Jane (Nelson) THORSON

THORSON, LEWIS, NELSON, SWENSON, FOSS, SIVERTSON, SWENSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/26/2008 at 23:37:05

Funeral services were held at Bethlehem Lutheran church in Inwood, Lyon county, Iowa on Friday, April 24, 1942, for the late Mrs. L. O. (Jane) Thorson, 74, widow of the late Rev. L. O. Thorson, who died six years ago while pastor of the local Lutheran church. Pastor Itse of Irwin and Pastor Tallackson had a part in the service. Music was by the Lutheran choirs. The service was conducted by Rev. B. H. Habel and pallbearers were T. E. Moen, A. O. Anderson, A. Newborg, E. Madland, T. Skjeggerstad and N. Josal

The following historical sketch was written for and contributed to the Herald.

Mrs. And Mrs. Erik Lewis emigrated to America from Voss, Norway, in 1838. They landed at Quebec, Canada and from there came through the Great Lakes on a crowded lake boat. They were set ashore at a little trading post on Lake Michigan, known as Chicago. They made their way to the so-called “Fox River settlement” about 60 miles from Chicago. Later they acquired land in the Lisbon settlement and became pioneers in the state of Illinois.

Here, their only daughter, Anna, was born. She grew up in the Lisbon settlement, and when young Nels S. Nelson came home from the Civil War, a prisoner of the Confederate army, with orders not to join his troops until he was exchanged for a southern prisoner, he and the youthful Anna Lewis were married. At the close of the Civil War, he returned and the young copy, Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Nelson made their home on the Lewis homestead.

Their third child was a daughter, Jane Nelson. She grew to womanhood in the Lisbon community. On December 28, 1894, she was married to L. O. Thorson, who grew up in the same community. Mrs. Thorson was baptized, confirmed and married by a pioneer Lutheran pastor, P. A. Rasmussen, who served the Lisbon parish for 40 years.

Pastor and Mrs. Thorson served Lutheran congregations in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, Eagle Grove, Iowa and Dows, Iowa. In 1920 they moved to Inwood, Lyon county, Iowa, where Pastor Thorson served the Lutheran parish for 15 years. In September, 1935, he became suddenly ill and died after a brief illness. Since then Mrs. Thorson has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Halver Swenson, in Inwood. She has been a semi-invalid for several years. Thirteen weeks ago she was forced to become a bed-patient. She was cared for by her daughters, until she was permitted to leave this world at four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 1942.

The funeral service was held at 1 o’clock, Friday afternoon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Pastor B. H. J. Habel officiating. Pastor Itse of Irwin, an old friend of the Thorson family spoke briefly and Pastor Tallackson of Sioux City brought a greeting from Sioux City circuit. Interment was in Richland Cemetery.

She leaves to cherish the memory of a Christian mother, her children, Mr. and Mrs. Halver Swenson, Major and Mrs. Simon Foss, Dr. and Mrs. Ivar Sivertson; her grandchildren, Barbara Jane Swenson, John Thorson Foss, Anne Lewis Sivertson, Mary Margaret Sivertson and her many friends.

Inwood Herald, Inwood, Iowa
April 30, 1942