Tosten “Thomas” Knutson (1875-1936)

KNUTSON, HALVORSON, OPSTVEDT, THOMPSON, DOOLITTLE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/14/2024 at 15:01:55

From Story City Herald February 27, 1936 (page 2)

TOM KNUTSON

The sudden passing of Tosten Knutson has brought to the entire community and to all who knew him, a dark cloud of sorrow, because of a deep sense of personal loss, accompanied with an overwhelming inflow of heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved wife and two daughters, and other loved ones.

On Monday afternoon, Feb. 17, on returning home from Randall with a neighbor, Jens Anderson, Mr. Knutson was suddenly stricken with apoplexy. He had reached the age of 60 years, 7 months and one day.

He was the son of Knute and Gunhilda Halvorson (Knutson) born to them in Howard township, Story county on the Knutson farmstead located four miles southeast of Story City, on July 16, 1875. Here he grew to young manhood, and has been engaged in farming practically all his life in and around the community, with the exception of five years in Graettinger and five years in Hayfield, Minn.

In 1924 he located on a farm three miles northwest of Randall where he lived until our Heavenly Father took him to his home above.

Married in 1910

On March 9, 1910, he was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Opstvedt of Roland by Rev. G. Smedal. To this happy union there were born two children, Beatrice and Clarice Thelma. Besides the surviving widow and daughter he leaves to mourn his unexpected and sudden death two sisters and six brothers, namely: Mrs. Hattie Thompson of St. James, Minn.; Mrs. Mary Doolittle, Halyer, Andrew, Knute, Ole, Nels and Julius, all of Story City.

Early in life he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, in which he remained a member. His was a life that was full of all that is good and pure. Unconsciously there poured from his life a full tide wholesome Christian influence into the lives of those about him; an abounding hope, a constant source of inspiration, of courage and of faith.

He has traveled to another clime, but hi ministry is still with us and will continue, "He being dead, yet speaketh." Death has no power over him, save his body, for we read: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.'

Funeral at Randall

Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 20, with Rev. G. O. Paulsrud officiating, at the home and Elim Lutheran church at Randall. A solo was sung at the home and at the church by Theo. Quam, and two selections by a quartet consisting of Theo. Hoversten, J. H. Brekken, Ole Sopeland and S. M. Teigland. The pall bearers were his six brothers. His body was laid to rest in the Fairview cemetery at Story City.