Johanna (Cleveland) Ersland (1861-1956)

CLEVELAND, ERSLAND, TODSVOLD, TOSVALD, PAULSON, STEVENS, GRIFFIN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/24/2023 at 10:26:42

From The Slater News March 8, 1956 (page 1)

Services Here for Former Resident

Funeral services for Mrs. Johanna Ersland were held Friday afternoon at the Riis Funeral Home. Rev. Leo O. Bjorlie was in charge, using Hebrews 12:1-2 as his text. Rev E. R. Rorem of Story City spoke briefly.

Nilus Ihle, soloist, sang "Behold the Host" and "Abide With Me." He was accompanied by Mrs. Harold Croft.

Pallbearers were J. C. Ersland, H. S. Ersland, Albert Lehman, Merle Chader, S. A. Chader and James Anderson of Duluth, Minn.

Burial was in the Bethlehem Cemetery.

Obituary.

Johanna Cleveland Ersland was born near Haugesund, Norway, on Jan. 17, 1861. She was the only daughter of four children born into the home of Knut Cleveland and Martha Tosvold Cleveland.

The family came to America in 1869 and settled in Story County in 1870. It was here that Johanna Cleveland was confirmed in her baptismal covenant and in the Lutheran Church.

On Jan. 11, 1879 she was joined in marriage to Jacob Ersland by Pastor J. H. Myhre, who was then pastor of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Ten children were born into this home. Two of these children passed on before their father, who died in 1935. To others have died within the last decade. There are six who survive the death of their mother, who was the oldest member of the Bethlehem Church, as follows:

Mrs. H. O. (Marie) Paulson of Forest City; Mrs. G. B. (Mabel) Stevens of Vancouver, Wash.; Ben of Duluth, Minn.; Mrs. O. H. (Ruth) Griffin of Springfield, Ill.; Olive Ersland of Des Moines and Jerome J. of Newton. Fourteen grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren also survive.