Ronog Maria Knutsen Vestrem 1860-1950

VESTREM, KNUTSEN, SHRINER, BONSTEAD, BRADBURY, LAGRANGE, BOLTY, STOCKFLETH, CROOK, ROSE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/1/2010 at 18:04:21

Mrs. Vestrem, Longtime City Resident, Dies

Mrs. J. M. (Maria) Vestrem, 89, longtime resident of Estherville, died at midnight last night at her home. Death came as a result of flu and the infirmities of old age. She had been bedfast for more than a year.

She was born Ronog Maria Knutsen, Sept. 27, 1860, in Norway, and received her education there before coming to the United States at about the age of 19. She settled first in Pocahontas where she met and married J. M. Vestrem. The couple settled near Pocahontas and farmed for about 10 years before moving to Emmetsburg in 1898. They lived there for one year before moving to Estherville.

In Estherville, Mr. Vestrem worked for the Rock Island railroad.

Mrs. Vestrem was a member of the Lutheran church.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Hilda Shriner, of Estherville, who has been caring for her mother for the past few years; and six other daughters; Mrs. A. J. Bonstead of Graettinger, Mrs. Lulu Bradbury of Monterey Park, Cal., Mrs. Hugh R. LaGrange of Tama, Mrs. Rose Bolty of Estherville, Mrs. J. R. Stockfleth of Walnut Grove, Minn., and Mrs. Glenn Crook of Estherville.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1944, and by a daughter, Mrs. Earl Rose and a son, Lynn Vestrem.

Services have been set tentatively for Monday at Estherville Lutheran church with the Rev. L. G. Hinderaker officiating, with burial in Oak Hill cemetery at the side of her husband and son, Lynn. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 4, 1950)