THE SEIRUP FAMILY

The Seirup family story actually starts with Nels and Dagmar Nelson, who moved to St. Louis Park in 1920. Nels worked for Monitor Drill, and Mrs. Nelson ran a boarding house, perhaps at 3456 Wooddale Ave.

Nels’ and Dagmar’s daughter Dorothea was born in 1888 in St. Louis Park. She graduated in 1906. Dorothea married John K. Seirup on June 1, 1909.

J.K Seirup was born in Denmark on April 3, 1886 [1888]. He came to Minneapolis at age 17 and became a cement contractor in 1908. J.K. and his company installed a great many of the sidewalks and curbs in the growing city. He later added coal and garage facilities at Wooddale and Highway 7. He opened a Pure Oil station at the same location. He died in March [May] 1944 in San Juan Capistrano, California. J.K. was a Mason and had a distinguished group of men as pallbearers.

Dorothea and J.K. lived in a big house on Brunswick/Excelsior Blvd. from 1930 to 1942. J.K. built other houses on Brunswick. In 1942, they moved to 6301 Hamilton, next to Dorothea’s parents’ house.

Dorothea and J.K.’s children were:

Eleanor Seirup

George Seirup was born on December 14, 1909 and graduated in 1928. He ran a Ford dealership for the Dahlbergs on Highway 7. In 1939 he took over two school buses from the Bradleys, and later sold the company to Virgil Neitzel. He died on September 15, 2004 in San Bernadino, California.

Margaret Seirup graduated in 1928. She married John Leslie in 1937. John had come to St. Louis Park to visit his aunt and uncle Shursens. In 1939 they constructed a building next to the Seirup garage and opened an appliance store. They had a son George who lived in California..

James K. “Jack” Seirup was born on December 25, 1919 and graduated in 1937. He had a son David. He died on September 18, 1987 in Silverado, California

Neil Seirup lives in California.

For a memoir by Margaret Seirup Leslie, see Something in the Water.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.