NORWEGIAN-OBITUARIES-L Archives

From: Jeanne Nelson <>
Subject: [NorObits] Lars Olsen, Hidemstrędet, Garmo, Lom, Oppland, Norway, February 16, 1869/Newman Grove, Nebraska, October 23, 1957
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 12:36:12 -0800 (PST)

Lars Olsen, Hidemstrdet, Garmo, Lom, Oppland, Norway,
February 16, 1869/Newman Grove, Nebraska, October 23,
1957

Funeral rites were held Monday afternoon for Lars
Olsen, 88, who has been in business in Newman Grove
for 54 years. His business, the Newman Grove Marble
and Granite Works was established in 1903. He had
continued active in the business except for recent
brief periods when he was ill.

The services Monday afternoon were held at the
Jacobson Funeral Home at 1:30 p. m. and at 2:00
oclock at Trinity Lutheran church with Rev. John Quam
officiating.

Music was furnished by trio, Caryl Olson, Mrs. John
McDonnell, and Mrs. George McDonnell, who sang Rock
of Ages and Nearer My God to Thee.

Rev. John H. Johnson sang Den Store Hvide Flok. He
also expressed the familys thanks at the close of the
service.

Graveside services and burial were at Trinity Lutheran
cemetery in the family lot. Pall bearers were George
Olson, Carls Larson, Vic Johnson, Oscar Gabrielson,
Wm. Larson, and Marinus Christensen.

Two weeks ago Wednesday, Mr. Olsen fell on main
street. He was taken to the local hospital and 4 days
later transferred to Immanuel Lutheran Hospital,
Omaha, Nebr., for surgery. He had a cracked hip bone
from his fall. His death on October 23rd, 1957, was
sudden and unexpected as he was progressing well and
the doctor was planning to release him the past week
end. The autopsy revealed his death was due to blood
clot.

Lars Olsen was born Febr. 16, 1869, at Lillehammer,
Gulbrandsdalen, Norway. At the time of his death he
had reached the age of 88 years, 8 months, and 7 days.
He was the youngest son of Brith and Nils Olsen in a
family of seven children.

He was baptized and confirmed in his native land. He
came to Blair, Nebraska, at the age of 18 years where
a brother lived. He worked on farms in the surrounding
area and attended Fremont Normal School one winter. He
entered the monument trade at Blair, Nebr., as an
apprentice and worked himself up to foreman in the
Lutz Monument Works.

On Oct. 24, 1898, he married Theodora Fredrikka Eye at
Blair. Five years later Mr. Olsen wished to establish
himself in the monument business. He went to Red
Cloud, Minn., and then came to Newman Grove the same
year which was 1903. He decided on Newman Grove as he
felt it had a large area in which to establish his
business, the Newman Grove Marble and Granite Works.

He brought his wife and three children here and they
joined the Trinity Lutheran church where they were
active members.

On Oct. 22, 1918, Mrs. Olsen died during the Influenza
epidemic, leaving Mr. Olsen with a family of ten
children, the youngest, a small daughter, 3 months
old. He cared for his family and worked hard to keep
his family together. During the depression he
contracted with the Standard Oil Co. and built a
station on his home property. With his sons he
established a good business there.

In the early days Mr. Olsen was known at a distance as
he traveled extensively with horse and buggy to
establish his monument business. He was one of the
first owners of a car for use in his business. He was
dependable and trusted by those with whom he did
business. Mr. Olsen was preceded in death by his wife;
and infant son, Leonard; two daughters, [Dagmar] Mrs.
T. P. Hemphill, and Jenny [Mrs. E. W. Hutt]; and one
grandson, Duane L. Johnson.

He is survived by five sons and three daughters,
Clifford, Omaha, Larence [sic.], Douglas, Wyo., Walter
J. [Buss], Tacoma, Wash., Virgil of Yakima, Wash.,
Darwin of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, Melba [Mrs. G. K.
Rundquist,] Sloan, Iowa, Lillian [Mrs. H. J.
Vandergrift] and Bertha [Mrs. Harvey M. Johnson, both
of Omaha, Nebr.; twenty-six grandchildren and
twenty-three great-grandchildren.

All the children were present for the funeral services
except Walter J. Olsen who was unable to attend
because of illness.

Other relatives present at the funeral were Harvey M.
Johnson and H. J. Vandegrift and family of Omaha; G.
K. Rundquist and family of Sloan, Iowa; Rev. and Mrs.
John H. Johnson and two sons of Madison, Wisconsin;
Mrs. R. T. Short, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Don Roberts and
Dennis of Lincoln; Mr. and Mrs. Miller Munk of Loup
City; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Munk of Blair.

[This obituary is from the NEWMAN GROVE REPORTER,
October 30, 1957. Please note that, contrary to what
the obituary states, Lars Olsen was born in Lom,
Gudbrandsdalen, Oppland, Norway. His son Lawrences
name is correctly spelled Lawrence. His daughter
Lillians married name is correctly spelled
Vandegrift. See
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bruce/olsen-eye
for further information on this family. To contact
family, email at ]


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• [NorObits] Lars Olsen, Hidemstrędet, Garmo, Lom, Oppland, Norway, February 16, 1869/Newman Grove, Nebraska, October 23, 1957 by Jeanne Nelson <>