Marken Justine (Olsdatter) Hytland (1835-1916)

OLSDATTER, HYTLAND, GRAY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/17/2026 at 14:49:56

From Ames Evening Times November 8, 1916 (page 3)

PIONEER WOMAN AT REST

Funeral Services of Mrs. T. O. Hytland Held Sunday.

One of Story county's pioneer women was laid away Sunday afternoon for the last long sleep that knows no awakening. The funeral services for Mrs. T. O. Hytland were held from the family home on Duff avenue, at two o'clock and many neighbors and old friends paid their last respect to the departed. The Rebekah lodge was in charge and the sermon was preached by Rev. A. W. Caul of the Baptist church.

In far away Norway, Mrs. Hytland was born August 29, 1835. Her girlhood was spent in her native land and in 1871, she crossed the ocean to America and settled in the city of Chicago. In the same year she was united in marriage to T. O. Hytland and they continued to make their home in Chicago for six years, moving to Ames, Iowa in 1878. From a family of seven children, but two survive the mother, Mrs. Artur Gray of McIntire, Iowa and S. O. Hytland of Jewell.

It is not enough to say that this good woman lived and died. In the intervening years her hands were filled with tasks she counted pleasant and her mind and heart filled with happy thoughts. Coming to this new country, unschooled in the language, she studied until she mastered reading and penmanship, and spent much time poring over books. But a few hours every summer day she could be found in her garden tending to the flowers she loved dearly. Folks now grown associate with this woman her garden of old fashioned flowers. As she scattered seeds which matured into beautiful blooms of wonderful color, so she scattered kind deeds about her which bloomed forth in the lives of those with whom she came into contact.

Mrs. Hytland was a charter member of the Rebekah lodge, when it was formed in Ames in 1892. She held various offices up to the vice grand chair, but refused to take the office of noble grand.

Fourteen weeks ago, paralysis caused Mrs. Hytland to give up her activity and during all that time she has been a severe sufferer. Her daughter, Mrs. Gray came to car for her and stayed constantly by her side until death claimed her.

Left to mourn her passing, is the bereaved husband, the daughter and son, and one sister, who resides in Worden, Mont. besides three grandchildren, Wallace Gray, Beulah Gray and Arthur Hytland Gray.