Sampson S. Rorvig (1850-1934)

RORVIG, OPSANGER, AARTHUN, KILSTOFTE, ERSLAND, NELSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/8/2010 at 21:56:08

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 24, 1934.

TWO RESIDENTS PASSED AWAY

FUNERALS HELD FOR MRS. A. B. ANDERSON AND S. S. RORVIG

Two local residents passed away last week, Mrs. A. B. Anderson on Thursday morning and S. S. Rorvig Friday forenoon.

[Article has photo of Sampson S. Rorvig.]
[Mrs. A. B. Anderson portion of article omitted. See separate post.]

Another of our highly respected pioneers in the community has gone to his reward in the passing of S. S. Rorvig, which occurred on Friday, January 19, 1934, at the age of 83 years, 6 months and 14 days.

Sampson S. Rorvig, son of Sampson Rorvig and wife Ceclia Opsanger, was born at Husnes, in Kvinhered præstegjeld, Bergen Norway, on July 5, 1850.

As a young man of 20 years, he immigrated to America in 1871. Arriving at Chicago, he went directly to Grand Mound, Iowa, where he was employed on a farm for a period of five years.

In 1876, the departed came to Story County, where he bought land and built up the Rorvig homestead, located 2¼ miles east of Roland, where his daughter and son-in-law now reside.

On February 1, 1901, Mr. Rorvig was united in marriage to Cecelia Aarthun. To this union five children were born, three of whom died in infancy, and Sam, who passed away in July of last year.

After farming for more than 30 years, the deceased retired and with his family moved to Roland in 1913 where he lived until the time of his death.

The departed always enjoyed wonderfully good health until seven years ago when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which left him rather feeble. Since then he was able to be up and around all the time until last March when the seriousness of his illness confined him to bed. Failing very rapidly last week, his condition became critical on Thursday when pneumonia developed and on Friday forenoon at 11 o'clock, the final summons came and he passed away quietly and peacefully, a fitting close to the long and beautiful life that was his.

Besides his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Cecilia (Mrs. S. B. Kilstofte), and infant grandson, Don Rorvig Kilstofte, and Mildred and Arthur Ersland, who have lived with the Rorvig family for 15 years. He also leaves his only sister, Mrs. Nels Nelson, 86 years of age, and his only brother, John Rorvig, now 81 years.

Funeral services were held from the home and at Bergen Lutheran church on Monday afternoon, Rev. M. O. Sumstad officiating assisted by Rev. O. Amdalsrud. Interment was made in the Roland cemetery beside his son Sam. Music was furnished by a girls quartet composed of Misses Betty Britson, Dorothy Rod, Lenora Osheim and Myrtie Anderson. The pall bearers were Herman Knudtson, J. O. Josendal, J. A. Handeland, W. T. Wierson, Carl Sevde and Ole Hanson. There were beautiful floral offerings, and also gifts to the missions from the family, relatives, friends and neighbors, in his memory.

CARD OF THANKS

We express our sincere appreciation to neighbors, relatives and friends for their many acts of kindness and expressions of sympathy during our recent bereavement. We thank Mrs. E. I. Rosheim and the girls quartet for their beautiful singing at the church. Especially we are deeply grateful to our pastor, Rev. M. O. Sumstad, for his many visits during the departed's illness and for his wonderful message of consolation at the funeral. We also thank Rev. O. Amdalsrud for his kind words of comfort spoken in the Norwegian language. Thanks for the floral offerings, and for the many and large gifts to missions in his memory. Lastly we extend to Carl Sevde our sincere appreciation for his kind and faithful service in caring for the departed during his many months of illness. May God bless you all! - Mrs. S. S. Rorvig, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Kilstofte, Mildred and Arthur Ersland.