Lorenza (Knutson) Erickson (1858-1946)

KNUTSON, ERICKSON, FRY, LANDE, RAHFELDT, MADDIGAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/23/2016 at 21:29:46

From Nevada Evening Journal June 27, 1946 (page 3)

Funeral Services For Laurenza Erickson At Kelley Monday

Kelley, June 29 -- Funeral services for the late Mrs. Laurenza Erickson, who passed away at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames, were held in the Bethany Lutheran church at Kelley Monday afternoon at 2:00.

The funeral services were in charge of Rev. Onstad of Slater.

Three granddaughters, the Erickson sisters, Ramona, Dorothy and Glennis, sang "Softly" and "Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" and Rev. Onstad sang a solo "Under His Wings," accompanied by Mrs. Low Accola on the piano. The pall bearers were grandsons of the deceased: Wm. Rahfeldt, Jesse Erickson, Donald Fry, Sherrill Lande, Clyde Erickson and Rufus Erickson.

Committal was held in the Lincoln cemetery at Midvale, and the deceased was laid to rest by the side of her husband and two sons.

Obituary

Laurenza Knutson was born in Stavanger, Norway, on December 22, 1858; and passed away after a brief illness at Mary Greeley hospital in Ames on Friday, June 21, 196, at the age of 87 years, five months and 29 days.

On June 22, 1879, she was united in marriage to Ben R. Erickson in Stavanger and to this union were born eleven children. The husband and two sons, Eric and Marshall, preceded her in death.

The first three years of her married life were spent in Norway after which they came to America and settled near Huxley, Iowa, where in 1911 Mr. Erickson passed away.

Since 1936 she has made her home with a daughter, Mrs. J. E. Maddigan at Ames, Iowa.

Mrs. Erickson was an active member of the Lutheran church as long as her health permitted.

She was a kind and loving mother with a smiling disposition which won her many friends. She was greatly loved by her children and her grandchildren. Her earnest Godly consecrated dispositions left a deep influence upon her family.

Those who remain to revere her memory are five daughters, Mrs. Anna Fry of Ames, Mrs. Clara Lande of Huxley, Mrs. Isabelle Rahfeldt of Zearing, Mrs. Hilda Maddigan of Ames, and Bertha of Ames; four sons, Severet of St. Anthony, Henry of Zearing, Lewis of Kelley, and Eddie of Huxley. She also leaves 40 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Relatives from a distance present for the last rites were Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Erickson and children of Wichita, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Manfull of Montour, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pille of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. Orland Erickson of St. Louis, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Erickson of Missouri; Mrs. and Mrs. Paul Younker and daughter Sheila of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Larson of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Stackhouse and family of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kirkendall and daughter of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gull and family, and Albert Rahfeldt all from Zearing; and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rahfeldt, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Rahfeldt from Radcliffe.