Birgit "Bertha" Nestegaard Refsell 1868-1964

REFSELL, NESTEGAARD, NESTGAARD, NESTEGAARDE, LUNDY, AMDAHL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/16/2013 at 14:22:49

Mrs. Refsell Dies
Mrs. Bertha Refsell, 95, longtime resident of the Wallingford community, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mabel Refsell, in Wallingford. Mrs. Refsell would have been 96 next week. Funeral services have been tentatively set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Wallingford Lutheran Church, the Rev. Robert Glaser in charge. Mrs. Refsell was a native of Norway. Reese Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 1, 1964)

Wallingford Resident Dies at 95
Wallingford’s oldest resident Mrs. Birgit (Bertha) Refsell, 95, died in her home at 7:45 a.m. Saturday from complications of her advanced age. She had been ill one week prior to her death and would have celebrated her 96th birthday this week had she lived.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Nestgaard [Nestegaard], Mrs. Refsell was born Jan. 19, 1868 in Aal, Hallingal, Norway.

When 18 years old, she came to the United States with her parents and on Dec. 12, 1893 she was married to Ingvald Refsell in Graettinger.

When she and her parents came to Norway they went directly to Emmet county and the Wallingford area where they joined some of her brothers who had preceded them to the United States.

After their marriage, the Refsells farmed in High Lake township until 1920 when they retired and moved to Wallingford.

Mrs. Refsell was a longtime member of Wallingford Lutheran Church and was active in the women’s organizations of the church.

Surviving her are a son, Ole of rural Wallingford, three daughters, Mabel Refsell, Mrs. S.O. (Bettea) Lunday and Mrs. Jacob (Alice) Amdahl, all of Wallingford, six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, who died in March, 1930; five brothers and two sisters. She was the last survivor of the family.

Funeral services are to be Tuesday with family services at 1:30 p.m. followed by public service at 2 p.m. in the Wallingford Lutheran church, the Rev. Robert Glaser officiating. Burial is to be in Wallingford Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Reese Funeral Home from noon today until 10 a.m. Tuesday when the casket will be taken to the church in Wallingford to lie in state until time of services. It will not be opened after services.

Pallbearers are Lloyd Olson, Clarence Olson, LeRoy Olson, Joe Herum, Raymond Herum and Chester Paulson. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 13, 1964)