KITTLESON, Betsy (Thorson) 1866-1939

KITTLESON, HATFIELD, RODEMAKER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/30/2009 at 12:06:01

Funeral Services for Betsy Kittleson Held Monday

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1:30 from the First Lutheran Church for Mrs. Betsy Kittleson, who died suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thea Hatfield in Osage, shortly after the noon hour on Thursday, January 26, 1939. The Reverend Olaf A. Langehough was in charge of the services.

Barbara Thorson, better known to her friends as Betsy, was born in Newburg Township, near St. Ansgar, on December 12, 1866. She was baptized by Reverend Clausen in the Norwegian Lutheran Church at St. Ansgar on January 6, 1867, and confirmed by the Reverend Julius Olsen.

She was the daughter of Halvor and Bridget Thorson and spent almost her entire life in the vicinity of St. Ansgar. She was 72 years, one month and fourteen days old at the time of her death.

On April 19, 1891, she was united in marriage to Lars Kittleson of St. Ansgar. They resided in Minneapolis for a time, then came to Lyle, Minnesota where they lived for two years.

In 1903 they returned to St. Ansgar, which has been their home ever since. Eight children were born to this union, three daughters and one son passed away in childhood.

Mr. Kittleson met with an untimely and accidental death by drowning on August 15, 1915, leaving the widow to carry on alone and give care and guidance to the four remaining children.

For the past two years Mrs. Kittleson had cared for the late Mrs. Fred Dreher. Her health was failing rapidly and just two weeks before the passing of Mrs. Dreher, Mrs. Kittleson was obliged to give up her work.

She spent some time at the home of her sons and her daughter, Mrs. Rodemaker, and five weeks ago she went to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thea Hatfield in Osage. Although in poor health, her condition was not considered more serious than usual, as she was up and around the house most of the time.

Her death last Thursday afternoon came as a shock to her many friends and relatives.

Betsy Kittleson was of a happy, kind disposition, always thinking of the comfort and welfare of others more than of herself.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Thea Hatfield, Mrs. Leon Rodemaker, both of Osage; two sons, Ben Kittleson, near Osage, and Floyd Kittleson, St. Ansgar; 13 grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends who will mourn her passing.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise; 1939 – from St. Ansgar Museum Collections ]