John Theodore Sandven 1872-1936

SANDVEN, NELSON, MAAGE, EVANS, ANDERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 23:59:16

John Theodore Sandven was born in Dickinson county, Iowa, July 12, 1872, the son of Knut and Bertha Sandven. At the age of 9 years during the time of the grasshopper plague his father who was now a widower, moved with his children, three boys and a girl, to Winneshick county where he resided before coming to these parts. Here the elder Mr. Sandven lived until his death.

Mr. Sandven was baptized in the Estherville Lutheran Congregation by the pioneer pastor, M. C. Holseth and later confirmed at Ridgeway, Iowa.

At the age of 19 Mr. Sandven came to Estherville where he found employment as a clerk. He worked for two years in the A.O. Myhre general store from 1896 to 1898. And for the next two years he worked for R. A. Barron in a hardware store. He then became a wholesale salesman, selling stoves and furnaces. He was on the road for 15 years.

In 1916 he went into the grocery business and started the first cash and carry grocery in Estherville. The store was located in the building now occupied by the Sidles grocer and market on south 6th street. In 1919 he sold his business here and moved to Austin, Minn., where he operated a store for two years. He then returned to Estherville and went into the grocery and hardware business. For several years his place of business was in the building now occupied by the grocery department of the Ehler’s store and later he moved into the former Iowa Saving Bank building now occupied by the Sanborn grocery. Five years ago he sold out his business in Estherville. Together with his wife and son he operated stores at Orleans and Manhatten Beach for several years, continuing in the latter place until his death.

Mr. Sandven was united in marriage to Lena Nelson of Estherville Oct. 12, 1898. For the last 20 year Mrs. Sandven has been actively associated with him in his various stores both here and at the lakes. One son was born to them, Norman Kirtland Sandven of Estherville. Besides his wife and son, Mr. Sandven leaves to mourn his departure one brother, A.K. Sandven of Ridgeway, Iowa, one sister Mrs. John Evans of Ridgeway, an aunt, Mrs. Severt Maage of near Estherville and one step-brother, O. B. Anderson of Minneapolis.

Mr. Sandven had a stroke two years ago and while he regained his health to some extent he never was the robust man he had been before. Last fall the Sandvens built themselves a cottage on North 5th street where they planned to spend the winters, while continuing the store at Manhatten he suffered an attack apoplexy Wednesday evening at 9:30. He was immediately brought to a hospital at Estherville but he never regained consciousness, death coming at 9:24 Saturday evening August 8. He was 64 years, 27 days old at the time of his death.

The funeral was held Tuesday Aug. 11 at 1:30 from the Mahlum and Anderson Mortuary and from the Estherville Lutheran church at 2 o’clock.

The pall bearers were: Oscar Fagre, John Hanson, Knut Nan, Hans Sconberg, Wm. Dennis and Fred Ehlers.

Interment was at the Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 12, 1936)