OBITUARY: Sophus Burnell Holstad, Worth County, Iowa



[Northwood Anchor Newspaper online - www.northwoodanchor.com - 16 Oct 2001]


                     Services Held for Holstad

Sophus Burnell Holstad, 86, of Clear Lake, IA, died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001,
at North Iowa Mercy Hospital, Mason City, IA.

Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church, Thursday with the Rev.
Kermit Roisen officiating.  Interment was at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church
Cemetery, west of Kensett, with military honors at the graveside by the
VFW 4868 of Clear Lake.

Sophus was born Aug. 23, 1915, on a farm near Kensett, the son of Albert
and Amanda (Roslien) Holstad.  He completed his education in Manly and
Kensett schools.  Sophus continued helping his family with farming until
entering the Army Oct. 7, 1941.  After completing his basic training at
Camp Wallace, TX, Sophus served 44 months during WWII in the Pacific Theatre.
He attained Sergeant in the Coast Artillery Anti-Air-Craft and was awarded
two bronze stars, several meritorious ribbons and was honorably discharged
Oct. 10, 1945.

Sophus married Eldora Lau, June 8, 1947 at the First Lutheran Church,
Northwood.  To this union four children were born; Alyn, twin girls Sharyl
and Sharyn, and Lynn.  Their first 11 years were spent farming near Kensett
and Sophus was employed as a sales representative in Worth County for Lowe
Seed Co.  In 1957 when promoted to District Sales Manager for a 15 county
area, they moved to Clear Lake.  Twelve years later he accepted a position
as Regional Manager for Vi-Amino Feeds Inc., Colfax, IL.

He retired in 1983 and continued to live in Clear Lake. Sophus was a member
of Zion Lutheran Church.  He served on the church councils of Elk Creek
and Zion Lutheran Churches while continuing to volunteer as an usher and
committee member for many years.  Sophus was baptized and confirmed at Elk
Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett.  Sophus served as a director of
townships for the Farm Bureau organization.  He was a charter member and
volunteer of the Sons of Norway, Midnotsol Land 535.  He was a member of
the V.F.W. Post 4868 of Clear Lake. In earlier years, he loved to dance,
travel, go on fishing trips and gardening.  In later years he enjoyed
listening to big band music, playing cards, reading and completing word
puzzles.  He was committed to keeping a daily journal for many years and
entertaining his friends with Norwegian stories. Sophus, being proud of
his Norwegian heritage, took great pride in making lefse.   Sophus'
greatest joy was spending time with his family and visiting with family and
friends.  He will be sadly and greatly missed by his family and friends.

Sophus is survived by his wife of 54 years, Eldora Holstad, Clear Lake;
two sons Alyn Holstad and his wife Sandra, Gilbert, AZ, and Lynn Holstad
and his wife Vicky, Silvercliffe, CO; two daughters Sharyl Rubin and her
husband Gregory, Glenview, IL and Sharyn Hendrickson and her husband Keith,
Omaha, NE; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers
Arnold Holstad and his wife Amy, Mesa, AZ and Harlan Holstad and his wife
Virginia, Hampton, IA; four sisters Berniece Rodemeyer and her husband
Edward, Hampton, IA, Marcella Picken and her husband Donald, Mason City,
IA, Orla Nelson and her husband Gordon, Joice, IA, and Lorette Kroneman
and her husband Merle, Mason City, IA; two aunts Doris Holstad and Mildred
Citurs; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his
parents, Albert and Amanda Holstad, two sisters Alva Reetz and Loraine
Albertus.





Copyright (c) 2001 by Kermit Kittleson; <kermit-k@juno.com>
This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.
(Note: I am not necessarily related to the subject of the obituary.)

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