Thomas Sunde 1859-1948

SUNDE, OLSON, MATHISON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/11/2014 at 21:34:33

Pioneer Resident Thomas Sunde Died Last Thurs.
Thomas Sunde was born Dec. 6, 1859 in Skaanvik, Norway, the son of Engeborg and Lars Sunde. He came to the United States when he was about 20 years old and first settled in Grundy county, Ill. He lived there about two years and then came to Iowa and bought a farm east of Huntington. Later his two brothers, Charles and Henry, joined him in this country and farmed adjoining land.

In Dec. 6, 1906, he was married to Mrs. Gertrude Olson, the former Gertrude Mathison of Gardner, Ill. The couple had two children: Elvin L. of Estherville and Hazel of Portland, Ore. Mrs. Sunde’s daughter, Sadie Olson has always made her home with them and cared diligently for Mr. Sunde, since Mrs. Sunde’s death just four years ago.

Mr. Sunde’s health failed only within the last four months and he spent the greater portion of that time in Holy Family hospital in Estherville, where he passed away Thursday, Aug. 19. He is one of the oldest residents in the county, having lived some 65 years of his life on his farm east of Huntington. He will long be remembered for his quiet, unassuming personality and genuine sense of humor. He was an active member of Palestine Lutheran church. He was always intensely interested in community projects and political developments.

He was preceded in death by Mrs. Sunde, his parents, two brothers and two sister, and is survived by his family: Elvine, Hazel and Sadie; also six grandchildren: Charles, Joan, Thomas and Connie all of Estherville, Glen and Arnold Olson and one great-grandchild, David, all living in California.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 23rd from the farm home east Huntington, and Palestina Lutheran church, with burial at Palestina cemetery. Services were in charge of Rev. R.A. Olson, assisted by Rev. C.M. Hanson; music furnished by Arthur Valen, accompanied by Mrs. Gust Valen. Pallbearers were Henry, Lauritz, and Oscar Sunde, Oscer Mathre all of Estherville, Cral [Carl] Sunde of Forest City, Iowa and Nels Valen of Corinth, N.D. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 2, 1948)