Dorothy, the Root Beer Lady

For the second summer in a row, I took advantage of living in Minnesota to conduct genealogy research locally. In 2021, Lucia and I drove to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where we obtained the probate file for Mrs. Caroline S. King, aka "Lena"…
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R.I.P. Joy M. Kiser (1947-2022)

Our family was stunned and heart-broken to hear of Joy Kiser's unexpected death a week ago at age 74.  She would have been 75 tomorrow. Joy was the Jones family historian.  Beginning in the 1990s, Joy spent many years researching the tragic…

Nelson Jonnes Died a Decade Ago Today

My father, Nelson Jonnes (1926-2011), passed away on 7 November 2011.  He was 85 and would have been 95 today. On the occasion of Dad's 80th birthday bash in 2006, I created a certificate in PowerPoint detailing many of his life accomplishments. …
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My Vermilyea Cousin in Fairbanks, Alaska

Lucia and I flew to Alaska last month! It was an amazing trip and we hope to return.  We encourage anyone who has not been to consider it.  It is as advertised - majestically beautiful and naturally wilder than any place in the lower 48. …

A Dream Come True

Once upon a time there was a Chinese girl named Shuping.((Shu is pronounced like "shoe" and Ping as in "ping-pong."))  She was born in Communist China and raised during the Cultural Revolution. At the height of Mao's tyranny, no Western…
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Genealogy Conferences Adjust to Pandemic Restrictions

Like everyone else, the genealogy education industry has been dramatically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  However, my impression is that it also adjusted to the new circumstances somewhat better than most organizations because remote…

Covid-19 Jeopardizes Trip to Europe

I'm sure we're not the first victims or the last, but it appears that the Covid-19 coronavirus situation is finally impacting our planned trip to Europe this year. Our 3-week trip is supposed to happen 16 April - 7 May.  It includes stays…

SLIG 2021 Courses Unveiled

I just completed another week of intense instruction at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG).  This was my second year.  (See last year's blog post here.)  I attended Introduction to Genetic Genealogy taught by Paul Woodbury , who…

Projects & Plans for 2020

All plans must adjust to reality.  My 2019 plans were somewhat waylaid by my Mother's cancer diagnosis in February and the long road to her final adieu in October.  I think I made seven trips back to Minnesota, but all were tremendously rewarding. …

R.I.P. Beverly Bonn Jonnes (1932-2019)

My Mother passed away peacefully yesterday after an 8-month battle with bile duct cancer.  She was 87.  She remained alert and witty until the last few hours. Her cancer is a rare one, but then, she was a rare woman. She was born Beverly…