Thomas Brusveen was born December 25, 1908, in York Township, Green County, Wisconsin, the son of Hans and Bertha (Erickson) Brusveen. Tom attended Barber School in Milwaukee and worked as a barber in Janesville for three years before moving to Monticello. He married Crystal Lien on June 18, 1938, at York Memorial Lutheran Church. Crystal was born Dec. 13, 1914, in Freeda, N.D., daughter of Selmer and Christine (Gilbertson) Lien. Crystal graduated from high school and Teachers College in North Dakota and taught elementary school in North Dakota, York Center and at Hillside View for several years before retiring in 1980 after 32 years as a bank teller at the Bank of Monticello. Crystal passed away in 1997. 

Mr. Brusveen entered the U.S. Army on July 4, 1942, at Ft. Sheridan, IL. He served as a Private 1st Class with the 31st Chemical Weapons Service (Decon) in the European Theater. Tom received the Good Conduct Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrowhead. He served in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Tom was honorably discharged on Sept. 25,1945, at Camp Fannin, TX. He returned to Monticello and worked as a barber until his death in 2000. He loved fishing,  gardening, photography and traveled extensively in Europe.

The Monticello Area Historical Society holds a diverse collection of photographs taken by Thomas Brusveen.

For more information on history surrounding the Monticello area, go to www.monticellohistoricalsociety.org.