Louise R Þorsteinsdóttir Photo: VÍÆ II
Louise Rannveig Ethel Þorsteinsdóttir was born in Mountain, N. D. on January 3, 1890. She had the name Louise R. E. Thorlakson and later Johnson in the west.
Spouse: Alexander (Alex) Jónson b. in Winnipeg on June 29, 1887, d. July 19, 1952. He had the last name Johnson in the west.
Children: 1. Alexander Louis Johnson b. in Winnipeg on June 11, 1910 2. Clara Leon b. August 21, 1912, d. 1916 3. Lloyd Daniel b. September 3, 1919, d. 1934 4. Trevor George Paul b. June 3, 1926.
Louise was the daughter of Þorsteinn Þorláksson and Hlaðgerðar Grímsdóttir Laxdal, early settlers in the Þingvalla Settlement in N. Dakota in 1879. She studied singing at Francis Fishers Powers in New York and Lycium Arts in Chicago for many years. She was the lead singer at Dr. Ralph Horner’s Opera Co. and at the same time she gave regular concerts in the best theaters in Winnipeg and elsewhere in Canada. Once she settled in Winnipeg, she was for many years a soloist with the Tjaldbúðarsöfðin and often took part in Icelandic musical programs in the city. Alexander was the youngest child of Jón Jónsson and Vilborg Guðmundsdóttir from Snæfellsnessýsla, who came west in 1883 and always lived in Winnipeg. He was a grain dealer in Winnipeg for a long time and later an employee of the Canadian Loan Board of the Canadian government in the city. He was also a great singer, studied singing for many years and was the leader of the Icelandic men’s choir in Winnipeg for years. It’s safe to say of the couple that hardly an Icelandic gathering was held in Winnipeg without them appearing and entertaining the guests with song.