GUNDERSON, Emil Lauris 1877-1958

GUNDERSON, HABERKORN, SCHMIDT

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/21/2011 at 17:33:04

#1:

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Emil L. Gunderson, 81, retired bank official Ray, North Dakota, died Monday at Minneapolis. Rites will be at Minneapolis Wednesday, with burial at Ray, North Dakota.

Born to Erick and Louise Gunderson, St. Ansgar, he was graduated from Nora Springs Seminary.

Survivors include one son, Dr. Blaine Gunderson, Sherman Oaks, California; two daughters, Mrs. William Johnson and Mrs. Rudy Luther, both Minneapolis, and two sisters, Mrs. Louis Haberkorn and Mrs. Josephine Schmidt, both of Osage.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, October 7, 1958] (SB)
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#2:

Emil Lauris (Lauritz) Gunderson was born November 21, 1877 at Newburg, Mitchell, Iowa to Erik Gundersen and Louisa Gunilda Helgeson, the fifth of their eleven children. He was confirmed on October 2, 1892 at the First Lutheran Church, St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa.

Found in the 1880 - 1895 censuses living at Newburg, Mitchell, IA: 1880: Erick Gunderson 37, farmer, Louisa Gunderson 31, Laura Gunderson 10, John J. Gunderson 8, Patrena Gunderson 5, Gustave Gunderson 4, Emiel Gunderson 2, Levie Gunderson 7m, Halver Larson 20 hired hand, Ole Olsen 21 hired hand, Cristie Severson 22 servant, Julia Severson 20 servant, Ella Larson 17 renting a room, Knud Gunderson 47 (Erick's brother) no occupation, just arrived from Norway, Trenre Gunderson (Knud's wife) 55.

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: Emil Lanris Gunderson age 17.

Found in the 1900 census at Ora, Nelson, North Dakota: John Gunderson 28, Burtha M Gunderson 28, Emil L Gunderson 21, Anne Afofthus 20.

Emil married Lillian Galena Sorenson on January 2, 1905 at Bartlett, Ramsey, North Dakota.
The couple had 5 children all born at Ray, Williams, North Dakota: 1 ) Emil Lauris Gunderson (December 23, 1905 - August 31, 1908); Lauris and Sissy (Lillian) both died within weeks of each other. Story was Lauris got sick with influenza and they separated him from Sissy. She wanted to give him a hug and kiss and ran into his room, They died within weeks of each other);

2.) Lillian (Sissy) Margerthe Gunderson (January 27, 1907 - August 22, 1908);

3.) Leila Rayetta (born June 4, 1909, married a Johnson);

4.) Blaine Merton (born July 29, 1910, married Mary Ann Riggs (born November 15, 1913 Minnesota, died June 18, 1992), Blaine died January 4, 1984 Los Angeles, California) Daughter Susan (born May 20, 1942); Sons: Blaine Lee (born March 9, 1944) and Richard Lauris (born June 17, 1946), all at Los Angeles, California. Divorced Mary Ann Riggs October 1976. College graduate, worked for the government;

5.) Rena Claire (born August 15, 1916, married a Rudolph Luther February 24, 1945, died February 10, 1981 MInneapolis, Minnesota; 2 sons.

Found in the 1910 census at Equality, Williams, North Dakota: Annel S Gundarson 32, Lily G Gundarson 31, Leila R Gundarson 0[9/12], Edith M Sorenson 18, Leonard G Sorenson 15, Nettie G Halestenson 24.

Found in the 1920, 1940 censuses at Ray City, Williams, North Dakota: 1920: Emil L Gunderson 42, Lillian G Gunderson 41, Lella R Gunderson 10, Blaine M Gunderson 9, Claire M Gunderson 3.

Found in the 1930 census at Equality Township, Williams County, N.D. Emil's occupation at this time was a Bank Collector for 1st National Bank of Ray, N.D.: Emil L Gunderson 52, Lilly G Gunderson 51, Leila J Gunderson 20, Blaine M Gunderson 19, Claire R Gunderson 18.

1940: Emil Gunderson 62, Lilly Gunderson 59, Claire Gunderson 21.

Emil died October 6, 1958 at Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota and is buried at Sunset Rest Cemetery.

Excerpt from North Dakota History ND People, Outlines of American History, Vol. 3, pg. 474-475, the S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1917:
EMIL LAURITZ GUNDERSON: Emil L. Gunderson, cashier of Linwell's State Bank at Ray and one of the pioneer bankers of Williams County, was born at St. Ansgar, Mitchell County, Iowa on November 21, 1877, a son of Erick and Louisa Gunderson. Emil L. Gunderson acquired his early education in the district schools of Mitchell County and in the high school at Nora Springs, Iowa and in 1898, he went to Aneta, Nelson County, N.D., where he accepted the position of assistant cashier in a bank, thus serving for five years.

In 1903, he became a resident of Ray, Williams County and assisted in organizing Linwell's State Bank, of which he became cashier. In that connection, he has since continued and is today the pioneer banker of the county. He thoroughly understands the complex questions of banking and has so conducted the institution as to carefully safeguard the depositors while at the same time extending liberal credit to patrons.

In the spring of 1906, Mr. Gunderson broke the first half section of land ever cultivated in his locality in order to find out what it could produce and is now extensively engaged in farming and the raising of both cattle and horses. On the 2nd of January, 1905, Mr. Gunderson was married to Miss Lillian Sorenson, of Bartlett, N.D., who was born at Marinette, Wisconsin & in 1901, came to this state. She was connected with an abstract office at Dakota for a time and later removed to Williams county, where she filled the position of register of deeds and also homesteaded near Tioga. To them have been born five children, two of whom are deceased. Those surviving are: Leila, whose birth occurred in June 1909; Blaine, born July 29, 1910 and an infant, born August 15, 1916. All are natives of Ray, North Dakota.

Politically Mr. Gunderson is an earnest republican and in 1912 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, serving in the 41st session, during which time he was on the committees on banking, livestock and education. He has always been deeply interested in the cause of the public schools and served on the school board when his district measured 77 x 13 miles and contained 44 schools. He afterward left the school board but after 3 years returned again to serve. Fraternally, he is connected with the Elks Lodge # 1214 at Williston, of which he became a charter member and he also has membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Fargo.

He belongs to the United Lutheran Church and he is a staunch advocate of prohibition. In fact his aid and influence are always given in behalf of those forces which work for moral uplift and which promote civic progress. Those who knew him esteem him highly and his worth is widely acknowledged.

Excerpt from "The Wonder of Williams, A History of Williams County, North Dakota", Vol. 2, pg. 1058, compiled and published by The Williams County Historical Society: After leaving Linwell's Bank, Emil became field representative for the First National Bank of Minneapolis and the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Minneapolis. His territory included most of western North Dakota, including Williams Divide, McKenzie and Ward counties and part of eastern Montana. He retired in 1944, but continued to work independently at his own leisure, making out income tax returns and consulting on banking or legal problems or questions that local residents might have. He served as clerk of the Ray School Board for several years. He was always interested in education and was a strong advocate of good public schools. Mrs. Gunderson was a Methodist and belonged to the Ray Methodist Ladies Aid. She also belonged to the Ray Study Club, Music Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Gunderson died in 1956 at age 78 and Emil in 1958 at age 8.

(Credit; Deidre Badker, 6/2013)