Ella (Birkestrand Johnson) Berhow (1869-1947)

BIRKESTRAND, JOHNSON, BERHOW, APLAND, CHELSVIG, MALAND, RYEN, HARRIS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/11/2019 at 00:10:36

From Nevada Evening Journal July 19, 1967 (page 4)

Funeral Service For Mrs. Berhow Held at Huxley

Huxley, July 18--Funeral services for Mrs. Tom Berhow were held Monday afternoon, July 14, at 1:30 p.m. with the brief prayer service at the home where Hrs. Swen Bjorenson of Lake Mills sang a Norwegian hymn and Rev. O. C. Hellekson gave a short prayer, and at 2 p.m. at the Fjeldberg Lutheran church with Rev. O. C. Hellekson in charge.

A nephew of Mrs. Berhow, Weir Birkestrand Jr., of Cambridge sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "Going Home." Flowers and gifts of money were given in her memory by relatives and friends for mission, and for the building and organ fund for the Fjeldberg church. The Berhow children gave in their mother's memory money for alter fall and two prayer books.

The pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased, Robert Apland, Harlan Berhow, Tommy Maland, Maurice Chelsvig, Richard Harris and Richard Ryen.

Ella Birkestrand Johnson, daughter of John and Martha Birkestrand, was born January 6, 1869 in Des Moines. At the age of three years she moved with her parents to Cambridge where she grew to womanhood. She was baptized, confirmed and married in the Fjeldberg Lutheran church.

She was united in marriage to Tom Berhow March 9, 1892 by Rev. Knut Guttaho. To this union eight children were born.

They lived on a farm three miles south of Cambridge until moving to Huxley in 1918 where she passed away at her home after two year illness. She suffered a stroke Wednesday night and passed away Thursday night, July 10, 1947, at the age of 78 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Berhow celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on March 9, 1942. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and life member of the Fjeldberg church. She is survived by her husband and eight children: Mathilda, Mrs. Clarence Apland of Patterson, Cal., Henry Berhow of Tucson, Arizona, Martha, Mrs. Roy Chelsvig of Eagle Grove, John Berhow, Anna, Mrs. Ed Maland, Edith, Mrs. Willard Ryen of Des Moines, Mabel, Mrs. Laird Harris of Ames, and Milford Berhow at home.

She was laid to rest at the Fjeldberg cemetery.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Apland and family of Patterson, Cal., Henry Berhow of Tucson, Arizona, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Chelsvig of Eagle Grove, Mrs. George Myers of Rockford, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Swend Bjorenson of Lake Mills, Mr. Samdahl and family of Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Kloster from Minneapolis and a host of relatives and friends from Des Moines, Ames, Stanhope, Cambridge, Slater, Kelley, Alleman and Huxley.