Henry Ersland (1852-1938)

ERSLAND, SEVERSON, NERVIG, LEHMAN, HILLESTAD, CROFT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/3/2023 at 22:17:54

From Nevada Evening Journal September 24, 1938 (page 3)

Funeral Services Thursday for H. Ersland

Special to the Journal:
Slater, Sept. 24--Funeral services for Henry Ersland, 86, a pioneer of Story County, were held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bertha Nervig. Preceding the prayer service, M. C. Severson of Ames sang a Norwegian solo, "Jed Ved En Vei." Services were held at the Bethlehem Lutheran church at 2 o'clock and were in charge of his pastor Rev. E. R. Rorem, who read the twenty-third Psalm as the scripture reading.

The many beautiful floral offerings were arranged by Mrs. Nels Ihle and Mrs. Sanford Tesdell.

Six grandsons served as pallbearers, they were R. B. Helland of Huxley; Seydell Ersland of Iowa City; Phillip Lehman of Ames; Morrill and Francis Nervig of Slater.

M. C. Severson of Ames sang two solos: "My Jesus as Thou Wilt" and "Beneath the Cross of Jesus." A duet "My Faith Looks up to Thee" was sung by Mesdames M. S. Heggen and A. L. Peterson. Burial was made in the Bethlehem cemetery.

Henry Ersland was born in Shold, Norway, Feb. 13, 1852. He came to America in 1866 with his parents, Nels and Britta Ersland.

The settled in Story county, two miles southeast of Slater.

His marriage to Julia Severson took place October 26, 1877. To this union were born eleven children. Five of whom preceded him in death, two little girls in infancy; Nels on April 1st, 1906, Rebecca, Dec. 22, 1915; and John March 4, 1923.

The family moved into the town of Slater in 1905. Late in life his wife became an invalid and they made their home at intervals with the children. His wife died Aug. 20, 1930. He continued to make his home with his children and especially with his daughter Mrs. Bertha Nervig with whom he was staying when he suffered a heart attack and died in the morning of Sept. 20, at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 7 days.

He was baptized and confirmed in Shold, Norway. He was a devoted husband an a loving father. He has ben a member of the Bethlehem congregation for many years and served the church in various positions and served as secretary of the congregation for twenty-six years.

He is survived by six children: Mrs. Bertha Nervig, J. C. Ersland and Harold Ersland of Slater; Mrs. Mattie Lehman of Alleman; Mrs. Anna Hillestad and Mrs. Minerva Croft of Des Moines. Twenty-seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.