Elsie (Olson) Stokstad (1883-1925)

STOKSTAD, OLSON, HERMANSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/24/2024 at 20:50:42

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, September 3, 1925.

MISSIONARY DIES IN WEST

Relatives at this place recently received the sad news that Mrs. Christian Stokstad had passed away at her home in Santa Rosa, Cal., Saturday, August 22. Funeral services were held last week, Misses Carrie and Hannah Olson and Otis Olson from this place, sisters and brother of the deceased, going out there the first of last week.

Mrs. Stokstad was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig T. Olson and was born and raised on the Olson farm north of town. Both she and her husband were missionaries in China for a number of years, but were both forced to leave the field several years ago on account of ill health.

She leaves her husband and three children, four sisters, Mrs. W. Hermanson of Story City, Hannah of this place, Carrie, who is a missionary in China, but at present is home on furlough, Lena, who has made her home with the Stokstad family, and Otis living in the Olson homestead.

Although Mrs. Stokstad had been ill for some time, the news of her death came as a distinct shock to her many friends here and to the relatives. She was 42 years old at the time of her death.

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, September 10, 1925.

BURIED IN WEST

Funeral Services For Mrs. Stokstad Held August 27

Otis Olson returned last Saturday from Santa Rosa, Cal., where he went to attend the funeral of his sister, Mrs. Christian Stokstad, which was held Thursday, August 27. Misses Carrie and Hannah Olson, who also were to attend the funeral, are expected home this week.

Elsie Olson was born on the Olson homestead, 3 miles north of Roland, December 10, 1883, and died at Santa Rosa, Cal., August 22, 1925. The cause of her death was heart disease, the end coming very suddenly. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Olson.

After graduating from the Roland High School, she attended the Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls and a Bible Institute in Chicago, preparing herself as a missionary to China. She left for China in 1910 and served in the mission field for seven years. In 1912 she was married to Christian Stokstad, who was also a missionary in China at that time.

They returned to the United States in 1917, and have remained in the country since then, as Mr. Stokstad was unable to continue the work on account of his health. They lived here for three years and in 1920 moved to California, where they have since resided.

The deceased leaves, besides her husband, who is confined to his home with illness, three children, Robert, Sidne and Christian Allen.