Through Hadeland Lag of America we have been informed that Rannei passed away on 1 November 1913 in the State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. It was David Gunderson, Lag genealogist at Hadeland Lag in Fergus Falls, MN, who supplied the death certificate for Rannei Aamundsdatter Norheim. Rannei was Dave's great-great aunt, so Dave has his roots from Telemark too in addition to Hadeland. In May 2009 Dave received from the Oregon State Hospital a copy of Rannei’s medical records when she was committed in 1913. Rannei clearly had Alzheimer’s disease. Dave found the file to be quite interesting.

David Gunderson coordinated the purchase of a memorial marker for Sondre Norheim's wife Rannei, and the Telelaget of America 's Board of Directors has been a major contributor for the marker. Dave and American relatives have contributed funds too, and the marker is now placed on Sondre's grave in Denbigh, North Dakota.

Today we received a picture of the marker at the grave.

Sondre Auverson Norheim married Rannei Aamundsdatter on 15 January 1854 in Brunkeberg Church in Kviteseid parish in Telemark. Rannei was the daughter of Åmund Olavson Bergestig and Hæge Olsdatter in Øyfjell.

Sondre and Rannei had 8 children:

1. Ingerid Sondresdatter Norheim, born 10 March 1854 in Kvæven in Telemark. She died in 1899 at Hokksund, Norway. Ingerid married Ingebret Ingebretson in February 1884. Ingebret was born in 1851 and died in 1931. Their daughter Gudrun had a son Ingolf Kristian Karlson Andersen, who was the father of Reidun Major Holm who placed the wreath on Sondre Norheim's grave in October 2007. You find some pictures of Reidun in the picture gallery here.

2. Hæge Sondresdatter Norheim, born 1 October 1855 in Kvæven in Telemark. She died in January 1856 at Kasin under Sudbø in Morgedal in Telemark.

3. Ole (Olav Sondresen Norheim) Sanderson, born 18 October 1856 at Nordbø in Morgedal in Telemark. He died on 21 February 1941 at Yamhill County in Oregon.

4. Hæge Sondresdatter Norheim, born 22 August 1859 in Telemark in Norway. We have no further information about Hæge.

5. Anne Sondresdatter Norheim, born 22 October 1863 in Telemark in Norway. She died on 7 November 1947 in Gladstone, Clackamas, Oregon. Anne first married Gilbert Knutsen who was born in August 1855 and died on 24 May 1903 in Grants Pass in Oregon. Anne next married Edward Wormdahl who was born in 1872 and died in November 1936 in Gladstone, Oregon.

6. Auver Sondresen Norheim, born 5 April 1867 at Nordheim in Morgedal in Telemark. He died on 16 March 1879 at Nordheim under Gjersund in Morgedal in Telemark.

7. Amund (Sondresen Norheim) Saunderson, born 28 February 1870 at Nordheim, Morgedal in Telemark. He died on 7 May 1943 at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Amund married Martha Halvorson about 1896 in North Dakota. Martha was born on 26 November 1877 in Benson, Minnesota. She died on 16 June 1972 in Portland, Oregon.

8. Talleiv Sondresen Norheim aka Tolef Sanderson, born 11 November 1872 at Nordheim, Morgedal in Telemark. He died on 21 January 1945 in Yamhill County in Oregon. Talleiv (Tolef) married Amanda Kilo.

A few years after Rannei was buried, the state hospital decided to eliminate the cemetery. Relatives were advised that they had the right to remove the remains of their family members to another cemetery. If they chose not to, the remains would be dug up and cremated.
Rannei’s family chose not to move her remains. She was cremated. The ashes were placed in copper cans, were labeled, and were ultimately forgotten. On the Internet, there are many articles about the “cremains” from the state hospital in Salem. The State of Oregon tried to get families to claim the remains a few years ago. Unfortunately, many of the labels had fallen off. Rannei’s specific remains cannot be identified.

For further information see article here.

More information about Sondre Norheim on the Sondre Norheim web.

3 new pictures added on June 23, see picture gallery from Kviteseid.

At the dedication ceremony at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Denbigh on Sep 30, 2008 at 0900 am there will be representatives from Telelaget of America, Hadeland Lag of America and Norsk Skieventyr (Morgedal) together with representatives from Skien and Telemark.