Lars A. Jorstead (1852-1933)

JORSTEAD, OLSON, FORD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/15/2024 at 12:09:47

From Story City Herald February 16, 1933 (page 1)

Jorstead Has Passed On

Well Known Local Painter Died Last Thursday Evening

Lars A. Jorstead died at ten o'clock last Thursday night, succumbing to the heart ailment that had made itself manifest during the past year, during which time he had been failing noticeably.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, at 1:30 at the home and at 2 o'clock in the St. Petri church, of which he had long been a member, and during the past eleven years its janitor.

Mrs. Lester Henderson and the choir sand special numbers. Rev. Scarvie officiated and preached from the words found in 2nd Timothy 1:12, "Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed." Rev. Rorem of Slater also spoke a few words in recognition of the friendship existing between him and the deceased. The pallbearers were: S. S. Wierson, E. E. Severeid, A. M. Henderson, L. J. Tjernagel, Andrew Owenson and Osmund Vangness.

Those from a distance at the funeral were: John Jorstead and Mrs. Ole Jorstead of Butterfield, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nelson of Bronson, Dr. and Mrs. VanVranken of Burt, Mrs. Tom Mosness and daughter of Ames.

Obituary

Lars Jorstead was born on a place called Jorstead, near Stavenger, Norway, Sept. 15, 1852. He came with his parents to America when he was four years old, his family settling near Leland, Ill. Here he was confirmed in the Leland Lutheran church under the pastorate of Rev. Gjertsen, and grew to manhood.

The Jorstead family moved to Marengo, Ia., where they lived until 1884, when they moved to Story City. Lars Jorstead lived here then off and on until his marriage, in the fall of 197, to Mrs. Aletta Olson, since when this has been his home.

For many years he followed the trade of a paperhanger and painter. In his younger days he took up penmanship, in which he became very proficient. In the early nineties he organized penmanship classes both in Story City and Huxley. It is a noteworthy fact that, although of later years his hands were very shaky while doing ordinary work, he was able to write almost as clearly and beautifully as ever.

Besides his parents, three brothers and one sister have preceded him in death. One brother, John, and one sister, Hannah Ford, the former of Currie, Minn., and the latter of Ottawa, Ill., survive him. His sister visited him for five weeks this winter, having just returned home a week or so before he died. The brother also visited him last fall when he first took sick. He is also survived by his wife and her children by a former marriage, all of whom will miss his cheerful and kindly presence.

Jorstead had been a hard working man all his life, and the many he worked for bear witness to his faithfulness. He had a good mind, well stored with the words of Holy Writ, as well as a fund of anecdotes and personal experiences that made him an entertaining conversationalist. He loved music and song, and nothing suited him better than to play on his accordion of listen to the choir at church. The children in his home were not "blood relations," but it can be truly said that all of them esteemed him, the grandchildren, especially, loved him; to them he was the only grandfather they ever knew, and on his part he always treated them with the love and tenderness of an older man for children.

His body was laid to rest beside his mother and brother in Fairview cemetery.