Mrs. Olena Johnson (1859-1933)

JOHNSON, ROALSTAD, ERSLAND, LEIMBACK

Posted By: Alan Nicholson (email)
Date: 3/2/2010 at 23:33:07

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, December 6, 1933.

Mrs. Johnson Funeral Held

Had lived in this community for over 60 years

Funeral services were held Saturday at the home and at Zion Church for Mrs. Olena Johnson, who died last Wednesday. Rev. H. N. Bakke was the officiating pastor. Pall bearers were Eli Johnson, Paul F. Pederson, Paul Hatteberg, Olnus Osheim, Arthur Goodmanson and P. M. Martens.

Olena Johnson was born in Aardal, Norway, December 22, 1859, and died November 29, 1933, at the age of 73 years, 11 months and 7 days. Her parents were Knut and Kari Roalstad.

When she was five weeks old, her parents brought her with them to America, settling at Lisbon, Ill. When she was 11 years old, they moved to Iowa and settled on the farm four and a half miles northeast of Roland, and she has lived in that community for 61 years.

In 1884 she was married to George Johnson and four children were born, all of whom survive. They are John G. Johnson at home, Caroline Ersland of Story City, Christina Johnson at home, and Otis G. Johnson of Roland. She is also survived by four grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Betsey Leimback of Ottowa, Ill., and one brother O. K. Johnson of this place.

Her husband died in 1920, but she continued to live on the homestead until she passed away. Her health had been failing for the last year and she was taken ill with pneumonia on Sunday, November 26, passing away the following Wednesday.

She was confirmed at the age of 14 years in the little Pioneer church a mile east of Story City by Rev. Nils Amlund. Her mother was bedfast for 11 years, and being the oldest of the four children, the care of the household fell upon her and when she went to her confirmation class on Saturdays, she had to get up early in the morning and do her housework and then walk almost to Story City in time for class at 10 o’clock.

Mrs. Johnson was an active member of Zion church in Hardin County until the church was destroyed by a wind storm, and served as president of the ladies aid society for nine years. After that time she became affiliated with the Northeast Ladies Aid society of Salem church in Roland, where she continued her work for missions.

Among those in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Ed C. Johnson, Joseph Johnson and daughter Maxine, and Audrey Tibedor, of Jeffers, Minn.

[Editorial notes:

Knut and Kari Roalstad adopted the last name Johnson upon arrival in America.

Audrey Tibedor is most likely Cleo Audrey Joan Tibbedeaux, a neighbor and relative of the Johnson family in Cottonwood Co., MN.]