Oliver Durby (1851-1924)

DURBY, SIMONSON, HORNESS, ERICSON, MICHAELSON, TJERNAGEL, DYRNESS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/24/2024 at 17:21:51

From The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, February 28, 1924.

OBITUARY OF OLIVER DURBY

Funeral Services For Oliver Durby Attended By Many Friends Last Friday Afternoon. Interment in the Roland Cemetery.

The funeral of Oliver Durby was held from the home at half past one o'clock last Friday afternoon, and from Bergen Lutheran church at two o'clock. The church was filled with friends who had come to pay their last respects to the deceased. Rev. M. O. Sumstad preached the funeral sermon. The floral offerings were many and very beautiful. Interment took place in the Roland cemetery.

Oliver Durby was born June 19, 1851 at Dyrness, Sonhordland, Norway, where he grew to manhood. In 1871 he immigrated to this country, coming to Morris, Ill., where he remained for two years, then came to Story county. He settled on a farm four miles sourth of Roland and lived there almost continuously until 1916, when he build a home in Roland and retired from active farm work. He passed away on Tuesday, February 19, 1924 at the age of 72 years and 8 months.

He was united in marriage August 19, 1883 to Miss Bertha Simonson, from Finaas, Sonhordland, Norway, who is left to mourn his death and to which union nine children were born. All of them survive, except Tosten Durby who preceded his father to the Great Beyond two years ago. The other children are: Mrs. Ole Horness, Muskegon, Mich.; Barney, Peter and Sigurd Durby; Mrs. Sherman Ericson and Mrs. John E. Michaelson, Roland; Levi Durby, Story City; Rev. C. T. Dyrness, Chicago; and two in Norway, and two sisters in Norway, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Durby united with Bergen Lutheran congregation upon his arrival here and has ever since been a faithful and conscientious member, and was a regular attendant at the services until he became too feeble to leave the house. His passing away will be felt as a large loss to his family, his friends and his church.