BLAKKESTAD, Halvor P. c1864-1935

BLAKKESTAD, HOVE, SEVERSON, THORSON, TOLLEFSON, BENSON

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 6/10/2006 at 06:41:56

RITES HELD FOR HALVOR BLAKKESTAD

GREW TO MANHOOD IN ST. ANSGAR, IOWA; BECAME TALENTED MUSICIAN IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Funeral services for Halvor P. Blakkestad, former resident of St. Ansgar, who died at his home, 4155 Blaisdell Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota last Thursday after a 3 weeks' illness with intestinal influenza, were conducted at the Enger Funeral Chapel in Minneapolis Monday afternoon.

Rev. Rygstad, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran church was in charge of the service and the music was furnished by members of the Minneapolis Symphony orchestra. Burial took place in the Crystal Lake, Minnesota cemetery.

Born in Gol, Hallingdal, Norway, 71 years ago, he was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter O. Blakkestad. He came with his parents to the United States when he was ten years old, the family coming to St. Ansgar where Mr. Blakkestad ran a general store. Growing to manhood here, he became deeply interested in music and went to Minneapolis where he might have better opportunities. In the years that followed, he became a talented violinist and also a maker of violins.

He made several trips to Europe and collected old violins and materials for new ones. He had been engaged in the musical merchandising for 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Hove Blakkestad, whom he married on March 1, 1916, and one son, Harold, a junior in high school. Four brothers: Peter and Howard of Minneapolis, Julius of Seattle, Washington, and Tollef of Chicago, Illinois; a sister, Betsy Severson of Minneapolis, also survives.

Mr. Blakkestad was a nephew of Mrs. K. H. Thorson of St. Ansgar. Relatives and friends from here who attended the funeral were Misses Clara and Blanche Thorson, T. O. Tollefson, John Tollefson and Emil Benson.

(Found in the St. Ansgar, IA. Enterprise, April 1935 - Halvor would have been born about the year 1864.)