Emma Durella (Manges) Christenson (1862-1939)

MANGES, CHRISTENSON, JAMES, GROSS, WOLD, BALDUS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal August 4, 1939 (page 3)

Funeral Service for Mrs. Emma Christenson

Story City, Aug. 4--Funeral rites for Mrs. Emma Christenson, 77, local woman who died at the old peoples' home here, were held Monday. There was a prayer service at the home chapel followed by the funeral at Grace Evangelical church with the pastor, Rev. C. L. Bergeman in charge. Burial was in the family lot in the Gilbert cemetery.

Mrs. Peter Christenson, whose maiden name was Emma Manges, was a daughter of Henry and Mary Manges, and was born near Cedarville, Illinois, April 5, 1862. After spending her early childhood years at the place of her birth, the family moved to Story county, in the fall of 1871, and in 1872 the father purchased a farm near Gilbert, to which they moved and she grew to womanhood.

After her marriage to Peter Christenson on February 1, 1883, at Gilbert, she and her husband lived on a farm near that place for a year and then moved to another farm southwest of Story City where they made their home until they moved to the place known as the Christenson farm a short distance south of Center school house, forty nine years ago.

To them three children were born. Mary the oldest child passed away at eight year. Mabel, who became the wife of Mr. Stanton James, passed away during June, 1937. Mr. Christenson was taken from her nearly twenty-four years ago, when on October 5, 1915, he sustained an injury which resulted in his death.

The years following her husband's death, she with her daughter Mabel, left the farm and moved to Story City, where she made her home up to the time of her departure. During the past several years she was a member of the local old people's home.

About five years ago she met with a painful accident when she fractured a hip, which confined her to her bed for many weeks, and from which she never fully recovered. Almost six years ago she suffered a paralytic stroke, which rendered her helpless and which resulted in her death. She passed away at the local hospital on Friday, July 28, after having reached the age of 77 years, 3 months and 23 days.

Mrs. Christenson was modest woman and never said much about herself, but she left a statement in her own handwriting in which she very clearly indicated that she and husband were converted to God under the ministry of Rev. Moser in 1887 and then united with the Evangelical church, which worshipped at Center schoolhouse during those years.

After moving to Story City she transferred her church connections to Grace Evangelical church and as long as her physical condition permitted she was a faithful attendant.

She is survived by her only son Ira Christenson of Des Moines; the following brothers, William Manges of Gilbert; James Manges of Kelley; Sam Manges of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Clayton Manges of Gilbert; three sisters, Mrs. Allie Gross of Boone; Mrs. Oley Wold of Gilbert and Mrs. George Baldus of Story City; four grandchildren who are Paul Christenson of Breckenridge, Texas; Marjorie Christenson of Des Moines, and Marilyn and Elaine James of Story City.