Stories/ Photos /Obituaries/ Memorials

Flatau Family

Flatau Family (home) - Kinstories (home) - Johnson Family - Susag Family - Beckman Family
Granquist Family - Anderson Family - Stout Family - Walker Family - Peterson Family - Morris Family - Cauble Family

Violet Marie "Vi" (Flatau) Johnson

November 19, 1919 - December 21, 2014

95 years, 1 month, 2 days

Marriage: Walter Edwin Johnson - married August 10, 1946

Children of Walt & Vi:
Walter Edwin "Wally" Johnson, Jr.
Norris Lee Johnson
Kristin Louise Johnson (Granquist) (Peterson)
Debra Marie Johnson (Schoeneman)
Judy Kay Johnson (Schooler)

The following is taken from a booklet that was written for Albert and Elsie’s 65th Wedding Anniversary celebrated August 14, 1983. Their actual 65th anniversary was January 15, 1984. The booklet was written by Vi Johnson and Kristin Peterson from information supplied by relatives. Susan Flatau provided much of the information from the great records that she keeps. The majority of the information from the booklet has not been modified, but more photos (and some text) have been added.

Violet's Early Years

In the fall of 1919, Albert and Elsie moved to the Beckman farm and on Nov. 19, 1919, their first child was born. She was named Violet Marie.

Fourteen months later, while still on the farm, another daughter was born on Jan. 21, 1921. She was named Rhoda Amanda.

Albert farmed the land at the Beckman farm and also rented farmland on the ‘prairie’. Marie, Elsie’s mother, sold the Beckman farm in the early spring of 1922. In the cold months of spring, Albert, Elsie, and girls were looking for a place to live nearby as they had land rented on the prairie. A granary was the best they could find. It was on the rented land.

Albert and Elsie remember the year of 1922 as a year of disasters.

A good producing cow died; Rhoda had an infected gland lanced in her neck in early March; Violet got a piece of steel in her eye in May and a cracked block on the car developed when Albert, Elsie, Violet, and Emil (Elsie’s brother) went to Fargo to see an eye specialist and Elsie and Violet had to remain in Fargo.

Albert and Emil were near Detroit Lakes when the car broke down. They had only enough money for a loaf of bread and a can of sardines and found drinking water at Detroit Lakes. They saved enough money for train fare to Perham and then walked home.

In the fall of 1922, Albert rented a farm in Perham Township from Emil Husen, a cousin of Marie (Elsie’s mother). It is presently owned by Ray Zeigler (1983).

On March 15, 1923, a son named Vernon Beckman was born at the “Husen” farm.

On October 3, 1924, Rodney Albert was born.

The following is a note from Judy (Johnson) Schooler when visiting with her Mom, Vi (Flatau) Johnson on January 10, 2010.

School

Vi (age 6 years 11 months) and Rhoda (age 5 years 9 months) attended first grade while in Oregon. When they returned from Oregon to the Perham area a year later, Elsie had hoped the girls would attend second grade at the local District #233 school, also known as 'The Flatau School'. However, the teacher had a daughter a little older than Vi and she wanted Vi and Rhoda to go into first grade. Grandma Elsie was upset but conceded. The girls attended first grade for the school year (1927/1928) at the Flatau school. However, Rhoda and Vi attended third grade in Perham for the school year 1928/1929. They stayed with Grandma Marie in her apartment in Perham during the school year. Elsie and Albert would come and get Vi and Rhoda on weekends. Sometimes Grandma Marie wanted to stay in town and sometimes Vi or Rhoda would stay in town with Grandma Marie.

Vi loses vision in her left eye when injured.

In the Spring of 1922, Albert was cutting wire with a chisel and a hammer when a shard flew out. Vi was standing far enough away holding Uncle Emil's hand. However, a piece of metal hit Vi's eye. The adults were shocked at how far the piece of metal flew. Vi remembers seeing blood on her dress. Vi was taken to a doctor in Perham but was told they were not equipped to help with Vi's issue. Albert, Elsie, and Emil took Vi to Fargo leaving Rhoda her Grandma Marie. The doctor tried to unsuccessfully remove the metal with a magnet. An incision was made below the eye and above the cheek. This procedure was done to remove the metal from the under/backside of the eye. Vi's pupil stayed dark-colored until she was about 15 years of age and then lost its color. The pupil remained white the rest of her life. Vi remembers running into the doctor's office with excitement and seeing a big table with a white sheet on it. Elsie stayed with Vi in Fargo for further treatment. They stayed with Husen's family relatives.

The Big Move to Oregon

In 1925 Albert and Elsie bought a new Model T Ford Coach. They were the first in the area to have such a car…it was the first year Ford manufactured a car with glass windows!

In 1926 Albert and Elsie decided to head west to Portland, Oregon.

In September they held an auction selling their farm machinery, livestock and belongings.

A. Diamond was the auctioneer and they were told their auction had drawn the largest crowd Diamond had ever auctioned at.

The family lived at Carl and Amanda’s (Albert’s sister) for a few days until they left on their trip. Grandma Marie also went out West with the family. They stopped at Louise’s place (Elsie's sister) at Jamestown, ND, and then at Clara’s (Elsie's sister) at Linton, ND, and stayed over the weekend and left Monday morning.

The ages of everyone: Albert (28), Elsie, (almost 26), Violet (almost 7), Rhoda (5), Vernon (3), Rodney (almost 2), and Grandma Marie (62).

Monday night they stopped at a farmer’s place to spend the night, sleeping in the car that Albert had fixed for that purpose….a narrow bed for Albert and Elsie was supported by the back window ledge and front dashboard; the front passenger seat was taken out permitting Grandma Marie to sleep along that side; Violet, Rhoda, and Rodney slept alongside her and Vernon by the driver’s seat. Albert helped the farmer milk cows and received milk for the family.

Albert and Elsie remember the trip well. When going over the Continental Divide at Pipestone Pass, they wore out the brakes, low and reverse, and it was necessary to install all new linings that next morning. The only time they paid lodging along the way was at Cabin City near St. Regis, Montana. The trip was approx. 2,000 miles and took 6 days…all on dirt roads until Washington state.

Arrived in Oregon

On October 3, 1926 they arrived in Portland and stayed at Walt and Ida Locke’s place (Albert’s sister). A two-car garage was fixed up for living quarters and the family lived there and Grandma Marie stayed at Locke’s house when she wasn’t away visiting other relatives.

In the spring of 1927, Elsie packed strawberries in a cannery. Albert worked as a hod-carrier for Walt Locke. Violet and Rhoda were in the first grade and Vernon and Rodney stayed with Ida or Grandma Marie.

A Return to Minnesota

Albert and Elsie made arrangements to purchase land near Portland and build a house. However, they longed to return to Minnesota; and on August 18, 1927, Albert, Elsie, Grandma Marie, and the kids left for Minnesota.

An unusual sight in Washington on their return trip was a combine being pulled on a wheat field by 20 mules and one horse for a leader. They stopped in Jamestown at Pete and Louise’s place and almost managed a farm near Spiritwood, ND.

In late August they arrived at Amanda (Elsie's sister) and Carl’s place and stayed there for two weeks. Albert recalls having 50 cents left in his pocket when arriving there.

The family moved to the Theodore Flatau (Albert’s father) homestead.

Violet and Rhoda attended first grade again – at District #233.

In September 1928 Albert and Elsie rented an apartment in Perham so that Violet and Rhoda could attend school there – this time in the third grade. Grandma Marie was their “Mom” while attending school. Weekends and vacations were spent at the farm.

When Vernon and Rodney reached school age, they also stayed with Grandma Marie and attended school in Perham.

Various Bits of Information

The following are bits of information as told to Sue Flatau as she rode with Walt & Vi Johnson from Perham, MN to Seattle, WA on July 12 & 13, 2003.

Every Sunday in summer after church they (Albert, Elsie, Vi, Rhoda, Vern, Rod) would stop at Theodore Flatau's in town. Everyone brought something to eat. Albert & Elsie would bring a pail of milk and a pail of eggs.
Booyah, a big collective pot of soup. Everyone would bring something and it would be all cooked together for a soup.
Pearl & Harry Flatau, sister & brother, hitched a ride on a freight train and went out west. Ernest, their Dad, would leave for months and then come home and sell the calf that Mabel had raised while he was gone. He would keep all the money.
Vi lived in Sheridan. Her roommate was Opal Lofgren, who worked at the courthouse.
Opal's parents lived in Cody by the Yellowstone National Park entrance. During WW II Yellowstone was closed because of the shortage of gasoline.
Vi's friend, Helen Hamann had a car, when Vi lived in Sheridan, WY. Helen worked at the city hall. Her son and wife (?) had a ranch in Gillette in the hills. Vi and Opal would pool their gas coupons and buy gas for Helen's car. They went to every cow or bull sale around. There was often an Indian powwow at these gatherings.
While growing up, they were not supposed to climb trees because they might fall. So they (Vi, Rhoda, Vern, Rod) went behind the barn. It seemed that Grandma (Elsie or Marie) could see over the barn.
If there was a circus in town, Elsie always went. Also to the theater. They (Albert & Elsie) had a built-in babysitter. (Grandma Marie). Elsie was used to going places.
Elsie started school in Perham. Then in 1909 when they moved to the farm and built the house, she went to the Flatau School. She graduated from 8" grade in Linton, ND where Louise and Marie were working in a department store.
Linton, ND was on a railroad branch line. This is where Louise and Emma (Elsie sisters) met Pete and Clint (their future husbands)
Louise adopted Laverne and Margie. They knew Laverne's birth mother, who was single and couldn't take care of the baby. Margie's birth mom was young and never married but they never knew her name.. Laverne and Margie did not know they were adopted until Laverne was very sick (16-18 yrs. old). Louise was afraid she would die so told her she was adopted. Laverne was very unhappy with the news.
Laverne went to California during the depression because Clara lived there. Clara had been in charge of a soap kitchen in Linton, ND. Clara, Alex, Lucille, and Bud all went to California and worked in a factory.
Vi's first job was at Joe Krueger's (taking care of the kids when Helen left to care for her ill mother)
Grandpa Albert bought land from a Catholic priest from Pierz, MN, who had been in Perham. Albert was disgusted because there was a strip along Devil's Lake that the priest had quit-claimed onto the John Flatau farm.
Theodore had gone to the priest for money, planning to sign over the southern 80 acres. When the paperwork was finished and signed, the home place was included.
Vi's eye - Robert Flatau was standing nearby also.
In March 1946, Walt was back from the Navy. He went to the first dance with Bob Shaw. After the dance, they went for breakfast. Rodney and Marian asked them to sit with them because the place was full. He didn't know Vi. Helen was out with her parents. Rodney and Marian invited them to Rod's sisters for a party and he turned them down.

Vi Marries Walt

Violet Marie Flatau married Walter Edwin Johnson in Perham, MN on August 10, 1946. They lived and worked in Waukesha, Wisconsin and their first child, Walter Edwin, Jr. was born.

Walt longed to farm and in March 1948, they moved to the former Ed Senske place, which they purchased (Vern Flatau is the present owner). Norris Lee and Kristin Louise were born in Perham and came home to the Little Place.

In the fall of 1951 they were able to buy the former Albert Wiese farm now owned by Dale Flatau. Debra Marie and Judy Kay were born while living on this farm.

The family decided to move to Port Angeles, WA and on October 19, 1963 they held an auction and sold their farm too. On November 11, 1963, the family arrived in Port Angeles and Walt worked at a plywood mill. Vi took care of children in their home for 8 1/2 years and now spends many volunteer hours for the mentally handicapped. Walt retired in March 1983.

School and Work

Vi attended Central Dakota Commercial College in Jamestown, North Dakota from 1938 to 1939. She lived with her Aunt Louise and her Mom (Elsie) often came to visit.
In 1939 (age 19) Vi started working with Nash Finch Company in Jamestown, North Dakota.
In 1943 (age 24) Vi was transferred to Nash Finch Co. in Sheridan, WY where she lived and worked for over a year.
In 1944 Vi moved back to Perham, MN where she took a job with Perham Jobbing Co and later in February 1946 worked for Perham Mfg. Co.

The following was from Art Beckman, Vi's first cousin. Vi and Art were first cousins with Vi being five years older.

Art remembers the dances at Luce when they were young kids. He was about 6 or 7 and Vi was 11 or 12. “Vi taught me how to waltz,” says Art. She was always counting one-two-three, one-two-three. I have fond memories of being at Aunt Elsie’s and Uncle Albert’s. We lived in the same home at one time. It was fun with Vi, Rhoda, Vern, Rod, my sister Pearl and me when we were all together. Vi played piano. We also square danced. We had a lot of fun growing up.

Schooling

1926—Lange School, Perham Township—Kindergarten

1926-1927—Gresham, Oregon—1st Grade

1927-1928—Flatau School, Hobart Township—1st Grade

1928-1938—Perham Public School—3rd Grade through High School

1938-1939—Central Dakota Commercial College, Jamestown, North Dakota

Work

1931-1938—Babysitting, part-time

August 1938—Worked at Joe Krueger's while Helen's mother was ill

October 1938—started babysitting part-time for Fred Brook's

1939-1943—Nash Finch Company in Jamestown, ND

April 1939—Part-time: Nash Finch Company in Jamestown, ND