Kvernum, Ole P. 1850-1937

KVERNUM, ASK, TRONDSON, GUTTORMSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 8/30/2018 at 12:42:50

Another of our aged pioneers has reached the journeys end, and we have met once more, at this House of God to bid farewell to this aged friend, who has gone in and out of these doors with us of late years. It is but fitting and proper that we pay tribute of affection and appreciation to these faithful pioneers, who labored so long and well among us.

The largest part of our late brother's life was spent in the state of Iowa, where for years he was a builder and contractor, and built a number of homes and other buildings, but his early years as an emigrant were spent here in Fillmore county as were his latter years.

Mr. Kvernum was born at Westre Toten, Norway, on July 25th, 1850, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul O. Kvernum, who had a family of five children, two of whom are yet living in Norway.

At the age of 20 years our late brother emigrated to the U.S. and came to Fillmore county, Minnesota where for several years he lived at Clear Grit, being employed at the Clear Grit Cooper Mill.

He was later united in marriage to Miss Lina Ask, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jens Trondson Ask, early pioneers of the neighborhood. To their marriage union were born 3 children, Nellie Marie, Joseph and Peter, who were early motherless as the young mother died September 17, 1883, at the age of only 25 years, and was laid to rest at Union Prairie. He never remarried, and today, he will be laid to rest beside the bride of his youth, who departed from him, more than 53 years ago.

After the death of his wife, the children were given a home with the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ask, and some years later at the Guttorm Guttormson home. Mr. Kvernum after the death of his wife went to Waukon, Iowa, where he remained as contractor and builder for 40 years, coming back to Lanesboro in 1923.

For about 8 years he made his home with his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Kvernum. Later, he together with his friend, Christ Keyseth, bought one of the Dr. Hwoslef homes where he continued to live up to his death, last Thursday morning, March 4, 1837, when he fell peacefully asleep, reaching the ripe old age of 86 years, 7 months and 0 days.

His only daughter Nellie Marie, died in 1908, after an operation at the age of 30 years and was laid to rest at Waukon, Iowa.

He is survived by the two sons, Joseph Kvernum of Columbus, N.D. and Peter A. Kvernum of Lanesboro and also six grandchildren.

During the 40 years at Waukon, he was a member of St. Johns Lutheran church, and a member of the church choir for years. After coming back to Lanesboro, he united with the Bethlehem church, and was a regular attendant at our services and during these years of membership has endeared himself to us all. He was a kindly old man, of friendly disposition, modest and unpretentious in all his ways.

"Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord from henceforth, yea salth the spirit, they rest from their labors, but their works shall follow them."

The funeral services for the late Mr. Kvernum were held Monday afternoon, from the P.A. Kvernum home and Bethlehem church, Rev. P.J. Nestande conducting the last rites, assisted by an octette from the church choir. Besides the floral offerings, there were gifts for missions and one for our Old Peoples Homes. Funeral director, Olaf Thompson. Interment at the Union Prairie cemetery. - from the Lanesboro Leader.

~Columbus Reporter, Columbus, N.D., Thursday, March 18, 1937

Note: Lanesboro is in Fillmore County, Minnesota. The daughter Nellie, who died in Waukon, is buried in Oakland cemetery, St. John's Addition.