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Family History - Andrew O. Grina, Merchant After finishing his business college course, Andrew O. Grina came to North Dakota at age 21 and filed on a homestead near Noonan. He later worked as a bookkeeper in Flaxton. In 1912 he arrived in Ambrose and opened one of five Grina Bros. clothing stores. The following year he married Lillis Carter, daughter of Judge and Mrs. F. F. Carter of Bowbells, and established their Ambrose home. Andrew was very active in community affairs and, at various times, was on the city council, served as mayor, and worked to establish the Ambrose Community hospital, which was a great service to the surrounding area. He served as president of the hospital association for many years. (Vincent Gilloley wrote to him about forty years later; "We three G's were asked to serve on so many committees together.") Possessing a fine bass voice and having years of experience in Minnesota choral groups, he enjoyed singing in the choirs of both the Ambrose Lutheran and Presbyterian churches, and with the Masonic quartette. Andrew developed golf as a hobby and he, Don Hand, and Gust Restvedt eventually built their own small golf course a mile south of town. Lillis and Andrew had three children, Elene Mary, Rosalie Joan, and Andrew Jerome. Grina family life in Ambrose was very pleasant, creating fond memories of wonderful friends and neighbors. Ambrose was blessed with so many good people. The Eastern Star, Masonic Lodge, and Sons of Norway were great pleasures. Lillis's fondest memory was when Stella Shaw tried to teach her to drive a car and several of the Shaw and Grina children had to walk ahead on the dirt roads searching for possible mud holes. She also remembered the embroidery club picnics, swimming at Long Creek, summer tennis, bridge parties, dancing at Miller's ball room, masquerades, home talent plays, silent movies at the Electric theatre, and Chautauqua shows (Do you remember "Smiling Through" when everybody cried?). One of her most delightful memories was a trip to Regina in a touring car with Don and Elaine Hand to hear John Phillips Sousa's band concert. Because of the persistent drought and lack of crops, the Grina Bros. store in Ambrose reluctantly closed in 1937. The community gave a lavishly beautiful silver wedding celebration (one year premature) honoring Lillis and Andrew before they left for Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. They later moved to California.
Family history taken
from page 74of the
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