TOLLEFSON, Halvor Jefferson "Jeff" 1857-1917

TOLLEFSON, BERG, JOHNSON, HEGLAND

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 11/3/2009 at 21:46:02

Passing of Jeff Tollefson

Halvor Jefferson Tollefson was born on the Tollefson farm near St. Ansgar, Iowa, October 7, 1857. He was baptized in the St. Ansgar Lutheran Church June 6, 1858. He lived with his parents on the farm until his mother died in June 1881, when he took up his residence with his sister, Mrs. Mary Hegland, where he has made his home until the end of life’s journey. He passed away on January 30, 1917, at the age of fifty-nine years, three months and twenty-three days.

Jeff as he was familiarly called, leaves to mourn his departure three brothers and three sisters: A. T. [Abraham Theodore] Tollefson, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, A. K. Tollefson, of Verdon, South Dakota, George P. Tollefson, of Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Mary Berg, of Wanbay, South Dakota, Mrs. Belle Johnson, Rock Creek, Iowa, and Mrs. Mary Hegland of St. Ansgar, and also twenty nieces, twelve nephews and a large number of other relatives and friends.

The foundation for the diseases from which he suffered were contracted nearly thirty years ago and were the results of an accident. In some manner he came in contact with a moving machine belt receiving wounds which produced blood poisoning. Two surgical operations gave him temporary relief.

He was one of the most successful threshers in this county and owned the second steam rig that came to St. Ansgar. He was a fine mechanic and secured letter patents on two valuable inventions. He was employed for some time as a draughtman for the Sabin machine Company of Stillwater, Minnesota, but gave up the position on account of failing health.

After quitting the Sabin Company he turned his attention to detective work, under the direction of some eastern company, and is said to have gained some fine results. He was a man of retired disposition, was not much at mingling with the people but enjoyed the friendship of many. During the past few years he has been interested in the automobile business and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the safest automobile drivers in these parts.

Deceased was greatly attached to his sister, Mrs. Hegland and his two nieces, Lela and Alice. During the holiday season he was visited by his two brothers A. K. and George and enjoyed their visit very much and expressed a desire that they remain longer.

The funeral services were held on Saturday, February 3rd at the Norwegian Lutheran Church and was conducted by the resident pastor Reverend Waldeland who delivered a very impressing sermon, after which the funeral cortege formed and moved to the Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery, where all that is mortal of Jeff Tollefson now rests in peace.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise, 1917 – St. Ansgar Museum Collections]

NOTE: His parents were Knut Tollefson and Taran, or Tarande, Knutson Tollefson. He had two additional siblings, for a total of eight.