Selness, John N. -- 1861 - 1938

SELNESS, THORSON, FLAK

Posted By: Barry M. Dahl (email)
Date: 11/23/2010 at 14:59:04

John Selness was born at Namsos, Norway on the 22nd day of June, 1861, and died at Hesper, Iowa at the midnight hour, December 17th, 1938. His age was 77 years, 5 months, and 25 days.

His parents were Nickolai and Maren (Thorson) Selness, who came to America when John was 11 years old. The other children in the Selness family were Ellen, Mrs. Ole Aasum, Mabel,Minn. who survives her brother; one brother Martin Selness of White Rock, S.D. and two sisters, Elsie, Mrs. Lorentz Flack, and Lena Selness preceded John in death..

The Selness family secured a farm home one and a half miles east of Hesper, IA, where schools were already in that early day established and where a Christian church was organized. With the other children in the community John attended school part time, and received religious instruction in the pastors class, until his confirmation by the pastor, T.H. Eggen. He was baptized in the home parish in Norway. After confirmation age, John's days and life were given to work on his parent's farm until the spring of 1890, when he was joined in marriage to Miss Annie Aasum, who has faithfully shared his life until his death.

Mr. And Mrs. John Selness succeeded John's parents on their estate and there these 48 years of industrious duties have been spent. The following children were given them: Carl, deceased, Dr. Alfred Selness, located in Houston, TX, Olaf at Hesper, IA. Besides his wife and one sister, John leaves also the following grandchildren; Norman, Alice, Lowell and Lois, children of
his son Carl; Karl and Alfred of his son Alfred. The funeral services were held on Wed. December 21st at the Hesper Lutheran Church.

From the Welch collection.