LOVESTROM, Alvin John 1879-1939

LOVESTROM, MCMAHAN, MORAN, LARSON

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 17:07:42

A.J. LOVESTROM, FORMER RESIDENT DIES AT STEPHEN

A.J. Lovestrom, prominent Stephen, Minn. business man and former native of St. Ansgar died at his home in that city, May 21, 1939, according to word received by friends here.

Cancer, with which he had been a sufferer for several months past was responsible for his death at the age of sixty. He had been confined to his home for a period of two weeks prior to his death. Funeral services were held from the First Presbyterian church, Thursday, May 25.

Alvin John Lovestrom was born at St. Ansgar, February 6, 1879, the son of Gustave and Anna Lovestrom. His boyhood days were spent at St. Ansgar where he became apprenticed in the printing trade which he followed the major portion of his lifetime.

He worked at the printers trade in offices at Austin, Tracy, Canby and Akely, Minn., before going to Stephen in 1904 to take charge of the Marshall County Leader, then published by J.G. Brinkenhoff. At Stephen on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1906, he was married to Mae A. McMahan.

For a year or so following his marriage, Mr. Lovestrom was in charge of a weekly newspaper at Culbertson, Montana, returning to Stephen early in 1908 to take charge again of the Leader, then published by Bernard B. Brett, present judge of Probate of Marshall county.

Later in 1908 the Lovestroms moved to Plains, Montana, where Mr. Lovestrom operated the Plains Plainsman for a period of eighteen months. He then returned to Stephen and in the spring of 1910 established the Stephen Messenger in partnership with George Seifert. A year later he absorbed Mr. Seifert's interest in the Messenger and in 1915 consolidated the Messenger with the Marshall County Leader, retaining sole interest in the publication until its sale to the present publisher in 1918.

In 1913 Mr. Lovestrom was appointed postmaster of Stephen, holding the post for a period of eight years until 1920. Since then he has been connected with the local there as assistant.

He is survived by his wife, two sisters, Mrs. Mae Moran and Mrs. Anna Larson, both of Seattle, Wash.; two brothers, James of Manitowoc, Wis. and Frank of Adams, N.D.

St. Ansgar Enterprise