Emma J. Goeson

Emma J. Goeson, 102, of Moorhead, died Friday, June 24, 2005, in Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, MN.Emma Josephine Goeson was born on November 9, 1902, on a farm near Rock Dell, MN, the fifth child of Adolph R. and Anna Maris Jacobson.In 1905, Emma's father moved his family to Hettinger County, ND, to prove upon a claim. The family lived in a sod house to start with. Emma didn't remember living there, but did remember playing in the ruins after they had moved to a better house. Mostly, what Emma remembered about North Dakota was running barefoot over the prairie, chasing rabbits and snaring gophers. She didn't speak English until she started country school.Four more children were born in North Dakota. The first one died of pneumonia at 10 months of age, and is buried on the prairie beside the house. Emma remembered watching her father make a coffin for him.In 1910, the Jacobson family stood out in their farm yard and watched Halley's Comet for three nights. It was an unforgettable sight, a huge red fireball in the western horizon, and the tail stretched across the sky eastward as far as the eye could see.In 1914, Emma's mother died of typhoid fever. After that, Emma's father moved his family back to Rochester, MN. There were nine children by then, and they were all separated. Those old enough, had to find work, and the smaller ones were placed with relatives. They never got together as a family again, but visited as individuals.Emma's older sister got a job as a maid in a wealthy home, and Emma was taken on to care for that family's six year old son. Her sister got married in about a year, but Emma stayed with that family until she graduated from high school. Then, she got a job at the Mayo Clinic, in their metabolism laboratory, where she worked for two years. At that time, she was sent to St. Mary's Hospital for about six months to run their lab.In 1923, her elder brother came from Fargo, ND, with his family, to visit; and she decided to go back to Fargo with them. She attended Dakota Business College, and was soon sent out to work in Dr. Humphry's clinic on Center Avenue.From there, she worked for an automotive parts company, a seed company, and an insurance company. Emma married John L. Goeson, in 1932. They made their home in Moorhead, MN, because he had his office there. John died on May 16, 1969.Emma, and a friend, organized the first African Violet Club, in Fargo-Moorhead. They met monthly in their various homes. It was called the Red River African Violet Club. They had public shows, and also arranged displays for the Fargo-Moorhead Flower Show, when asked.Emma is survived by a son, Graham Goeson Madrene; four grandchildren, Carrie Marty Sittig, Bart Lori Goeson, Monica Brad Kruger, and Jon Renetta Goeson; and two great-grandchildren, Kelsey Goeson, and Brady Goeson.