OBITUARY: Lars I. Olsen, 1850-1936, Mitchell County, Iowa




                            Lars I. Olsen

Lars Iver Olsen, son of Iver and Katharine Opheim Olsen, was born at
Hardanger, Norway on March 2, 1850.  At the age of six years he immigrated
with his parents to America and located at Lodi, WI.  In 1874 he came to
Mitchell County, Iowa, and located in Cedar Township.  About 14 years ago
he retired from his farming operations and moved to Osage, where he built
a home and continued to live until the time of his death.

On June 11, 1881 he entered into matrimony with Anne Regina Larson, who
preceded him in death July 9, 1900.  In his wedlock eight children were
born.  The surviving children are: Mrs. Carl (Ida) Norby, Mrs. Matilda
Norby, and Lawrence, all of this community and Clara, at home, who has
taken care of her father during his declining years.  Two sisters – Mrs.
Ole Torblaa of Osage, IA and Mrs. C.F. Anderson, of Grafton, ND; a large
number of nephews and nieces, ten grandchildren, and three great-
grandchildren also survive.

Mr. Olsen was baptized in the Lutheran church of his native place and
confirmed in the Lutheran church of Lodi.  Since coming to this community
he has always been a highly respected and active member of the Rock Creek
Lutheran church.  This church he loved, supported financially and morally,
and attended regularly as long as his health permitted.  The departed
brother has been an exceptionally active man and enjoyed good health a
greater part of his life.

He was a thoughtful, kind father, seeking the temporal and spiritual
welfare of his children.  He held many positions of trust, both in civic
and church affairs.  During the last years of his life, however, because
of his crippled condition he had been unable to take care of himself and
needed constant help.

He died on March 24th, at the age of 86 years and 22 days, the cause of
death being the usual infirmities of old age.  Blessed be his memory.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. O.C. Myhre at the Champion
Funeral home at 1 p.m. and at the Rock Creek Lutheran church at 2 p.m.,
March 26, 1936.  The mortal body was laid to rest in the Rock Creek
cemetery.



       Copyright 2004, Steve Norby