Arabelle (Sheldahl) Severson (1856-1951)

SHELDAHL, SEVERSON, SKOLA, KROHN, EGGLAND

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/5/2023 at 20:42:31

From The Slater News November 1, 1951 (page 1)

Services Held For Mrs. A. Severson

Slater's oldest resident, who was also one of the oldest women in Story county, passed away last Thursday evening. She was Mrs. Arabelle Severson, who had observed her ninety-fifth birthday on Oct. 18 of this year.

Mrs. Severson, who had lived her entire life in Story county, saw many changes take place. The world had moved at a rapid pace and some things that were unheard of in her childhood are considered commonplace today.

Prior to her passing, Mrs. Severson was quite weak, due to advanced age, but she was mentally alert and certainly enjoyed the many visitors who came to see her.

Funeral Services Tuesday.

A prayer service was held at the Riis Funeral home at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon with Rev. P. E. Onstad in charge. The pastor also sang "Tenk Naar Engang," a Norwegian hymn.

At the services held in the Bethlehem Lutheran church, Mrs. Sigurd Wischer of Elmore, Minn., sang, "My Jesus As Thou Wilt." Oscar Sheldahl, a brother of the deceased spoke in behald of the family. Rev. Peder Buland of Cambridge spoke. Rev. Harry Stoutland of Huxley gave a talk and sang, "Saved by Grace." Pastor Onstad also spoke and sang "I Know of a Sleep in Jesus' Name."

The floral tributes were beautiful and there were a great many gifts to missions and other worthy causes in memory of Mrs. Severson. The flowers were arranged by Mrs. Thor Mason and Mrs. Glenn Fausch.

Nephews of the deceased were honorary pallbearers. Active pallbearers were Lewis Sheldahl, Edward Tweedt, Dr. Geo. J. Severson, Arnold Hermann and Irvin Eggland.

Burial was in the Palestine cemetery, near Huxley.

People from the following towns and cities attended the services: Roland, Ames, Huxley, Cambridge, Des Moines, Madrid, Sheldahl, Kelley, Ft. Dodge, Story City and Hubbard.

Obituary.

Arabelle Sheldahl Severson was born Oct. 18, 1856, at Roland, Ia. Her parents were Eric and Betsy Sheldahl. She continued living in the Roland community until 1876, when she married Severt J. Severson. She and her husband settled on a farm near Cambridge and it was here that she spent the greater part of her life.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Severson. Mr. Severson and four of the children preceded her in death.

Mrs. Severson spent the past nine years in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bessie Skola, at Slater. I was here that she passed quietly away Thursday evening, Oct. 25, at the age of 95 years and seven days.

She is survived by three children: Mrs. Bessie Skola of Slater, Oscar of Cambridge and John E. of Stanley, N. D.; two sisters, Mrs. G. H. Krohn of Des Moines and Mrs. Anna Eggland of Roland; two brothers, Oscar of Story City and Lewis of Perley, Minn. Also 30 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

May God bless her memory.

In Memoriam.

Mother is gone,
Her place is empty;
Empty, too, is her favorite chair;
But up in Heaven we know, waiting, waiting,
For us to meet her up there.