OBITUARY: Lars Iver Olsen, 1850-1936, Mitchell County, Iowa




                           Lars Iver Olsen 

Lars Iver Olsen, son of Iver and Katherine Opheim Olsen (Syse), 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, Wisconsin.
In 1874 he came to Mitchell County, Iowa and located in Cedar Township.
About fourteen 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 Anna Regina Larson, who
preceded him in death on July 9, 1900.  In his wedlock eight children
were born.  The surviving children are: Mrs. Carl (Ida) Norby, Mrs.
Mathilda Norby, and Lawrence Olsen, all of the Meroa community, Clara
Olsen, at home, who has taken care of her father during his declining
years.  Two sisters: Mrs. Ole (Martha) Torblaa of Osage, Iowa, 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 country and
confirmed in the Lutheran church of Lodi, WI.  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 bee unable to take care of himself and
needed constant help.

He died on March 24, 1936 at the age of 86 years and 22 days, the cause
of death being the usual infirmities of old age.  Blessed be his memory.

The Rev. O.C. Myhre conducted funeral services at the Champion Funeral
Home at 1:00 and at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. on March
26, 1936.  The mortal body was laid to rest in the Rock Creek cemetery.



       Copyright 2005, Steve Norby