Lloyd Gerhard Refsell 1896-1938

REFSELL, NELSON, NESS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/16/2013 at 21:50:35

Lloyd Refsell, Former Local Resident, Dies
Lloyd Refsell, 42, of Minneapolis, died last night. He was born in this vicinity.

Several years ago Mr. Refsell was a member of the faculty of Waldorf college, Forest City, and he had been connected with the Augsberg Publishing house, Minneapolis, for several years.

Surviving arehis wife and three children, Lloyd, jr., John and Dorothy of Minneapolis; and his father. O.O. Refsell; one sister, Mrs. I.G. Ness; and two brothers, Martin and Conrad, all of Wallingford.

The body will be brought to Wallingford for burial Saturday. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 1, 1938)

Refsell Obituary
Lloyd Gerhard Refsell was born May 28, 1896, at Estherville, Iowa, of parents Oliver and Betsy Refsell. When five years of age, he moved with his parents to Wallingford, Iowa, where he attended grade school. He received his high school training at Waldorf junior college in Forest City, Iowa. Following his graduation from Waldorf, he taught school for one year. Desiring to continue his education, Mr. Refsell became a student at St. Olaf College which conferred on him the degree of bachelor of arts in the year 1919. During his four years at St. Olaf he was active in debate, oratory, and various organizations on the campus. The first year after graduation from college, Mr. Refsell taught school at Vienna, S.D.

Mr. Refsell’s marriage to Miss Helen Nelson took place at Wallingford in the year 1920. To this union three children were born. Offered a position as business manager at Waldorf college, he accepted and rendered efficient service for four years.

In 1921 Mr. Refsell became a member of the faculty at the Breck school in Minneapolis and in addition to his teaching duties studied economics at the University of Minnesota from which he received the degree master of arts.

Always faithful in his church duties, he was a member of Central Lutheran church in Minneapolis and for eight years rendered valuable service as superintendent of the Sunday school.

Ten years ago this fall he became an employee of Augsburg Publishing House where he labored faithfully until his last illness. After two operations and a courageous struggle for life he passed away at his home in Robinsdale, Wednesday evening, November 30, at the age of 42 years, six months and two days.

The death of Mr. Refsell is deeply mourned by his family, to whom he was an exemplary father and husband, and by a large circle of friends who esteemed him as a Christian gentleman – honest, trustworthy, and kind.

Surviving in sorrow are his beloved wife and three children, Lloyd, John, and Dorothy; also his aged father, a sister, Mrs. I.G. Ness, and two brothers, Martin and Conrad, all of Wallingford, Iowa.

The funeral service was conducted on Friday afternoon at the Central Lutheran church, Minneapolis, Minn., Rev. L.M. Roseland officiating. Dr. L.W. Boe, president of the St. Olaf college, Northfield, MInn., preached the sermon. Editor E. Malmin of the Lutheran Herald, Minneapolis, Minn., brought greetings of sympathy from the Augsburg Publishing House of that city. Dr. J.A. Aasgaard, president of the Norwegian Lutheran church body of this county, brought a message of condolence also. The Central Lutheran church choir assisted in the service.

The body was brought to Wallingford for burial. Service was conducted there with Rev. Peder Nordslettn in charge. Rev. T. Hanson of Lakefield, Minn., the former pastor, assisting. Greetings were brought by Prof. J.L. Rendahl, president of the Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, and also by Dr. Henry Olson, president of the Buena Vista college, Storm Lake, Iowa. A mixed octette composed of the Misses Margaret Skattebo, Ruth Peterson, LaVerna Olson and Clara Lofblom and Sherman Gunderson, Bernard Osher, Ernest Skattebo and Lloyd Larson sang two numbers during the services. Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

The following men acted as pall bearers: C.I. Skattebo, Ole Refsell, Julius Hanson, C.W. Olson, L.C. Rustad and O.N. Refswell. The men, who had served as pall bearers in Minneapolis, namely John Ellingboc, Walter Schmidt, Wallace Larson, R.E. Haugan, C.L. Nasby and Nils Kirkeberg were present at the Wallingford church, where they acted as honorary pall bearers.

In addition to the many floral offerings, $46.25 was given in memory of the departed to various branches of missions and charitable institutions.

The late Mr. Lloyd G. Refsell had, indeed, a wide circle of friends. Many mourn his departure, especially those who stood the closest to him. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, December 8, 1938)