My Aunt Klavdia (Khalflova) Erickson) was a nurse in Russia during the war in 1915 and photographs below are from that period. Klavdia was born in Krasnodar (near Moscow) Russia. She was an incredibly interesting sweet intelligent lady. I recall visiting her in Bismarck, North Dakota many times and it was always an unique special time.

She and her husband Anders Sebran 'Andy' (photo below) were an ideal couple, and still shine in my thoughts. Their daughter Zena (Wanner - Henninger) also a great gal, as always a part of these visits. Zena was the one that kept scores of exceptional family photographs and many of those are part of this Family Archive Project website.

Thanks to my cousin Mark Henninger of Bismarck, North Dakota, Klavdia's grandson and Zena's son, for helping me in the writing of these below memories of Klavdia.

Anders Sebran 'Andy' Erickson and Klavdia Khalflova met in Russia in 1924 when Andy was working for the Case Comapny, demonstrating farming machinery to the Russian farmers. They married soon after their first meeting, having quickly fallen in love and began living together on a farm in Russia for the next couple years.

Andy served in the Air Corps with the 101st Aero Squadron in France. The 101st was assigned to the Issoudun Aerodrome near Bourges where the squadron carried out bombardment missions until the end of the war. Andy was a ground crewman and engine mechanic, he also repaired the fabric covering and the wooden spars on the wings and sides of the planes when they came back battered in combat.

When the Squadron was grounded, Andy became the driver for the commanding officer. The 101st remained in Issoudun after the Armistice with Germany in November of 1918. It returned to the states in early April of 1919. The 101st arrived at Mitchel Field at Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York, where the squadron members were demobilized and returned to civilian life. Andy headed back to North Dakota.

The Bolshevik Revolution was in high gear and Klavdia received her travel papers just before Russia stopped allowing citizens to travel to Europe. Klavdia had two suitcases containing a few photos of family, some jewelry and some clothing, everything else was left behind. Bolshevik officers had taken over the family home and their lands. The rest of the family, her parents and siblings lived with friends afterwards.

With a planned meeting in Europe in 1926, where their son Donald was born in Cherbourg. This was just 10 days before they sailed west, Klavdia and Andy finally began a life together, free from the repressive Russian regime.

The couple and their newborn son settled in Wilmington, Delaware, where Andy continued working for the Case Company. He made two extended trips back to Russia in 1929 and 1930. By 1931 the Depression had hit and The Case Company were beginning to feel the bite, so the Ericksons headed back to live near his family in Regan, North Dakota eventually settling in Bismarck. Their daughter Zena was born soon after. They lived happily in Bismarck the rest of their lives.

Mark Henninger's thoughts came down to this as we discussed his grandparents. "I think of the book Dr Zhivago, Grandma Klavdia lived it!!"