Tollef T. Sunde, 1839-1925

SUNDE

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 07:40:18

T. SUNDE PASSES, AGE 86 YEARS; IS COUNTY PIONEER

Made Home on Farm Near Huntingdon Since 1886—Retired 9 Years Ago

Tollef T. Sunde, pioneer and highly respected citizen of this county, passed away Friday, Nov. 1. He was nearly 86 years old and had made his home in Emmet county since March 30, 1886, over 39 years. Until 1916 he resided with his wife and family on their farm home near Huntington. On July 6 of that year, Mr. and Mrs. Sunde gave up active work and moved into Estherville. The deceased had enjoyed good health until about a year ago when his eye sight failed him and in other ways he became quite feeble. His death resulted from the infirmities of old age.

Mr. Sunde was born at Matersfjord Norway, on Nov. 29, 1839. He was married on Jan. 7, 1875 to Miss Bertha Serene Hoversholm at Vikebygd. They came to America on Sept. 24,1883 and settled in Grundy county, Ill., from whence they removed to Emmet county in the spring of 1886.

The devoted wife and seven children survive this good man. An eighth child Lizzie, died Nov. 7, 1912, just 13 years ago. The surviving children qre T. T. Sunde, Jr. of Estherville, Nels and Thor who live on farms near Huntington, Rev. Lars O. of Volin, S. D.; Mrs. Anna Shaw, Mrs. Martha Shaw and Mrs. Caroline Olson, all of Estherville. There are 28 grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Estherville Lutheran church at 11 o'clock, Tuesday, Nov. 10 and interment made at the Palestine cemetery near Dolliver. Mr. Sunde had been a faithful member of the Norwegian Lutheran church his entire life. The services were hi charge of Rev. E. Lunde and Rev. T. Hansen.

To such men as Mr. Sunde who came here when the country was sparsely settled and who remained to help bring the land to its present high state of cultivation, Emmet county owes a great debt. We chem , "hardy pioneers" and they did indeed bear with more privation than it seems possible to us today. Their reward comes with the prosperity and comfort that they often gain in their old age and in the great respect that is accorded them by their associates. Mr. Sunde lived to a ripe old age and lived to see his children settled in life, enjoying the rewards of his labors as well as their own and to know the affection of his grandchildren, some of them already grown into young man and womanhood. His was a full and complete life.

Source: The Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; November 11, 1925.