Helen (Hill) Olson (1848-1933)

HILL, OLSON, ASK, RASMUSSON, THOMPSON, NORBECK

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/5/2021 at 08:32:37

from Roland, IA paper

Mrs. Helen Hill Olson was born in LaSalle County, IL, December 18, 1848, and died at Redfield, S.D., October 3, 1933. She was at her death 84 years, 6 months, and 15 days old. With her passed the last old settler in the vicinity of Roland.

Mrs. Olson's forebears were among the earliest settlers in the well-known Fox River Settlement in Illinois. On her mother's side, she was a descendant of the old Ask family, who very early emigrated from Renniso, near Stavanger, Norway. On her father's side she descended from the well known Hill family. In the Hill family there were two brothers and one sister, John and Henry Hill and Metta Hill, who married into the Ask family. The Hills came from a small island in the vicinity of Renneso and Stavanger, called Hedle, hence the name Hill.

Mrs. Olson's mother, Christina Ask, became the wife of Henry Hill. To this union was born one child, Helen Hill, who later became Mrs. Ole J. Olson. Henry Hill died during the cholera epidemic from which so many of the early settlers perished. The widow with her little girl, Helen, then made her home for some with her uncle, Rasmus Ask, a grandfather of B. M. Rasmusson of Story City. Later she married Knut Thompson, also called Knut Ask, Ask being his wife's maiden name.

With her second husband and her little girl, Helen, who was now 12 years old, the family moved to Iowa in 1860. They settled on a farm 2½ miles southeast of Story City, where Helen lived with her mother and stepfather and two half brothers, Thomas Thompson of Story City, and Henry Thompson of Ellsworth, both of whom have passed away recently.

At the age of twenty years she was united in marriage to Ole Jacob Olson of Roland. The wedding took place July 11, 1868. Her husband died February 13, 1931. Mrs. Olson became the mother of eight but only two survive her, namely, Mrs. Jane Norbeck of Redfield, S.D., and Mrs. Etta Simonson of Brookings, S.D. Mrs. Olson, being a descendant of the Ask family, had many relatives in Roland, Story City, Randall, Jewell, Ellsworth and Radcliffe.

She was of a quiet and modest character. She minded her own affairs and let others alone. She was a willing worker in the Salem Church at this place as long as she lived in this community. She and her husband were among those who took the heaviest lift when the question of money came up. They also gave thousands of dollars to Christian schools, especially did Jewell Lutheran College receive great sums of money.

She was a good and faithful wife and mother. In the community she was loved and respected by all. A man who once worked at the Olson home said the other day, "I never had a better home in my life." But the best of all, Mrs. Olson was a God fearing woman who loved her Savior and in His name she committed her soul in the hour of death.

In the spring of 1920 she and her husband moved to Redfield, S.D. Both being old, they felt the need of being close to one of their children, Mrs. Jane Norbeck. The Norbecks took good care of their parents to the very last.

After a short funeral service at Redfield, October 5, where Rec. C. S. Pederson officiated, the remains were taken by train to Roland, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Norbeck. Mrs. Simonson came the day before to Randall. Mrs. Ellen Lura of Roland kindly opened her home again (she did so when Ole J. Olson was buried) so the funeral proceeded from the Lura home to Salem Church, of which Mrs. Olson had been a member.

A ladies quartet sang two appropriate songs. Rev. G. O. Paulsrud of Randall was in charge, assisted by the local pastor, Rev. Olaf Holen. Mrs. Olson was laid to rest by her husband and six children in the Roland cemetery October 6, 1933. The same pall bearers that served when her husband was buried served now, namely M.C. Hemnes, E.B. Christian, L.J. Ritland, S.T. Larson, I.M. Cole, and H.E. Evenson.

The following gifts were given in her memory: Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Christian, Mrs. Dena Christian and Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Christian, $3.00 to the Jewish mission; Luther Dorcas Society, Redfield, S.D., $5.00 to missions; Mrs. Anna Nicholson, Redfield, S.D. $1 to a children's home; Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Olson, Mrs. Julia Sigmond, Mrs. D.M. Anderson, and Rev. and Mrs. G.O. Paulsrud, $5.00 to missions; Sen. and Mrs. Peter Norbeck, $5.00 to Jewish mission.