Angona Osher Refsell, 1858-1939

REFSELL, OSHER

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/6/2009 at 22:37:29

Obituary of Mrs. Refsell; Was Pioneer

The funeral service for the late Mrs. James Refsell of Wallingford, Ia. was held Tuesday afternoon, March 14, 1939. [She died 11 March, 1939.]

In spite of the bad roads and the inclement weather, there was a very large gathering of relatives and friends and old acquaintances. The deceased lived in Emmet County for 70 consecutive years, and was held in highest esteem by the many who had learned to know her.

A brief service was conducted at the home at 1:30 o'clock. The service proper was held in the Wallingford church. Mrs. Refsell was the first member of this congregation to be buried from the new church edifice. The service started at 2 p.m. Rev. Peder Nordsletten officiated. He was ably assisted during the service by two of the former pastors, Rev. T. Hanson of Lakefield, Minn., and Rev. G. O. Paulsrud of Randall, Iowa. A mixed quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Gunderson, LaVerna Olson and Ernest Skattebo sang two numbers. They were accompanied by Alfred Ness. Chas. Anderson of the Mahlum and Anderson firm at Estherville, Iowa directed the funeral.

The following men acted as the pallbearers: O. E. Jorstad, C. I. Skattebo, L. B. Osher, I. G. Ness, Wallingford; Dr. B. T. Osher, Estherville and H. H. Schmidt, Spirit Lake.

The body of the late Mrs. Refsell was laid to rest in the Wallingford cemetery one mile east of town. In addition to the many floral offerings, gifts totaling $76.75 were also given in memory of the departed one.These gifts were designated to the Ebenezer Old People's Home of Minneapolis, Minn., to the Foreign and Home Missions of the Norwegian church of this country, to the Book Mission of this same church body, to radio station WCAL of Northfield, Minnesota, to the church building fund of the Estherville Lutheran church.

Angona Osher, the last living member of a family of nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Niels O. Osher, was born near Deerfield, Dane county, Wis., March 4, 1858. There she lived until 12 years of age when the family in 1870 came by covered wagon to Emmet county, locating on a farm two miles southeast of Wallingford. During this pioneer period there were no regularly organized congregations or church, but she received religious instruction and was confirmed by Rev. John Seleen of Dunnell, Minn., who then conducted religious services occasionally in this vicinity.

The farm purchased by her parents continued to be the family home and later became her own home when she, in 1886, was united in marriage to James Refsell. Here her two children were born, Emma Refsell of Wallingford and O. N. Refsell of Estherville.

In 1900 this family moved to a farm four miles west of Wallingford and in 1902 to another place two miles northwest of town where they lived until 1915 when Mr. and Mrs. Refsell established themselves on the acreage at the north edge of Wallingford selected as the home of their old age.

Her husband, James Refsell, preceded her in death in 1926. Since that time she and her daughter continued to occupy that home. During the last couple of years she slowly lost her health; her condition did not appear critical until the last week of her life.

March first she celebrated her eighty-first birthday and though weak, appeared to be in good spirits. From then she failed rapidly until she passed away Saturday morning, March 11th at the age of 81 years and 1 week.

She leaves to mourn their loss her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and two grand daughters, Helen Ann and Eunice Refsell.

Source: Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, March 16, 1939.