Born: 3 Jun 1863, Trysil, Norway
Died: 21 Apr 1891, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Helga, middle child of Hans and Ragnhild Strandvold was born in Norway and lived with her parents and sisters at Tverensletta, near Trysil until she was 5 years old. In August 1868, she boarded a ship with her parents and sisters, her grandparents, her uncle Martin and his family and her uncle Halvor to begin a big adventure. They sailed to England and boarded the ship Minnesota which brought them to America. Her aunt Marie and uncle Halvor Engemoen had arrived a few months earlier and uncle Ole and aunt Gullag Strandvold had arrived in 1867. Surrounded by so many cousins and extended family, Helge grew up helping others when a new baby was born or someone needed domestic help for a time. She often helped her sisters with child care.
There is some evidence that Helga often suffered from severe headaches. Her father wrote friends in Norway in May 1871 that Helga had been very sick for a couple weeks and was getting better, but he could not understand what was wrong with her. Other sources mention headaches during her lifetime. Her death record states she died of “head duress”. She died at age 27. She never married.