Oliver Birtran “O.B.” IVERSON

IVERSON, ERICKSON, BAUGE, HALVERSON, VESPESTAD, VESPESTAD, CHRISTENSON, CHRISTIANSON, SWENSON, WIERSON, GUDDALL, DALSEIDE, AKERS, GILBERTSEN, BOLDRA, NORCROSS, HILL, NELSON, BARTZ

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

2 November 1879 --- 9 October 1959

Oliver Birtran Iverson (called O.B.) was born Nov. 12, 1879 the son of Iver Iverson (Aug. 22, 1842 - July 11, 1927) and Anna (Erickson) Iverson (June 6, 1846 - Jan. 2, 1927) at Dows, Iowa. He was christened Birtran (Bertram shows up sometimes) Oliver but his parents reversed his name at least by the time he started school. He attended grade schools at Dows and grew to young manhood in that community. His father, Iver, was one of four brothers who immigrated in 1854 from Hurdal, North of Oslo, Norway. After they logged in Wisconsin, Iver and Erik moved west in 1868 to join the earliest settlers in Iowa's Franklin County. By 1974, the four brothers were charter members o the Otis Grove Lutheran Church, which stands as a testimony to the steadfast Christian devotion of these brave pioneer families.

Oliver married Olive Bauge on Sep. 7, 1904 at Dows, Iowa. Olive was born the daughter of Joseph Nilsson Bauge (Jan. 16, 1843 - Dec. 12, 1917) and Julia (Halverson) Bauge (June 24, 1853 - Nov. 13, 1921) at Estherville, Iowa. O.B. and Olive lived in the Dows area for 28 years and raised 4 children. On Feb. 1, 1922, a fire destroyed their home along the Iowa River 2 miles west of Popejoy and all their possessions. They then moved in with Iver and Anna Iverson and drove to school with a horse and buggy. Olive had been in Dows for 40 years. In late 1931, they bought a 240 acre farm at 3120 350th Street south of Ellsworth, Iowa in Scott Township, Hamilton County. They paid $125 an acre. They leased it for the next year to Chris Vespested. The O.B. Iverson family moved to Ellsworth on March 1, 1933. It was the first time that the family had had electricity. Wallace stayed on in their old house with his bed and dresser to finish high school at Popejoy that spring and then he followed. They 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 Marie Christenson, who also was a teacher. In 1938, Ruth was married to Lloyd Marvin 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 married in 1941 and they moved into the home farm at 3120 350th Street. The 3 farms were within a mile of each other. O.B. and Olive moved into the town of Ellsworth in 1941. Their families were very active in church and community affairs. Oliver served on school boards for 45 years and also on county agricultural committees. They celebrated their 55th anniversary on Sept. 7 of 1959.

O.B. Iverson died suddenly of a heart attack on Oct. 9, 1959 at his home in Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa at the age of 79 years 10 months and 27 days.

Oliver was survived by his wife, Olive and four children: Donald Iverson of Bellevue, Iowa, Lester and Wallace Iverson, of Ellsworth and Mrs. Lloyd (Ruth) Swenson of Ellsworth. Other survivors include two brothers and two sisters: Elmen Iverson, Dows, Iowa, Alfred Iverson, Iowa Falls, Iowa, Mrs. Minnie (Sam) Guddall, Thor, Iowa, Mrs. Tillie Dalseide of Canton, South Dakota,
ten grandchildren:
Donald Dean Iverson (Sep. 4, 1934 Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa - Nov. 4, 2003 Marion, Linn County, Iowa).
Gary Alan Iverson
Lee Marvin Swenson
Kay Lynn Iverson Boldra
Cleta Lou Iverson Norcross (June 24,1942 Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa - July 7, 2017)
Ross Lester Iverson
David Merritt Iverson
Ronda Marie Swenson Hill
Boyd Edward Iverson (Aug.. 23, 1946 Iowa - Mar. 29, 2014 TN)
Karen Faye Iverson Nelson
2 great grandchildren:
David Dean Iverson
Susan Faye Iverson Bartz

Source --- Kay Boldra -- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102464855/oliver-birtran-iverson