GUNDERSON, Ragnild 1851-1917

GUNDERSON, HALSTENSEN, DUSHANE, BOYER, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 4/7/2010 at 19:19:08

Ragnild Halstensen was born near Elgin, Iowa, August 7th, 1851. She was baptized by Rev. Rasmusen and confirmed by Rev. Hjort.

The greater share of her girlhood days were spent in religious work in her home church.

On January 12th, 1893, she was united in marriage to Erick Gunderson and became a kind and faithful mother to her nine stepchildren, namely: John Gunderson, Aneta, N.D.; Mrs. E.A. Back, Meltonville, Ia.; Carl Gustave Gunderson, St. Ansgar, Ia.; Emil L. Gunderson, Ray, N.D.; Mrs. Jesse DuShane, Charles City, Ia.; Melvin A. Gunderson, Aneta, N.D.; Mrs. A.S. Boyer, Chicago, Ill.; Emma Gunderson, St. Ansgar, Ia.; Mrs. Albert Schmidt, St. Ansgar, Ia.; with the exception of Emil Gunderson who was unavoidable detained all the children were present.

Besides a host of other relatives and friends she leaves to mourn her loss three brothers and three sisters: Albert Halstensen, Elkader, Ia.; Carl Halstensen, Elgin, Ia.; Holsten Halstensen, Gunder, Ia.; Mrs. J.A. Groth, St. Ansgar, Ia.; Mrs. Andrew Pettersen, Battle Lake, Minn.; Nellie Halstensen, Battle Lake, Minn.

Mrs. Gunderson was taken sick last August. Though medical aid was constantly at hand and though consultation was taken with well known medical men at Rochester, Minn., and at Minneapolis she grew steadily worse.

She was glad and willing to leave matters in God's hands. She professed having faith in Jesus on several occasions and when her pastor, shortly befoe her death asked her if there was anything further that he could do for her, she answered, "Nothing except to greet my relatives and tell them that I believe in Jesus."

The Junior choir sang her two favorite hymns, "Beneath The Cross of Jesus" and "Jesus Lover Of My Soul." Miss Cromer of Osage rendered two solos, "Lead Kindly Light" and "There Is No Nite."

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. M.E. Waldeland, her former Sunday school pupil, Saturday, January 20th and her remains were laid at rest in the Norwegian Lutheran cemetery at St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Date of Death January 18, 1917 First Lutheran Church Records

St. Ansgar Enterprise