OBITUARY: Mikkel George Tollefson, 1876-13 JUNE 1938, Mitchell County, Iowa




                    M. G. Tollefson Funeral Rites Held  

     Found Dead In Bed Monday Morning Following Heart Attack In Sleep


Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 15, for M. George Tollefson,
age 62, who was found dead in his bed Monday morning, following a heart
attack which siezed him in his sleep. Services were held from the home,
north of St. Ansgar, at 1:30 o'clock and from the First Lutheran church
at 3:00 with Rev. Olaf A. Langehough in charge. Interment was in the First
Lutheran cemetery.

Mikkel George Tollefson, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Tollefson, was born on
a farm northeast of St. Ansgar on May 18, 1876. He was baptised and confirmed
by the Rev. Johan Olsen. He and his wife were both confirmed October 4, 1890,
by Rev. Olsen, and have been faithful members of the First Lutheran church
throughout their lives.

His elementary education was secured at the Clyde school, after which he
took advanced study in the old St. Ansgar Seminary. He has spent his entire
life in the St. Ansgar community. On September 22, 1898, he was united in
marriage to Ragnild Andrea Groth, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H.
Groth, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Olsen in the First Lutheran
church. To this union two children were born: Ada Clarinda, wife of Harold
Hahn of Laurel, and Luther, who has jointly operated the farm with his
father.

After his marriage in 1898, he purchased the land on which he and Mrs.
Tollefson built their home and have lived ever since. Mr. Tollefson has
always taken an active part in both church and community affairs. He served
several terms as trustee of the First Lutheran church and for many years
was a township trustee and secretary of the Clyde school district, offices
he held up until the time of his death. 

Mr. Tollefson enjoyed good health throughout his life until three years
ago when he developed a heart ailment that confined him to his bed for
some time.  Although he partially recovered, he retired at that time from
active farm work, but continued his interest in the details of his former
activities.

As a progressive farmer and dairyman, Mr. Tollefson has been outstanding
in his community, and through cow testing association work, and the selection
of good sires to head his dairy herd has built up one of the best Guernsey
herds in this section of Iowa. He has taken an active interest in Farm
Bureau work and through his efforts has seen the St. Ansgar township Farm
Bureau grow into one of the most active units in Mitchell county.

He served as president of the St. Ansgar Creamery board, a co-operative
for a number of years, and as manager of a co-operative livestock shipping
association.

Mr. Tollefson is survived by his wife, two children and a sister, Mrs.
George A. Halvorson. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
His active life in church and civic affairs has won him many admirers and
staunch friends in the community who will miss his presence.

Those from away who attended were Mr. and Mrs. Leland Larson, Independence;
Mr. and Mrs. H. Voxland, Mr. and Mrs. John Wrolstad, Mrs. Geo. Salberg,
Kenyon, Minn.; Oscar Kittel, Olaf, Elling and Clarence Houg, Elgin, Iowa;
Mrs. Adel Tollefson, Austin, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Larson, Dr. John
Larson, Mrs. Olive Howe, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Howe, Ole and Lewis Johnson,
osage; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tollefson and Norris Groth, Minneapolis; Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Graham, Tama; Mrs. M. D. Johnson, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Thompson,
Mr. and Mrs. Rustad, Northwood; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Grell, Mason City; Mr.
and Mrs. Ted Carlson, Mrs. George Olsen, Bolan; Mrs. P. E. Highum, Anoka,
Minn., Conrad Groth, Charles City; Mr. and Mrs. Martin Griga and Mr. and Mrs.
Seckar, Mitchell, Ia.


     Copyright 2005, Don Grell