Bertha Olson 1858-1946

OLSON MONSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/23/2009 at 22:11:53

28 Feb 1946

Whiting Woman Laid to Rest
Bertha Monsen, the daughter of Ole and Anna Monsen, was born at Strandvik, Norway, on April 17, 1858, and passed away of a heart ailment at the Onawa hospital on Monday morning, February 18, 1946, at the age of 89 years, 10 months and one day.

At the age of 12 years, she immigrated to America with her mother, Mrs. Anna Monsen, a half sister, Mrs. Anna Arveson, now residing in Whiting and a half brother, Mona Axelton who passed away in 1921.

On December 23, 1875, she met and married Hans Olson at Clinton, Iowa, where his family had settled on coming to America. Mr. and Mrs. Olson resided at Clinton until the year of 1878 when they moved to Whiting, Iowa, where Mr. Olson secured a position with the old Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company, a position he held for 12 or more years, when he purchased a farm and devoted the greater part of his life to that vocation.

To this union five children were born, two of whom survive the mother. They are Mrs. Andrew Borsheim of Whiting and Bert Olson of Carlsbad, California.

Besides these two children, Mrs. Olson reared the twin children of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thompson, their mother having passed away when these two children were only a few days old. They are Mrs. Howard Hoffman, now residing at Marshall, Wisconsin, and Thomas O. Thompson of Rock Falls, Illinois. Mrs. Olson was accepted and confirmed in the Lutheran Church at the age of twelve years.

She is survived by her husband, who is in critical condition at the Onawa hospital, suffering from burns received a short time ago; the daughter, Mrs. Borsheim of Whiting; the son, Bert of Carlsbad, Calif., six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at the Whiting Methodist Church last Friday afternoon, with Rev. T.A. Thompson and Rev. Nelson Preus officiating. A quartette, Clifford Beatty, Harry Swim, Mrs. C. Croker and Mrs. Willey sang “Beautiful Savior”, “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Abide With Me” They were accompanied by Mrs. Ward Miner.
Pallbearers were William Kratz, Ed Kratz, Willard Dahl, William Wonder, Newell Olson and Elliott Arveson. Interment was in the Whiting cemetery with the Pearson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Out of town relatives who attended the funeral services were: Miss Bertha Axelton and Mr. Andy Axelton of Graettinger, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. S,A. Sorenson and Doris, Mr. and Mrs. S. Hansen and Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. G.T.Dahl and Mr. Martin Dahl and son Carl, all of Sioux City. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wonder of Onawa.