Ferlen, Sophia Carolina Beck (1847-1925)

FERLEN, BECK, POULSON, OLSON, HOLM

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
February 12, 1925

The Passing of Mrs. M.M. Ferlen

Mrs. Mons M. Ferlen died about 7:45 Tuesday night after an illness of several weeks. It has been known for some time that she was in a very critical condition so that her death at this time was not entirely unexpected. She was well advanced in years and was one of the highly respected pioneer residents of the community. She was surrounded by her entire family at the time of her death.

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Stratford Courier
February 19, 1925

The death of Mrs. Mons M. Ferlen marks the passing of another of the pioneer settlers of this community. Almost her entire life is closely associated with the early history of this section for she came to this locality when she was a young girl and has lived here continuously ever since.

Her life's work was the caring for and rearing of her family of children. This she did with unerring Christianity and she had lived to see them go out in the world as true citizens and real men and women.

Of a retiring nature she was beloved by everyone who knew her for her sweet and sunny disposition and the news of her death came with crushing force to her many loving friends. She had been in failing health for some months and had failed rapidly the last few weeks before her death.

The following out-of-town relatives were present at the funeral services: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Beck and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Beck of Des Moines; H.N. Beck of Vermillion, S.D.; Tillman Ferlen of Gibbons, Nebr.; Arthur Ferlen of Grand Island, Nebr.

OBITUARY

Caroline Sophia Beck was born in Westervik, Småland, Sweden, August 30, 1847. She passed away at the family home here on February 10, 1925 at the age of 77 years, 5 months and 11 days.

At the age of 18 years she came to America and to this community. On July 14, 1870, she was married to Mons M. Ferlen in Boone. To them were born six children, two daughters and four sons. One son passed away in infancy.

She leaves to mourn her departure, her aged husband; and the following sons and daughters, Mrs. John Poulson, Elmer Ferlen and Mrs. Oscar C. Olson, all of Stratford, Arthur Ferlen of Grand Island, Nebr., and Tillman Ferlen of Gibbon, Nebr.; seven grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. N.J. Holm, San Diego, Calif.; and five brothers, G.A. Beck, Midale, Canada, O.F. Beck, Des Moines, D.W. Beck, Webb, H.E. Beck, Corning, Calif., and H.N. Beck, Vermillion, S.D., besides other relatives and a large host of friends.

Deceased was converted in her youth and became a member of the Baptist church before she left Sweden. On July 24, 1892, she united with the South Marion M.E. Church, during the pastorate of Rev. L.M. Lindstrom. She was a noble Christian, faithful to her God and to her church and always attended services whenever possible.

Funeral services were held from the M.E. Church here on Friday afternoon and many friends came to pay their last respects to a departed one. Her pastor, Rev. Edwin Sahlen of the South Marion Church officiated and was assisted by Rev. Flesher of Stratford.