KITTLESON, Beret 1836-1926

KITTLESON, HOLTAN, KITTILSEN

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson (email)
Date: 9/30/2009 at 11:57:03

THE OBITUARY OF MRS. BERET KITTLESON

Mrs. Beret Kittleson, whose maiden name was Beret Holtan, was born in N­ummedal, Norway on March 20, 1836.

She was baptized in her home parish of the Lutheran Church at Nummedal, Norway, but as a child immigrated to America with her parents and was confirmed by Reverend [J.W.C.] Dietrichson in one of the congregations of his parish in Dane County, Wisconsin.

In 1862 she was married to Johannes Kittleson of Dane County, Wisconsin. The newly married couple lived in Dane County for a year and then moved with an ox team to St. Ansgar, Iowa, near which town they had their home until the death of Mr. Kittleson in 1898.

Four children were born to them; Charles, who died in 1921; Martin, who died in 1898, Andrew and Louise, twins. Andrew died in 1870 at the age of fifteen months. Louise, now Mrs. C. O. [Carl Otto] Kittleson, is the only one of the children to survive the mother.

Mrs. Kittleson continued living on the old homestead after Mr. Kittleson’s death, for about two years at which time she moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin and made her home for about two years with her daughter, Mrs. C. O. Kittilsen. At the end of this period she returned to St. Ansgar and made her home with her son, C. E. Kittleson, where she remained about six years.

At this time she again made her home with her daughter, Mrs. C. O. Kittilsen in Seattle, Washington. With the exception of a few visits with her other children and relatives at St. Ansgar, she has made her home with Mrs. C. O. Kittilsen ever since this time, residing with them at Seattle, Washington, and at Yakima, Washington.

Though slightly ailing for several years, she was at the time seriously ill until about three weeks before her death when she became afflicted with stomach and liver trouble. In spite of everything that was done to relieve her suffering and restore her to health she gradually grew worse and quietly passed away on November 14, 1926.

Mrs. Kittleson’s religious experiences did not begin with her last sickness. During the years she wished the Word of God read to her often and frequently expressed her joy in the Heavenly message and her faith in her Savior. During her last sickness she very often called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, even stretching forth her arms in welcome to Him as she waited for Him to take her home. As her [illegible] fore have the [illegible] that she has received the reward of grace by faith in Christ Jesus in whom she believed and who she so dearly loved.

The funeral took place at the N. E. Lutheran Church at St. Ansgar on November 19. Reverend M. E. Waldeland officiating and her remains were laid to rest at the Evergreen Lutheran Cemetery north of St. Ansgar.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise, 1926 – St. Ansgar Museum Collections]

NOTE: Beret, also known as Bertha, Berit, Betsy, or Berith, was buried in the First Lutheran Cemetery, then known as the Evergreen Cemetery.

NOTE: Beret's daughter, Carrie Louise, married Carl Otto Kittilsen, who was no relation. Carl was the brother of Dr. A.N. Kittilsen, who was a doctor to the Laplanders who tended the Reindeer in Alaska which were brought over from Siberia. Dr. Kittilsen became very rich in the Alaska gold rush.

NOTE: Beret was the daughter of Gullik Holtan Halvorson and Ambjorg Ledvorsdatter.