Stadems Saga Continues
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More of Life On & Beyond Plain View Farm
>Kids at Chamberlain, S.D., Lakota Indian Tribe, sent this picture, and we took the liberty of putting in these letters! Thanks go to St. Joseph's School, Chamberlain, S.D.
VELKOMMEN! Remember how the front door is for more formal events, but the back door is everyone can "come as you are"? No wonder the back door is the most used door! Well, that is the same here. You can be comfortable in any sort of clothes, and can even come straight from the barn if you like, with your shoes smelling of, let's say, hay. Be yourself, and step right in! The porch has just the right space for boots, or heavy winter coats and mittens. A cat may be sitting as close to the door as possible, so just step on over Puss and enter. What is that absolutely heavenly fragrance you smell? Why, Mama's fresh-baked bread! And there is the aroma of fresh-perked coffee, homemade pie and doughnuts too!
What more of a welcome and greeting could you want than all this traditional Norwegian farm ambiance in all its homely splendor?
You know its the back yard because of the windmill, which you can read about in one of Pearl's stories, by the way! Along with the Heritage Center Project, we plan to erect a windmill where it was on the Farm, and a fund is in process of providing for it! And don't miss checking out Pearl Stadem Ginther's ever-popular Plain View Farm horse stories!
PLAIN VIEW FARM, THE EARLY, UNPRETENTIOUS, SOME WHAT ODORIFOUS BACKYARD VIEW THAT WASN'T TRYING TO IMPRESS ANYONE!
Since this is a Norwegian household, expect a Scandinavian Smorgasbord and all you Swedes, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders out there won't be disappointed either! Even if you aren't Scandinavian, you are just as welcome! The coffee and doughtnuts were an appetizer, and here comes the real food!
Help yourself to any number of special things you won't find anywhere else. Here you will find tributes to Dakota Pioneers, tales of Plain View Farm for children, a photo album, the Plain View Farm picture calendar, genealogy, tributes to our special school the Academy, trips to Norway "The Old Country," our Scandinavian cartoons, and our holiday and Christmas celebration section contributed mainly by Estelle Rangen (who has gone on to glory, after a most courageous, even inspiring battle against cancer).
Newly gleaned from the PVF Archives:
Sever (Right) and Alfred, two brothers, sons of Marie and Peder Stadem
Bernice Schaefer pulling out two loaves from a cupboard of Plain View Farm, after baking 32 loaves for the Reunion of 1986.
In the 1950 Alfred and Bergit Stadem inaugurated evangelism meetings in tents they had brought in by truck, inviting the communities round about, including Bryant to join in. Many people came to hear the messages of various evangelists and sing and worship the Lord Jesus together.
Other items of special interest from the PVF Heritage Center Archives:
1. Apparently, there was question in the Social Security Administration concerning Bergit Stadem's maiden name of Holbeck. For this reason Alfred typed out an explanation on the reverse side of a a Norwegian language document relating Bergit Wilhelmine's (no last name, Holbeck, given) ancestry and parentage, dated August 30, 1889.
On the other side is typed information to the Social Security Administration, by Alfred Stadem for Bergit Stadem, from Bryant, SD, Sept. 20, 1957. The information of chief interest is that "Holbeck was a placename from Denmark, attached to distinguish the family from other Anderssen's, in that vicinity. The notary that signed the official paper on the other side is mentioned for Bergit by Alfred thus: "Possibly the notary at Upsaker was familiar with this, and omitted the name Holbeck that was commonly used, around Mandal. I have an older sister and brother, who is a pastor, the before mentioned, who live in this country, that can verify the above statements too." 2. A "Mortgage with Power of Sale" state form bearing names of Alfred J. P. Stadem and Martin S. Stadem, dated Dec. 11, 1911. It is notarized and refers to land Alfred and Bergit Stadem are acquiring from Martin Stadem for the price of $700, comprising 80 acres "more or less according to the U.S. Survey thereof," at 6% per annum.
3. Inspection Card (Immigrants and Steerage Passengers) on the Hellig Olaf, a ship departing March 27, 1903 from Christiansand, Norway, with Birgit Holbak, Berth Number 2110, K40. The card is stamped Apr 10, 1903. On the back of the card is printed: "Keep this Card to avoid detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States." The same instruction is given in Norwegian and some other Scandinavian languages. There is a section verifying Bergit Holbak was vaccinated, with the stamped name "O. Davidsen" in green, with title "Ships Surgeon" beneath.
We have recently illustrated the Plain View Farm musical drama we hope to see portrayed someday on the Farm, using it as a natural stage!
"TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT."
Does that Bible verse refer to Christian schooling? You bet it does! We need to tell you that PVF was very much centered on Christian education! It began in the home, first and foremost! The family was taught reverence for God and knowledge of him at the Family Altar, as it was then called: prayer and Bible reading with everyone present. Then the family studied all week to be ready for Sunday School lessons and Worship come Sunday! They prepared themselves in every way for that event, so they were Berean-like, they were nore noble than most families who go to church today pretty much as they feel like going, without any preparation, with the "Just as I Am, Take Me" attitude. Yes, church will take you just as you are, but what spiritual gift will you be able to contribute to the others present? You will be just a taker, not a giver. You drain away the life at the church, you contribute nothing. The Stadems were givers, not just takers! And from the home schooling in things of God, they went on to attending (every son and daughter of them) Augustana Academy, in Canton, SD. What was this school, and why was it chosen? You can have the answers to those questions most easily, by going to:
Central for Augustana Academy
There is much, much more, so come and sit at the table and enjoy! Don't eat and rush away. Come back for second, thirds, and fourths! Return guests will always find something new as well.
ANNOUNCING THE PLAIN VIEW FARM HERITAGE CENTER PROJECT! Yes, there will be a Heritage Center where Scandinavian culture, food, and customs can be shared and enjoyed. But this Center will primarily feature the unique legacy of godly pioneering parents, Alfred and Bergit Stadem, as they made founded Plain View Farm on God's word and the faithfulness of the Lord. Their nine children all were raised in this wonderful faith that their parents lovingly nurtured them with. It made a tremendous difference in all their lives, and it will still make a difference in yours! Check it out, and you will not regret the time spent! Far from it! You will want to tell others too what you have discovered here.
But please check out the Heritage Center. The complete details are on the Plain View Farm Home Page, on Geocities, with the link here:
PLAIN VIEW FARM HOME PAGE FOR THE HERITAGE CENTER PROJECT
ARTHUR STADEM TRIBUTE
Arthur Stadem died young, in his early twenties, in a tragic plane crash. Over sixty years have passed for us in the family since Arthur D. Stadem's departure from this earth to heaven (no one has the slightest doubt, who knew him, that he was heaven-bound, even in his early youth and early manhood) in the sudden plane crash January 9, 1947. To commemorate him better, his page has been worked on, so that it has pictures, and more will be added.
Please check out this page, for it tells about a most remarkable person. He, unlike many people, was a man of few words.
Calvin Coolidge was such a person. One woman wagered with another that she could get him to say more than two words. She told the President about this wager. "You lose," he remarked.
A SPECIAL TREAT FOR CHILDREN ARE OUR PLAIN VIEW FARM CHILDREN'S STORIES HERE ON THE STADEMS SAGA WEBSITE! Check out the Tales for a Lille Tupa and Tupin, which are all, except one, illustrated! You will like them, so try them out on your children, and they will love them! They are true stories, by the people who experienced them!
ALSO, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE THREE ACTS OF THE PLAIN VIEW FARM MUSICAL, WHICH HAVE BEEN ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF ALL NINE CHILDREN AND ALSO PAPA AND MAMA STADEM.
PLAIN VIEW FARM, THE MUSICAL DRAMA, By Ronald Ginther
Paul Rangen, a beloved cousin who went Home to Heaven in 2000, signed our guestbook more than once and expressed his appreciation of the Plain View Farm websites. But Paul is even more a blessing since then! I found that out unexpectedly re-reading a letter he had sent out to the whole relationship four months before his Homegoing. He was telling about how his hope, at the point of vanishing, was unexpectedly revived by a radio testimony from the very same station where he worked. He had collapsed on the way from church, been taken to Intensive Care at the hospital, and the letter describes what happened as he desperately needed a touch from God to revive his spirits--and how God came through for him. This letter did not minister to me in 2000 like it did just a few days ago, when I found myself in different circumstances (not in a hospital with lung disease) but a situation that seemed hopeless and with no way of it turning better. Maybe others can identify with this. If you can, or desperately need a touch from God, and are praying but seemingly not being heard, please link to Paul Rangen's letter. When friends and family fail you, when even God doesn't seem to be listening, here is an opportunity for "God to make a way where there seems to be no way."
Paul Rangen's Letter, April 8, 2000
And Please Look Into our New Master Directory for all Nine Sites:
WWW.OARINGINTHERIVER.COM Master Directory
Links to other Plain View Farm pages and other Plain View Farm sites on the Web
Please go to the new series, Plain View Farm Reunions, as they are now appearing on the Plain View Farm family of websites, to relive the golden memories of Christian fellowship, food, and fun that will never fade away. You will also find information on Stadem Grandson Stephen Stadem's beautiful new watercolor picture of the old Plain View Farm barn, which he created to raise funds for the building of the proposed new multipurpose meeting facility.
Pastor Joe and Estelle Rangen's Christmas Message, 1987, on the Buffalo Mound Website
Horrors! A ducklike species of Extraterrestrials has invaded all the Scandinavian countries, drawn by the fumes of drying codfish perhaps, and completely replaced the human population, who were apparently all abduckted and taken away to colonize planets in outer space. The aliens have quickly settled in to the Scandinavian lifestyle, and with few changes have made it their own. You will enjoy seeing how well the Scandinavian traditions have survived and are flourishing amongst the aliens. Well, see for yourself!
EVER WONDER WHAT HAS GONE WRONG WITH THE PUBLIC AND EVEN THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN AMERICA GENERALLY? WHY IS HARVARD, FOR EXAMPLE, FOUNDED AS A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL DEVOTED TO TRAINING UP YOUNG PEOPLE IN GODLINESS AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE TO CHURCH AND COUNTRY, COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE TODAY? A REAL MUST TO READ--THIS VERY PROPHETIC AND FARSIGHTED SPEECH GIVEN TO AUGUSTANA ACADEMY STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN 1947 BY PEARL STADEM-GINTHER IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON, PERFECT FOR TODAY'S SCHOOLS--IT ALL CAME TO PASS, AS ANYONE CAN SEE TODAY, BUT PROVIDES THE WAY TO MAKE A REAL, CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. A REAL CHANGE MUST BEGIN WITH RETURNING TO CHURCH, A BIBLE-BASED CHURCH, AND PIETY--REAL, SINCERE FAITH IN GOD EXPRESSED IN LOVE FOR JESUS AND LOVE OF OTHERS...JUST LIKE OUR PILGRIM FOREBEARS, WHO FOUNDED OUR ONCE SPIRITUALLY GREAT NATION...
TRIBUTE TO CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BY PEARL GINTHER
PLEASE ALSO LINK TO OUR PRAIRIE FARM SITE ON ANGELFIRE FOR A NUMBER OF SOBERING AS WELL AS FUNNY REFLECTIONS OF THE FARM AND MAMA AND PAPA STADEM BY DAUGHTER ESTELLE AND OTHERS IN THE FAMILY:
Life on Prairie Farm
Š 2012, Butterfly Productions, All Rights Reserved
