Benson, Bjorn M. 1862-1935

BENSON, BJORNSON, LIEN, LARSON, EMBERTSON, SNYDER, TORKELSON, NELSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/28/2013 at 01:18:09

Bjorn M. Benson
B.M. Benson was born July 22, 1862, in Marion township, Clayton county, Iowa, and died January 4, 1935, in his seventy-third year, at his home in Elgin, Iowa. He was the son of Mikkel and Bergit Bjornson, both of whom had come to this country from their native land, Norway. He lived in Clayton county continuously until 1928, when he retired from the farm in Highland township on which he had lived and which he had operated with marked success, and moved to Elgin, where he since had made his home.

On March 8, 1889, he was united in marriage to Borghild Lien. To them eight children were born, Leonard M. Benson, who died in 1924, Mrs. O.H. Larson of Elkader, Mrs. Philman Embertson of St. Olaf, Mrs. Howard Snyder of Wapello, Mrs. C.O. Torkelson, all of Elgin, and Melvin E. Benson on the home farm in Highland township. His wife preceded him in death May 17, 1929.

Besides the children he leaves to mourn his passing, fifteen grandchildren, one brother, O.M. Benson of St. Olaf, two sisters, Mrs. Belle Embertson of St. Olaf, and Mrs. Carrie Nelson of Tekamah, Nebr., and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

His was of a public-spirited nature, and he was ever ready to give unselfishly of himself to aid in whatever would further and promote the welfare and good of his fellow men. And, possessed to an extraordinary degree of a clear vision, sound judgement, and thos qualities essential to true leadership, his advice and assistance were widely sought. Among the various activities which which he was identified during his lifetime may be mentioned that he was a director of the Citizens' State Bank of Elgin, until it consolidated with the Elgin State Bank, of which he was a director until a few years ago when failing health caused him to retire from that office. He was a director in the Elgin Creamery Co., president of the Highland Telephone Co., township trustee for many years, and one of the organizers and charter member of the Highland Lutheran church, of which he was a devoted member at the time of his death.

Several years ago his health began to fail him. At Christmas time he fell on the pavement and sustained several bruises. In one of these bruises infection developed. This spread through his system, and in the weakened condition that he was, though all that medical skill could do was done for him, he was not able to overcome the harmful effects thereof, and at 12:55 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 1935, he passed away, as he had lived, quietly and peacefully.

Funeral services were conducted from the home in Elgin on Monday, Jan. 7. There his pastor, Rev. G. Gunsten, spoke briefly, and a mixed quartette sang two songs, "Ivory Palaces" and "Never Alone". At the Highland Lutheran church Rev. Gunsten delivered a most impressive sermon, taking as his text the twenty-third psalm, and Adolph Benson sang two songs, "Abide With Me" and "The Old Rugged Cross". His remains were then laid away in the little cemetery, beside those of his tenderly beloved and loving wife, close by the church that they had thought of as "theirs", and for which they had unfailingly and unfalteringly done so much.

The pall bearers, all close friends and neighbors, were, Oscar Benson, Alfred Cook, Adolph Larson, Louis Gregerson, Carl Torkelson and Philman Larson.

One of God's good men has passed from our midst. He gave of the best that was in him. Of him it truly can be said, "The world is a better place for his having lived in it."

~Elgin Echo, January 10, 1935