TOLLEFSON, Ingeborg O. 1863-1924

TOLLEFSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 11/3/2009 at 18:06:20

Ingeborg O. Tollefson was born at Hemsedal, Norway, July 1, 1863. She was baptized in the home parish of the Lutheran Church on August 9, 1863, and confirmed also in her home parish on May 18, 1870. In 1884, at the age of 21 years, she came to America with her two brothers, Tollef O. Tolleson Sr. and Tollef O. Tollefson Jr. For a while they made their home with Mr. T. M. Tollefson of St. Ansgar.

“Belle” as she is popularly known, worked at various homes in and about St. Ansgar for some time. For 25 years she was the popular cook of the St. Ansgar Seminary Boarding Club. After the death of her sister, Julia, Belle became a housekeeper for her two brothers already mentioned, and her brother John, who had come to America in 1885.

For some years they rented the Jorgensen farm south and west of St. Ansgar, but in 1910 they bought the Peter Kenneberg farm northwest of St. Ansgar. This has been her home until a year ago this fall when the brothers retired from farming and moved into the T. A. Tollefson home in St. Ansgar which had been purchased by them.

She suffered a slight attack of heart trouble about three years ago. This was made worse during an attack of flu two years ago. Since that time she has been gradually growing weaker. She died quietly, though suddenly, from an attack of heart trouble on November 18, 1924.

She leaves to mourn her loss three brothers, Tollef O. Tollefson Sr., John Tollefson and Tollef O. Tollefson Jr, and several cousins and nieces living in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Her funeral was conducted by her pastor, Reverend M. E. Waldeland, at the First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, on Friday, November 21.

Present at the funeral from away were Mr. And Mrs. Tollef Christensen, Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Christensen, Mr. And Mrs. N. O. Nelson, all of Glenville, Minnesota, Mrs. Henry Johnson, Clarence Johnson and Mrs. Jennie Baker, all of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Sever Magnusen and Ephriam Magnusen of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.

Her remains were laid to rest at the Evergreen [First Lutheran] Cemetery, north of St. Ansgar.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise, 1924 - St. Ansgar Museum Collections]