Miller Seward Heggen (1886-1953)

HEGGEN, AUESTAD, WENOS, CAIRNS, HELLEKSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/10/2023 at 13:38:02

From The Slater News August 20, 1953 (page 1)

Last Rites Held For M. S. Heggen

M. S. Heggen, 67, well known Slater banker, passed away at the Lutheran hospital in Des Moines at noon Sunday following a cerebral hemorrhage at 4:30 o'clock that morning. He never regained consciousness.

Mr. Heggen's death came as a terrible shock to Slater and the surrounding community. He had been ill for several weeks recently but was feeling much better and had returned to his work at the bank.

Mr. Heggen had been engaged in the banking business at Slater for about 41 years. At the time of his death he was manager of the Slater office of the College Savings bank of Ames, in which capacity he had been employed since 1934 when the branch bank was established. Prior to this time he was employed in the Farmers Savings bank at Slater.

The Slater community will miss Mr. Heggen. He held many positions of trust and confidence at the time of his death. Numbered among these are the following: Treasurer of the Bethlehem Lutheran church, treasurer of the Town of Slater, secretary of the Slater school district and treasurer of the I.O.O.F. lodge, the Slater Community club and the Slater Cemetery association.

In addition to performing these various tasks, Mr. Heggen's advice was constantly sought in matters pertaining to financial and legal transactions. His many years of banking experience and his good judgment qualified him to act as trusted counsellor to many in the community.

Funeral Services.

Final rites were held Wednesday afternoon with his pastor, Rev. P. E. Onstad, in charge. A huge crowd was present to pay their last respects to Mr. Heggen.

A short prayer service was held at the Riis Funeral home. Mrs. Harry Cairns of Cambridge sang "In the Garden."

At the Bethlehem church a male quartette composed of Homer Lewis, Nilus Ihle, Donald Peterson and Pastor Onstad sang "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling" and "Have Thine Own Way, Lord."

Rev. Onstad spoke on "The Whole Family in Heaven and on Earth." He also sang "O, Radiant Morn."

There were many beautiful floral tributes and gifts to worthy causes in memory of the deceased.

Pallbearers were nephews of Mr. Heggen: Harry Cairns, Doyle Auestad, Orville Hellekson and Arol, Marion and Robert Heggen.

Interment was in the Slater cemetery.

Obituary.

Miller Seward Heggen, son of Ole and Engeborg Heggen, was born in Huxley on May 18, 1886. He passed away at the Iowa Lutheran hospital in Des Moines on Aug. 16, 1953 at the age of 67 years, 2 months and 28 days.

He grew to manhood in the Huxley community, was baptized and confirmed in the Fjeldberg Lutheran church, attended the Huxley schools and the Cedar Falls Teachers college. In his earlier life he carried rural mail, worked in the Huxley creamery and was employed in the lumber business in Huxley and Slater. In 1911 he became assistant cashier of the Farmers Savings bank in Slater and was associated with the banking business in the community for the following 42 years. For the past 19 years, until the time of his death, he was manager of the Slater branch of the College Savings bank.

On Aug. 20, 1912 he was united in holy matrimony to Sara Marie Auestad. To this union four sons were born.

In his own reserved manner he participated in the affairs of the church, school and community. He was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran church and was a faithful worker in the church. The church that he loved and that loved him will miss him greatly.

He leaves to mourn him: his wife, Sara; four sons, Stanley of Ames, Hubert of Denver, Colo., Leon of Des Moines and Howard of Davenport; seven grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Wenos and Rose and Ella Heggen, all of Huxley; two brothers, Henry of Alleman and Sanford of Huxley; other relatives and many friends.

Blessed be his memory.