Rosa (Knutson) Gangstead (1867-1943)

CLAUSEN, GANGSTEAD, HEGGEN, KNUTSON, LILJEDAHL, MCCUTCHEON, MICKLESON, OPPEDAHL, PERRY, SAMUELS, STOCKDALE

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

December 10, 1867 --- May 24, 1943

MRS. GANGSTEAD RITES ARE HELD

Lived in Goldfield Community 55 Years

EAGLE GROVE–Mrs. Rosa Gangstead, 75, died at her home four miles west of Goldfield, Monday. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. T. J. Severtson of the East Side Lutheran church of Eagle Grove, and burial was made in the Lake township cemetery, by Wilson of Eagle Grove.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Isabel Oppedahl of Renwick; Mrs. Clara Liljedahl and Mrs. Vivian Samuels of Goldfield; two sons, Arthur of Des Moines, and Joseph of Goldfield; one brother, Henry H. Knutson of Thor, 20 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Mrs. Gangstead was born in Clayton county, and had lived in the Goldfield community for 55 years.

Globe-Gazette --- Mason City, Iowa
May 26, 1943

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Rosa Gangstead Laid To Rest Thursday

Mrs. Rosa Gangstead, 75 years of age, passed away last Monday afternoon, May 24, at 2:00 o'clock, following an illness of several weeks. She had gone to Rochester, Minn., a few weeks ago and no hopes were held for her recovery. She failed quickly upon her return home, and the end came Monday afternoon.

She was one of the few remaining early pioneer residents of the Goldfield community, and her passing chronicles the loss of another of those rugged early-day mothers who did much toward the future welfare and happiness of the people of this day. At the time of death she had reached the age of 75 years, five months and fourteen days.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, May 27, at the home at 1:30, and at the Lake Lutheran church at 2:00 o'clock with the Rev. T. J. Severtson, pastor of the Lake church, in charge. Burial was in the family lot in the Lake cemetery.

The Misses Constance and Inez Moklebust of Thor sang "The Light of Home," at the service in the home and two selections at the church, "I Am a Pilgrim," and "Sleep On." Mrs. Stella Oppedahl sang "The Old Rugged Cross," with piano accompaniment by Miss Agnes Sampson. Pall-bearers were Henry Cleveland, Hans Lerdal, Ole Lerdal, N. P. Peterson, Steve Sampson and Ole Skiye.

Rosa Knutson was born on December 10, 1867, the daughter of Helge and Ingeborg Knutson, in McGregor, Clayton county, Iowa, While still a small child, she came with her parents, travelling in a covered wagon, to the little Norwegian settlement of Thor City, in Humboldt county. Here she attended the district schools and grew into young womanhood.

While still in infancy, she was baptized unto Christ, and early in youth received her instructions and confessed her Christian faith.

On June 3, 1888, she was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to James E. Gangstead, of near Goldfield, and together they have continued to live on their present farm home for almost fifty-five years. Unto this union were born seven children, two of whom preceded their mother in death.

Surviving are Mrs. Isadore Oppedahl, Renwick, Iowa; Arthur Gangestead, Des Moines, Iowa; Joseph Gangstead, Goldfield, Iowa; Mrs. Clara Liljedahl, Goldfield, and Mrs. Vivian Samuels, of Goldfield, Iowa; twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Henry H. Knutson, of Thor City, and a large number of other relatives and a great host of friends.

Preceding Mrs. Gangstead in death were her husband, James E. Gangstead, who passed away on the home farm, December 27, 1930, and the two daughters, Mrs. Anna Clausen of Goldfield, and Mrs. Jessie McCutcheon.

Mrs. Gangstead was a kind-hearted woman, a good wife and a sympathetic and understanding mother. She was intensely interested in the community which she had long since learned to know as her home, in which she had lived through the early pioneer days, and had witnessed the progress through the years and seen her country develop from the virgin prairie as she first saw it to the productive farm lands of today. She was a sincere Christian and she loved her Saviour and His church, which she supported not alone with her prayers, but with means and words as well. Hers was a life of service, devoted not only to her family, but to church and community—a life that will live as a cherished memory in the minds and hearts of those who knew her well.

Among the out-of-town relatives and friends attending the services were Edward Gangstead, of Omaha, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Jack Perry, Miss Marjorie McCutcheon, Andrew McCutcheon and Arthur Gangstead, all of Des Moines, Owen Gangstead of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. Henry Stockdale of Kenosha, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Gangstead, Mr. and Mrs. Talmi Heggen, of Bode, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Knutson of Badger, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Mickleson of Humboldt, and many other relatives and friends from Eagle Grove, Thor, Renwick, Hardy and Goldfield.

Goldfield Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
June 3, 1943