Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Aarrestad, Rev Torleif 1860 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 3:22 pm

Author: History of Grundy County IL 1914

Aarrestad, Rev. Torleif - To those who come to this land from Norway, it is a 
gratifying fact that it is possible for them to listen to religious teachings 
in their own tongue. However strange the new home may be, if on Sunday they 
can gather in a church and be ministered to by one of their faith and 
nationality, they are content with their lot in life. One of the men whose 
life has been spent in providing religious instruction for those of his own 
people is the Rev. Torleif Aarrestad of Morris. He was born at Thime, Jederen, 
Norway, April 12, 1860, a son of Torger and Serina (UNDEM) Aarrestad. From the 
time he was seven years old, until he was fourteen, Mr. Aarrestad attended the 
public schools of his country district. In October, 1874, he was confirmed in 
the Lutheran faith, and in 1877 entered the high school at Sandnes, where he 
spent the winter of 1877-8. In August of the latter year he was admitted to 
the teachers' seminary at Christiansand, and was graduated therefrom in July, 
1880. From January, 1881, until July, 1884, he taught school at Eide and then 
came to America, where he entered Augsburg Seminary at Minneapolis, Minn., and 
was graduated therefrom in May, 1888. Following this, he took a theological 
course, and passed his final examination, receiving his degree in May, 1891. 
In June of that year he was ordained a minister during the convention of the 
United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America at Kenyon, Minn. In July of that 
same year he went to Chicago, where he spent two years, and then came to 
Morris. He serves two congregations, Bethlehem and Hauge's. Since coming to 
Morris, Mr. Aarrestad attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Lake View 
for two years. For the last two years he has also served the church at Seneca 
and Marseilles, the former being known as the Emmans Church, and the latter, 
as the Emanuel Church. Mr. Aarrestad is recognized as one of the leading men 
of his denomination, and has been president of the Chicago Circuit since 1906, 
and president of the Board of Trustees of the Pleasant View Luther College of 
Ottawa since 1906. From 1900 to 1906 he served this body as secretary. He has 
also held the office of visitator and president of the Chicago Circuit of the 
United Norwegian Lutheran Church since 1906.

On June 24, 1896, Mr. Aarrestad was married at Morris to Barbara Olsen, born 
in Norway. Their children are: Thorvald, Olga and Karl Jorhan, living, and 
Vilhelm, born in 1903, who died in 1905. A scholarly man, Mr. Aarrestad 
combines with his learning, executive ability that has enabled him to build up 
his churches, and put them in a prosperous condition.  His people love him, 
and his influence for good is very powerful in Grundy County.

page 751-752


Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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