Isabel Torkelson, 1867-1943

TORKELSON, OLSON, SCHOIEN, LARSON, LANGARD, BENSON, REIERSON, CHRISTIAN, FALB, MOSBY, OGLE, TEXLEY, TOPE, REINHART, MORK, ANDERSON, LOFSTUEN, OTTOSEN, WALDOM, HILBERG, KNUDTSON, CASTEN, FRIEDEN, HELGERSON, GUNDERSON, KOLAND, JENSEN, STAHL, FRIEDERICH, CHRISTENSON, HALVERSON, ANDERSON, NELSON, NYBORG

Posted By: C. Diamond, IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 8/15/2014 at 07:51:17

The Elgin Echo
Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa
Wednesday, November 4, 1943
Page 2, column three

LIFE SKETCH OF MRS. OLE TORKELSON.

Mrs. Isabel Olson Torkelson was born Nov. 13, 1867, in Ness Hallingdahl, Norway. She died at her home in Elgin, Oct. 29, 1943, at the age of seventy-five years, eleven months and sixteen days.

The serious illness which caused her death lasted four days, but she spent the last two months in bed due to a heart attack.

She came to this country with her parents, Asle and Sigrid Olson, when an infant. Most of her life was spent in Clayton county, with the exception of the last fifteen years spent in Elgin.

She was baptized in Norway before coming to this country. She was confirmed in the Lutheran church at Gunder. Since the organization of the Highland Lutheran church she has been one of its most devoted and faithful members, giving unhesitatingly wherever needed to further the work of the church.

She was married March 15, 1887, to Ole Torkelson. To this union were born thirteen children. Her husband preceded her in death, also two children, Hilda and Millard. Those left to mourn the loss of a devoted mother are, Torvald, Mrs. Ala Schoien, Clarence, Carl, Otto, William, Oliver, and Mrs. Ida Larson, all of Elgin and vicinity, Mrs. George Landgard of Gunder, Mrs. Elmer Benson of near Farmersburg. Besides the immediate family, there are twenty-five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, two sisters, three half sisters, two brothers and one half-brother, also a step mother, Mrs. Asle Olson.

Every thought and concern was for her family and their welfare. She had great pleasure in having all her children and grandchildren about her. We will miss her but God’s ways are not always our ways. We humbly pray, “give us strength to bear our loss.”

Louis Reierson sang, “Ungdoms Share” at the church. A group of girls composed of Kay Christian, Jan Falb, Joan Mosby, Georgana Falb and Florence Ogle, sang, “In the Garden”, “Abide With Me” and “Have Thine Own Way Lord”.

Brief services were held at the house at one o’clock and at the Highland Lutheran church at 2 o’clock, Tuesday afternoon.

Those who attended the funeral from a distance were, Mrs. Effie Olson of Huron, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Texley of Westchester, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Tope, Mrs. Helen Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Reinhart, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Mork, Mrs. Geo. Anderson of West Union; Mrs. Gladys Larson, Thomas Lofstuen, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Ottosen, Mrs. Morris Waldom, Mrs. E. Hilberg, Mrs. Carrie Loftsgard, of Decorah; Mr. and Mrs. Olavus Knudtson of Guttenberg; Mrs. Victor Casten, Mrs. Geo. Frieden, Mrs. Anston Helgerson, Mrs. Harry Gunderson, of Postville; Mrs. G. Koland and Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Olson and family of Clermont, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Jensen of Oelwein, Mrs. Marie Stahl and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Friederich of Volga; Mrs. Henry Christianson, Mr. and Mrs. Erick Halverson and Charles, of St. Olaf; Mr. and Mrs. Almer Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Benson of Clermont; and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Nyborg of Gunder.

CARD OF THANKS.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our many friends for their kind assistance and sympathy extended to us in our bereavement, the death and burial of our mother. We are grateful for the flowers sent, to those who sang and all who were so kind to us.
The Torkelson family.