Martha Gurina Ersland (1876-1950)

ERSLAND, TENDALL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/22/2023 at 21:39:26

From The Slater News November 16, 1950 (page 1)

Funeral Rites for Martha Ersland

Funeral services for Martha Ersland, who passed away Nov. 9 at the Woods Invalid home in Des Moines, were held in the Fjeldberg church at Huxley Saturday, with Rev. M. Harold Rye in charge.

Music was furnished by Mrs. Orland Fjelland at the organ, and two solos by Mrs. E. D. Hall, who sang "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" at the opening of the service and "Under His Wings" after the sermon, the latter being a special favorite of the deceased. Rev. Rye used Psalms 130 as the opening scripture reading, and emphasized Rev. 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life," in his sermon.

The floral gifts were very beautiful. Many gifts were received for missions, Lutheran Welfare, the Children's home and other benevolences. A group from Fernald presented a purse of money to be used where the local group decided.

Pallbearers were Luther and Harold Ersland, Jesse and Miller Nelson, Orville Kalsem and Frederick Weise. Burial was in Fjeldberg cemetery.

Obituary.

Martha Gurina Ersland, daughter of Anfin and Alice Ersland, was born Oct. 10, 1876 at the Ersland homestead, south of Cambridge.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Carrie Tesdall of Northfield, Minn., and brothers Knute, Seward, Joe, Louis and Arthur; 17 nephews and 14 nieces. Her parents, two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.

Martha spent her early life on the old homestead, now known as the Andrew Larson farm. She began her career as a teacher in the home school at the age of 18. She also taught in the Apland school in Palestine township and the Nelson school in Polk county, spending her summers teaching parochial schools or attending teachers' colleges. In 1906 she moved to Oklahoma where she taught in rural schools and primary grades in Homestead and Tuttle. When her mother became ill. Martha returned to Cambridge and taught the primary grade. Following her parents' death she began work at Fernald in 1923, where she taught until her increasing illness forced her to retire in 1941. She had been semi-bed-ridden for many years.

Her deep sense of loyalty endeared her to many friends and, without exception her nieces and nephews dearly loved their Aunt Martha.