La Veern Abelson

La Veern Abelson was born in Sanish, North Dakota on September 1, 1916. He attended the University of North Dakota and was a classmate of Carleton Elliott Simensen, a fellow ROTC officer and 1940 graduate. In 1941, Abelson enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in the Philippines. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese during the fall of Bataan and Corregidor in May, 1942. He died five months later. The La Veern Abelson Collection consists of materials donated by Russell Lake, Abelson's fellow UND alumnus and ROTC officer, and by Bernice Houser, Joseph Breslin and Jeffrey Wilbur of New Town, North Dakota. (Abelson's mother moved to New Town later in life.) The one folder of materials contains the following: 1) A letter and photocopy of two newspaper clippings from Bernice Houser, secretary of Sanish Riverview Cemetery near New Town, North Dakota, containing genealogical information on the Abelson family. 2) A photocopy of the 1945 church bulletin for Abelson's memorial service in Sanish and a letter from Joseph Breslin, who describes his memories of Abelson. Both items were donated by Joseph Breslin. 3) A photocopy from the Mountrail County book of World War II veterans, donated by Jeffrey Wilber. Additional notes by Wilber are included on the photocopy. 4) The actual church bulletin from Abelson's memorial service in Sanish in 1945. The bulletin was donated by Russell Lake. 5) Photocopy of a plaque honoring Abelson from the American Legion Post in New Town, North Dakota. Donated by Jeff Wilber (Acc.#99-2366). Three photos of La Veern Abelson, donated by Russell Lake, were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets. (OGL #1278-65, 66, 67)