Finding My Birth Family

I was told as a small child that I was adopted.  My mother said my birth mother died when I was born, and my father died in WW II.

John and Thelma Jondal

I never thought much about finding my birth parents.  My adoptive parents seemed like my “real” parents.

After my mother died in 1990, my dad gave Roger a copy of my adoption papers that said my birth name was Kathleen Colburn.  Why my dad had this official record of name change we will never know.

Roger convinced me to contact Lutheran Social Service who then sent me a letter with basic family information – ages of siblings, a description on my mother and some information of the family background of my mother and father.  They also said that she hadn’t requested contact with me.  This led me to wait, thinking I might cause a problem for her if I tried to contact her.

In 2010, at a family reunion, Roger’s cousin, Sharron Erickson did an Ancestry.com search based on the name Colburn and the ages of my mother and siblings and found a family from Isanti County that she thought might match using the 1930 census.  My birth mother was listed as “baby girl” so she couldn’t find out more.

2014:

In 2014 on a trip with us to see Roger’s aunt and uncle, Pat & Ray in Ohio, Sharron started searching again and could use the information from the 1940 census to learn more about the family and my birth mother by using the information from Lutheran Social Services to compare.  She became about 95% sure that my birth mother was Corrine Colburn who lived in Isanti County, then moved to North St. Paul. 

She found a photo of her in 8^th grade (the year I was born. ) When we got home, Roger found a photo of me at Confirmation, when I was about the same age.   

Using the “Ancestry.com” site, Sharron then tried to locate the aunts, nieces, nephews, and siblings, many of which are still in Isanti County. 

Interestingly, I was born in St. Paul, and adopted at six months old.  I lived in Waseca my entire life until Roger and I got married and we moved to Cambridge.  Waseca is probably 120 miles south of Cambridge.  To find that I might have relatives within just a few miles of where we had lived for the last 48 years was pretty amazing.

I tried calling my Bohman cousins with no luck. This would have been the children of my mother’s sister, my Aunt Patricia.

Sharron had found a number for a Patricia L Bohman, so I tried calling her.  Right name, wrong person.  She was very sweet, calling her mother-in-law to see if they knew of any relatives in Isanti.  No luck.

I looked on Facebook and found a Patricia Bohman who Sharron thought probably wasn’t my aunt and a Kathy Jensen Bohman who would be my cousin’s wife.  There was no phone number in the directory, but later, on her Facebook page I found a phone number for Bob as he was selling a house in Big Fork.  

I called him and he was very understanding and helpful.  He contacted his mother, Patricia, who agreed to let me see her family photos.  Pat also said she would do the “23 & Me” genetic test which would provide proof one way or the other.

I became Facebook friends with Bob’s wife, Kathy and when Bob and his mother saw my photos on Facebook, they were sure I was a relative – the resemblance to Diane and Corrine was amazing to them.   Soon, two of Bob’s cousins (Denise and Pam) then became Facebook friends with me. 

Roger put some of my baby and childhood photos on Facebook.  Pam’s mother also said the resemblance to Denise and Corrine made her think we had to be from the same family.  

On November 17, 2014, I called my sister Diane.  This was a hard call to make. She seemed overwhelmed with the idea and didn’t seem to really believe I could be her sister.  You can only imagine what a shock this would be to have a call out of the blue telling you that you might have a sister you never knew about.  

I suggested meeting at Wintergreen’s to share photos and meet each other and gave her my number to call if she wanted to do that.  I told her about the “23 & Me” genetic test that would prove whether we were related, and she suggested I call her brother, Gary, in Cambridge, which I tried to do, but he wasn’t home.

On November 18 Pam e-mailed me inviting me to have lunch with her and her sister Denise and Bob’s wife, Kathy. 

On November 18^th, I talked to my half-brother Gary for quite a while. They live a short distance out of Cambridge to the north.  Diane had called him, so he was not as shocked to hear from me.  He suggested meeting for lunch to share photos.  He asked his stepdad (My birth mother’s second husband) and he didn’t know about me either.  Gary said his mother liked to do projects and kept making her lawn bigger to plant more flowers.  I gave him my phone number and “friended” him on Facebook.

On November 21, I had lunch with three of my "cousins" (they are 3 sisters – Pam, Denise, and Debbie, one from Isanti, one north of Cambridge, and one from the Twin Cities. Debbie brought along some old photos, some of my "biological mother" and of them and their cousins.  

They also think I look and sound like their aunt Corrine (my biological mother) and resemble my half sister.  They were really welcoming and we had a nice two-hour lunch.  I'm Facebook friends now with all three of them.  One of my "aunts" has sent for the 23 & Me kit to do the genetic testing.  

November 22: While we were at Derek’s house, my sister Diane called and said she had talked to Gary and that they would like to get together.   

Gary asked to be included when we met the week after Thanksgiving.

December 2, 2014: I met with Diane and Gary for lunch.  We talked and looked at photos for nearly 3 hours.  Both brought old photos of themselves and their mother.  Diane even copied off some of them for me to have.   They both seemed open to the idea of me really being their sister.  

Interestingly, we all dressed alike! We talked about getting together again with our spouses.  I learned that my mother had a heart attack in her 60’s, Diane had an angioplasty in her 60s, my uncle and grandfather both died young from heart attacks.   

Got a call tonight from my Aunt Pat who is in Texas.  She got the 23 & Me kit and is ready to send it back.  She asked about registering it online.    

December 7:  Had an hour-long phone call from my aunt, Jan, with lots of information on the family.  Corrine had two heart attacks and lost her husband, aunt, and unborn baby boy within 6 months.

December 23:  Roger and I met with Diane and Herman (Hermie) at Wintergreens for a 2-hour supper and gave her the kit.  Good conversation.    Got a Facebook message from Gary asking about the DNA progress and sending holiday greetings.

 2015:

January 8, 2015 :  Discovered that my three cousins lived near Darrel Bieder, one of Roger’s classmates, in Belle Plaine, and one would have graduated with Roger’s brother, Rodney.   

January 10:  Checked on 23 & Me and saw that Diane had info on the Maternal Haplogroup.  Hers matched with Kent, Derek, and I.  When I put in her name and mine to compare at Family Traits, we matched partially in every chromosome which confirms we are related.  Called Gary and Diane to let them know and sent messages to each of the cousins I contact on Facebook.

Jan. 13, 2015. Met with my cousins and my aunt, Pat at Wintergreens.

Feb. 12:  I got a call last night from Pat.  Her 23 & Me had just come out and showed us as half-sisters. I found a chart that showed that half-siblings share the same amount of DNA as aunts/nieces or nephews, so because of our close age we were put down as half-sisters.  

I asked 23 & Me what to do and they sent me directions to correct it for both Diane and me.  I also changed Derek and Kent to being nephews of Diane.

May 9:  Found my birth mother’s grave in the Mahtomedi cemetery, which we drive by almost every weekend when we go out to eat with Derek and his family. It’s less than a mile from Derek’s house. She was Corrine Colburn Brissette Huber.

This is a photo of my brother, sister, cousins, and me.

Met with my cousins and siblings for lunch.

May 18: Met Pat, Bob, Kathy, and Bob’s son Brennan at the Long Lake Lutheran cemetery. My grandmother, Dorothy Olson is buried there. We went to Wintergreens where Bob’s daughter Brandi and 3 of her 5 sons joined us. Pat gave me some photos. I’ll have to have someone tell me who some of the people are.

July: We went out to Blue Lake to visit with Diane & Gary & spouses. They both have trailers on the lake. Gary took us on a pontoon ride around Blue Lake and Little Blue Lake. It was a beautiful day, and the lakes were pretty with lots of expensive homes on the shore.

Sad news, Kathy Bohman’s cancer is back in her liver. She has decided not to have any more surgery or chemo.

August 1: Reunion at my Aunt Pat’s house between Princeton and Milaca. Met several cousins and the spouses of cousins. Beautiful day. We had a contest playing a bean bag tossing game much like horseshoes, except you aim for a hole. Enjoyed the day. Pat is a collector too. She has the same Maxfield Parrish painting we do. Lovely home in a new development.

August 23 We met Gary and Diane to celebrate Diane’s birthday.

August 25 We went out with Diane & Hermie, Gary & Marlene, and met Diane’s daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Rick, and two daughters.

Sept. 10 Met with Diane and Gary for a birthday breakfast. Diane gave me three items that were Corrine’s: a blue ceramic girl vase, a pair of earrings, and a hand towel that Corrine embroidered.

Sept 12 Walked with Gary, Marlene, Diane, Kelly & girls at the Suicide Prevention Walk this morning. Attended Kathy Bohman’s funeral this afternoon.

Oct 1 Went to the cities with Diane to shop for material and supplies to do Swedish Weaving. Diane showed me how to do Swedish weaving after I washed the fabric and sewed around the outside twice.

Oct 19, Met Diane and Hermie at Wintergreens, then came to our house. We learned to play a form of Aggravation with cards and a marble board.

My half sister, Diane, and half brother, Gary, and I are making regular contact. I still haven’t met John. His wife is a Facebook friend.

In December 2015, I contacted Lutheran Social Services about contacting my birth father. I found out that he has died and that they can’t give me his name as he never officially admitted to paternity. Got more information on him though.

Renee typed in his birth and death dates and the phrase “enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, and his dog” and came up with a man who lived in California. Sharron’s research found that all the information we had on my birth father fit him, so she believes he is my birth father. This turned out to be wrong.

2016:

Jan 2, 2016 - I discovered on 23 & Me that I have a first cousin on my father’s side – Kari Parmer (Kari Jean Olesen). Made contact a few days later and after several e-mails, Kari convinced her father to take a 23 & Me test.

April 9, 2016 - when I checked 23 & Me I discovered that Eugene (Gene) Oleson, Kari’s father, is my half-brother, which makes Kari my niece. I left messages with Kari and my phone number and she called. We had a nice visit and hope to meet soon. I left messages on the Facebook accounts of Gene and his wife, Nancy.

April 11, 2016, Spent over an hour talking to Gene and Nancy on the phone. We shared e-mails and phone numbers. They plan to move from Green Bay to the Twin Cities this summer or fall. I’ve been working on the Olesen family tree (part of the Colburn one.)

April 16 – Roger & I meet with my niece, Kari, at Carol’s Restaurant in Blaine. She brought along a lifelong friend, Joanne. We shared photos and visited for about 1 ½ hours. She brought me a beautiful orchid. I’ve been emailing back and forth with Kari, Gene, and Nancy. Looking forward to meeting Gene & Nancy and my other half brothers.

April 17 Friends on Facebook with Cheryl, Dennis’s wife. Gene sent photos.

April 19 Nancy sent photos of Floyd, Gene’s father, as a young man. These are photos of my high school graduation and my birth parents in their 20’s.

April 23 Found a second cousin on my father’s side, Jo Grussing. She is the great granddaughter of William & Nancy Olesen, who are my great, great grandparents. She was adopted and has half siblings from Dori Scrabbe. I used the Colburn family tree to make the connection. Another cousin on 23 & Me, Kathy (Frieda ) is also an Olesen relative and is in contact.

May 2 Got a long e-mail from Dennis’s wife, Cheryl. Wrote back.

May – continued contact with Gene, Nancy, Cheryl, and Kari

May 18 – met Gene, Nancy, Cheryl, and Dennis at Carol’s Restaurant for supper. They brought family photos, as did I. Gene and Cheryl are quiet, and Dennis and Nancy are the outgoing ones. They haven’t told their mother yet. They have a funeral coming up soon for a close family friend, Wes.

May 22 – Cheryl messaged me that Dilly, the mother of my half brothers, was told about me, wasn’t upset and said she would like to meet me.

May 22 + Sharron and I worked on trying to find my grandfather, Martin Anderson’s parents – it’s still a mystery

July 17 Attended Dennis & Chery’s 35^th anniversary. Lots of relatives from both sides and friends and neighbors of Dennis’s. We visited with Gene and some of his cousins. Then we went outside, and Don and Barbara came, so we met them and visited. We took photos of the siblings and spouses and headed home. Their mother was going to come but was upset that they moved the gathering from her residence to Dennis’s house – they needed the room - so she didn’t come. Their uncle who had been in Missouri came to live in MN and died shortly afterward. I didn’t get a chance to meet him.

August – Kari & helpers have been redoing the condo for her parents – redid the kitchen and did a lot. I have been on email back and forth with Kari.

Sept 3, we got together for my birthday and invited Diane, Hermie, Gary, Marlene, Kelly, and Rick. Gary & Marlene couldn’t come. Everyone seemed to enjoy being together.

Sept 6 Diane is ready to meet with Pat, with whom she had a dispute and they were not on the friendliest of terms. We went together to a cousin gathering. Pat got up and hugged Diane. I was so glad to see them together. Pat had a cake for us and a birthday balloon and card.

Oct. 10, 2016, Gary, Diane and Hermie went to another cousin lunch. When Rog & I got there, Diane was sitting next to Pat, visiting and looking at old photos. Nearly brought me to tears – so happy for them. Pat’s son, Bob came, and we visited. His daughter Brandy came with her 3 yr. old twins. It was fun watching the little boys playing. Afterward Diane wrote in an e-mail how glad she was that she was able to be with the Bohman family again.

Aunt Pat headed to Texas for the winter months.

I’ve been trying to contact my brother and his wife in Missouri. Hope to soon. I had the wrong e-mail for Gene, so I am trying to send a message to them as well. So far the only one who is in closer contact is Kari. I sent e-mails to Gene and am still John’s wife’s Facebook friend. She doesn’t post very often.

Oct 28 – got together for Gary’s Birthday – Two brothers, Gene Olesen and Gary Brissette have the same birthday: Nov. 3!

Nov. 11: Met Gene and Nancy at Carol’s Restaurant and had a nice visit.

Dec. 30 – We were invited to the Olesen Christmas get together at Kari’s house. Rory’s mother, sister & boyfriend, and brother were there. We also met Kari’s brother and his wife. One of the highlights was visiting with Floyd’s wife, Dilly. She was gracious and friendly, and we had a nice visit. She didn’t know about me and said she met Floyd at the roller rink. Kari’s son and two stepchildren were there as well, as were Gene, Nancy, Dennis, and Cheryl and several other relatives.

2017:

January 24, 2017: Met Diane, Hermie, Gary, and Marlene for lunch at Wintergreens. Hermie has decided not to do heart surgery.

June 7, lunch with Diane.

July 1, 2017, had Mike, Sherri, Lola, Dale, Jack, Linda, Kari, Rory, Diane, Hermie, Gary, Marlene, Gene, Nancy, Dennis, Cheryl, Sharron, Kelly and her daughter and our kids and grandkids for a 50^th Anniversary party. It was fun to see the interaction between the siblings on both sides.

Three of my Olesen brothers: Dennis, Gene, me, and Don.

August 5, 2017 – We hosted the Colburn reunion here. Lots of relatives! Many Bohman cousins and their kids and grandkids.

August 17 – Met Diane & Hermie and Gary & Marlene for lunch and went to Diane’s for dessert

Sept – Met with Colburn cousins for lunch.

Oct. 6 – Met with my cousin Laura Hermann today. We went over information on the Olesen side. She shared information and documents. We found out a little more about Martinus Anderson.

Oct. 16 Met Diane, Hermie, and Gary for lunch with some cousins– went to Diane’s after.

Dec. 2 -- went to Kelly’s for Hermie’s birthday party - Diane, Gary, and Rick and their older daughter were there also. Rick grilled salmon – it was tasty.

Dec. 10 – We went down to Bunker Hills to a Christmas Play and met Gene & Nancy, Dennis & Cheryl, and Don & Colleen there. Nice to visit with them. Good dinner theater.

2018:

June 24, 2018. We went to Erica’s graduation party in Champlain.

August 25 Bohman reunion at Jeff’s. Brennan and family came. Lots of cousins.

Sept 3, Gary’s birthday celebrated at Wintergreens

Oct. 27. Surprise party for Denise’s birthday at Captains on Long Lake. Lots of friends and family there.

Dec. 12 Hermies BD at Wintergreens

Dec 24. Met Diane, Hermie, and Gary for dinner at Wintergreens

2019:

Aug. 3. We went to Dennis’s for a fish fry. I visited with his mother, Dilly.

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Nov. 9-18. We to Branson, Missouri with Gene, Nancy, Cheryl, and Dennis. We stayed in a three section “condo” with each couple having a bedroom and living room. The six of us had a common dining room and kitchen. My brothers taught me to play Cribbage. We played cards and Sequence as well and visited.

We explored downtown and ate a tasty lunch. There was an interesting Amish store and a store jam packed with items.

On Nov. 12 we saw a magician “REZA” and I was pulled on stage to be a part of the act. Quite the experience! On Nov. 13 we went to “Raiding Country Vault Xmas” in the morning.

We went to the Miracle of Christmas show with live animals – even camels and horses and a huge set. It was wonderful !

On Nov. 14 we saw the Brett Family Christmas. On Nov 16 we went to the Keeter Center at an area college where we saw the arts and crafts the students made to sell and ate a great lunch there. Roger bought a fruitcake in their store.

We all went out to a Dogwood Canyon where we were driven in a wagon out to see some buffalo and fish along a river. The two of us drove out into the country and found a park with a frozen waterfall.

Dec. 8: Hermie’s birthday party in Isanti. He passed away a couple weeks later, went to funeral in Isanti.

2020 - 2021. CoVid -- stayed home most of the time.