Kjosa, Olena O. (Knutson) 1859 - 1909

KJOSA, KNUTSON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/23/2021 at 10:18:15

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 24 Jun. 1909. Wagner column.

Died, at her home in Wagner twp., on the evening of June 19th, 1909, from heart disease, Mrs. Halvor H. Kjosa, at the age of fifty years and three months.

Olena O. Knutson was born and raised in Wagner township and lived in her childhood home. She was born Jan. 19th, 1859. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Ole Knutson, old settlers and pioneers of this locality. She was the third oldest in a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. She was brought up in a good home and bravely took her part in keeping up the home of her childhood. In 1879 her mother died and she, as the oldest of the girls, had to take her mother's place in the household duties, and well and nobly she did her work as her brothers and sisters, and also the aged father, who is still living, and who always made his home there with them, can testify. On May 6th, 1879, she was united in marriage to Halvor Kjosa. Mr. Kjosa started for Kansas the day after they were married in company with O. Severson, Gunder Thompson and several others. His intention was, at that time, to settle down having bought a piece of land in Jewell county. He, however, changed his mind, and sold his land to Gunder Thompson and coming back here, he bought his father-in-law's farm and has lived there ever since and has done well and built up a fine and comfortable home in which work he had a invaluable helper in his faithful wife.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kjosa nine children were born, all living, five boys and four girls, all of whom were present at the funeral of their mother. Of the children two boys, Tom and Gerhard, are married. Tom is living near Forest City, Iowa, and Gerhard lives near Lily, S.D. Both are doing well. The rest of the children, Otto, Henry, Theodore, Tillie, Mabel, Ella and Lillian are all at home at present, and Tillie, the oldest girl, is now almost in the same position as her mother was thirty-two years ago. She will now be the head of the household and she is well qualified for that position and does the best she can. Mrs. H. Kjosa was an earnest christian woman, doing all she could for christianity and did her best to bring her children up in the right way and trying all her days to learn them to lead good christian lives. Mr. and Mrs. Kjosa were noted and known for their hospitality and kindness to all whom they associated with. All were made to feel at home and a pleasant time was always sure to be theirs, as the writer of this can well testify to, having been friends and close neighbors all our lives and I am sad at heart to see that such a good friend, neighbor and schoolmate of the long ago should be taken from our midst. But Gods ways are not our ways and we must take everything as it comes along. About five or six years ago Mrs. Kjosa's health began to fail, but she rallied and got better again and it seemed for awhile as though she would get well but last fall her health again became poor and she began to gradually fail. It at last affected her heart and she wasted away until Saturday evening, June 19th, she, without any warning that the end was so near, died suddenly and without any pain passed out of this world. She died in the faith that she was saved and safe in the arms of Jesus. Her life work is ended. On Tuesday afternoon, June 22nd, she was laid to rest in our Norway Lutheran cemetery. Services were held at the house and at the church. Her five sons, all grown up to manhood, and Gilbert H. Kjosa, a cousin of the boys, acted as pall bearers. On account of the heavy rain which came on just as the friends and neighbors were going there, a good many did not come that otherwise would have been there. Still there was a good crowd there to pay the last respects and take a last look at the familiar and kindly face of our friend and neighbor. Rev. Arveson preached the funeral sermon. Besides her husband and children she leaves to mourn her loss and death her aged father, five brothers and four sisters, who, with the grief stricken husband and children, join in mourning for her they all loved so well. The sympathy of friends and neighbors goes to the family in this their hour of sorrow ad sadness.