The Browne School Teachers - 1931/1936: Bertha Finnestad

Following the one year term of Marion Lee Whittaker, the next 5 school years were taught by Bertha Finnestad:  1931 - 1932, 1932 - 1933, 1933 - 1934, 1934 - 1935 and 1935 - 1936.    This is the longest tenure at the Browne school since at least 1906/1907.

Bertha Finnestad* was born to Elizabeth (Ingebregtsdatter) and Alfred Bartineus Finnestad on January 14, 1910 at the Finnestad farm (commune) in Hetland parish, Rogaland county, Norway.     Her baptism record entry is the 2nd from the bottom of the page.

On July 26, 1915, Bertha (lines 1 - 5) and her mother, Elizabeth and siblings Esther, Marvin and Ingmond sailed from Stavanger, Norway on the ship Kristianiafjord.   They arrived in New York on the 7th of August, 1915.

It is fortunate for the family they did not sail on the Kristianiafjord two years later on June 15th or June 18th.

From the manifest, the family was planning to meet Alfred in David Junction who had already arrived in America.    Davis Junction is south of Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois and north of Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.     

It appears the family had about $50 in their possession at the time of their arrival in New York. Considering inflation that would translate to approximately $1,286.72 today.

According to the 1920 US Census, the Finnestad family had settled in Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois.   Bertha was living (lines 27 - 34) with her parents, Alfred and Elizabeth and siblings, Esther, Marvin, Ingmond, Edith and Alida.

Bertha attended the Calvary Lutheran Church in the adjoining county, Alto township, Lee county.    She was confirmed on May 3, 1925.    She is sitting to the right of the pastor in this photo (to HIS left).

Two of her brothers were in the same confirmation class.   Ingmond is in the 2nd row, third from the left and Marvin is the fourth from the right.

Bertha attended DeKalb Township High School and graduated just a few months prior to The Great Depression in 1929.    The DeKalb Daily Chronicle published the class photos on page 6 of their June 4, 1929 edition.

That same issue on page 10 it was reported that Bertha Finnestad would be attending Northern Illinois State Teachers' College.

The 1930 US Census lists Bertha living (Page 4A lines 46 - 50 & Page 4B lines 51 - 52) with her parents, Alfred and Elizabeth and siblings Marvin, Edith, Alida and Alice in Malta township, DeKalb county, Illinois.  

Bertha is not listed as being employed.

Of note, Marcella (Walter) Mace is living one house away from the Bertha Finnestad family.   Marcella Mace was teaching at the Browne school when this census was taken.

On May 22, 1935, Bertha married Ben Eike.    The 1940 US Census lists Bertha living (Page 8B lines 78 - 80 & Page 9A line 1) in DeKalb, DeKalb township, DeKalb county, Illinois with her husband Ben and their children, Evonne and Ann Marie.    

This census does not list Bertha as being employed.   Apparently her teaching career began and ended with the Browne school.

Bertha (Finnestad) Eike passed away August 16, 1990 in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois.   

Bertha's memorial can be viewed here.

*This Finnestad family is not related to the Finnestad family mentioned here.   While the last place the Ole Finnestad family lived prior to moving to the United States, they do not share the same bloodline.  Additionally, Ole Finnestad and family moved to the United States decades prior to Bertha and her family.