Sarah (Sjurson) Quam (1864-1950)

SJURSON, QUAM, YUSTEN, LILLAND, ANDERSON, HENDRICKSON, SUNDE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/12/2025 at 19:33:09

From Story City Herald September 28, 1950 (page 1)

LAST RITES HELD FOR MRS. QUAM

Funeral services were held on Sept. 13 for Mrs. T. J. Quam at the Immanuel church with Rev. A. O. Skibarud officiating, preceded by prayer services at the Quam home.

At the home, Patricia Quam Yusten, a granddaughter of the deceased, sang a solo, and Theodore and Truman Quam and Mrs. Benjamin Anderson sang "Nearer My God to Thee."

Rev. Skilbarud chose as his text for the church services, "I Believe in the Communion of Saints." He also sang "Den Store Hvide Flok." Rev. P. Buland, Cambridge, lifelong friend and a distant relative, spoke a few words, and a grandson, Pastor Ernest Quam of Graettinger spoke briefly for the family. Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Sunde, the latter a granddaughter, sang a duet.

Burial services were held in the Story City cemetery, by the side of her husband, who died July 19 of this year.

Grandsons served as the casket bearers, namely: Harvey and Tenner Lilland, Sterling Anderson, Gordon, Arden and Luther Quam.

The following obituary was read:
Mrs. T. J. Quam was born Sarah Sjurson to parents Thor and Carrie Sjurson, near Morris, Ill., on March 18, 1864. The family moved to the Story City community when Sarah was one year old. Here she grew up and received her school training and religious instruction, being confirmed by the Rev. Amlund at the St. Petri Lutheran church at Story City.

On Dec. 24, 1887 she was united in marriage to the late T. J. Quam at the home of her parents in Ellsworth township in Hamilton county by Pastor Sherven of Ellsworth.

Mr. and Mrs. Quam set up their home on a farm in the community northwest of Story City and a few years later acquired a farm of their own, near Stanhope. Here they remained to share in the building of a good community, a Lutheran church and a Christian home, in which Mrs. Quam naturally was the center as the homemaker. All her children testify to her being a good, kindly and understanding mother, who has inspired them to want to follow in her steps.

In the spring of 1929, Mr. and Mrs. Quam retired from their farm activities and moved to their newly built home in Story City. Here they joined in that community's best efforts and became very active in the Immanuel church.

Mrs. Quam suffered a comparatively long period of declining health, but always patiently. At the time of her passing, the morning of Sept. 11, 1950. Mrs. Quam was 86 1/2 years old. She was preceded in death by Mr. Quam only fifty-four days, after more than 62 years of wedded life, and by their first daughter, when on year old.

Surviving are seven children: Selma (Mrs. Ole Lilland), Estherville; James of Story City; Theodore of Willmar, Minn.; Clara (Mrs. Benjamin Anderson of Story City); Otis of Stanhope; Truman of Boone and Stella (Mrs. Casper Hendrickson) of Kamrar. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.