Person:Walter Varland (1)

Walter grew up on the farm home of his parents near Seneca, Illinois, and went to school at Pleasant View Luther College. After his marriage he farmed near Ottawa, Illinois until 1915 when he and Ruby and their young son, Curtis moved to a farm seven miles north of Sisseton, South Dakota, a modern farm with electric lights, inside plumbing, hot water heat and woven wire fences that was very successful until the early 1920's when land values suddenly deflated and the economy tightened. That, combined with Ruby's death in 1925, resulted in his giving up farming. During his lifetime and through the depression years, he was involved in a number of business ventures and lived in various places: he operated a Crysler dealership in Marshall, Minnesota, was an automobile salesman, operated a cream station and sold Maytag washing machines in Sioux Falls, Mount Vernon, and Mitchell, South Dakota. He published a shopping newsletter called the "Cherokee Reminder" in Cherokee, Iowa, operated resturants in Mason City and Northwood, Iowa, sold feed supplements to farmers in Joice, Iowa, and operated a Cities Service bulk station in Hampton, Iowa. In 1944 the family moved to Ames, Iowa where he operated a Cities Service bulk station and provided tank truck delivery to the farm community and later worked for the Iowa Department of Hiways in Ames. He and his second wife lived in and enjoyed the Ames community for 16 years until his death.

1. ↑ .

   Footnote: TITL: @R2806@ _FOOT: TITL: @R2806@

2. ↑ .

   Footnote: TITL: @R2805@ TEXT: said Stavanger; , 4432 says Seneca _FOOT: TITL: @R2805@ TEXT: said Stavanger; , 4432 says Seneca

3. ↑ .

   Footnote: , 4432 and a letter from his son (3 Oct 1991) _FOOT: , 4432 and a letter from his son (3 Oct 1991)