Torkel H. Walker (1848-1934)

WALKER, JORSTAD, VILAND, JOHNSON, FREED, FORESTER, LARSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/6/2021 at 11:08:40

From Nevada Evening Journal March 2, 1934 (page 5)

Funeral Services for Pioneer Slater Man

Special to the Journal.
Slater, March 2--Funeral services for Torkel Walker, 85, were held Tuesday afternoon, at 1:30 at the home and 2 o'clock at the Bethlehem church. The services were in charge of his pastor, Rev. E. R. Rorem, who spoke the Norwegian and English languages.

Beautiful floral sprays covered the casket. Mrs. John Gunderson and Mrs. A. J. Reinertson had charge of the flowers. Mrs. M. S. Heggen sang, "Jeg er Fremmed." The songs, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Have Thine Own Way" were sung by Miss Erma Sydness of Des Moines. The pallbearers were the grandsons: C. A. Larson of Slater, John and Leslie Larson of Ames; Sherrill Freed of Huxley and Robert and Frederick Johnson of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Walker is survived by his wife and three daughters: Mrs. Ida Johnson of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. Jessie Freed of Huxley and Miss Theresa Walker of Slater, also 17 grand children and two great grand children also a sister, Mrs. Martha Forester of Des Moines.

Torkel H. Walker ws born June 24th, 1848 in Olen, Norway and died February 24th, 1934. He came to America when 17 years old. A year later his parents, also came to this country and in June 1865 made their home in Morris, Ill.

His marriage to Celia Jorstad took place March 22, 1868, Rev. Rasmussen performed the ceremony.

Several years after their marriage they came to Iowa and made their home on a farm near Slater. Seven children were born to this union, three are now living.

Mr. Walker was an active and enterprising man, besides farming he was also a carpenter of unusual ability.

His wife died March 12, 1895. In October 1907 he was married again to Carrie Viland in Norway.

The Ladies' Aid of the Bethlehem church presented a sum of money to the missions in memory of Mr. Walker.

Among those from out of town who attended the Walker funeral services were: Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Johnson and children of Cedar Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Walker, Mrs. Martha Forester, Misses Carrie Gjerdevik, Rebekah Johnson and Erma Sydness of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Freed and children, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Kalsem, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ryerson and Mrs. and Mrs. Weir Sydness of Huxley, Mrs. Elmer Clark of Maquoketa, Miss Dorothy Larson, John and Leslies Larson of Ames.