GUNDERSON, Melvin Annis 1882-1943

GUNDERSON, MEIS, HABERKORN, DUSHANE, BOYER, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Diane Scott (email)
Date: 4/10/2010 at 12:46:09

#1:

FORMER IOWA RESIDENT DIES IN NORTH DAKOTA

Osage: Word came to Mrs. Lewis Haberkorn of the death of her brother, Melvin A Gunderson, 61, of Aneta N. Dak. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Aneta Lutheran church with burial in the local cemetery.

Melvin A. Gunderson was born in 1882, the son of Mr. and Mrs Erick Gunderson, on a farm near St. Ansgar. Here he grew to manhood. He attended the home school, was graduated from the preparatory college, then at Nora Springs, and from Drake university with a degree in law. For the past 38 years he has been in North Dakota, and was cashier of the former Aneta Bank.

He is survived by his wife Alice Mease Gunderson, two sons, Dr. Robert Gunderson of Denver, Colordo, and Melvin, Jr. of Minneapolis; five sisters: Mrs. E. A. Bach, Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Mrs. J. E. DuShane of Los Aneles, Calif.; Mr. Alden Scott Boyer of Chicago; Mrs. Lewis Haberkorn, Osage, and Josephine Schmidt, St. Ansgar. Two sisters and a brother preceded him in death.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, Thursday November 11, 1943 (Credit: DM Scott)

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#2:

Melvin Annis Gunderson was born April 13, 1882 at Newburg, Mitchell, Iowa to Erik Gunderson and Louisa Gunilda Helgeson, the seventh of their eleven children.
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Found in the 1885, 1895 censuses at Newburg, Mitchell, Iowa:
1885: Erick Gunderson 42 ,Lovisa Gunderson 34, Laura Gunderson 14, John Gunderson 13, Petrina Gunderson 10, Gusta Gunderson 8, Amil Gunderson 7, Lave Gunderson 5, Melvin Gunderson 2, Maria Gunderson 1, Mathia Findstad 35, Olans Larsen 32.
1895: Melina Anna Gunderson age 12. (Censuses transcribed as found without fixing spelling errors).
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Melvin married Alice Loretta Meis on July 8, 1912 at Breckenridge, Wilken, Minnesota. The couple had two sons.
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Found in the 1910 - 1940 censuses at Ora, Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota:
1910: Melvin Annis Gunderson age 27 renting a room.
1920: Melvin A Gunderson 37, Alice L Gunderson 31, Melvin M Gunderson 6, Robert L Gunderson 2 [2 11/12] .
1925: M A Gunderson age 43.
1930: Melvin A Gunderson 48, Alice L Gunderson 41, Melvin M Gunderson 16, Robert L Gunderson 13. Occupation - Real Estate
1940: Melvin A Gunderson 58, Alice Gunderson 51, Robert C Gunderson 22.
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Melvin Annis Gunderson died November 1943 at Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota and is buried at Silent Hill Cemetery, Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota.
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Excerpt from History of North Dakota by Lewis F. Crawford, Vol. 2, pg. 298-300:

Reared by careful parents, Melvin A. Gunderson was encouraged to continue his studies beyond the lower grades and he attended Nora Springs Seminary, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1901. Next he attended the Iowa State College in Cedar Falls for one year, next Drake University, Des Moines for 2 1/2 years studying the law courses.

In 1904, he left and came to Aneta, where he began working in the Aneta State Bank as a bookkeeper. Later he was made assistant cashier; still later became cashier and vice president. This bank was nationalized in 1919, after which time it was conducted as the First National Bank of Aneta.

Associated with Mr. Gunderson in this bank were Paul Jacobson, president and some of the leading and most substantial business men of the county composed its Board of Directors. Mr. Gunderson is a Republican and active in his party, having served as precinct committeeman for four years and councilman for six years. He is a member of the Community Church of Aneta, high in Masonry, he belongs to Loyalty Lodge 3 119, A.F. & A.M. of which he is a past master; Jared Consistory # 2 in the valley of Grand Forks, in which he has been advanced to the 32 degree; and Kem Temple, A.S.O.N.M.S. of Grand Forks, N.D. He also belongs to Loyalty Chapter # 96, OES of which he is a past grand, having held the office of grand for two terms. Aneta Lodge, AOUW, the Aneta Commercial Club, the N.D. State Bankers Assoc. and the Amer. Bankers Assoc.

Mr. Gunderson owns a most desirable residence at Aneta, two quarter sections of land in Nelson Co. and other farm lands in Brown Co, S.D. and Mitchell Co., Iowa. During the World War, he assisted in all of the drives for all purposes, and contributed liberally to the various war organizations.

Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson have two sons: Melvin, Jr., who is attending Aneta High School in the class of 1931 and Robert, who is also attending the high school of Aneta and is the highest ranking Boy Scout in Aneta.

Mr. Gunderson has throughout his eventful and useful career been prominently identified with the financial and agricultural interests of his community and has not neglected his civic duties but ably discharged the responsibilities pertaining to the several offices he has held.

The key note of his personality lies in the suggestion that his observation has taught him that any man who is willing to devote his time and attention to a certain line of business and is honest and frugal will make a success. The great principle of success is being honest and manly and carrying out contracts to the letter. The world honors an honest, fearless man. A broad-minded, liberal and progressive man, his influence among his business associates and on the community generally is recognized of much good to all. His wife Alice, taught school and clerked in the bank.
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He currently has two FindaGrave Memorials: Find a Grave #50914067 and Find A Grave Memorial# 47122392.

(Credit: Deidre Badker, 6/2013)