Carrie (Helvig) Henryson (1859-1947)

HELVIG, HENRYSON, HAVNEROS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal February 22, 1947 (page 4)

Mrs. C. O. Henryson Was Laid to Rest in Fairview Cemetery

Story City, Feb. 22 -- Funeral services for Mrs. Carrie O. Henryson, who passed away midnight on Friday, February 14th, after suffering a stroke a few hours previous in her home were held on Tuesday afternoon in the St. Petri Lutheran church in Story City at two o'clock. Her half-brother, the Rev. Ivar Havneros, had charge of the service in the home at 1:30 and also the committal service in Fairview cemetery in Story City where she was laid the rest beside her husband, Osmund Henryson.

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Her pastor, the Rev. S. T. Nelson, who officiated at the church service, also sang "Den Store Hvide Flok" before the following obituary was read, which had been prepared by Rev. Havneros.

Greetings from the circuit and Pastoral Conference were presented by the Rev. Allan E. Nelson, of Roland.

The choir sang "I Know of a Sleep in Jesus' Name" at the close of the sermon.

The sun of $249,75 was given in her memory to missions, Lutheran World Action, St. Petri Building Fund and various other benevolences, besides the beautiful floral tributes.

C. F. Johnson, Martin H. Henryson, C. J. Teig, P. A. Olson, P. C. Donhowe and T. M. Holm served as casket bearers.

Surviving the departed are a foster son, Gerhard Hanson of Eagle Grove, two half brothers, Rev. Ivar Havneros of Story City and Lars Havneros of Ruthven and a half-sister, Mrs. Herborg Helvig of Ruthven.

Except for her inability to walk, Mrs. Carrie Henryson enjoyed remarkably good health, and hence the eventuality of her demise which came after a few hours of illness, seems so strange, but, so often we must wonder at God's dispensation.

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Mrs. Carrie O. Henryson was born on the 17th day of May, 1859 at Helvig where the Hardanger fjord begins to cut its way into the very heart of Norway. He parents were John and Herborg Iverson.

When Carrie was yet just a little girl her mother was called by death and "Little Carrie" was given a good home with her grandparents, Abel and Malene Helvig. At this time the tide of emigration from Norway to America had reached an all time high and many disposed of their estates, turning westward to seek their fortune in the new world. Following this trend the Helvig people sold their country home and came to America. And thus it happened that Mrs. Carrie Henryson who in her early years was always "Little Carrie," came to this country at the early age of nine years. It appears that the Helvigs were very happy in their choice of location as they established their home in the township of Howard, Story county, Iowa. Here they availed themselves of whatever schools were available, such as the district, common schools, and private religious schools.

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The settlers who were of the Lutheran persuasion had already organized congregations, first among which was the St. Petri church near the village of Story City. Here the family found a church-home with facilities for instruction in Christianity and here "Little Carrie" was confirmed by the pioneer pastor Nils Amlund with the class of 1873.

The steady influx of immigrants gave the St. Petri congregation a steady growth and an extended area which necessitated more pastors and division of the work. Soon the Bergen congregation was organized and their house of worship was built in the village of Roland, and naturally the Helvig family, who lived in that section, became members of the congregation.

During childhood and early teenage years Carrie shared in the experiences of pioneer life on the prairie where the small but hospitable homes, miles apart, would accomodate several families during the long and cold winter season, and Carried was often sent from one such home to another where her services were needed.

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In the month of June, 1877, Carrie was joined in marriage to Mr. Osmund Henryson of Story City, Ia., and moving into the splendid farm home she adorned it with her genial presence and love. No children were given them, but there came into their good home a bright sunbeam, a little homeless infant, whom they adopted for their very own, and whom they in baptism, gave the beautiful name of biblical lore, Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Henryson rejoiced in having their little darling for their very own, and as a gift from God, but it proved to be only a loan, for after a short period of two months the good Lord took little Anna to Himself. Osmund Henryson slept in the Lord in 1900 and today the earthly remains of his faithful wife will be laid to rest in God's acre side by side with her husband and the adopted child upon whom they bestowed a father's and mother's devoted love.

After the passing of the little child Osmund and Carrie Henryson opened their home to a little boy whose mother had answered life's call, namely Gerhard Hanson, 18 months, and for whom they became good foster parents and whom Carrie during her long life remembered with a mother's tender and loving care.

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The Henrysons home had always been known for wholesome hospitality and from some time it became a real rendezvous for young folks coming from Norway. Among many others came also Ivar Havneros, Carrie's half-brother, from Norway, and with him, Carrie came to be joined with the most dear and faithful intimacy. For a period of 10 years brother and sister lived together as friend with friend and during the following 10 years the brother, with his family continued his residence with his sister, Carrie, in her commodious farm house. Thus Carrie was always reckoned as one of the family, the tender bond of which was never broken except by death.

In 1918 Mrs. Henryson disposed of her farm house and built a modern residence nearby, in the town of Story City, and here surrounded by friends, she spent her last years. Blest with a robust constitution, she enjoyed good health, despite two major surgical operations. True, the last years she experienced much suffering from the baneful arthritis which confined her permanently to her house and room, and made her absent from the company and fellowship of worshippers in the church. She carried the burden of crutch and cane, descreptitude and pain with Christian fortitude and she made daily use of the access by prayer into the storehouse of God's word and the promise of Christ her Saviour. The deceased had many and varied interests which were nurtured and fostered by the contacts she made with people in the community and elsewhere, far and near. Whatever amount of material and earthly wealth came into her possession she considered a trust and a loan. Accordingly she supported many worthwhile public and private enterprises in church and community and extended a helping hand to those who were less fortunately situated than herself.

Down thru an unusually long life Carrie Henryson exerted a wide influence for good. She was an early member of the St. Petri church and an active member in its Ladies Aid society as long as her physical condition permitted. She was an honorary life member of that organization.

Countless neighbors and friends will hold her in fond and thankful memory for her invariable cheerfulness and her readiness to extend needed help. Her benefactions were numerous and made without ostentation. No good cause went without her donation. She loved God and her fellowmen and in return she was loved by all. Those who through the years had the privilege of living neighbors to her or in any other way coming into intimate contact with her.

After a brief illness of a few hours she slipped out of life quietly as she had lived at midnight, Friday the 14th of Feb., 1947. She attained to the ripe and good age of 87 years, 8 months and 27 days. Blessed be the lingering memory of Carrie Henryson.