Katherine Cecelia (Beroen) Amlund (1852-1948)

BEROEN, AMLUND, HAVNEROS, JORGENSON, MATHRE, ENGELBRITSON TOWNSWICK

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal December 18, 1948 (page 4)

Final Rites in Story City For Katherine Amlund, County's Oldest Citizen

Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine Amlund, believed the oldest resident of Story City and Story county, were held Thursday afternoon, Dec. 16 in the St. Petri Lutheran church in Story City at 2 o'clock, preceded by a prayer service in the home.

The pastor, the Rev. S. T. Nelson, who officiated, sang in Norwegian "Nu Har Jeg Vunder." A granddaughter, Margaret Ann Townswick sang "The Lord's Prayer." Interment was in the Story City cemetery.

Six grandchildren served as casket bearers, Leslie Mathre, Bertram Amlund, Kenneth Handeland, Carl C. Peterson, August Rasmussen and Orvin Peterson.

Among the many memorial gifts, totaling about $200, was one sent by Rev. and Mrs. Ivar Havneros in Santa Rosa, Calif., accompanied by a fine In Memoriam" letter, as a tribute to the departed.

Obituary

The following obituary was read at the services:

With the passing of 'Grandma" Amlund the Story City community loses one of its oldest citizens and the last pioneer of the early settlers here.

Mrs. Katherine Amlund was the daughter of Board and Margarethe Berven. She was born at Berven, Norway, Nov. 16, 1852, and with her parents, three sisters and three brothers, immigrated to America when five years old. The family settled in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1857 and one year later the family, in company with eight other families, traveled westward in ox-drawn wagons. They settled one mile east of what is now Story City, now known as the Berven homestead.

As one of the very early settlers she followed the development of the community. She saw the beginning of the Fairview addition and the shifting of the business section to what is now Story City.

Joined Church in 1858

From her earliest childhood she was a member of the St. Petri Lutheran church, having joined in 1858, only one year after its organization, and she saw the building of this church on her father's farm in 1864. To this church her parents sent her for her religious instruction. She was confirmed in the Christian faith on October 20, 1867, with class of seventeen. Only July 13, 1872 she was untied in marriage to marriage to Hans Amlund, who preceded her in death on August 18, 1905.

Eight Children

To this union eight children were born, seven of whom survive to mourn her passing: Evelina (Mrs. Ivar Havneros) of Santa Rosa, Calif., B. M. Amlund of Nevada, Margarethe (Mrs. Jorgenson) of Des Moines, G. H. Amlund of Story City, Sophia (Mrs. Mathre) of Story city, Hanna (Mrs. E. J. Engelbritson) of Slater and Nora (Mrs. Olaf Townswick) of Story City. A son Henry, died May 16, 1912.

Besides her immediate family, she leaves 19 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Mrs. Amlund was a charter member of St. Petri Ladies aid and as long as her health permitted she was active in the work of her congregation and ladies aid. Until the very last she was interested in the work of the church and its organizations.

She had been in failing health for several years and since a fall the last Sunday in September she has been helpless. She slept away peacefully at noon, Dec. 10, 1848, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sophia Mathre, at the age of 96 years and 24 days.

Blessed be the memory of this pioneer of the congregation and community. As we think of their labors, children and community rise up and "call them blessed."

From a Distance

Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hall of Clear Lake, Mr. and Mrs. Osmund Mortvedt and Mrs. Lydia Madson of Elmore, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Thompson of Blue Earth, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Amlund of Nevada, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Miller, Mrs. Carrie Apland and Ruth Amlund, all of Ames, Mrs. Katherine Culbert of Marion, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Engelbritson of Slater and Leslie Mathre of Story City.

Others were Orrin Peterson and Will Darrington of Mabel, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Amlund of Huxley, Mrs. Carlyle Townswick and Robert of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. LuVerne Olson of Jewell, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Handeland of Roland, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dyvig of Kelley, Albert Olson, Mrs. and Mrs. Archie Amundson, Mrs. Thelma Swenson and Henry Rytter, all of Ellsworth, Mrs. Margrethe Jorgenson, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. August Rasmussen and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Lundberg, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Peterson and Pamela Jo, Mrs. Marvin Lundbeck, Mrs. Roy Carlson and Mrs. Conroy Fagerland, all of Des Moines.