Rev Jorgen Nelson Sandven (1855-1925)

SANDVEN, GIERE, RICKEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/20/2022 at 12:21:11

From Nevada Evening Journal November 25, 1925 (page 1)

FINAL RITES FOR ROLAND MINISTER HELD TUESDAY

TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED YESTERDAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DECEASED

Special to the Journal.
Roland, Nov. 25--One of the largest funerals ever held in Story county was that at Roland Tuesday, when the final rites were held for the late Rev. J. N. Sandven, 70, for the past 28 years pastor of Salem Lutheran church, Roland.

It is estimated that those in attendance numbered between 1,500 and 2,000 and they were gathered not only from the community, but from Story City, Randall, McCallsburg, Nevada, Boone, Des Moines and other points in central Iowa and Minnesota.

The services were in charge of Rev. Paulsrud of Story City with a score of other pastors present. The sermon was by Rev. Eastvold, music by the church choir, a duet by O. S. Boyd and Mrs. Cunningham and a solo by Mrs. T. A. Sorem.

The floral offerings were many and very beautiful. There were large set pieces from both his own congregations at Roland at Zion, the Bergen congregation at Roland, the Mission Board of the United Lutheran synod and others, while there were many other individual and family offerings, the altar of the church being a literal bank of flowers.

The sermon was preached by Rev. Eastvold, president of the Minnesota branch of the synod and a personal friend of the deceased. Among those who talked were Rev. N. O. Peterson, Rev. Oppedahl of Stanhope, Rev. Anderson of Story City, Rev. Paulsrud of Story City who had charge of the services and read the obituary, Lars Skromme of Roland and others.

The pall bearers were from among the members of his two congregation. The body was laid to rest in the Roland cemetery.

Rev. Sandven had been pastor at Roland since 1897, when he came here from Muskegon, Mich., and since coming here had served the Salem congregation in Roland and the Zion congregation in Hardin county as well as a part of the time serving a congregation at McCallsburg and one at Norway, Iowa.

He was a native of Hardenger, Norway, where he was born October 23, 1855. As a young man his life was upon the sea and he served both as mate and captain upon sailing vessels.

Coming to America at the age of 17 he soon entered Red Wing seminary where he studied for the ministry. Graduating from there he held a pastorate at Lee, Ill., for six years, after which he went to Muskegon, Mich. where he served for three years coming from there to Roland.

He leaves his wife three sons, five daughters six grandchildren and two sisters. The children are Obed Sandven of Racine, Wis., Mrs. Ethel Geirs [should be Geire] of Mason City, Miss Edith Sandven of Newton, Mrs. Judith Rickey of Cedar Rapids and Ruth, Reuben, Esther and Joel Sandven at home. The sisters live at Deerfield, Wis.

Rev. Sandven died Friday, November 20, at his home in Roland, having been taken ill the Monday before at Albert Lea where he was attending a Mission Board meeting.

Rev. Sandven was a man of kindly disposition, ever mindful of his responsibilities in life as a minister of the gospel, a husband and father and was well beloved by all who knew him, especially the members of his congregation with whom be came in close contact and his neighbors who knew him as a real man as well as a Christian and preacher.

Many beautiful tribute were paid his life by those who spoke at the funeral service.