Anna (Kjellesvig) ASBE

ASBE, KJELLESVIG, WICKS, MEHL, LARSON, HILL, THORSON, LIEN, HOLM, LJOSTVEIT, ESPELIEN

Posted By: Bobbie Knudsen (email)
Date: 1/24/2008 at 20:29:56

Eagle Grove Eagle, Feb. 7, 1929

MRS. H. ASBE FUNERAL HELD SAT. FEB. 2ND

Serivices for Pioneer Citizen Held Here and at St. John's Church in Norway Township.

Brief mention was made last week of the death of Mrs. Hans Asbe. The funeral services were held Saturday in the West Side Lutheran church and in St. John's church in Norway Township. Interment was in Norway Township.

Obiturary (By Rev. P. Ljostveit)
Anna Kjellesvig was born in Fjelberg parish in the district of Sondhorland, Norway, June 14, 1845. Her parents, John and Dorthea K. were spiritual people who gave her an excellent bringing up. Anna married Hans Asbe of the same parish Oct. 18, 1871, and together with husband and two little children, she left Bergen, Norway, June 15, 1873. They arrived in Story County, Iowa, July 4, the same year, settling near Roland, where the family remained until 1882 in which year they came to Wright County, buying a farm five miles south of Kanawha where the Asbe family lived until 1915, in all over 33 years, and where Mrs. Asbe faithfully took her share in the hard labors and ceaseless toil of the earlier settlers. Besides all this she was the mother of 14 children, twelve of whom grew up, but she trusted in God for strength both to soul and body and this she experienced, that as her days were, so her strength also was supplied. Mr. and Mrs. Asbe moved into Eagle Grove in 1915, and became members of the West Side Lutheran Church. Before they were members of the St. John's Lutheran Church and were along and organized that congregation.

Mrs. Asbe, as old age approached, became somewhat frail and failing, but was upon the whole, fairly well until Jan. 1, when she was taken sick with influenza, complications setting in together with the infirmities of her advanced age. But she had an unshaken faith in God and confessed her Saviour to all who came near and looked upon death as a great gain, because she had lived Christ. The end came Wednesday, Jan. 30, 1929, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Her age was 83 years, seven months, and 16 days.

Mrs. Asbe is survived by her husband, Hans Asbe of Eagle Grove and by 12 children who all are married and have families, so her surviving circle of near relatives is an unusually large one. The names of the children are: Joseph, Kanawha; Mrs. Anna Wicks, Kanawha; Mrs. Gena Mehl, Kanawha; Anfin, Kanawha; Bert, Clarion; Mrs. Lena Larson, Kanawha; Mrs. Ida Hill, Jackson, Minn.; Mrs. Louisa Thorson, Kanawha; and Mrs. Helen Lien of Kanawha. She is also survived by 74 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives. Three brothers and three sisters, two children who died in infancy and eight grandchildren passed on before her into eternity.

Our dear sister will be greatly missed among us. Most of all by her husband by whose side she had stood faithfully in good and evil days for more than 57 years. Her earnest prayers had unceasingly followed her many children and grandchildren, her pastor, church members and others. Nearly 40 years ago, she in a very signal manner had found that peace of God that passeth all understanding, and we now praise God who enabled her to be faithful to the end, and for her prayers, admonitions and example of a saintly life which she leaves behind. Her memory is surely blessed among us.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 2, from the West Side Lutheran Church, and also from her old church, the St. John. Interment was made in the Norway Township cemetery. Her old friend and pastor, Rev. H.C. Holm, was the main speaker, and also her present pastor, P. Ljosteit and Rev. E.E. Espelien spoke at the St. John's Church.

May God strengthen and comfort our friend, Mr. Asbe, in his bereavement as well as the children and all descendants, so the memory of the dear departed one may be of everlasting blessing and benefit to them all.