She is a distant cousin from the time when the Norway farm was split between half brothers, 4 generations earlier.
{per her daughter, Kathy Douglas) Tillia was the daughter of Ole Olsen Loken (b. September 3, 1874) and Dora Ruth (Opdahl) Loken (December 6, 1892 – February 4, 1962). Following her father’s death, she was raised by her godparents Mikkel Loken and Olga Langehaug, though they never legally adopted her; and was living with them in 1930. Tillia had a half sister, Josephine Morina Opdahl Hegstad (30 December 1909 – 3 November 2002), who was born out of wedlock when her mother, Dora Opdahl, was 17 years-old. Josephine was 3-years-old when Tillia was born to Dora Opdahl and Ole Loken. Tillia did not have a birth certificate, and had to fill out paperwork later in life to prove her birth and life. Tillia had 2 sisters, Myrtle, Carol and 1 brother Elroy. Myrtle, Carol and Elroy were not given to Mikkel and Olga Loken when Tillia went to live with them at age eight.
She married Harry Svien (1910-1990) and they farmed in Day Co, SD near Webster. Two children, Richard (b ~1947) and Katherine (b~1950).
[Obituary]
Tillia Svien
Webster - The funeral for Tillia Svien, 82, Webster, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster. The Rev. Vernon Severson will officiate. Burial will be in the Webster Cemetery. Fiksdal Funeral Service of Webster is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be prior to the service this morning at the church. .
She died of cancer on Saturday, June 17, 1995, at her daughter's home in Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Tillia Loken was born April 21, 1913, to Ole and Dora (Opdahl) Loken on the family farm near Holmquist, Day County. She was baptized and confirmed in Bergen Lutheran Church, north of Bristol. When she was 8, her father died and she became the 12th child of her godparents, Mikkel and Olga Loken. She attended country school near Summit and near Holmquist. She graduated from Webster High School and Northern State Teacher's College in Aberdeen. She taught school for 13 years.
She married Harry H. Svien on Nov. 8, 1945, in Windom, Minn. They lived and farmed on the Svien family homestead south of Webster. He died Oct. 18, 1990. She lived on the farm until April 2, when she went to live with her daughter in Pelican Rapids.
Survivors include one son, Richard Svien of Rapid City; one daughter, Mrs. Michael (Kathryn) Douglas of Pelican Rapids; one brother, ElRoy Iverson of Mission Viejo, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Van Kempen of Bloomington, Minn., and Carol Sigdestad of Moorhead. Minn.; three foster brothers, Selmer Loken of Newcort, Minn.. Palmer Loken of Webster and Melvin Loken of Valley City, N.D.; two foster sisters, Minnie Sivertsen of Miller and Gladys Acker of Fargo, N.D.; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three foster brothers and three foster sisters.
Casketbearers will be Maynard Satrom, Robert Loken, Philip Skaare, Donald Dale, Jeff Binde, Tim Stegmeier, Tom Van Kempen and Ted Van Kempen. Organist will be Suzanne Olawsky. A duet will be performed by David Prieb and Suzanne Olawsky, accompanied by Lavcnne Prieb. Ushers will be Jay Evenson and Orlvn Evenson.