Hannah Gustafsdotter Beck 1859 - 1939

GUSTAFSON, GUSTAFSDOTTER, WAGGONER, BECK, LARSON, BERGIN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 5/4/2024 at 17:09:49

PASSING OF A PIONEER LADY

Hannah Gustafson was born October 12. 1859, in Veltorp Askersund Socken Örebro Län, and passed away at, the home of her daughter, Mrs. Philip Waggoner near Big Springs, S.D., Feb. 19, 1939, having reached the ripe old age of 79 years, 4 months and 7 days.

When she was 22 years old, she came to America to make her home, arriving in Akron, Iowa in the fall of 1881. She spent some time working in the vicinity of Akron and Hawarden, and in Omaha, finally going from there to Kiron, Ia.. where in 1887 she was united in marriage to Fred Beck. She lived on the farm south of Kiron for three years, than moved to Odebolt, residing there 18 years. They again decided to go to farming so purchased land near Lehr, N.D., where they lived for 6 years. From there they went to Marshall, Minnesota residing there five years, then going to Hawarden, Ia . to make their home in their declining years, and where they lived till the death of Mr. Beck in March 1923.

She continued to live there for a time, part of the time assisting in the care of an aged lady in Chatsworth, Ia. About 2 years ago she came to make her home in Big Springs at the Theron Beck home. A year ago last August, after she began to be in failing health, she went to the Waggoner home to be cared for, and where she has been patiently and kindly cared for during these many months of feebleness and infirmities of old age, until death came and released her shortly after midnight on Saturday. On February 10th she suffered a stroke, and never regained her speech nor the use of her right side.

She had no children of her own; but was step-mother to Mrs. Phillip Waggoner, Mrs. Della Larson, and Theron Beck. Another son of the family, Will Beck, and a daughter, Mrs. Lytie Bergin of Kiron, preceeded her in death. She had no members of her own family in America, but leaves one brother and several nieces and nephews in Sweden. There are 16 grandchildren, four living in the vicinity of Kiron, and the others in the Big Springs locality.

Early in her married life, she was converted and became a member of the Kiron Baptist church and since going to live at Big Springs has been a faithful attendant in the Baptist church there, when able to attend. She was of a quiet disposition and would spend many hours daily reading her Bible and keeping well posted on the affairs of the times. The past two years her eyes failed her so that she had to give up her pasttime of reading. Her life has been long and the last weary mile has been run; now she is at rest. Peace be to her memory.

Funeral services were held at the Nilson Funeral Home in Alcester, S.D. at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning, then at the Big Springs Baptist church with Rev. R. a. Dahlquist in charge. Rev. and Mrs. Dahlquist sang a duet and at the close of the sermon he sang a beautiful solo. Pall bearers were six grandsons. The funeral cortage then went to Kiron, for burial in the Kiron cemetery.

Short services were conducted at the cemetery by Rev. W. W. Johnson of the Baptist church. Two great granddaughters, Luella and Vera Bergin, sang "Shall We Gather at the River. Those of the cortage being Mrs. P. O. Waggoner, Mrs. Della Larson, Mr. and Mrs. Theron Beck, Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Larson of Big Springs locality. Mrs. Harold Rosssbach of Hudson, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Waggoner of Hawarden, Iowa and Mrs. Rockley Beck of Sioux City

From Glenn Gustafson