Joy's Email 3/09/10

Hi, there. I think I've found an area of research we need to pursue about the name RODFOS.
This seems to be the consistent spelling of Grandmother Olsen's maiden name. I've attached a word document with some of the Google references that came up for RODFOS. I'm really interested in any connection to the Runic Stones. I've not yet found a town/region with the name Rodfos which would fit with the name structure of Norway.
I have found a brother of Grandmother Polly Olsen. Her brother PETER JOHANSEN RODFOS appears to have emigrated to the USA and settled in North Dakota. Polly then appears to have come over and possible met Grandpa Olsen in Aneta, ND. Peter appears to have lived in ND for a number of years, then went to Canada as his immigration papers--filed in Seattle, WA in 1916 have his arrival from Vancouver, BC and place of residence before that in Sask. Canada.
Peter went back to Norway in 1908 to bring his mother, Mathilda, to the USA. They entered the USA on 16 July 1908 through Quebec, Canada coming from Liverpool on the vessel Empress of Ireland. I will have to order the hard copy of the ship manifest to read all the small print on it. There is a LOT of fine print on the lines pertaining to Peter. The last foreign residence of Polly appears to have been with a "son, John Stefansen... in...Sarhaburg, Norway". It is really hard to read the script on the screen so the hard copy of needed with a good magnifying glass to figure out all the correct spellings.
This is about all I've found in the last few days that is new on the Olsen side.
I DO have a question for your mom. Could she please look at the attached picture and tell me if the gentleman in it IS Grandfather Olsen--could it perhaps be PETER RODFOS? As Mathea, Polly's mother is in it--could this have been a RODFOS family picture? (Holly adds: the referenced picture is under the Pages section  It is the one where the 3 children are being held with the 3 adults.) Perhaps a picture they intended to send back to the remaining family in Norway?
Unfortunately there does not appear to be a good Genealogy Society in North or South Dakota. These are often great sources of information. I've not found a good source for a marriage date/certificate for Polly and Richard. It should have been in Anita, Nelson, South Dakota. However, I feel I've found more on the Olsen side of the family than I EVER thought I would, so I will celebrate what we do know!
Hugs to all--I tripped at Army this weekend and sprained my left ankle and need to go get it elevated again. Had x-rays today--no fracture but lots of soft tissue damage. Just what I need a month before I head to Italy!
Joy