Bernt Olaf Wolden 1888-1968

WOLDEN, VALEN, IVERSON, NELSON, STORVICK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/2/2013 at 22:14:50

B.O. [Bernt Olaf] Wolden, Estherville, Dies; Rites Saturday
B.O. Wolden, 82, died at 6:35 a.m. today at Holy Family Hospital. His death was attributed to a series of strokes.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Estherville Lutheran Church, with Rev. Stephen Engelstad officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Lutheran Cemetery at Wallingford.

Friends may call at Reese-Henry Funeral Home at Estherville after 7 p.m. Thursday and until noon on Saturday.

Mr. Wolden was a member of the Estherville Daily News family of writers for 38 years, longer than anyone, except the former publisher, Deemer Lee, who is now an associate editor.

Since 1930 he had contributed a nature column called “Nature Notes” to the Daily News, using the pseudonym, “The Observer.”

His first column was published while the paper was still a weekly.

He and Mrs. Wolden shared an interest in all forms of nature and had written of their researches in several publication.

Mr. Wolden held a fellowship in the Iowa Academy of Science. He and Mrs. Wolden are both well-known naturalists, and have been considered authorities on birds, plants, insects, and animals – the whole field of nature.

Mr. Wolden retired in 1956 from 35 years as a rural mail carrier in Emmet County. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 24, 1968)

B.O. Wolden Rites to Be Saturday
Bernt Olaf Wolden, 82, who died Tuesday morning at Holy Family Hospital, was a life-long resident of Emmet County.

He was born Oct. 21, 1886, in rural Wallingford, the son of Peter P. and Bertha Bergum wolden. He attended rural schools of Emmet County.

He was married June 17, 1924, to Anna Marie Valen at Estherville. She died Oct. 29, 1934. They had two children, Berniece Marie, now Mrs. James I. Nelson of Poulsbo, Wash., and Gerhard Paul of Minneapolis.

On Aug. 13, 1938, he was married to Ida E. Iversen of Grinnell at Clear Lake.

Mr. Wolden was a farmer and a rural mail carrier on an Estherville route. He served in World War I, stationed at Camp Pike, Ark.

He contributed a column, “Nature Notes,” to the Estherville Daily News for 38 years. His nature researches brought him the honor of being chosen a Fellow in the Iowa Academy of Science and an honorary membership in the Iowa Ornithologist Union.

Mr. Wolden had been a member of the Estherville Lutheran Church since 1925.

As church historian he wrote the history of the congregation for the 75th anniversary observance in 1936, added to it 10 years later for the 85th anniversary in 1946, and again in 1961 for the 100th anniversary. He was deeply interested in history and was a charter member of Emmet County Historical Society.

He was active on the campaign fund drive for the present main church structure dedicated June 25, 1944. He was a past president of the Lutheran Brotherhood.

He is survived by his wife, Ida E., his son, Gerhard, and daughter, Mrs. Nelson; and grandson, John Nelson; three brothers, Magnus (J.M) Wolden of St. James; Albert of Wallingford; Fred (C.F.) of Wallingford; and a sister, Ella, Mrs. E.A.Storvick of Albert Lea, Minn.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Estherville Lutheran Church, the Rev. Stephen Englestad officiating.

Burial will be at Wallingford Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call at Reese-Henry Funeral Home from 7 this evening until noon on Saturday.

Pallbearers will be Howard Hatland, Lloyd Olson, Harvey Lundy, Robert Kinnard, Arnt Espeset, and Deemer Lee. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 26, 1968)