Profile Text
Birth Name: Robert Thomas Velline
Date of Birth: April 30, 1943
Place of Birth: Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Date of Death: October 24, 2016
Place of Death: Rogers, Minnesota, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Norwegian * mother – Finnish, some Finland-Swedish
Bobby Vee was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a teen idol of the early 1960s. He appeared in the films Swingin’ Along , Play It Cool , and C’mon, Let’s Live a Little .
Bobby was the son of Saima Cecelia and Sydney Ronald Velline, who was a chef, pianist, and fiddle player. His parents were born in North Dakota, his father of Norwegian descent, and his mother of Finnish ancestry. Bobby was married to Karen Bergen, until her death, with whom he had four children. Bobby and his wife organized fundraising concerts in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where they lived.
Bobby’s paternal grandfather was Christ/Kristian Orlando/Olsen Sjøthun/Velline (the son of Ole Kristensen Sjøtun and Brithe Helgesdatter Thue). Christ was born in Vellene, Sjøtun, Balestrand, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Ole was born in Sjøtun, the son of Kristen Marcussen Sjøtun and Kari Olsdatter Sjøtun. Brithe was born in Balestrand Municipality, Sogn og Fjordane, the daughter of Helge Baardson Thue and Synneva Bottolvsdatter Gjerde.
Bobby’s paternal grandmother was Christine/Kristine/Kistine Thomasdatter Fimreite/Nilsen (the daughter of Thorstein Tomas/Thomas Nilsson Fimreite/Øyre and Anna Hansdatter Midtun). Christine was born in Sogndalsfjøra, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane. Thorstein was born in Sogndal, the son of Nils Thomassen Øyre and Kirsti Olsdatter Saeboe/Sæbø. Anna was born in Sogndal, the daughter of Hans Midtun and Ragnhild Fimreite.
Bobby’s maternal grandfather was Matthew/Matti Jacobsson/Jaakonpoika Tapanila (the son of Jaakko/Jakob Jaakonpoika/Jaakoinpoika Jakobsson Tapanila/Pyhtilä and Cecilia/Silja Brita/Riitta/Britta Ericsdotter/Erkintytär/Eriksdotter Wäyrynen/Väyrynen). Matthew was born in Kananen, Pyhäjärvi, Oulu, Finland. Jaakko was born in Pyhtilä, Kärsämäki, the son of Jaakko/Jakob/Jacob Matinpoika/Mattsson/Jakobsson Tapanila/Piippo/Pyhtilä/Hepoaho and Johanna Karoliina/Karolina/Carolina Jaakontytär/Jakobsdotter/Jacobsdr Parlin Pyhtilä. Cecilia was born in Väyrynen, Pyhäjärvi, the daughter of Erkki/Erik Iskonpoika/Israelsson Väyrynen/Wäyrynen and Fredrika Matintytär Wironen/Väyrynen/Vironen.
Bobby’s maternal grandmother was Emma Lydia Simonson (the daughter of Henry/Heikki/Henrik Heikinpoika Simonson/Simontaival/Koitijärvi/Henriksson and Maria Johanna Erkintytär Keskitalo). Emma was born in Cokato, Wright County, Minnesota, to Finnish parents. Henry was born in Kollaja, Pudasjärvi, the son of Heikki/Henrik Juhonpoika/Johansson Simontaival/Koitijärvi and Anna Juhontytär/Johansdotter Mursu. Bobby’s great-grandmother Maria was born in Aapajoki, Karunki, the son of Erik Adamsson Keskitalo/Caisasson Silfverkula and Maria Johansdotter Keskitalo/Pirttimaa/Anundi.
Sources: Genealogies of Bobby Vee – https://www.geni.com https://www.familysearch.org