Herman Andrew Kvamme

Herman A. Kvamme, 100, of Albion, NE, died on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at his home in Albion, NE.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at Immanuel-Zion (South Branch) Church rural Albion, NE with Vicar Elizabeth Goehring officiating. Interment will be at North Branch (East) Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m Monday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.

Herman Andrew Kvamme, son of Andrew and Nelsine (Hernes) Kvamme, was born on January 26, 1922 at home in Closter, NE. Herman was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran North Branch Church in 1936. He attended school, 1 ^st through 8 ^th grade, at District 51, 9 ^th through 11 ^th grade at District 88 near Closter, and 12 ^th grade at Albion High School, graduating in 1940. Herman farmed with his father and brothers. Herman and his brother Emil farmed approximately 700 acres, including the homeplace.

Herman loved playing his guitar and singing together with his brother Emil. Herman bought his first guitar when he was 20 years old, a Sears and Roebuck for $15. While in high school, Herman would listen to radio station XEG, Cowboy Slim Reinhart, broadcasted from El Paso, TX which inspired him to learn to play the guitar. In the late 1940s Herman and Emil once competed in a talent show, receiving 1 ^st place for singing "Mockin Bird Hill" and received $5 as their prize. Later they together played and sang two songs on the Norfolk radio station WJAG. They were allowed 10 minutes to perform and received many cards in the mail for their music. The brothers loved playing and performed at many places including many area towns as well as seed corn events. Their most requested song was "Spanish 2-step". Additionally, Herman also sang tenor in the church choir for Easter cantata.

On June 10, 2000, Herman was united in marriage to Jean Suzanne Noble at the Chapel in the Hills, Norwegian Stave Church in Rapid City, SD. The couple then made their home in Albion. Herman's mother always wanted him to go to Norway – to see the country she and his father grew up in, as they both came to the U.S.A. in 1911 and 1913. In October of 2000, Herman and Jean made the trip to Norway for three weeks and stayed with the Kvamme family. Herman's biggest thrill was getting to go to the homeplace where his father was born and raised and getting to walk the grounds where he would have played. The international flight over to Bergen, Norway was Herman's very first time flying. When the flight attendant found this out, she invited him to come up to the cockpit to meet the pilots and see how the plane was flown.

In addition to being a member at South Branch, Herman was a member of the Sons of Norway. Herman was also fluent in speaking Norwegian and gave lessons in speaking the native language as well as acting as an interpreter.

Herman is survived by his wife Jean Kvamme of Albion, NE; two step sons: Bob Bittner and Tom Bittner both of Albion, NE; mother-in-law: Charlotte Noble of Albion, NE; brother-in-law: Bill (Vicki) Noble of Albion, NE; sister-in-law: Kim (Robert Anson) Forre of Newman Grove, NE; niece: JoAnn Sherven of Belleville, WI; as well as extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Casper (Lola) Kvamme; Arnold Kvamme; Emil Kvamme; sister: Alvilda Kvamme; father-in-law: Alton Noble; brother-in-law: Dan Forre; and nephew Alvin Kvamme.