Margarethe Johanneson (Mehl) Egenes (1830-1911)

MEHL, EGENES, JOHNSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/13/2024 at 18:58:09

From Story City Herald September 28, 1911 (page 1)

MARGRETHA EGENES DIED TUESDAY

AGED PIONEER WILL BE LAID TO REST THIS AFTERNOON

Margretha Egenes, who has been quite ill since last spring, passed quietly into the Great Beyond at 11 o'clock Tuesday forenoon. She was 81 years old and the feebleness of old age made it impossible to longer resist the growing weakness of the heart.

Funeral services will be held in the St. Petri church to-day (Thursday) at 2 o'clock.

OBITUARY

Mrs. Margretha Egenes was born in Norway Feb. 12th, 1830. She grew up under the strict discipline and instruction of Christian parents and early learned the fundamental truths of the Christian religion, which she carried with her all through life.

At the age of 12 she lost her father and being among the poor peasant people of the old country she at the age of 14 had to earn her own living. As servant girl she worked for others 16 years in Norway, then emigrated to this country at the age of 30 in company with a number of other and came to Lisbon, Ill.

There she worked again as a servant girl for 6 years and at the age of 36 married Andrew G. Egenes. They at once came west and located in Benton Co., Iowa, where they resided till 1881, then moved to Story Co., locating 2 miles north of McCallsburg, where they lived very comfortably till the failing strength of her husband made it necessary to rent the farm to others and then bought a home in Story City.

Here they resided till their death. Her husband preceded her three years ago, after a lingering illness of about 5 years, during which her fortitude and patience was put to a severe test.

She was at this time his constant attendant and mainstay, receiving help from many kind friends here till she could again regain some strength. It was her constant prayer that she could be with him till the end, which wish was granted her and sadly she followed her companion of 42 years of married life to his last resting place, yet glad that she had been granted strength to fulfill what she looked upon as a sacred vow when she entered upon life with him in marriage.

Since that time she has lived alone in her home most of the time. As her health began to fail she had help occasionally. She was a steady attendant at religious worship and her last visit to the house of God was on last Easter morning. Since that time she slowly lost strength during the summer till on Sept. 26th the mortal bonds were loosed and she passed quietly and peacefully to the Great Beyond.

She was 81 years, 7 months and two weeks old at her her death. She is survived by two children, John and Christy, now Mrs. T. O. Johnson, who feel keenly the loss of a good Christian mother and will be long remembered by hosts of friends.