Olive (Bauge) IVERSON

BAUGE, IVERSON, HALVERSON, VESPESTED, CHRISTIANSON, SWENSON, WIERSON, AKERS, GILBERTSEN, BOLDRA, NORCROSS, HILL, NELSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

27 January 1883 --- 28 December 1972

Olive Bauge was born the 6th of 10 children and grew up on her parents' farm near Estherville, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. As a child, she lived a short time with her Halverson aunt and uncles near Radcliffe but homesickness caused her to return to her family at Estherville. Louvina then went to stay with the Halversons. When Olive was 10 years old, the family moved to a farm near Dows. After she attended rural schools, she attended Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls and became a teacher.

When Olive worked in a hotel, she spent some of her earnings on a table for her mother, Julia, Her sister, Sophia, bought a special cloth for the table, and it has been handed down in the family. Some 90 years later, the family uses this cloth at special celebrations.

Olive and Oliver Birtran Iverson (called O.B.) were married Sep 7, 1904 in Dows. They lived in the Dows area for 28 years and raised 4 children. Their farm home near the Iowa River 2 miles west of Popejoy burned in about 1921 and destroyed all their possessions. Olive had been through a house fire at Estherville also. In late 1931 (Olive had lived in Dows for 40 years), they bought a 240 acre farm south of Ellsworth, Iowa at 3120 350th Street from Willie Henderson. They leased it for the next year to Henderson's son-in-law, Chris Vespested. On March 1, 1933, the O.B. Iverson family moved to Ellsworth leaving Wallace behind in the house with his bed and dresser to finish his senior year at Popejoy. Following graduation, he joined them. Oliver and Olive developed a farm operation with their sons, Lester and Wallace. Their oldest son, Donald attended college and became a music and science teacher. In 1934, he married Margie Christianson, who also was a teacher. In 1938, Ruth was married to Lloyd Swenson and they farmed the Swenson family farm at 3444 Vail Ave. which was next to the Iverson Farm. Wallace and Evelyn Wierson were married in 1940 and lived at 3580 Vail Ave. Lester and Vera Akers married in 1941 and they moved into the home farm at 3120 350th Street. The 3 farms were within a mile of each other.

Olive and Oliver moved to a home in Ellsworth about 1940. The family increased in size as ten grandchildren were born between 1934 and 1947. The families were very active in church and community affairs. Oliver served on school boards for 45 years and was also on county agricultural committees.

Olive and O.B. celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in 1959, one month before Oliver's death. Olive lived until 1972 and was very proud of her 13 great grandchildren. After O.B.'s death, her sister, Jessie Bauge came to live with her. Her sister, Sophia Gilbertsen, was living across the street from them with their sister, Louvina Bergeson. During her declining years when daily visits to her home were necessary, Ruth gave her mother much care and consideration and also for Jessie and Sophia.

Olive was survived by two sons, Lester and Wallace, both of Ellsworth, one daughter, Mrs. Lloyd (Ruth) Swenson of Ellsworth, 10 grandchildren:

Donald Dean Iverson (Sept. 24 1934 - Nov. 4, 2003)
Gary Alan Iverson (July 15, 1939 -
Lee Marvin Swenson (Jan. 31, 1940 -
Kay Lynn Iverson Boldra (Aug. 10, 1941-
Cleta Lou Iverson Norcross (June 24, 1942 -July 7, 2017)
Ross Lester Iverson (Nov. 9, 1943 -
David Merritt Iverson (Jan. 24, 1944 -
Ronda Marie Swenson Hill (May 10, 1945 -
Boyd Edward Iverson (Aug. 23, 1946 - Mar. 29, 2014)
Karen Faye Iverson Nelson (July 25, 1947 -
13 great grandchildren
and one brother, Delbert Bauge of Ames, the youngest of Julia and Joseph's children.

Oliver preceded Olive in death in 1959, her son, Donald in 1968, five sisters, three brothers and her parents.

Source: Kay Boldra -- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102464833/olive-iverson