Olena Tollefson Thoreson 1852-1922

THORESON, TOLLEFSON, THORSON, TOLLIFSON, REMINGTON, HAGEN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/30/2013 at 00:53:20

Olina [Olena] Thoreson, maiden name Tollifson [Tollefson], born November 1st, 1852 in Norway, came to America, May 27th, 1869, fifteen years old. She first came to Durnand, Illinois, where she was married to Gustav Thoreson, 1872. This union was blessed with six children, four boys and two girls. Shortly after their marriage they came here to Emmet County, Iowa near Wallingford where they lived for six years and then moved to the homestead where Mrs. Olina Thoreson lived until her death. She died July 15th, 1922 at the age of 69 yers. 8 mo. and 15 days old. Mr. Gustav Thoreson died 1844 [1884], 38 years ago and also two of the children, Carl and Adolph. Those to mourn the loss of a dear mother and grandmother are Mrs. Clara Remington of Lignite, N. Dak., Mrs. Louis Hagen, Lyons, S. Dak., Carl Thoreson, Estherville, Iowa, Olaf Thoreson, Estherville, Iowa and seven grandchildren.

Funeral was held from the home Tuesday, July 18th. There were present at the funeral both at the home and church, a host of relatives, friends and neighbors. The pallbearers were as follows: James Refsell, Oliver Refsell, Halvor Egertson, O.C. Olson, L.L. Gunderson and Edwin Osher. A beautiful floral decoration was covering the casket. Given by the children, the Lutheran Ladies Aid and friends. Service was conducted in the English language, both at the home and at the church. The choir rendered a few appropriate and beautiful songs. Mrs. Thoreson was a kind Christian woman who was loved and held in high esteem by everyone she came in contact with and the proof of this was the very large assembly present at the funeral and many a tear was shed from the eyes of those who knew and loved Mrs. Thoreson. She had accident of falling and injuring the hip bone and it was really this that caused her sudden death. She died as a child that slumbers into sleep on its mother’s arms, and it is with the firm oath and assurance that she went to her Heavenly Home in Glory and peace with her Saviour. May God who loved and saved her, save also her children and grandchildren and all those present at her funeral and may the song which the choir sang as the casket was lowered in the grave re-echo daily in our ears.

Jesus Saviour pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea, boisterous waves before me roll, hiding rocks and treacherous shoals, chart and compass come from thee, Jesus Saviour pilot me.

When at last I reach the shore and the fearful breakers roar, ‘twixt me and thy peaceful rest then while leaning on thy breast let me hear thee say to me, fear not, I will pilot thee. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 26, 1922)