Halvor Olai Bergeson 1859-1938

BERGESON, JOHNSON, AANONSON, EVANSON, RICHARD, LEE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/17/2014 at 01:57:07

H.O. Bergeson Dies Following Brief Illness
Holver [Halvor] O. Bergeson, 78, of Estherville, well known farmer and blacksmith in Emmet county, died suddenly shortly after noon today in the Coleman hospital. He had been ill only one day.

Mr. Bergeson worked in his blacksmith shop yesterday morning but complained of not feeling well before noon. His son, Leonard, took him to his home on West Lincoln street.

His condition rapidly became worse and last night he was removed to the hospital.

Born in Norway
No funeral arrangements have been completed although it is believed they will be held Sunday.

Mr. Bergeson was born Sept. 16, 1859, in Norway. During his youth, Mr. Bergeson followed the blacksmith trade in Norway and in 1886 with his wife and daughter, Clara, came to this country and settled in Estherville.

Lived in Terril
Mr. Bergeson’s first wife died in 1898 and two years later he was married to Miss Olena Aanonson in Estherville. A year afterward the family moved to Terril where Mr. Bergeson operated a blacksmith shop for 15 years, later moving to a farm southeast of here.

Four years ago he opened a shop in Estherville and had lived here since.

He is survived by his widow, four sons, Alfred, of Plover, and Herbert, Charles and Leonard, of Estherville; and four daughters, Mrs. Tom Evanson, Plover; Mrs. George Richard, Miss Sadie Bergeson and Mrs. Hans Lee, of Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, March 17, 1938)

Bergeson Obituary
Mr. Halvor Olai Bergeson was born on Sept. 16, 1859 near Bergen, Norway. He died on March 17, 1938 in Estherville, Iowa. When death claimed him he was 78 ½ years old.

Mr. Bergeson was baptized and likewise confirmed in the Lutheran faith. At the age of 14 he entered school to learn the blacksmith trade.

At the age of 24 he married Georgena Johnson. Four years later with his wife and their daughter Clara, Mr. Bergeson bade Norway farewell and immigrated to America. They settled in Estherville. This occurred in 1886. For 14 years he worked in blacksmith shops in that city.

In 1898 his first wife died. Two years later he married a second time, this time to Olene Christian Aanonson. In 1900 Mr. Bergeson purchased a blacksmith shop in Terril, Iowa. He operated this one for 15 years.

In 1930 Mr. Bergeson purchased he blacksmith shop in Estherville which has been known as the H.O. Bergeson shop.

His health has been good until he suddenly took ill the day before he passed away. Death was due to pneumonia and heart trouble.

The funeral was held on last Monday, March 21, 1938. A brief service was conducted at the home in Estherville at 1:30 p.m. Rev. H.G. Bachman offered prayer and gave a brief talk.

The funeral service proper was conducted in the new church in Wallingford, Iowa with its pastor, Rev. Peder Nordsletten in charge. He and likewise Rev. L.A. Mathre of Estherville spoke.

Interment was made in the Norwegian Lutheran cemetery one mile north of Estherville. The following men served as pall bearers: A.L. Misener, Carl Knutson, Chas. A. Reed, Ed A. Swanson, W.A. Hildreth and J.A. Zimmerman.

In memory of the departed the Norwegian Bible class of the Estherville Lutheran church of which Mr. Bergeson was a faithful member, gave $2.00 to the Ebenezer Old People’s Home in Minneapolis, Minn. There were many floral wreaths given also.

He is survived by his widow, four son and four daughters. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, Ia, March 31, 1938)