Rypestol, Christine A. (Wettleson) 1897-1997

ALSAKER, WETTLESON, RYPESTOL, OPSAND, NELSON, SOLBERT, LANDSGARD

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/22/2007 at 17:45:45

Mrs. MARCUS (Christine Annette Wettleson) RYPESTOL 1897-1997

Funeral services for Mrs. Christine Rypestol were held Sunday, July 20, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. in the Marion Lutheran Church at Gunder. The Reverend Marshall E. Hahn officiated. Special music was provided by Lois Dummermuth, organist, and Arthur Amundson, soloist. The Schutte Funeral Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements. Internment was in the church cemetery.

Christine Annette Wettleson Rypestol, the daughter of Wettle and Lena Alsaker Wettleson, was born October 16, 1897 on a farm in Grand Meadow Township, Clayton County, near Postville, Iowa. She died Friday, July 18, 1997 at the home of her daughter in Clayton County, near Gunder, Iowa. She had reached the age of 99 years, nine months and two days.

She was baptized November 28, 1897 by Rev. G. C. Gjerstad and confirmed June 12, 1912 by Rev. Arveson, both in the Marion Lutheran Church at Gunder. Christine attended the rural school near her family home. Her mother died when she was six years old so she was needed at home to help with the household and farm chores.

On June 4, 1924, Christine married Marcus Rypestol at the Marion Lutheran Church. To this union, a daughter, Corrine, was born. For the first three years, Marcus and Christine lived on the Nelson farm in Gunder. In 1927, they purchased the Edwin Olson farm south of Gunder. Marcus died of pneumonia on February 11, 1929 during the severe winter of that year.

Christine was a member of the Marion Lutheran Church and sang in the church choir, along with her husband. She was also a member of the Dorcas Society, The Womens Missionary Federation and the ELCW. She attended a dressmaker's school at Decorah and sewed for her three younger sisters while they were in high school and college, as well as quilting with the Willing Workers Club and sewing for Lutheran World Relief. Christine loved to crochet and knit and to garden and plant flowers.

One of the highlights of her life was the trip she and Corrine took to Norway and several other countries in 1965. They sailed from New York on the Oslofjord. In 1994, Christine was crowned the Gunder Centennial Queen. She served as a valuable resource for much of the information and pictures that have been compiled for the Gunder area history book which will be published in the near future. Christine herself is a part of the history in that she is the only person in the United States with the name Rypestol. Most of the Rypestol family live in Norway.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marcus, two brothers, Theodore Wettleson and Robert Wettleson, four sisters, Gunille Opsand, Valdine Nelson, Lillie Solbert and Julia Wettleson, three nieces, Hildur Opsand Amundson, Rosella Opsand Burstrom and Mary Ann Wettleson Anderson and a nephew, Robert Wayne Wettleson.

Surviving is a daughter, Corrine, and her husband, Orlan Landsgard, of St. Olaf, IA, a foster grandson, Elwin Dirksen and wife, Laurie, and their children, Amanda, Andrew and Aaron, all of Elgin, IA. Also surviving is five nieces and nephews, Alma Opsand Hanson, Ruth Opsand Edblad, Norina Opsand Amundson, Lois Wettleson Schnuelle and Roger Wettleson and several great nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Jeffrey Wettleson, Gregory Wettleson, Randy Schnuelle, Marcus Wettleson, Harold Hanson and Albert Hanson.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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