Iowa
Old Press
Oelwein Daily Register
Oelwein, Fayette co. Iowa
Friday, November 5, 1937
Clermont news, page 9
Olina Groth Erickson Obituary
Olina Groth Erickson was born on a farm three miles east of
Clermont. She was one of nine children of Rachel Jeglum Groth and
Halsten Groth. In this family were four sons and five daughters,
the subject of this sketch being the last surviving member. Her
birth occurred June 26, 1862, thus she was at her last birthday
seventy-five years old. She was married on May 22, 1888, to John
Erickson at West Union. To this union a son, Henry, was born
February 16, 1892. Being stricken with diptheria in April, 1917,
he was taken from his family home preceding both father and
mother, leaving them childless.
After the marriage of the young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Erickson set
up housekeeping on a farm three miles east of Clermont where by
frugal living and careful planning they became one of the
prosperous and well-to-do families. On this farm now owned by
Edgar Kimball, they lived until almost seventeen years ago when
they purchased the homestead of seventeen acres adjoining the
outskirts of Clermont to the east. Here her husband was stricken
with a disease and he became an emergency patient at the
Postville hospital, where on March 1, 1931, he left Mrs. Erickson
a widow.
Olina Erickson was baptized and confirmed in the East Clermont
Lutheran church and up until her removal to Clermont and
following frail health she was a consistant and faithful member
of this organization. As a member of this organization she was a
consistent christian character and donated to it not only her
time but finances as well. Mrs. Erickson perhaps did not become
known as a very prominent woman but she was a faithful wife,
devoted mother, and a good neighbor, and friend, and she was an
active worker, in the church to which she devoted her life. After
coming to Clermont her health was frail and she could no longer
make the trips to the East church so she labored and worked in
the West congregation as long as she was able.
Being left alone on the homestead, she made a home for the later
years of her two unmarried brothers, Knute and Halsten Groth. The
first of October she set out to visit among numerous relatives at
St. Ansgar where she met with an accident which resulted in a
skull fracture. She was brought to the Postville hospital for
treatment. Complications set in and on the 23rd day of this month
she was relieved of her suffering pain, going on with Christian
faith and unafraid.
She is survived by numerous relatives distantly removed but she
has several nephews and nieces in this vicinity. These with
numerous friends mourn the passing of this good woman.
Funeral services were held at [the] church Tuesday afternoon with
REv. S.J. Strandjord officiating. Interment was made in the
adjoining cemetery. Pall bearers were Gilbert Jeglum, Andrew
Gilbertson, Anton Groth, Nels Holt, Edwin C. Olson and Samuel
Mosby.
Those from out of town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Groth of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Ole Groth of Bovee, South
Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Anton Groth, Mr. and Mrs. Halsten Groth, Mr.
and Mrs. Tom Groth, Mrs. Andrew Groth, Mrs. George Tollefson and
Mrs. Monroe Houg of St. Ansgar; Clem Groth and Mr. and Mrs.
Gilbert Jeglum of Waterville, Mrs. Oscar Roe and son of Harpers
Ferry, Andrew Gilbertson, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gilbertson and Mr.
and Mrs. Charlie Johnson of Church; Mr. and Mrs. Halverson and
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Groth of Frankville, and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin
Olson of Maynard.
Alvira Amundson - Joseph Baker Wed
The marriage of Alvira Amundson, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Amundson, and Joseph Baker, youngest son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Ole Baker, occurred on Thursday, October 14, at the
Lutheran parsonage in St. Olaf. The double ring ceremony was
performed by Rev. S.J. Strandjord. Their attendants were Mr. and
Mrs. Nelvin Loftsgard.
The bride was attired in a floor length satin gown of French blue
and carried an arm bouquet of peach colored roses. Her attendant
wore a blue silk dress. The groom and his attendant wore blue.
A two-course dinner was served to the bridal party immediately
after the ceremony at the home of the bride's parents. The
newlyweds took a short wedding trip to Albert Lea and Hartland,
Minnesota.
Sunday evening about three hundred relatives and friends gathered
at the East Clermont Lutheran church for a reception in their
honor. The following program was given:
Processional - Genevieve Anderson
"Sailing Away" - Adeline Pfister
Piano Solo - Irene Erickson
Song - Carment Loftsgard
Reading "The Home" - Aldora Loftsgard
Vocal Duet - Genevieve Anderson and Louise Amundson
Talk - Rev. Strandjord
Immediately following the program a supper was served to all in
the church parlors. The bridal party, REv. and Mrs. Strandjord
and the immediate relatives were seated at a table decorated in
blue and white and bouquets of mixed flowers. A beautiful wedding
cake adorned the center of the table and the places were marked
with place cards and nut cups in blue. The three-course supper
was served by Clarissa Lien and Josephine Bilden, friends of the
bride.
The bride and groom are well known throughout the Clermont
community and the many beautiful gifts they received bespoke the
love and esteem in which they are held by their numerous friends.
Death of Esten Lansgard.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 27 at the East
Clermont Lutheran church for Esten Landsgard who died Sunday,
October 24. He was born in Norway, December 24, 1882, the son of
Evan and Gunild Landsgard, and at the time of his death was
fifty-four years and ten months. At the age of nine he came to
Clayton county with his parents and has since lived in this
community.
On December 14, 1912 he was united in marriage to Miss Julia
Olson and to them was born one daughter, Eunice Juliette, now
sixteen years of age. Besides his widow and daughter he leaves to
mourn his death one brother, Thomas, and two sisters, Mrs. Helen
Clark and Mrs. Nels Anderson, all of Gunder, also many other
relatives and friends in the community in which he lived.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. S.J. Strandjord of
St. Olaf and interment was made in the cemetery adjoining the
East Clermont Lutheran church. Music was rendered by a mixed
quartette and a solo was sung by Clifford Kittelson. The pall
bearers were: Arthur Landsgard, George Landsgard, Harold
Landsgard, Lloyd Aanes, Alfred Buraas and Vebjorn Landsgard.
Minnie and Myra Olson, Thelma and Eleanor Lyngaas, Geneva
Anderson and Gladys Olson acted as flower girls.
"Speeding Along" Chosen for Junior Class Play.
The members of the Junior class of Clermont high school have
begun rehearsals on their class play, "Speeding Along"
which is to be given some time this month. The cast includes:
Clarice Dugstad, Leslie Anderson, James Anderson, Harold Gress,
Donald Hanson, Vinah Nelson, Roy Tatro, Doris Landsgard, Iva
Peterson, Iona Nesteby, Anna Stee, Edna Loftsgard, Lois Brandt,
Mildred Olson, Irene Halvorson, Jean Vance, Archie Johnson,
Chrystol Miller, and Wayne Shipton. The production staff includes
Anna Stee, advertising manager, Iona Nesteby, property manager,
Edna Loftsgard, stage manager, and Iva Peterson, book holder. The
play is directed by Miss Ruth Berg.
Mrs. L.L. Carr Entertains.
Hallowe'en decorations and colorful pottery were used on the
luncheon table when Mrs. L.O. Carr entertained the members of the
contract bridge club at her home Friday. At the close of the
afternoon's playing Mrs. Carr held high score, and Mrs. H.B.
Greenley, second.
Hallowe'en Party.
Chrystol Miller and Irene Erickson were hostesses to a group of
young people at a Hallowe'en party held in the recreation rooms
at the Len Simek home Friday evening. Dancing provided
entertainment and refreshments were seved during the evening.
Invitations were extended to Lois Brandt, Clarice Dugstad, Jane
Dibble, Margaret Moen, Gretchen Rolfs, Jackie Dibble, Bob Graham,
William Scheel, Randolph Reierson, Ralph Schrader, Harold Gress
and Jackie Halverson.
Farm Bureau Ladies Meet
"Habit Training" the first lesson of the second course
in Child Development and Family Relationship was presented to the
Clermont township project leaders Tuesday, October 26th at the
home of Mrs. Roy Swenson. The lesson "Building useful
habits" was given by the new home demonstration agent, Miss
Thelma Voils. A home made child's wardrobe was shown. Every child
should have hooks and drawers that are within their reach. A
child is not always to blame for not putting away and hanging up
his clothes.
Patterns were given for snowsuits, children's dresses and
rompers. Music will be studied again this year as the
sub-project. Ruth Turner was elected township chairman to take
the place of Mrs. Kenneth Kerr who has been elected county
chairman.
Those present besides the hostess were Mrs. Harvey Meyer, Mrs.
Lawrence Horan, Mrs. Verni Engel, Mrs. Gilbert Meyer, Mrs. Ewald
Brandt, Mrs. Carment Swenson, Mrs. Burnell Anderson, Ruth Turner,
Mrs. Alma Anderson, Mrs. Walter Follett, Mrs. George V. Larson,
Mrs. Irene Ostlie, Mrs. Kenneth Kerr and Mrs. Ernest Brandt.
Personal Mention.
-W.I. Kelly and son John and sister Anna visited Sister Lydia at
Sinsinawa Mound near Dubuque Sunday.
-Mr. and Mrs. Ed Olson and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Olson and family
were dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oran Brandt at
Castalia Sunday evening.
-Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Johnson and family and Mrs. Johnnie McManus
of Ossian visited Mrs. Lizzie Kneeland Sunday.
-Mr. and mrs. Lloyd Corsepius attended a meeting of insurance
agents at Dubuque Thursday.
-Kenneth Gress, son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Gress of Clermont was
one of the six employes of the LaPlant Choate Manufacturing
company whose picture appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette last
week. The six young people have been chosen to attend the King
and Queen of Industry at the Allied Industrial Civic league ball
to be held the night of November 5 in Memorial coliseum.
-Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Dempster and family of Cedar Falls and Mr. and
Mrs. C.A. Palmer and family of Waukon were dinner guests sunday
in the B.O. Henderson home.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2009]