John Oscar Ersland (1884-1923)

ERSLAND, SEDEL, NERVIG, HILLESTAD, LEHMAN, CROFT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/13/2023 at 21:57:24

From The Slater News March 24, 1923 (page 4)

OBITUARY OF JOHN ERSLAND

Funeral From the Bethlehem Church Attended by a Large Crowd--Was a Slater Boy.

The last sad rites over the remains of Mr. John Ersland took place from the Bethlehem church on Wednesday afternoon of last week, the body having been shipped here from his late home at Ladora, Iowa, where he passed away on Sunday evening, the 4th. The services were in charge of Rev. Duea, who gave a forceful address. A solo, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," by Mr. Milfred Severson and selections by a quartet and the choir completed the services. Brief services were held at the home in the Norwegian language for the benefit of the deceased's mother, who is an invalid and unable to accompany the other mourners to the church.

Mr. John Oscar Ersland, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ersland, was born in Slater, October 19, 1884, and departed this life on Sunday, March 4, 1923, at an age of 38 years, 4 months and 13 days. He had grown to manhood in Slater and was educated in the Slater schools. Later he attended college at Ames, where he specialized in butter making and creamery management.

Thirteen years ago he took over the management of the creamery at Ladora and later he made butter at Geona Bluffs, Iowa. Later he managed the creamery at Rockford, Iowa. While working at the latter place his health began to fail him and he was forced to quit. Returning to Ladora, he entered the restaurant business, in which he was engaged for three years. Last fall he received an urgent request by the creamery management at Rockford, Iowa, to return to that place and take over the management of the creamery. He was offered a very inviting salary and decided to return to Rockford, where he assumed the management in December. Again his health failed him and he made a brave fight for life till death claimed him.

Johnnie, as his friends generally called him, was a man of good judgment and commanded the respect of all that came in contact with him. He was a good businessman and a public spirited citizen and served the people of Ladora on the town council as well as on their board of education, and is sadly missed by his business associates and friends.

He was united in marriage to Miss Erma Sedel of Ladora of December 11, 1912. To this union were born two children, a boy, H. Sedel, aged 8, and a daughter, Neia, aged 6. In his youth he was a member of the Bethlehem church. Later with his wife he united with the Methodist church, of which organization he was a member at the time of his death. He left to mourn his demise his wife and two children, his parents, two brothers and four sisters. They are J. C. and Harold Ersland, Mrs. Bertha Nervig, Mrs. Anna Hillestad, Mrs. Mattie Lehman and Mrs. Minerva Croft.