Olsen, Anna Elizabeth (1867-1940)

OLSEN, HOLT, SANFORD, LANDE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/10/2015 at 17:38:58

Taken from a scrapbook compiled by Lois Elaine Anderson Thompson that is located at the Ellsworth Library, Ellsworth, Iowa

Mrs. Jorgen Olsen, one of the earliest residents of Ellsworth, passed away at the home of her sister, Mrs. B.P. Holt, on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 16, 1940, at 4:40 o'clock, at the age of 73 years, 1 month and 9 days.

Mrs. Olsen was in poor health for a number of years, and the past four years has spent the winters with her sister, living in her own home in Ellsworth, during the warmer months.

During the past year she had been with her sister, and had needed considerable care at various times, which had been lovingly and freely given by Mrs. Holt and her other sister, Mrs. Josephine Sanford. Since April she had been helpless.

Death was due to a stroke of apoplexy suffered on Saturday preceding her death. From that time she was in a coma most of the time.

Anna Elizabeth Olsen, daughter of Lars and Thea Olsen, was born September 7, 1867, at Oslo, Norway. Together with her parents she left Norway in 1880, and came to this community where she has since lived.

She has been an active member and valued member of Trinity Lutheran church and Mission Society. Her parents joined Trinity church the same year they came to this community. The deceased was baptized in Norway, and confirmed by Pastor N. Christensen in the Henderson schoolhouse Jan. 22, 1882. In the spring of that year the building of the church here was begun.

Mrs. Olsen taught school for several years and served as bookkeeper and cashier of the State Bank of Ellsworth for twenty-two years. On Sept. 22, 1914, she was married to Jorgen Olsen at Ellsworth. Mr. Olsen passed away Dec. 26, 1935.

Besides her two sisters, Mrs. Holt and Mrs. Sanford, Mrs. Olsen is survived by three step-children, Mrs. Otto Lande of Ellsworth, George Olsen of Denta, Iowa, and Ole J. Olsen of Davenport, also by many other relatives.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at the Holt home and at Trinity church by the Rev. Carl J. Naglestad. Music for the services was provided by a quartet - Mrs. Leonard Lindebak, Mrs. Curtis Kallem, Mrs. Ray Skartvedt and Miss Sylvia Thompson. Mrs. Lindebak also sang a solo at the church.

Burial was made in Homewood cemetery, with Frank Pearson, Dan Knudson, John Gimre, O.J. Mansager, George Peterson and A. Reynolds as pallbearers.