Esther Louise Holt 1903 - 1986

HOLT, BENJAMONSON, NILSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2016 at 21:11:37

Onawa Democrat
8 May 1986

Esther Louise Holt, 83, Soldier, Iowa, died May 2, 1986, at the Dunlap Care Center in Dunlap, Iowa.

She was born January 6, 1903, in Luray, Norway, to Martin Johan and Emelie (Benjamonson) Nilsen. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith in Norway. On October 30, 1922, she came to the United States and made her home in Soldier with an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Brady Lund. On May 7, 1925, she married Ole Holt at Soldier He died December 1, 1967, at Onawa, Iowa. She had been a cook at East Monona School for 18 years.

She was a member of Soldier Lutheran Church and Ladies Societies of the church.

Survivors include two daughters: Mrs. Harry (Agnes) Squier of Onawa and Mrs. Marvin (Sonja) Wacker of Council Bluffs, two sons, Stanley of Soldier, and Harold of Huntsville, Ala.; one brother, Ralph Nilsen in Norway, 14 grandchildren; 15 great- grandchildren and a host of relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers in Norway.

Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 1986, at the Soldier Lutheran Church with Rev. Larry Sydow officiating. Mrs. Ivan Gibbs, the organist, played the selection "The Old Rugged Cross" and she accompanied the congregation in singing, "How Great Thou Art".

Bearers were Ronald Holt, Robert Holt, Robert Wacker, Larry Bonnes, Terry Hull, David Adams and Michael Mitchell.

Interment was in the Soldier Lutheran Church Cemetery at Soldier, Iowa, with arrangements by the Pearson Funeral Home, Soldier.