Big Pigeon webpage Home > Acknowledgments, updated by RAC 3 Sep '17.

I here acknowledge and thank the numerous individuals and organizations who have helped me with with one or more areas of my historical research and writings.
  • I list my general printed and web sources in the Resources area of this website.
  • My reports sometimes contain more-specific acknowledgments ane source information.
  • In particular within each of the 43 St. Paul’s early family reports I endeavor to list individuals who helped me with that family.

Organizations: (to be completed)
  • During my trips to Council Bluffs, Iowa I received much assistance from the always-helpful members of the Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society.
  • During my two visits to Salt Lake City, I have received much help from the volunteers and staff at the main Family History Center.
  • CBPL - Council Bluffs Public Library.
  • MoDA - Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa.
  • DAAL - Danish American Archive and Library in Blair, Nebraska.

Individuals: (in process)
I couldn't possibly list here all the relatives, friends and others who have helped with my history projects over the past 20 years. Below I list, in alphabetical order, some of the individuals whose assistance comes to mind. My apologies the many who helped and whom I have failed to mention.
  • Barbara Bernauer at the Community of Christ library in Independence, Missouri provided me with much information about the Hazel Dell Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints congregation.
  • The late Esther (Bondo) Magnussen and the late Lillie (Bondo) Larsen preserved the early St. Paul’s records.
  • my second cousin, Elaine (Bondo) Hoyer. Elaine, more than anyone else, contributed greatly to my St. Paul’s historical research, providing me both much-needed motivation and research assistance.
  • the late Frances (Magnussen) Bracker and her brother, Vernon Magnussen, provided help.
  • My father's cousin, the late Agnes Christiansen, preserved many of the Christiansen family photographs.
  • My late father, Alvin Christiansen, developed my interest in family and local history in the 1970s as he shared with me recollections and anecdotes.,
  • I thank my late mother, Leona (Larson) Christiansen, for the numerous Sunday afternoon visits with my aunts, uncles and cousins. Because of these visits I developed deep bonds with my extended family. I also thank my mother for keeping many items of future historical interest.
  • My cousin, Gerald Christiansen, and his wife, Joy Best, saved many of the old Christiansen photographs and were enthusiastic companions on far too few occasions.
  • The late Chris Christoffersen, for his life story (see the Big Pigeon Research webpage)
  • Cleo (Petersen) Christoffersen
  • Paul Christoffersen's knowledge of St. Paul's history and the neighborhood in which he has spent his entire life is unmatched.
  • Joan (Miner) Eggerss
  • my third cousin, Dale Geise
  • my great-aunt, the late Ellen (Hansen) Larson, retained an excellent memory into her 90s and was always a pleasure to visit with.
  • my second cousin, Alvina (Larsen) Hjorstsvang
  • my father’s second cousin, Emma (Young) Jensen
  • Marilyn (Handlen) Larsen and her cousin, Wanda (Handlen) Christiansen.
  • the late Ellen (Hansen) Larson
  • my older Larson aunts, all now deceased: Ethel (Larson) Torneten, Helen (Larson) Petersen Evelyn (Larsen) Sherbondy and Thelma (Schroder) Larson Jensen
  • Tom McLaughlin, for his suburb photos of the rural area around Pigeon Creek.
  • the late James Nielsen
  • the late Ruth (Hansen) Nielsen, for the family history of the P. W. I. Hansen family (see the Big Pigeon Research page)
  • my cousin, the late Alvin Petersen
  • the late Peter T. Petersen and his daughters, Helga and Agnes, for producing Peter T.'s life story, including his encounters with the outlaw Ernest Bush.  (see the Big Pigeon Research page)
  • my father's cousin, the late Marion Junior Rasmussen, and his dear wife, Mary (Hedegaard) Rasmussen
  • Cal Petersen
  • the late Olga (Clausen) Schroder
  • Sandra (Olson) Sorlien
  • My cousin, Richard Torneten and his wife, Kathy, were my hosts on many visits to the Council Bluffs area.
  • the late Minnie (Johnson) Wohlers, her daughters, Arlene (Wohlers) Driver and Gladys (Wohlers) Blois, and her son-in-law, Derald Blois
  • The late Lydia (Ericksen) Axelsen Young 
  • Reverend Neal Zeilinger spent many hours helping to develop the St. Paul’s 1981 centennial book. This book was a regular companion when I was sorting out the early families of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

​I initially named my website Maggie Larson's World, in honor of Karen Margrethe “Maggie” (Hansen) Larson, my maternal grandmother.  This was in admiration for the stoicism and grace with which Maggie led her difficult life, and in acknowledgment of her success in raising nine unique children in trying circumstances.