Rueben Oliver Stavig was born March 2, 1909 in Rhinehart, Minnesota to Bernt and Jetta Cherum Stavig. (He later dropped the “e” from his first name.) He was baptized in United Lutheran in Grand Forks on June 13, 1909. He had five brothers: Benny, Halcomb, George, Ernest and Arnold, plus four sisters: Alice, Tilda, Josie and Doris. He moved with his family to Clearwater County in 1916 and they settled on a farm in Popple Township. Rueben attended school in Minnow Lake School, now Popple Town Hall, through the 8th grade. He then became a farm laborer, working in Vernon, North Dakota. He was working as a lumber stacker in McCloud, California in 1940.

Rueben joined the Army and became a member of the military police. He was sent to the South Pacific. He and his brother George were in New Guinea at the same time but didn’t get to see each other. He was honorably discharged October 31, 1945.

Rueben married Barbara Leal in 1956 and they lived in California. He passed away in Butte County, California on April 15, 1979. 

Plot: 13      Side: South         Row from Bottom: 2

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