Alma Matilda Brenden was born January 28, 1919 at Norse Haven Farm near Westby, Wisconsin. She was the third of seven children born to Adolph Simon and Mathea (Solberg) Brenden. She graduated from 8th grade on June 9, 1933. Only two of her siblings graduated high school because the older siblings were needed to help on the farm.
On January 28, 1939, Alma married Jim William Appleman in Waukon, Iowa. They lived with Jim’s mother and father, Charlie and Belle Appleman for about ten years. In 1948, Jim and Alma built their own home on acreage in the Town of Clinton. Alma remained the matriarch of her family after Jim’s death in 1988, and continued to reside in their home until moving to Halvorsen Apartments in Westby, and resided there until her death on November 28, 2008.
Her early years were marked with profound loss, losing her mother, grandmother, and infant sister in a three week period. This loss was compounded when her youngest brother, Virgil, was sent to live with Grandma Solberg because there was no one to care for him. She also lost her oldest brother, Alvin, in a car accident when he was in his early 20’s.
Alma had a very close and loving relationship with her sisters Clarice (Kitty) and Alverda (Ducky) because of the challenges they faced as young sisters. They were not only sisters, but very best friends. Their devotion to each other was transferred to the love of their family-especially their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. One of the highlights of their relationship was the annual lefse making at holiday time. Alma was the lefse roller, Clarice was the baker, and Alverda kept the dishes washed and provided moral support.
Alma loved to iron. After the death of her mother when she was seven years old, her Aunt Emma would iron Alma's blouses. Alma would leave them hanging in her closet and not wear them because she knew it would be long time before they were ironed again. She loved cooking favorite foods for her grandchildren. Among the favorites were jello with bananas, buckeyes, fried bread, cinnamon rolls, grasshoppers (at Christmas) and her famous shakes.
Her love of family transcended to 4-legged animals; the animals she cared for on the farm. It was not unusual for her to nurse animals back to health in her house. She had a great love for birds; especially the wren. She always kept her bird feeders full of food for her feathered friends.
One of her great joys was traveling with Jim to the auctioneer conventions, which were in different states each year. She loved to travel for family events-graduations, weddings, baptisms, and confirmations. In later years, she and her sisters loved going to the casino with family members, and on bus trips.
Her life was filled with many hardships, but she accepted the things she could not change, and changed the things she could. She is buried with her husband, Jim William Appleman, in the Sugar Grove Church Cemetery, Cashton (Vernon County) Wisconsin. Blessed be her memory.
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