylor born 22 Dec 2016, Robert Andrew born 26 oct 2018 and Joseph Theodore born 17 April 2021 all in Baldwin Park, CA

Laura Marie was born 6 Jan 1963 a few weeks before Minnie, her mother passed away. She married Arthur Cisneros in 1983 and had Julia Ann Grace Cisneros in 1986. She divorced in 1986 and married Robert Tracy Allen from Lexington NE abt 1990. They had a son Robert Thomas born 27 Feb 1991. Robert Thomas had a son William Robert Allen in 2015.

Everyone who knew Charleene loved her gracious and kind ways.