Marit Berge Skattebo, 1859-1931

SKATTEBO, BERGE

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/15/2009 at 19:24:13

Mrs. K. K. Skattebo, 72, passed away at her home in Wallingford Thursday evening [Aug. 13,1931] after an illness of five years of creeping paralysis. For the past two weeks she had been bedfast, tenderly cared for by her granddaughter, Miss Evelyn Clemmenson.

Mrs. Skattebo (Marit Berge) was born in Manitowoc county, Wis., on June 28, 1859. [Her parents were Ove Zachariassen Boe-Odegaarden-Berge and Marit Olsdatter Berge who migrated from Vang, Valdres, Norway in 1852 to Manitowoc county.]

As an infant she was baptised in the Lutheran faith. Later she was confirmed and she was married to K. K. Skattebo on July 3, 1885, by the same pastor who had confirmed her and who later baptized their first child. [Knud Knudson Skattebo was born 14 Jan 1859 in Manitowoc county to Knud Skattebo and Emma Roble Skattebo, also Norwegian immigrants.

[He died 29 Sep 1939 at Wallingford, Emmet County, Iowa.]

Early in the summer of 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Skattebo moved to Emmet county settling on a farm near the Immanuel church now occupied by Mr. Ball. After two years they moved to the farm on the eastern edge of Twelve Mile Lake township where after purchasing it the second year, they resided for 17 years. They retired at this time and moved into Wallingford.

Mr. and Mrs. Skattebo were the parents of nine children, four of whom, Emma, Leonard, Minnie and Gusta have preceded their mother in death. The husband and five children, Clarence, Mrs. John Graff, Lloyd, Arthur and Francis, all of the Wallingford neighborhood survive. There are also eight grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. David Thompson, a brother of Chicago and S. O. Berge of Manitowoc, Wis., left to mourn the passing of this esteemed woman.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon with Rev. Peder Nordsletten in charge. Rev. S. Strand also spoke. Short prayer services were held at the home at one-thirty with the service proper at the Wallingford church starting at two. Hymns were sung by a quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Lundy, Miss Esther Olson and J. G. Gunderson. The following were pallbearers, Chris Larson, J. O. Kasa, E. E. Ellefson, Paul Paulson, Nels Mickelson and Tom Natterstad. A large gathering of friends at the services spoke of the high regard in which the deceased woman was held.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Sources: The Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, Aug 19,1931, and the Berge ancestral line.

Mrs. K. K. Skattebo, who prior to her marriage, was known as Marit Berge, was born in Manitowoc County, Wis.., on June 28th, 1859. [She was a daughter of Marit and Ove Berge.] Succumbed to death, she left this world on Thursday evening, August 13, 1931 at the age of 72 years, 1 month and 13 days.

As an infant she was baptized in the Lutheran faith. Later on she was confirmed in the same faith. The pastor Rev. Alfson, who confirmed her, also married her and likewise baptized her first born child. She was united in wedlock to Mr. K. K. Skattebo on July 3, 1885.

Influenced by the example of others who had migrated westward from Wisconsin to the younger settlements of the Dakotas, Mr. and Mrs. Skattebo in the strength and vigor of their best years, decided to make their future home in Emmet County. And thus in the early summer of 1885, they settled in the High Lake township on the farm which is now farmed by Mr. Ball near the Immanuel Church. At this place, they resided for two years. Then they moved, and this was in 1887, to their farm in the eastern edge of the Twelve Mile Lake township. They rented this farm the first year. During the second year of residence they purchased it. On this farm Mrs. Skattebo with the other members of this family lived continually until 17 years ago when Mr. and Mrs. Skattebo moved into the town of Wallingford.

Five years ago Mrs. Skattebo contracted the illness known as creeping paralysis. During the last two weeks of her life's journey, she was bedfast. With much credit to her grandchild, Miss Evelyn Clemenson, Mrs. Skattebo during her sickness was tenderly cared for by her.

Mrs. Skattebo was the mother of nine children. Four of them known as Emma, Leonard, Minnie and Gusta, have preceded their mother in death. She is survived by her husband and five children, namely Clarence, Lottie, known as Mrs. John Graff; Lloyd, Arthur and Francis. She also leaves behind her eight grandchildren. Likewise a sister, Mrs. David Thompson of Chicago and a brother S. O. Berge, whose last address was Manitowoc, Wis. All her five surviving children reside in Emmet County, near Wallingford.

The funeral services were held on Saturday, August 15, 1931, with Rev. Peder Nordsletten, local pastor in charge. Rev. S. Strand spoke also. A brief service was conducted at the house at 1:30 o'clock while the service started at 2 o'clock at the Wallingford church. In spite of the busy season a very large gathering was present to bid farewell to one of its older settlers. In addition to floral offerings that were given, a gift to the Home Mission was given also.

A quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Lundy, Miss Esther Olson, and J. G. Gunderson, sang three hymns. The following were the pallbearers: Chris Larson, J. O. Kasa, E. E. Ellefson, Paul Paulson, Nels Mickelson and Tom Natterstad.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, October 26, 1931.