Otis Seward Boyd (1873-1958)

BOYD, DUEA, GAARD, HEGLAND, TOLLEFSON, MCDONALD, MASON, MEHUS, LOGAN, CHRISTIAN, TESDAHL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/24/2020 at 11:46:10

From Nevada Evening Journal February 13, 1958 (page 6)

MR. O. S. BOYD

ROLAND--Funeral services for O. S. Boyd were held Jan. 30 at the Salem Lutheran church with the Rev. Everett N. Nelson officiating. The Rev. L. A. Mathre spoke on behalf of the Sunset Home, where the deceased had been a patient in the infirmary since last August.

Dr. Robert H. Boyd, the eldest son expressed appreciation on behalf of the family. Music was furnished by a chorus composed of the Story County Women's Chorus, the Roland Men's Chorus and Hymn Choir of the Salem Lutheran church directed by Milton D. Mussehl of Story City. They sang "Face to Face" and "In the Garden," favorite hymn sund on many occasions by Mr. Boyd and his wife. Mrs. A--- Jacobson was organist.

A private service --- -- ------- --- was held in the F------n Funeral Home the pr----- ------ by Rev. Nelson. Interment was made in the Roland cemetery and was conducted by Dr. Boyd.

Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased including Boyd Teig of St. Paul, Minn., George Christian and Milton Mehus of Roland, Carroll Logan of Nevada, Cecil Tesdahl of Hubbard and Attorney George Larson who represented the Roland Kiwanis club.

Life Sketch

Otis Seward Boyd son of Julia Duea Boyd and John Henry Boyd was born on a farm near Roland, Iowa, Dec. 29, 1873.

He lived all his life in Roland except during the years he was a student at Iowa State College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1898. On Dec. 27, 1900 he was united in marriage to Mattie Gaard a classmate in the Roland schools. After less than two years of married life, she died in August, 1902.

In October 1905, he was married to Olive Hegland. To this union six children were born Paula (Mrs. Ted Tollefson) of Detroit, Mish.; Robert of St. Paul, Minn., Dorothy Mrs. Melvin McDonald, who died in 1944), Donald, who was a business partner of his father at the time of his death, and Otis, Jr. of Cedar Rapids.

Those who survive him besides his four children are 11 grandchildren, one sister, Martha (Mrs. John Mason) of Montevideo, Minn.; one half-sister, Clara (Mrs. Knut Mehus) of Roland and one half-brother, Palmer Logan of Story City.

He was active in the operation of the accounting and insurance business until recently, which he founded in 1924. Previously he was superintendent of the Roland schools from 1901-3 and bookkeeper and cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank. He was the first president of the board of the Story City Old People's Home, a past president of the Roland Community club and a former member of the school board. He was also active in Alumni activities of Iowa State College, serving as secretary of the class of 1898 for the past ten years.

Recently Mr. Boyd was named by the Roland Kiwanis club as its first honorary member.

Gifted with a fine tenor voice, he sang on hundreds of occasions, served as choir director of the Salem Lutheran church of which he was an active member of 25 years as well as serving as a Sunday school teacher of the past confirmation Bible class until his 80th year.

In July 1957, he was stricken with arterio-sclerosis and was taken to the Story City Hospital. He was later moved to the infirmary of the Sunset Home where he died Jan. 27 at the age of 84 years and 29 days.