Individual Details

FULL NAME: Thelma Adella Lorraine Stayberg

Hudson Area Bio Index: Thelma Lorraine Stayberg
Source: HSO, 10 Aug 1939, Marriage, p8; HSO, 23 Jan 1969, Obit, p5
Thelma Lorraine Adella Stayberg
m: Hudson, 26 Jun 1939, Robert J. Gartmann
d/o: John A. & Karine M. (Jenson) Stayberg
sons: Robert J. & Anthony J.
Daughter: Nancy (Mrs. Arthur Hawkinson)
brothers: Herbert Stayberg & John W. Stayberg (deceased 1945)
sister: Mrs. C. P. Erickson (Jeannette)
HHS: 1925

Memorial Card
Thelma L. Gartmann
Date of Birth: 13 May 1907
Date of Death: 19 Jan 1969
Services: 22 Jan 1969, Swanson Funeral Home, Hudson
Clergyman: Rev. Gerben Van Putten
Interment: Willow River Cemetery
Swanson Funeral Home, Hudson

Thel worked for Mrs. Torinus in Stillwater . . . "Looking Backward" by E. L. Roney, 1970, p43, "A home that dates back to the 1870s was that of the Torinus family at Third and Linden. It is now occupied by the Jones Funeral Home."

Nothing was a better welcome home from school than the aroma of freshly baked bread. There would be hot rolls and cinnamon rolls. . .

HHS Graduate: 1925

BAPTISM:
Handwritten baptismal certificate dated 08 Dec 1907 at Hudson, Wis.:-
"This is to certify that this day Thelma Adella Loraine Staberg, daughter of John Arnt and Karine Maria Staberg, of Hudson, Wis. was christened by and according to the usage of the Unitarian Church. Richard Wilson Bo---, Minister of Unity Church, St. Paul, Minn. Witnessed by Jens H. Jenson, Ulga L. Johnson, Nels J. Jenson, Jr., and Mrs. Gurina Jenson."

HSO, 16Aug1918, p5, c2
Little Thelma Stayberg , who has been quite seriously ill for the past two weeks is improving somewhat.

HSO, 4 Dec 1924, p8, c3, Hudson High School
On Monday, Dec 1, Mr. Rock read the Honor Roll for the last six weeks . . . those who had an excellent average included Thelma Stayberg.

HSO, 19 Dec 1926
Monday Mr. Rock received a letter from President J. H. Ames of the River Falls Normal from which I quote the following:
"I note on our Honor Roll for the first term the name of Miss Thelma Stayberg of the Hudson high school. As only ten freshman out of 220 attending River Falls Normal school made the Honor Roll in the first term, I wish to congratulate the Hudson high school as having graduated one of these students.”

The St. Croix Forum, 21Apr1927, East Hudson Notes
Miss Thelma Stayberg resumed her school work Tuesday after a few days' vacation at home.

The St. Croix Forum, 5May1927, East Hudson Notes, p7
The Misses Thelma Stayberg, Anna Jensen and Clara and Alma Fyksen, who have
been practice teachers at Glover school for six weeks, resumed their studies at the River Falls Normal School on April 25.

The St. Croix County Forum, 15 Mar 1928, p1
Capable Teachers in Rural Schools
Capable young ladies are in charge of the rural schools of St. Croix county. In addition to the instruction which they are so ably gviing in the class room they are community leaders as well, and all are striving to make their school houses real community centers.
The rural teachers in the western part of St. Croix county are: . . .
Hudson--4, Fairview, Thelma Stayberg . . .


Automobile Policy issued by Minneapolis Fire and Marine Insurance Company, A. G. Henington, General Insurance, Hudson, Wisconsin, Policy Term August 5, 1931 to August 5, 1932.
Policy was issued to Thelma Stayberg, 1217 Twelfth St., Hudson, Wisconsin on a 1925 Studebaker 6 Cyl. Coupe purcahsed for $300 (Factory List Price $1395). Originally purchased by insured in August 1930. Premium: $3.00

The 1932 MELETEAN published by the students of the State Teachers College
River Falls, Wisconsin, Volume 21, Sophomores, p87
Thelma Stayberg, Hudson
Grammar
Y.W.C.A.1; Rural Life Club 1; W.A.A. 1; Basketball 1; Volleyball 1.
(W.A.A. -- Women's Athletic Club)

HSO, 12Apr1934, p8, c1/2
Miss Thelma Stayberg returned on Monday from Mobile, Alabama, where she has spent the last four months with her sister and family, Lieut. and Mrs. C. P. Erickson. Miss Stayberg had a very interesting trip and while at Mobile saw her first Mardi Gras and with her sister and Lieut. Erickson were guests at the Dansant given in honor of the King and Queen of the Mardi Gras, with a ringside view of the resplendent costumes worn by the Queen and her fourteen attendants, their escorts and pages, beautiful beyond description. She describes the trip as follows: "The Azalia Trail opened February 12 and thousands of tourists from all over the country visit it and drive it's forty odd miles of beauty in blossoms and gardening that beggars description. A little off the trail, they visit the palatial home and ten acre flower garden of W. D. Bellingeath, the Coca Cola king, known as Bell Camp, where azalias, orchids, spiria and every beautiful bush and flower grow dotted about with fountains and small artificial falls, truly a dream garden. Ten gardnerers care for the garden alone. A recent event was the arrival in the port of Mobile of His Majesty's Battle Cruiser "DANAE" (DAY'NY), manned by 435 officers and men, to be a guest of the port of Mobile for a week, and the beautiful boat was opened to the public from 4 to 6 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday. An elaborate program of entertainment had been give the British naval men.
Several visits to the Gulf and other interesting places were enjoyed while we had our winter, and everything was in full bloom and getting more beautiful each day. Roses, japonicas and flowers too numerous to mention had been blooming now for the past month and more."
Miss Stayberg motored down accompanying her sister and family who had spent two months here with relatives, but returned by train, making the trip in about 40 hours.

HSO, 17May1934, p5, c3
J. A. Stayberg and daughter, Miss Thelma, were business callers at Boardman, Hammond and Burkhardt on Tuesday.

Crichton school, Chickasaw, Alabama: In 2014 Crichton school was a vacant lot.

BIOGRAPHICAL
Thelma was born May 13, 1907, the second child and second daughter of Karine Jenson and John Staberg. Thelma entered first grade at the Sixth Street School with her sister Jeannette in 1913. Her second grade year (1914-14) was also at the Sixth Street School with Ida M. Buell as teacher. Rhumatic fever caused her to miss part of her sixth grade year but she was able to make it up and continued on to graduate with her classmates on June 5, 1925. There were 49 graduates in her class.
Early interests and hobbies included cooking, embroidery, crocheting and reading. Thelma could drive a car before she could see over the steering wheel.
Christmas 1933 was her first Christmas not at home; she spent it in Chickasaw, Alabama with her sister Jeannette and family.
She attended River Falls Normal school for two years, graduating from the Rural Course in 1927 and from the Grammer School course in 1933. She practice taught at Glover School in the town of Troy and at the college junior high school. She taught four years at rural Hudson schools-- Fairview and McKinley before going to Mobile, Alabama where she stayed with Jeannette and family and taught third and fourth grades at Crichton school. Her salary for the year at Crichton, beginning September 14, 1936 and ending June 4, 1937, was $632.00.
Returning to Hudson she worked at the Trail 12 Cafe and Bean Hole Tavern before marrying Rob Gartmann, a St. Joseph township farmer, on June 26, 1939.
They were married at St. Patrick's Rectory in Hudson by Father John Owens.
After their marriage they lived on the Gartmann farm in St. Joseph township, north of Hudson. Thelma learned to drive a tractor and helped with other farm chores.
Three children were born to them: Nancy in 1940, Robert Jr. in 1943, and Anthony in 1944.
In 1950 she took the U.S. Census for St. Township. In 1958 the Gartmann family sold the Hudson farm and Rob and Thal purchased another farm, the first they owned, north of Woodville, WI in Baldwin township. In 1960 she again took the census, this time in the town of Woodville.
Interests and hobbies in later years included cooking, embroidery, crocheting, reading, and crossword puzzles.
She died unexpectedly of a heart attack at her Woodville home on January 19, 1969. Funeral services were Wednesday, January 22, from the Swanson Funeral Home in Hudson with the Rev. Gerben Van Putton of the Presbyterian Church, Hudson, officiating. Miss Emma Engebretson was solist. Interment was in Willow River cemetery, Hudson.

(NH) We called her "Mommy" until we got too big. "Mom" was our grandmother, her mother, Karine. I remember her taking me along when she went to pick blackberries with Martina Krattley on the east side of highway 35 on the Krattley farm. She brought along a small jar of milk for my snack. I must have been about 5. She canned most of the berries for sauce and saved enough to make a small crock of blackberry wine for Dad. She did a lot of canning, berries or other fruit and vegetables. No meat. She didn't get a freezer until several years after my dad's death. I was 10 the year she took the census. The best time to catch people at home was in the late afternoon and early evening so Dad would make us supper. She valued the education provided by the rural school system and was a reluctant participant in the consolidation proceedings when McKinley school closed and became a part of the Hudson joint district. She had taught three terms at McKinley, 1928-29, 1929-30 and 1930-31, and was school board clerk at consolidation. One year when I had made a little money I wanted to get something special for her so with the help of my grandmother, I ordered her a beautiful light purple dress from "Monkey Wards". In reality, it was awful and too big, but she wore it everywhere. The bricks. Today the kids call them Legos, but then they were bricks. She had ordered a large set for for Christmas and had hidden them in the mangle. I had found them of course and could hardly wait for Christmas morning. When it came, no one got the bricks. Not that day, or the next or the next and I finally confessed that I had found them and "where where they?" Well, she didn't think we would like them so she was planning to return them. She didn't. We literally wore them out. The last time I saw them Tony's family had them.

(Feb 1991) We were talking at the supper table on a Sunday night, and Ken, who was almost four when Thelma died, said he remembered staying with his grandma; he remembered that he liked Gerber rice cereal and that she would make it for him when he stayed with her.

DEATH:
Hudson Star Observer, 23 Jan. 1969, p5
Thelma L. Gartmann, 61, of Rt. 1, Woodville died suddenly Sunday, Jan 19. at her home.
Mrs. Gartmann was born May 13, 1907 in Hudson, the daughter of John A. and Karine (Jenson) Stayberg.
She attended the Hudson schools and graduated from Hudson high school in 1925. She was also a graduate of River Falls State College and taught at rural grade school in St. Joseph township for several years.
She married Robert Gartmann in Hudson at St. Patrick's church June 26, 1939.
Mrs. Gartmann was a member of the American Legion auxiliary, Sons of Norway, Aid Society Norden and Nordlandslaget.
She is survived by two sons, Robert J. residing at US Army Hopsital, Irwin, Fort Riley, KS and Anthony J. of Woodville and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur (Nancy) Hawkinson of No. St. Paul. She is also survived by her mother, Mrs. John Stayberg of Hudson, one brother, Herbert Stayberg of Hudson, and one sister, Mrs. Clarence (Jeannette) Erickson of Hudson. Her husband preceded her in death.
One brother, John Stayberg, died in World War II. She has one grandchild.
Pallbearers were Jack Stayberg, Daniel Stayberg, William Stayberg, Richard Gartmann, Gene Gartmann and Sherman Sutter.

BURIAL: Willow River Cemetery, Hudson, Wis.

Thelmas was an excellant cook and loved to bake. Here are a few of her favorite recipes:

Peanut Butter Cookies (from Polly Kohl 1932)
1 c. butter 1 c. white sugar Form balls size of walnut
1 c. brown sugar 1 c. peanut butter Press down with fork
3 c. flour 1 tsp. soda
2 eggs vanilla Bake 10 min at 400 degrees

Sour Cream Molasses Cookies (from HMT 1925)
3/4 c. butter 3/4 c. brown sugar Roll to 1/2 inch thickness
3/4 c. molasses 2 eggs
3/4 c. sour cream 1 Tbsp. soda Chill, cut and bake
1 Tbsp. salt 1/2 Tbsp. giner
Enough flour to make soft dough 400 degrees for 10 minutes

This is the recipe for Thelma's "Favorite White Cake" that she made for many special occasions.
2 c. sifted cake flour
1 c. less 2 tbsp. milk
1 1/3 c. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Sift dry ingredients into mixing bowl; add 1/2 c. shortening and 2/3 of the
milk. Add 2 whole eggs and 2 tsp. vanilla. Beat till smooth; add remainder
of milk. Bake 35 minutes at 375 degrees.

Thelma's "Special" Frosting (always made for the "Favorite White Cake")
2 c. sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. maple flavor
Dissolve sugar in water; bring to boil, 265 degrees, without stirring.
While its cooking, beat the egg whites until stiff and when the syrup is
ready pour it over the egg whites, beating constantly. Beat until creamy,
add maple extract and frost cake.

Birth	13 May 1907	Hudson, St.Croix, Wis.
Baptism	8 Dec 1907	Unitarian Church, Hudson , St. Croix Co., Wis.
Graduation	1925	Hudson High School - Hudson, St.Croix, Wis
Occupation	1927 - 1928	Teacher - Fairview School, District No. 4, Town of Hudson, St. Croix, Wis.
Occupation	1928 - 1931	Teacher - McKinley School, District No. 5, St. Joseph Twp., St. Croix Co., Wis.
Occupation	1937	Teacher - Crichton School, Chickasaw, Alabama
Marriage	26 Jun 1939	St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin, United States - Robert Joseph Gartmann
Occupation	1950 - 1953	School Board Clerk - McKinley School, District No. 5, St. Joseph Twp., St. Croix Co., Wis.
Occupation	Apr 1950	Census Taker - St. Joseph Twp., St. Croix Co., Wis.
Occupation	Apr 1960	Census Taker - Town of Baldwin, St. Croix Co., Wis.
Death	19 Jan 1969	Baldwin Twp, St.Croix, Wis.
Burial	22 Jan 1969	Hudson, St.Croix, Wis., Willow River Cem

Spouse	Robert Joseph Gartmann (1893 - 1962)
Child	Nancy Lorraine Gartmann (1940 - 2018)
Child	Robert John Gartmann (1943 - )
Child	Anthony Joseph Gartmann (1944 - 1997)

Father	John Arnt Stayberg (1882 - 1952)
Mother	Karine Marie Jenson (1883 - 1973)
Sibling	Jeannette Karine Stayberg (1905 - )
Sibling	Herbert Norval Stayberg (1910 - )
Sibling	John Winston Stayberg (1923 - 1945)