Published while still in draft form - Ap 11, 2013
Anna (Xavier) Larson and Her Extended Family
Most of the third generation of American-born Saami of the Xavier family (mostly Baby Boomers, generation "D"), are familiar with the fact that Anna Xavier was the second-eldest child of Karl Xavier and Bina (Kammerud) Xavier. Anna was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1908 (?) while Karl Xavier was a professor at the Lutheran Normal School (LNS). The LNS of South Dakota was a teacher training college-level school, and the LNS indeed trained many a school teacher for the various church and public schools in the Norwegian-American communities. The teachers were prepared for grades one through twelve.
Anna moved with her family to Minneapolis in 1924, when Karl Xavier died suddenly. There she would live and grow up in the "Nordeast" world of 1414 Monroe Street NE, in the immediate vicinity of cousins of the Aasen family. Rev. Anders Aasen and wife Marith (Xavier) Aasen (Karl Xavier's sister) had persuaded Anna's mother, Bina (kamrud) Xavier, to move to Minneapolis. That city had a well-developed Norwegian Lutheran community, good economic conditions, and plenty of opportunity for activities related to church life and education.
Like her siblings, Anna attended Immanuel Lutheran Church (Served by Rev. Aasen), and also Edison High School. "The University of Edison," as many called it, was a central factor in knitting together the ethnically diverse Nordeast. On Monroe Street NE were cousins, and ultimatley, in-laws, as Anna's brother, Bjarne, knew and married neighbor Violet (Peterson?).
Those of the next generation down who live away from the Pacific Northwest often remember Anna for her many visits to the Midwest. However, but many of her contributions to Xavier family traditions and events predate the birth of the Baby Boomer generation. Among memories of growing-up years in Northeast Minneapolis, as recounted by brother Karl Astrup Xavier, were that Anna was very athletic. She was both patient and competent, and ultimately successful, in teaching him and younger brother, Valdemar Ulrik Xavier, the basics and some of the subtleties of the game of tennis.
Anna was also remembered by brother Karl Astrup Xavier for her dignified and yet deeply spiritual leadership during the final illness of their mother, Bina, in 1931. It would be an inadequate cliche to say that much more than the teaching of tennis was at stake in those difficult moments. Anna rose to the occasion, showing a great versatility of roles, as sister and comforter. Karl Astrup Xavier, on a number of occasions, recounted the gratitude of the siblings of the family for Anna's leadership during Bina's last days.
By the time of Bina's death in 1931, Uncle Anders O. Aasen and Aunt Marith (Xavier) Aasen had moved on to Canada, and Fritz's brother, Rev. L. T. Larson had become pastor of the neighborhood church, Immanuel Lutheran. L.T. Larson went on to play an important part in many aspects of the extended Xavier family, as the now-orphaned children of Karl and Bina began their various rites of passage.
Anna's Marriage to "Uncle Fritz" and Their Move to the Seattle-Tacoma Area
Amongs these rites of passage was Anna's wedding. Anna married Fritjof "Fritz" Larson in the 1930s(?) in Minneapolis at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Ceremony was presided over by Rev L. T. Larson, brother of Fritz. Fritz and Anna ultimately became parents of four children, choosing to move to the West Coast in the 1930s. To begin that process, Fritz and brother-in-law Karl Astrup Xavier worked their way to Seattle on a railroad,either the Great NOrthern or the Northern Pacific. This they did as casual summer crew members, for track repair, and general summer upkeep work.
Fritz became enamored with the Seattle-Tacoma area and decided not to return to Minneapolis. Anna and the two children (Jon and Sharon) were sent for, and family possessions were loaded up a railroad box car to head to the Pacific northwest. Of course, Kris and Alan were added to the family later, and we got to meet them at the much-celebrated 1956 Reunion.
This major move laid the foundations for one of the major and most notable contributions of the Larson family, for Fritz and Anna were to host the Xavier Family Reunion in Tacoma, Washington in 1956.
Anna and Fritz Host the 1956 Xavier Family Reunion
The 1956 Reunion was one of three key Reunions (1956, 1961 and 1966) that set the framework, tone and traditions for the sixty-year plus tradition of the Reunions, now held every three years. The 1956 Reunion was held at the Tacoma, Washington home of Fritz and Anna, a rambling Victorian with a huge yard and a large carriage house. This was a Reunion held with the usual 50 or so attendees, including large numbers of cousins reaching high school age or more and, of course, included cousins of much younger ages as well. A standing family joke was that Fritz and Anna had purchased the spacious property with the reunion in mind.
The 1956 Reunion was the introduction for many Midwestern family members to the stunning beauty of the mountains and Pacific Northwest. One side trip included an outing to the The Reunion included a lot of "pitching in" for the post-meal cleanups which also featured a lot of singing. However, it had become clear that the women still bore an unfair amount of the time and hassle factors (mostly related to meal preparation), so this became the last Reunion of cooking in-house.
This Reunion will have a spin-ff article of itw own, in recognition of its stature and to fit into the context of 2013, as Reunion year.
Anna's Brother-in-law, Rev. L.T. Larson
Another Larson family member, Rev. L.T. Larson, was a brother of Fritz. Rev. L.T. Larson's impact derived from his role as pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church on Monroe Street NE in the Northeast area of Minneapolis. Rev. Larson and his wife succeeded Rev. Anders O. (A.O.) Aasen and Marith (Xavier) at Immanuel in 1930 and participated in various rites of passage for the Extended Xavier Family.
Among these rites of passage were marriages and confirmations, and the landmark funeral of the Xavier family, that of Bjarne (1910-1944). On a very moving note, Rev. L.T. Larson presided over the January 1945 memorial service at Immanuel Church for Bjarne, known to the US Army as 2nd Lt. Bjarne K. Xavier. Bjarne who had died in France in December of 1944 from wounds inflicted during an artillery exchange.
Pastor L.T. Larson himself wrote the tribute appearing in the church bulletin, which pointed to the loss suffered by his widow Violet, and daughter Barbara. He paid tribute to Bjarne's having volunteered for service even as he had previously completed military obligations many times over in the Minnesota National Guard.
Among those attending the memorial service presided over by Pastor L.T. Larson were my parents, Karl Astrup and Edith (Bethke) Xavier. As with several other family members, they traveled some distance to attend the service, in their case by rail from North Dakota, in overcrowded conditions such that many passengers were standing for most of the trip to Minneapolis. On several occasions over the years they shared with me their appreciation for the leadership and dignity Pastor Larson brought to the family at a most difficult moment.
More will be posted over time about the Larson families and their large impact on the Xavier family, and I will try to post here or in another article the bulletin of the church funeral presided over by Pr. L.T. Larson.
