Name/Title
Jalbert family: William and Selma (Baglien Walters) Jalbert of Hillsboro, Grandin & New England, North DakotaEntry/Object ID
2026.3.1Description
Information in a 3-ring binder describes the lives of Selma Baglien and her husband William Jalbert. This binder contains a 93-page, unbound document written by Carol (Lillefloren) Boeddeker-Genet, compiling her Jalbert family history research. Carol was a granddaughter of John Jr. and Annie H. (Jalbert) Weller. Annie was the eldest daughter of Louis and Lizzie Jalbert who came from Quebec Canada and homesteaded by Grandin, ND. This binder also holds a 271-page, nine-chapter, comprehensive Jalbert genealogy document researched and compiled by Richard Arthur Jalbert, with additional Jalbert family history notes added to chapters four to nine from Carol's research. Richard Arthur Jalbert was a son of Fred A. and Lucille (McKinnon) Jalbert. Fred Jalbert was a brother to William Jalbert.
For the purposes of the following descriptions, Jalbert family information and photographs are from a section in the book "A Family History for Hannah [Swenson] and John E. Ludwig", published in 2016 by grandson John A. 'Jack' Ludwig [see TCHS Catalogit entry 2022.300.1], which has been updated as an eBook as of August 2026.
Selma Baglien was born on 25 April 1893, one of 11 children born to parents Ole and Maren (Swenson) Baglien in Hillsboro in Traill County, North Dakota [see TCHS Catalogit entry 2022.671.1]. Selma was a twin to Jerome Baglien and they were raised in Hillsboro. But by the time of the 1900 US Census, Selma (age 7) was listed as a “Boarder” in the home of her aunt Bertha (Swenson) Walters and Bertha's husband Jake Walters, who did not have children of their own and who farmed east of Grandin in Noble Township in Cass County, North Dakota. Selma Baglien was raised by Jacob and Bertha Walters, and during her life used Selma Walters as her family name, not Baglien.
Selma Baglien Walters attended a rural township school, and earned certificates for perfect attendance [source, NDSU Library archives]. By the time of the 1910 US Census, Selma was no longer listed in the household of Jacob and Bertha Walters because in 1909, at the age of close to 16, Selma Baglien Walters had married neighbor William James Jalbert (photo) on 24 March 1909 [marriage Lic. No. 05035, Cass Co. ND]. Their marriage was performed by Pastor J. Mobess of Perley, MN, and reported in a news item in the Hendrum Review as follows: “Wednesday evening, at the home of the bride’s parents, in the town[ship] of Noble, occurred the marriage of Miss Selma Walters, daughter of Jacob Walters, to William Jalbert. The ceremony was witnessed by a number of the friends and relatives of the contracting parties. The Review joins with their many friends in extending congratulations and best wishes.” This news item was also reprinted on page 6 in the 2 April 1909 issue of the Hillsboro Banner weekly newspaper.
William James Jalbert was born on 21 July 1884, the fifth of eleven children born to parents Louis Damase and Marie-Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ (Peladeau) Jalbert. A brief description of Louis and Lizzie is available on page 107 of the Grandin Centennial book. From Quebec, in 1872, they homesteaded on 160 acres of land Louis had purchased in January 1892 in the NE Qtr. of Sect. 12 in Kenyon Township [T143N, R50W], about two miles southeast of Grandin in Cass County, Dakota Territory [see 1893 Plat map].
After William and Selma married in March 1909, they went west to live on William’s farmstead in Hettinger County, ND. In 1906, William Jalbert had claimed 160 acres of land in the NW Qtr. of Section 18 in Kennedy Township, Hettinger County. William’s brother, George Jalbert, had homesteaded in Cedar Creek Township in 1905. The location of William and Selma’s farmstead is indicated by the small dot on a 1914 plat map.
In the 1910 US Census record, William, age 26, and Selma, age 17, declared that they had been married for one year and farmed in Kennedy Township. A photograph of William and Selma shows them in a field on their farm in Kennedy Township. In their first years on their farm in Kennedy Township, William and Selma resided in a small farmhouse in the open prairie (photo). They later moved into a larger farmhouse, which over time went through a series of renovations, as shown in another photograph.
In the 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Census, William and Selma Jalbert continued to farm in Kennedy Township, and by 1940 they had 12 children, of which 11 lived to adulthood (see family tree; use a magnifier). A daughter Joyce Adeline Jalbert born in August 1924 died at 2 months. In honor of this deceased daughter, their youngest daughter was also named Joyce Adeline Jalbert. The following brief life histories for the 11 surviving children are based on family stories and birth-baptism, census, and death records.
Burneece Irene Jalbert
William and Selma’s oldest child, daughter Burneece Irene Jalbert was born on 5 July 1911 in Reeder in Adams County, ND, and was baptized on 30 July 1911 in the Nora Lutheran Church in Noble Township, Cass County, ND [ELCA record]; this church remains open (in 2026). Burneece was 8 years old in the 1920 US Census for Kennedy Township in Hettinger County. Burneece attended country school and then Reeder High School, graduating in 1928. After high school, Burneece Jalbert attended Dickinson Normal School (later Dickinson State College, then Dickinson State University) where Burneece received a two-year diploma to teach up to and including grade 10 [info, courtesy son Scott Steen]. Later, Burneece took additional courses to receive a certificate to qualify to teach grades 11 and 12. Burneece first taught at a rural school in Kennedy Township east of the Jalbert home farm and then at a school in Reeder. Burneece was 18, nearly 19, in the 1930 US Census taken at the home farm. In this 1930 census, her occupation was recorded as “Teacher” in a “Public School”.
Burneece was not listed with her parents in the 1940 US Census for Kennedy Township. In 1940 Burneece was still teaching at Reeder while a “Lodger” with the Herman Nelson family on a farm in Strehlow Township in Hettinger County [1940 US Census data]. Back in the summer of 1934, Burneece Jalbert and her sister Charlotte Jalbert were on a bus travelling from Fargo to Dickinson, returning home because they had been cheated out of their salaries by the owner of a Fargo restaurant [info, courtesy Scott Steen]. By chance, on the bus was a young man, Morris Wm Steen, also from New England. A romance bloomed and on 10 February 1944, Burneece Irene Jalbert, age 32, married Morris Wm Steen, age 31 in Mott, ND [see wedding photo]. Morris was born on 18 August 1913 and baptized at home in New England, ND, where he attended school. Morris worked for about three years for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) before joining the US Navy in 1937. Burneece taught school in Guam while Morris was stationed there for a time [obit info]. Morris was also stationed at Pearl Harbor in WWII where Morris was assigned to a Fletcher Class Destroyer, the Epping Forest Patterson [info, courtesy Scott Steen]. During this time Burneece was in San Diego censoring letters for the military [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Morris also served in the Korean War [obit info].
In the 1950 US Census, Morris, age 36, and Burneece, age 38, resided in San Diego, CA, where Morris had now been stationed with the US Navy. While in San Diego, Morris and Burneece first had a stillborn “Baby Girl Steen” who was buried in San Diego’s Garden of Memories in Perpetual Care Lot, grave 558 [info, courtesy Scott Steen].
Morris and Burneece had a son, Scott Randall Steen, who was born on 3 March 1953 [CA Birth Index]. Scott was born at the San Diego Naval Hospital, and baptized Lutheran on 24 April 1954. Although born and baptized in San Diego, Scott was mostly raised in Butte, MT, because in late 1957, Morris and Burneece, and four-year-old son Scott, came to Butte where Morris served as a Navy recruiter [news, The Montana Standard, 3 Jan. 1958]. They resided on Johns Ave in Butte [1959 City Dir.] and later on Pine Ave [obit info]. Scott was confirmed at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Butte on 28 April 1968 [info, Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Scott has resided for many years on Elm St. in Butte [1987-2020 US Public Record; 1995-2002 US Phone Dir.], where he continues (in 2026) to live [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug].
Morris Steen retired from the US Navy in 1966. He then attended Montana Tech in Butte and began a career as a US Forest Service construction inspector. Unfortunately, Morris Steen’s time with the US Forest Service was a short career because Morris passed away, age 55, on 6 September 1968 at St. James Community Hospital in Butte, MT. At the time of his death, Morris and family resided on Pine Ave in Butte [MT Death Certif.]. Morris was interred in the Rainy Butte Cemetery by New England in Hettinger County, ND. Rainy Butte Cemetery is located at the southwest corner of Section 3 in Strehlow Township in Hettinger County, about six miles south of New England, ND. Rainy Butte Cemetery is easily located by a sign just to the east of ND Hwy 22 [see 2025 photo].
Burneece (Jalbert) Steen had a long career as a teacher and lived to the age of 77, passing away on 7 February 1989 in Saint James Community Hospital in Butte [MT Death Certif.]. Burneece was interred with the Jalbert family and next to Morris in the Rainy Butte Cemetery by New England in Hettinger County, ND.
Leslie Jerome Jalbert
William and Selma’s first son, Leslie Jerome Jalbert was born on 13 August 1913 on the home farm in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, ND. In the 1920 US Census, Leslie was age 6, and age 16 in the 1930 US Census. Leslie attended rural school near the family farm in Kennedy Township. After schooling in North Dakota, as a young man Leslie moved to Los Angeles, CA.
In 1939, Leslie was employed at Glendale Auto Laundry, and gave his home address as E. Lomita Ave [Glendale City Dir., 1939].
In the 1940 US Census, taken on 16 April, Leslie declared that he was 26, and married to Glenys R. Jalbert, age 17. Leslie said that they resided on S. Bonnie Brae Street in Los Angeles, and that he was employed as a “Laborer” in an “Auto tire store”. In this 1940 Census, Leslie stated that in 1935 his residence was in Barstow, San Bernadino County, CA, whereas, Glenys stated that in 1935 she resided in Portland, OR. Interestingly, Glenys, age 17, was also listed in another 1940 US Census collected on 9-10 April on West 17th St. in the home of her mother, Vesta Fesler. These data indicate that Leslie and Glenys likely met in California and married in the Spring of 1940; I have not located a CA marriage record to establish a date of marriage; they may have married elsewhere: Nevada? Glenys Ramona Fesler was born on 5 October 1922 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA [US Soc. Sec. Claims info]. Her parents were Farrell and Vesta Fesler [info, courtesy Ancestry Public Member Tree: stacy62774]. Glenys was raised in Lewiston, ID, Portland, OR, and Los Angeles, CA [1930 & 1940 US Census data]. On 16 October 1940, Leslie Jerome Jalbert registered for the WWII Draft and listed his address as West 17th Street in Los Angeles, which was the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Farrell Fesler, and that he was employed by a Don S. Williams on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, CA.
Leslie and Glenys Jalbert had a son Leslie Jr., born in 1941, and a daughter Janine Diane, born in 1945 [Obit info]. A cropped photo taken in about 1943 shows Leslie holding his son Leslie Jr. with Glenys at Leslie’s side [see photo]. Leslie and Glenys Jalbert divorced on 31 October 1947 in Los Angeles, CA, and Glenys took custody of their children, Leslie Jr. and Janine [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Glenys R. (Fesler) Jalbert then married Edward H. Kuhnz on 27 August 1947 [CA Marriage Record]. Edward H. Kuhnz was born on 6 October 1918 in Crawford County, Kansas, to parents Adam R. and Mary (Preisl) Kuhnz [info, courtesy Ancestry LKuhnz Tree]. Leslie and Glenys’ children, Leslie Jr. and Janine were raised by Glenys and Edward Kuhnz and took their stepfather’s Kuhnz family name.
From 1950 US Census data, we know that Leslie J. Jalbert was 36, divorced, residing alone at the Norwood Hotel in Los Angeles, and employed as a “Pin setter” in a “Bowling alley”. Leslie resided in Los Angeles until 1954 and then moved to Salt Lake City, UT [obituary info, courtesy Bismarck Tribune, 4 May 1973]. Leslie Jerome Jalbert died, age 59, on 1 May 1973 in SLC, where he was managing a bowling alley [obituary info, courtesy Bismarck Tribune, 4 May 1973]. Although Leslie died in SLC, his younger brother Archie Jalbert and his brother-in-law Albert Fossum brought Leslie’s remains from SLC to be interred with other Jalbert family in the Rainy Butte Cemetery [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug].
Glen Allen Jalbert
William and Selma’s second son, Glen Allen Jalbert, was born on 4 July 1915 on the home farm in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, ND. In the 1920 US Census, Glen was recorded as being four-and-a-half years old. In the 1930 US Census, Glen was age 14 and age 24 in the 1940 US Census. When Glen registered for the WWII draft on 16 October 1940, he gave his address as Rural Route 2, New England, ND. On his draft card, Glen was described as 5’5” in height, 150 lbs., and with hazel eyes and brown hair. Glen A. Jalbert served in WWII, survived, and was released from service in March 1946 [news, Bismarck Tribune, 1 March 1946].
The 1950 US Census documents that Glen Jalbert was farming his own land in the N-half of Sect. 20 in Kennedy Township, Hettinger County, ND. In 1950 Glen was 34 and married to Margie. On 30 June 1947, Glen Allen Jalbert, age 31, married Margie Jane Homelvig, age 25, at the Lebanon Lutheran Church in Amidon in Slope County, ND [obit info, Bismarck Tribune, 30 March 2012]. Margie was born on 2 December 1921 on her parent’s farm, the second of nine children born to Sigwart and Eliza (Nicholson) Homelvig, who farmed in White Lake Township in Slope County, ND.
Sadly, less than three years after the 1950 US Census, Glen Allen Jalbert passed away, age 37, on 22 February 1953 [ND Death Certif.]. The cause of Glen’s death was redacted on the certificate, but Glen only had one kidney (info, Scott Steen). Glen Jalbert died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson, ND. Glen and Margie did not have any children before Glen’s untimely death. Glen Allen Jalbert was interred with Jalbert family at the Rainy Butte Cemetery in Hettinger County.
After Glen’s passing, Margie earned a teaching degree at Dickinson State Teachers College and taught fourth grade in public schools in Dickinson and New England [obit info, Bismarck Tribune, 30 March 2012].
On 26 December 1961, Margie Jane (Homelvig) Jalbert, age 39, married LaVerne Russel Bohnhoff, age 38, at the Rainy Butte Lutheran Church near New England, ND [obit info, Bismarck Tribune, 30 March 2012]. Margie and LaVerne moved to Dickinson in 1990. LaVerne Russel Bohnhoff died on 2 April 2002 [US FaG info]. In 2006, Margie Jane Bohnhoff moved to Bismarck, where she passed away, age 90, on 27 March 2012 [obit info, Bismarck Tribune, 30 March 2012]. Margie was interred next to LaVerne Bohnhoff at the Rainy Butte Cemetery near New England, ND.
Charlotte Elaine Jalbert
William and Selma’s second daughter, Charlotte Elaine Jalbert was born on 28 May 1916 in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, ND. In the 1920 US Census, Charlotte was recorded as being three-and-a-half years old. In the 1930 US Census, Charlotte was 13, and she was 23 in the 1940 US Census, and employed as a “Maid” in a “School dormitory". A photograph taken in about 1940 shows Charlotte Jalbert (standing at right) with her older sister, Burneece Jalbert (later Mrs. Morris Steen).
In the 1950 US Census, Charlotte was 34. No employment was recorded for Charlotte in this 1950 census, but we know that at some point in time, Charlotte worked for the “Postal Service” as a “Mail sorter” in Dickinson, ND [ND Death Certif.]. This death record documents that Charlotte Elaine Jalbert “Never married” and passed away, age 83, on 9 December 1999 at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson. Charlotte was interred with Jalbert family at the Rainy Butte Cemetery near New England, ND [obit, Bismarck Tribune, 13 Dec. 1999].
Wayne Wm Jalbert
William and Selma’s third son, Wm. Wayne Jalbert, who used the name Wayne, was born on 15 August 1918 on the home farm in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, ND. In the 1920 US Census, Wayne was recorded as being one year and five months of age. In the 1930 US Census, Wayne was 11. On 8 December 1934, Wm. Wayne Jalbert, age 16, was baptized at the hospital in Dickinson, ND, by a pastor from St. John’s Lutheran Church, because as noted on his Ancestry.com ELCA baptism record, Wayne was “Near death shot wound”. Fortunately, Wayne survived.
In the 1940 US Census, Wayne Jalbert was 21, had married Karine C. Aanstad, age 24, and worked as a hired hand on the farm of Ludwig L. and Agnes Moan in Strehlow Township, Hettinger County. Wm. Wayne Jalbert married Karine C. Aanstad on 6 February 1940 in Baker, Fallon County, Montana [MT County marriages]. Karine was born on 17 December 1915 to parents Albert and Ragna (Olson) Aanstad of Almont in Morton County [ND Death Certif. data]. Almont is located about 45 miles west of Bismarck, ND. Karine was raised and schooled in Morton County [1930 & 1940 US Census] and graduated from Almont High School [obit info, Bismarck Tribune, 10 Feb. 1986].
When Wayne Jalbert registered for the US Selective Service on 16 October 1940 in Mott in Hettinger County, he declared he was self-employed and that he and his wife Karine resided in the town of New England, ND. On his draft card, Wayne was described as 5’6” tall, 150 lb. and with hazel eyes and brown hair. For a time in late 1940 and in 1941, Wayne and Karine resided in Almont, ND, but in late 1941 they moved to a farm near New England, ND, as reported in The Morton County News [8 Jan. 1942, pg. 8].
When the 1950 US Census was taken on 28 April, Wayne, age 31, and Karine, 34, Jalbert continued to reside in the town of New England, ND, with Wayne’s occupation recorded as “Farming”. In this census, they had three children, Darline Jalbert, age 9, William ‘Bill’ Jalbert, age 4, and Sharon Jalbert, age 2 months.
Wayne farmed by New England until his life was cut short at the age of only 46 when he died at home on 9 November 1964 [ND Death Certif.]. Wm. Wayne Jalbert was interred with Jalbert family in the Rainy Butte Cemetery near New England. About eight years after Wayne’s death, Karine married Irvin Miller on 1 September 1972 in Dickinson, ND, and they lived in Bismarck, ND, where Irvine worked as an accountant and managed apartments [obit, Bismarck Tribune, 10 Feb. 1986]. Karine C. (Aanstad Jalbert) Miller lived to the age of 70, passing away on 8 February 1986 after a long illness at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck ND [obit, Bismarck Tribune, 10 Feb. 1986]. After a funeral service was held at Capital City Christian Church in Bismarck, Karine was interred at the Rainy Butte Cemetery near New England, ND.
Earlene Iola Jalbert
William and Selma’s third daughter, Earlene Iola Jalbert, who sometimes went by Iola, was born on 10 October 1919 in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, ND and was baptized into the Rainy Buttle Lutheran Church. In the 1920 US Census, Iola was recorded as being three-months old. In the 1930 US Census, Earlene was age 10, and she was age 20 in the 1940 US Census. On 29 May 1940, Earlene Iola Jalbert graduated from New England High School [news, Bismarck Tribune, 11 May 1940]. After graduating from HS, Earlene worked as a secretary for the US Government, perhaps in California where she met a soldier, George Jones. On 17 October 1944, Earlene Iola Jalbert married George Kitchener Jones at Marysville in Yuba County, CA [see photo].
George K. Jones was born on 15 July 1916 [US Naturalization Declaration], the eldest of eight children born to Eldon M. and Bessie Lee (Mercereau) Jones in St. John’s in New Brunswick, Canada. George grew up in the Toppenish area in Washington, and attended Oregon State University [obit info]. On 16 October 1940, George Jones registered for the Selective Service at Kittitas in Kittitas County, WA, where he gave his address as Box 96, Harrah in Yakima County, which is located near Toppenish, WA; this was the address of his mother, Bessie Lee Jones. On his draft card, George was described as 6’1½” tall, 200 lb., and with brown eyes and hair. While George served in the US Army in WWII, he married Earlene Iola Jalbert.
After being discharged from the US Army with a rank of Sgt., George and Earlene (Jalbert) Jones farmed in the Yakima Valley from 1946 to 1952 [obit info]. They then moved to the Moses Lake area in Grant County, WA, where George farmed with a brother-in-law, Grant Harris, husband of George’s sister Lula (Jones) Harris. In the 1950 US Census, George, age 33, and Lola, age 30, were recorded as residing in rural Yakima County. George gave “Farmer” as his occupation in 1950. A one-year-old son, George Randall Jones was listed with them in 1950. Their son George Randall Jones was born on 28 June 1948 in Yakima, WA. They also had a daughter Shelley Renee Jones born on 25 December 1950 in Yakima. George K. and Earlene Jones had another son Lawrence Allen ‘Larry’ Jones born on 1 July 1952 in Toppenish, Yakima County, WA.
Unfortunately, George K. Jones only lived to the age of 49, passing away on 27 November 1965 at Moses Lake in Grant County, WA [US FaG info]. George was interred at Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake [US FaG grave-marker, below left]. After George’s passing, Earlene continued to reside in Moses Lake. Earlene lived to the age of 80, passing away on 8 December 1999 at home in Moses Lake. Earlene (Jalbert) Jones was interred next to George at Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake.
Marvel Jean Jalbert
William and Selma’s fourth daughter, Marvel Jean Jalbert, who sometimes went by Jean, was born on 20 July 1921 in Hettinger County, ND. Marvel grew up on her parent’s farm in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County. In the 1930 US Census, Marvel was 8 years old. Marvel graduated from New England High School, and she was recorded as age 19 in the 1940 US Census for Kennedy Township. By the time the 1950 US Census was taken on 13 April in the town of New England, Marvel was 28 and was married.
Marvel Jean Jalbert married Orval George Olson [photo] on 16 November 1944 [ND Marriage Rec.].
Orval Olson was born on 21 July 1920 to parents Martin and Tille (Nass) Olson in Tepee Butte Township in Hettinger County. In the 1940 US Census, Orval Olson, age 19, was employed as a “Hired hand” on the farm of Frank and Lydia Stang in Wagendorf Township, Hettinger County. In the 1950 US Census, Orval was age 29, and employed in a “Radiator & Glass shop” in New England. At this time, they resided on 10th Street, and had two boys, Ronald, age 4, and Rodney, age 2. But, later in 1950, Orval and Marvel (Jalbert) Olson, and boys, moved to Moses Lake in Grant County, Washington., and then in 1965 to Othello in Adams County, WA, where Orval worked for Lockwood Corporation [obit info].
Orval and Marvel Olson had a total of four sons [stacy62774 Ancestry.com Public Member Tree], including Ronald, Rodney, Daniel and, sadly, a baby boy, born on 5 May 1952, who died after only two-and-a-half hours at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson [ND Death Certif.]. The death certificate states that the baby Olson’s burial was on 6 May at a “New England” cemetery.
Orval George Olson passed away, age 59, of cancer on 24 May 1980 in the Community Hospital in Othello [WA Death Certif.]. Orval was interred in the Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello, WA.
Marvel Jean (Jalbert) Olson lived to the age of 63, passing away at her home due to cardiac arrest on 11 May 1985 in Othello [WA Death Certif.]. At the time of her death in 1985, Marvel was survived by three sons, Ronald Olson of San Jose, CA, Rodney Olson of Aurora, CO, and Daniel Olson of Moses Lake, WA [obit, Tri-City Herald, Pasco, WA, 16 May 1985]. Marvel was interred in the Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello, WA.
Russell Wendell Jalbert
William and Selma’s fourth son, Russell Wendell Jalbert was born on 19 March 1923 on the family farm in Hettinger County, ND, and baptized at the Rainy Butte Lutheran Church [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. In the 1930 US Census, Russell was recorded as age 7, and he was recorded as 17 in the 1940 US Census. Russell was recorded as a “Farm laborer” in this 1940 census, likely helping his father on the home farm.
On 12 June 1945, Russell Wendell Jalbert, age 22, married Lucille Mae Gordon, 20, at the Lutheran Church in Regent in Hettinger County, ND [obit info]. Lucille was born on 26 April 1925 to parents Harley and Anna Josephine (Nass) Gordon in Slope County, ND. From information recorded in the 1950 US Census for Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, we know that Russell farmed the NW Qtr. of Section 30 and that Russell’s brothers, Dennis Jalbert and Glen Jalbert farmed nearby.
In the 1950 US Census, Russell and Lucille were listed with a son, Darrell Jalbert, who was born on 5 January 1949 in Dickinson. However, from other records, we know that Russell and Lucille first had a son, Wesley James Jalbert, who was born on 9 June 1946 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson. Wesley J. was also baptized at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson on 5 August 1946 [ELCA baptism rec.]. Sadly, a day after Wesley was baptized, he died on 6 August at the age of 1 month and 25 days at St. Joseph’s Hospital [ND Death Certif.]. Wesley James Jalbert was interred in Rainy Butte Cemetery, New England. Russell and Lucille also had a daughter Connie Rachel Jalbert on 1 May 1952 in Dickinson. Tragically, Russell Jalbert, age 49, was killed on 10 June 1972 in a road accident on his way home to his farm south of New England [obit, Bismarck Tribune, 12 June 1972]. After a funeral service at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in New England, Russell was interred in the Rainy Butte Cemetery. Sadly, only about two years after Russell passed away, Lucille (Gordon) Jalbert also died, age 49, on 9 July 1974 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson [ND Death Certif.]. Lucille was interred next to Russell in the Rainy Butte Cemetery.
Joyce Adeline Jalbert
William and Selma’s fifth daughter, Joyce Adeline Jalbert, was born on 23 August 1924 in Stark County, ND, but sadly died as an infant of two months on 6 November 1924 [US Find-a-Grave info]. Joyce Adeline Jalbert was buried in at the Rainy Butte Cemetery in Section E, Row 3, Grave #2 [info and map, courtesy Rainy Butte/Johnson Cemetery Association, Inc.]. Unfortunately, there is no grave-marker for Joyce Adeline Jalbert at the Rainy Butte cemetery.
Dennis Wendell Jalbert
William and Selma’s fifth son, Dennis Wendell Jalbert was born on 24 December 1929 on the family farm in Hettinger County, ND, and was baptized at the Rainy Butte Lutheran Church [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Dennis was raised on the home farm in Kennedy Township in Hettinger County with his parents and siblings. In the 1930 US Census Dennis was recorded as 3-months old, and he was 10 in the 1940 US Census. By the time of the 1950 US Census for Kennedy Township, taken on 22 May, Dennis was 20, and now married to Mary June Bambusch, also age 20. Dennis Wendell and Mary June married on 22 November 1949 [ND Marriage Rec.]. They married at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Regent, Hettinger County, ND; Dennis was later baptized into St Mary’s Catholic Church in New England in 1952 [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Mary June Bambusch was born on 18 February 1930, and baptized into St. Henry’s Catholic Church Regent; Mary June was one of eight children born to John W. and Susanna (Balog) Bambusch, who ranched southwest of Regent [obit info].
From information in the 1950 US Census, we know that Dennis Wendell and Mary June Jalbert farmed the NW qtr. of Section 19. Dennis and Mary June had first built a basement house on 50 acres in the northwest corner of the NW Qtr. of Sect. 18, but then in about 1960 they built a new house in the NW Qtr. of Sect. 19 (11996 75th St. SW) [info, courtesy son Terry Jalbert]. Dennis’s father, William Jalbert, and brother, Russell Jalbert, farmed nearby.
Dennis Wendell and Mary June (Bambusch) Jalbert had six children. They had four sons: Dennis Jr., Tim, Terrance, and Craig, and two daughters: Robin and Juanita.
Dennis and Mary June Jalbert retired from farming in 1986 and in 1994 they moved to 14th St. W in Dickinson, ND. Dennis and Mary June Jalbert rented their farmhouse in the NW Qtr. of Sect. 19 to nephew Brandon Jalbert, who later purchased the farmstead from them [info, courtesy Terry Jalbert]. After Brandon’s father, Darrell Jalbert passed away in 2004, Brandon’s mother Peggy lived in the former Dennis and Mary June Jalbert farmhouse for a few years [info, courtesy Terry Jalbert].
Dennis Wendell Jalbert lived to the age of 65, passing way on 9 March 1995 at the St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck [ND Death Certif.]. Dennis was interred in the St. Partick’s Cemetery in Dickinson, ND. Mary June (Bambusch) Jalbert continues (in 2026) to reside in Dickinson, ND [info, courtesy son Terry Jalbert].
Archie Delano Jalbert
William and Selma’s sixth son, Archie Delano Jalbert was born on 18 July 1932 in Reeder, Adams County, ND, and was baptized into the Rainy Butte Lutheran Church in Hettinger County on 15 March 1936 [info, courtesy Liv (Paulson) Norderhaug]. Archie was raised on the home farm in Kennedy Township with his parents and ten siblings. In the 1940 US Census, Archie was 7 years old. Archie attended a rural school and then New England High School. In the 1950 US Census for Kennedy Township in Hettinger County, Archie wa... [truncated due to length]Acquisition
Accession
2026.3Source or Donor
John 'Jack' Ludwig, Carol (Lillefloren) Boeddeker-GenetLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
