Nesse Heritage Contest

NESSE HERITAGE C0MPETITION — West Coast Nesses’ vs Midwest Nesses — February 17, 2013

Art provided this contest for a competition between the West Coast Nesses and the Midwest Nesses at his 91st birthday. The Far West Nesses outscored the Midwest Nesses, 23 to 21!


What was Dorothy’s nickname pre-St. Olaf ? “ IGGY “

What was Danielle’s last name before marriage? “ DANIELSON”

College and year when Dorothy received her “BA” degree? “ 1958 “ St. O. 1945 Degree “Bachelor Music”

College and year when Dorothy received her “MSW” degree? “ 1960 – Oakland Cty. University”

Hans Nesse’s age when he immigrated to the U.S. from Norway? “ 17”

In what city did Hans get his U.S. High School diploma? “ Owatonna, IL – from a Lutheran prep Academy”

How are Bob Hansen (Wauwatosa, WI) and Richard Hanson (Valley City, N.D.) related to Art? ” “Bob-cousin, Dick ½ C”

Where, when, and in what “competition”, did Art get the “dent” in his forehead? “No Hands – Lean forward farthest”

What charitable tax deduction facilitated Ran and Rob’s college tuitions? “Pipe organ from Sfld. Home”

How did Art answer when in Helsinki (1926) his mother asked him “where is home, Arthur? “Paa Taaget (on train)”

What is the name of Gerhard’s “health guru” of the 1930’s? “Bernard McFadden”

What was the nationality of the Japanese “spies” in Hans’ 1948 Wuhan prison camp? “Brit”

What Russian words does Art brag about remembering from his 1926 Siberia train trip? “Mjaaso, Meliko, Keep ya talk”

Milk, meat, hot water

How did Ford’s bid to run the Federal space program make disposal of the pipe organ urgent? “Art to move South”

Which city did Dorothy NOT take voice lessons when we lived in the Detroit area? Northfield, Toledo, Ann Arbor. Detroit, Evanston, Philadelphia? “Northfield’

In what overseas locales did Gerhard and Henry serve military time in WW2? “Gerhard-Carribean, Henry –China”

What was Art’s job title when he began work for the Plaskon Div. of L.O.F. Glass in Toledo? “Production Engineer”

What significant “family event” occurred 9 months after Gerhard’s funeral in Ephata? “Ted was born”

How many programmers on Art’s staff when Ford launched the first computer- based 50,000 employee payroll system? How was the $1M+ computer facility justified? “3”

What was Dorothy’s role in Grosse Point Opera Company’s presentation of Cinderella? “The Prince”

What do I.O. Hanson’s (Art’s North Dakota uncle) initials stand for? “Ingebrigt Olai”

How come, after WW2, Gerhard decided to setup his surgery practice in Ephrata and not elsewhere? “Henry there and Grand Coulee Dam”

Where in Minn were Caroline’s parents’ “family roots”? “Scandia”

How did Dorothy “gain fame” performing in Elgin’s H.S. presentation of “You Can’t Take it With You”? “Took over lead when lead got sick”

What did Dorothy’s dad call her when she worked as his dental office assistant? “Skinny”

What was the background for Art/Dorothy’s “first date” at St. Olaf in September 1950? “ Duty – Brother Gordon was Art’s Fraternity Brother”

What is the name the “very difficult” coloratura opera aria that Dorothy mastered and sang often? “Queen of the Night Vengeance”

What was Dorothy’s “voice” when she sang in the St. Olaf choir? And in her senior voice recital? “Contralto –Colotura”

What was the business role of the 3 principal “guests of honor” at Art’s Ford Retirement Party? “His Ford Secretaries “

What was Dorothy’s favorite “outside” sport? “Fishing

For “Midwest Nesses” – name the West Coast Gerhard/Henry grandkids. For “Far West Nesses” – name the Midwest Art grandkids. (Kristine) – Danielle Joyce, Zachary Martin (Daniel) – Spencer Harms, Preston Henry

(Edward) – Katherine Louise, Hans Philip (William) – Carl Edward, Erik Daniel

(Rolf) – William Harold, Niels Edward, Johanna, Clara

What is Danielle’s year of death and grave site and what is Hans’ year of death and grave site? “1932 Kikung, Henan , China – 1951 Bremnes, Norway”

Which job did Dorothy not do when Art went to school in Mass? “Nursery school teacher, cocktail waitress, choir director, church soloist, door-to-door magazine sales, Harvard bookstore clerk” “Cocktail Waitress”

What was Gerhard’s middle name and in what circumstanced did he receive it? “Martin- chose when became Citizen”

Why did Caroline’s grandfather not attend her wedding to Gay? “Gerhard was Norwegian – not Swedish”

Which missionary family did Gerhard and Caroline look after in Ephrata? Tvedts’ they also helped G. and Caroline!”

What was Gerhard’s “morning ritual” in his H.S. years at ASK? “Deep breathing, nude, in front of open window”

Where did Gerhard and Caroline meet? “Univ. of Minn. Lutheran Students’ Assn”

Why did Gerhard and Henry have to leave A.S.K and China in 1932? “To get into U.S as minors for U.S. citizenship”

What was Harold’s business when Caroline and he married – and established a family of 8 children? “Auto Parts Dealer”

What was Henry’s principal military function in WW II in China? “Build Airfields for U.S, Airforce”

What were the names of Henry’s business partners in the Ephrata Concreter Business? “Norman Tvedt, Vin Edwins”