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Skak Joakim Nikolaus Ylvisaker

Born in 1873, he was the youngest of the seven children of NTY and Bestemor. He grew up in the parsonage at the Lands Church parsonage and moved to the Erstad farm in 1879 after his father died. He was known as Nikkel in the family and it seems that he was everyone’s favorite, watched over by his slightly older sister Johanna. He followed his brothers to Luther, graduating in 1896, then to the Seminar, graduating in 1898.

He married Emile Estrem the summer after graduation and took the call to Hayfield, MN that year, leaving for a Zumbrota parish two years later. He was called to Fergus Falls in 1908, remaining there until 1928 when he moved to Minneapolis for a position as Financial Secretary for Luther College.

In 1931 he accepted a call to Stanwood, WA. He served the church there until he died, in 1948, while “tending to his rose garden”. He was much beloved by those to whom he ministered.

He left his widow and their six children. She survived him along with all six children, albeit one son died but six months later. Their children were

Walter Olaf, born 1,900, teacher in Everett, WA.

Lois Gudrun Kannenberg, 1902, Minneapolis, MN

Harald Joakim, BSA Exec., Roseberg, OR (1904-1948)

Valborg Johanna, 1907, Sacramento

Helga Magdalene McNeill, born 1909, Berkeley CA

Rudolph Einar, born 1913, minister in Clifford, ND

While in Fergus Fall the devastating 1919 tornado struck, killing 56 people and demolishing the town, necessitating a rebuilding of the church edifice. In Stanwood and a second parish of his, he was involved with extensive remodeling projects, contributing to his becoming known as the “Builder of Churches”.

He remained in contact with his family for the rest of his life, especially devoted to his mother. Bestemor’s collection has some 45 letters of his to her, mostly from his school days of course. He visited Zumbrota often, easily managed when the family was in Minneapolis, stopping through the Twin Cities on some of those occasions he took the train from Fergus Falls, and even traveling from Stanwood.

-DY

Skak Article