Eldon C. CHRISTESON

CHRISTESON, TOLLEFSRUDE, HOVICK, FREEMAN, MOBERG, BYRO, OSTLUND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/1/2015 at 02:36:46

May 19, 1912 --- December 30, 1985

Late notice has been received of the death of Eldon C. Christeson, 1001 Cannon Valley Drive, who died Dec. 30, 1985, at Northfield City Hospital. He was born May 19, 1912, in Varina, Iowa, to Eric and Rose (Tollefsrude) Christeson. As a young child, his family moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa, where he attended school. He graduated in 1930 and then attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis for one year before enrolling at Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, Iowa. Here he sang in the choir and played in the orchestra. After graduation, he briefly attended Augustana College. He left to return to Eagle Grove to help his mother following the death of his father. He and his mother moved to Northfield in 1935, where he attended St. Olaf College. He was a member of the choir under the direction of F. Melius Christiansen. On June 21, 1938, he married Signe Hovick at St. Johns Lutheran Church. After working at various jobs, he went to work for St. Olaf College in 1952 as the military property custodian for the ROTC. He also worked at the print shop, where he continued after the ROTC was phased out. He retired in 1977. Christeson sang with the Northmen Quartet for 18 years and the Northfield Male Chorus from 1942 to 1967. He also sang with the Troubadas and the Faribault Lakelanders Barbershop Chorus. He served as secretary for the latter group for many years, was president and also edited the chapter paper.

Survivors include his wife Signe; daughters Gretchen Freeman of Northfield, Lola Moberg of Apple Valley, and Wendy Ostlund of Verona, Wis.; sister Gladys Byro of Eagle Grove, Iowa; brother Evron Christeson of Omaha, Neb.; nieces, nephews and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters. A funeral was held Jan. 2 at St. Johns with the Rev. Jennings Feroe officiating. Burial was at Oaklawn Cemetery. Pallbearers were his grandchildren: Nathan Freeman, Jeffrey Freeman, Suzanne Freeman, Karl Moberg, Sarah Moberg, Sandor Ostlund and Eric Ostlund. Members of the Faribault Lakelanders Barbershop Chorus were honorary pallbearers. Arrangements were made by Bierman Funeral Home.

Northfield News -- Northfield, Minnesota
January 1986