GULBRANSEN, Lars 1863-1949

GULBRANSEN, WAMSTAD, THOMPSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/30/2009 at 15:37:39

Lars Gulbransen, 85, died at his home in Mason City, Iowa Wednesday morning, November 9, 1949 following a short illness.

Mr. Gulbrandsen was born in Norway on December 2, 1863 to Gulbrand and Anna Wamstad Gulbransen. He came to this country with his parents when he was two years old. They settled on a farm in Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa northeast of Nora Springs. While a young man he was engaged in the carpenter trade, and later entered the lumberyard business.

He was married to Anna Matilda Thompson in the Rock Creek Lutheran Church on December 9, 1894 and they established their first home in Nora Springs. They moved to Rudd in 1900 and he built the present Rudd Lumber Yard, which was one of the first enclosed buildings in the state used in that line of business.

Later they returned to Nora Springs, buying out the Charles Duston Lumber Company. He operated the yard about twenty years. He sold out and bought a farm two and a half miles west of Nora Springs, where they lived until March 1926, at which time they moved to Mason City.

Mr. Gulbransen retired from active business except for his affiliation with the First State Bank of Nora Springs, of which he had been vice-resident for more than 20 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Gulbransen celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on December 9, 1944. Mr. Gulbransen owned the first automobile in Floyd County.

He was preceded in death by his wife on February 24 of this year; a daughter Mabel in 1902; his parents, also in 1902 and by a brother, Adolph, in 1938. Survivors include: two daughters, Mrs. L.H. (Mae) Snively of Gooding, Idaho, and Mrs. Joe V. (Lenore) Ludeman of Mason City; one brother, Gilles of Northwood, ND; three sisters, Mrs. Oscar Johnson of Park River, ND, Mrs. Matilda Dahlen and Mrs. Martha Olson, both of Osage.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in Mason City. Pallbearers were Allert Olson, Roy Funk, Alver Dahlen, Brede Wamstad, Tom Wamstad, and Eugene Wamstad. The officers and employees of the First State Bank were in attendance. Burial was in the Rock Creek Lutheran cemetery, rural Osage.

Submitted by Steve Norby
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NOTE: Also refer to the November 17, 1949 issue of the Mitchell County Press-News, for a similar obituary.