Olsen, Julia Petrina Sexe (1866-1934)

OLSEN, SEXE, WALLACE, GUMM

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/12/2015 at 10:22:05

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

Funeral services for Mrs. N.P. Olsen were held at the home at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon and at 2 o'clock at Trinity Lutheran church. Rev. Carl J. Naglestad conducted the services and the choir sang at the church. A quartet composed of Virgie Peterson, Mabelle Twedt, Homer Danielson and Sidney Kallem, sang at the home and at the cemetery. Homer Danielson also sang a solo at the church.

Burial was in Greenwood cemetery [Williams, Iowa], with Amund Lyders, Glen Wallace, Thomas and William Thompson, Clarence Peterson and Orm Danielson acting as pallbearers.

Julie Petrina Olsen, daughter of C.H. and Margaret Sexe, was born in Lee county, Ill., Jan. 20, 1866. She passed away April 2, 1934 at the age of 68 years, 2 months and 12 days.

In 1875 she came with her parents to Hamilton county, Iowa, and has since lived in or near Ellsworth.

She was baptized in Illinois and confirmed in Trinity congregation.

On Dec. 9, 1885 she was united in marriage to Nels Peter Olsen at Trinity Lutheran church. They were the first couple to be married in this church.

Mr. and Mrs. Olsen were the parents of six children, Elsie and Julia died in infancy. The children who survive and mourn the loss of a beloved mother are Blanche, who lives at home, Chris of St. Joseph, MO., Mrs. Martha Wallace of Bradgate and Ralph of Ledyard.

She is also survived by the bereaved husband, and one sister, Mrs. Anna Gumm of Silver City, N.M., six grandchildren and many other relatives and a host of friends.

In tribute to her, Rev. Naglestad said:

"Again one of our good members has answered the summons to come on up higher, as we surely believe, to enjoy more intimate fellowship with her Lord and her God. Our loss is no doubt her gain. To be absent from the body; and to be at home with the Lord is very far better. It was a longing kindled in her heart especially towards the end. The Lord heard her prayers, released her soul for the larger, fuller life in Paradise. The end came practically without a struggle as she slept away peacefully from the painful weakness of the dissolving tabernacle of clay to be ushered joyfully by the angelic messengers of the Lord into the bosom of divine comfort in the home above, where Jesus has prepared a place for His people.

"Hers was a gentle and lovable spirit. She often had a kind word, appreciation of the good in others. She never said unkind things about others that I can recollect. She loved her neighbors, and was herself a good neighbor, a neighbor that will be missed. She also loved her church and her mission society, which she served ably and effectively in her gentle way as president, and as a member. We will miss her presence, both in the society and the church.

"But the loss is greatest to the husband and children. But even in the sorrow over the loss of a beloved wife and mother, it is well to stop and count the blessings of the Lord in having granted such a good mother to guide the feet of the children through all the years of childhood, and for the husband to have been blessed thus long with a faithful and devoted wife and helpmate.

"In her last illness, due to bronchitis and heart trouble, she has been patient and usually quite cheerful, especially until her nerves became very sensitive about five weeks ago. But throughout she has clung by faith to her Savior."