Weir/Wier W. Weeks (1840-1920)

WEEKS, SHELDAHL, RYEN, SEVEREID

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/9/2023 at 22:34:24

From The Slater News March 3, 1920 (page 4)

WAR VETERAN IS LAID TO REST

Large Crowd in Attendance at the Funeral of Civil War Veteran, W. W. Weeks

A crowd that completely filled the Lutheran church at Cambridge gathered at that place last Wednesday afternoon to pay their last respect to their departed friend and civil war veteran, Mr. W. W. Weeks. The services were in charge of his pastor, Rev. Bueland, who gave a splendid discourse in the Norwegian language, touching in detail upon the life of the one that had been called by death. He was assisted by Rev. Duea of Slater, who likewise paid a glowing tribute to the memory of one of Story's earliest settlers. Special singing had been provided, among the numbers being a fine solo by Mrs. Johnson. Nephews of the deceased served as pall bearers, while members of the Grand Army of the Republic, civil war veterans, acted as honorary pall bearers. The floral offerings were many and came from many homes and spoke as nothing else could of the love and esteem in which the deceased had been held.

Wier W. Weeks was born on the 7th day of May, 1840, his birthplace being in that far-off country, Norway. At an age of nine years he accompanied his parents to this country, taking up their residence at Lisbon, Illinois. The westward spirit was at that time at its height in the little community and Weeks, with his parents, caught the drift and in 1855 he was one of a crowd of 106 souls that took up the trials of a journey westward. They left on May 17th and in the caravan were eighteen teams of oxen, six teams of horses, a single horse and real spring wagon. They reached Story county on the 7th day of June, after an eventful journey. Mr. Weeks was then a young man.

Later on, when the war broke out, he volunteered his services, and served three years in Company E of the 91st Illinois infantry. Returning from the conflict, he was united in marriage to Miss Randy Sheldahl in 1870. To this union were born seven children, three of whom died in infancy and one, Margaret, at the age of 21, leaving three to survive him. They are Mrs. P. T. Ryen of this place, Mrs. Ole Severeid of near Cambridge and Miss Alice, who is staying at home. He was survived by ten grandchildren, all of whom were present at the funeral with the exception of one, Willard Ryen, who is a wireless operator with headquarters at New York City.

Deceased was one of the kindest of men, loved and respected far and wide. He was a cheerful disposition, with a heart that palpitated with goodness. He was interested in the church and all that it stood for. He was likewise interested in educational matters and was a patriot through and through. The home and the family circle were dear places to him it was at his own fireside that one learned to know him best. He is no more, but the influence that he left will live on.