Grimso, Hans A., 1871-1933

GRIMSO, IVERSON, MUNSON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Bruce Kuennen (email)
Date: 2/13/2017 at 21:56:55

OBITUARY OF HANS GRIMSO

He was born at Borgund, Sogn, Norway, on October 30, 1871. He was just a young man when he left Norway for America on April 18, 1893 and located at Decorah, Iowa, where he could feel that he was not entirely among strangers in a strange land, as that community was well settled with people from his mother country. He was employed at farm work for a time but as he possessed an active and intellectual mind he became interested in college work and entered Sioux Falls Normal from which he was graduated.

He taught parochial school for a number of years and later took up farming at Saude, where he lived the rest of his life up to the time of his death.

He was twice married. His first wife was Ingeborg Iverson, and they were married at
Hills, Minnesota. She died at the home of her parents in 1908. He was united in marriage with Ingeborg Maria Munson at Saude on September 10, 1910, and he continued his occupation of farming at Saude. Being a man, of unusual business ability and a first class manager he became one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Utica township.

For many years he has been the interested and talented director of the Immanuel and Crane Creek Mixed Choir and Immanuel Male Chorus and he dearly loved to direct, as he had music in his heart and had the ability to inspire others to put forth their best efforts and enjoy the world of song. He directed choirs in different
communities where he lived or taught school.

All his life he has been a faithful member of the Lutheran church and at the time of his
death was a member of the Immanuel congregation at Saude.

Hans A. Grimso, whose sudden death was due to injuries he received in an accident on
Thursday morning, October 5, 1933, at 7: 30 o'clock, died at 9:30 o'clock the same
morning at the Cresco hospital where he had been taken, having been badly crushed as he
sat in the cab of the truck. Mr. Grimso and Martin Borlaug, owner of the truck, were
hauling six head of cattle, belonging to Mr. Grimso, to market at Cresco. When they
reached the New Oregon bridge, south of Cresco, the bridge caved in and the truck dropped with the bridge a distance of 20 feet or more, we were informed. The bridge was a twisted and broken mass of pieces after it collapsed. The truck remained upright in the fall and none of the cattle were killed. Mr. Borlaug was driving the truck and he and Mr. Grimso were in the cab at the time of the accident. Mr. Grimso's legs were crushed but Mr. Borlaug escaped fatal injuries.

Those of his immediate family who are left to mourn his departure are his widow, Mrs.
Hans A. Grimso, also Halvor Munson who had made his home with the Grimso's since a small child, and two brothers, A. A. Thompson of Glenville, Minnesota, and F. A. Grimso of Decorah, Iowa, and to them will his memory ever be cherished.

The funeral was held on Saturday, October 7, 1933. At the short service at the house, at
1:30 p.m., conducted by Reverend Hans M. Finstad, the Immanuel Male Chorus sang "Te
Deum." aNd a solo "Beneath The Cross of Jesus" was sung by Fred Grundeland of Calmar.

The funeral services were held at 2:00 o'clock p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church at Saude and was conducted by Reverend H. M. Finstad. In the church the Crane Creek and Immanuel Mixed Choir sang "Behold the Lamb of God." The Immanuel Male Chorus sang "Den Store Kvide Flok." "Beautiful Savior" was sung by The Winneshiek County Norske Sangeforbund (Norwegian Singers Society) of which Hans A. Grimso was a charter member. This chorus of about 30 male voices was directed by the Prof. Carlo A. Sprati, of Decorah.

At the grave the Crane Creek Immanuel Mixed Choir sang "Blessed Are The Heirs of
Heaven." A former pastor of the Immanuel Congregation, Reverend C. P. Heltne, of
Spring Grove, Minnesota, said a few words in memory of Hans Grimso. Reverend William Engelke of New Hampton spoke a few words as a friend of Mr. Grimso. Prof. Carlo A. Sparti of Decorah spoke of Hans Grimso's interest and fine cooperation in church music and choir music.

The pallbearers were Henry Ellingson, Greg Vaala, Tom Hovland, Ole Holtaand, John
Haugen of Saude and Tom Munson of Jerico. The body was laid to rest in the Saude
cemetery.

Source: From the "Melchior and Martha Munson Family History - 1812- 1989", compiled by Paul L. Munson, page 273.