Obit of Mrs. Martha (BIRKELAND) OMODT (1816-1911), Houston Co., MN
(Mrs. Ole OMODT)
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   Obit of Martha Birkeland (Mrs. Ole Omodt) (1816-1911), Houston Co., MN                              

             MRS. MARTHA OMODT

LIVED TO SEE FIVE GENERATIOS-LEAVES SEVENTY-ONE DESCENDANTS

"Grandma" Omodt, over 95 years of age, died Sunday, Aug. 6, at the home 
of her son, William Omodt, four and one half miles from Houston. Mrs. 
Omodt has ever been a very active person and was sick only two weeks 
before her death. She attended her grand-daughter, Ruby's, confirmation 
services last month at St. Peter's United Lutheran Church, Houston, of 
which congregation she was a member.
Ole and Martha Omodt, with seven children, left their home in Norway and 
sailed from Stavanger, April 15, 1854, on a two-mast brig (a small sailing 
vessel) along with 70 other passengers, spending nine weeks from Stavanger 
to Quebec. At that time there was no railroad from Chicago to the 
Mississippi river except the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, with its 
terminal at Rock Island, which road had been opened the same week that 
Omodts bought passage over it. From Rock island a steam-boat carried them 
up the Mississippi to LaCrosse, Wis.
Going westward into Minnesota they came to Houston July 18, 1854, bought 
government land, and settled on the farm where both spent the remainder 
of their days.
He was born at Helleland, near Egersund, Stavanger Amt, Norway, Nov. 1808, 
and died May 21, 1892. Mrs. Omodt was born in the same neighborhood,
May 8, 1816, and was baptized and confirmed at the Berkrem church 
(annex to Helleland.)
Ole and Martha Omodt were blessed with ten children, of whom five are 
still living. Berdin Omodt, of Brookings, So. Dak., having died this year. 
Out of 35 grandchildren 28 are living, also 33 of the 37 great grandchildren. 
Of the fifth generation there are five, all living. Thus she leaves 71 of 
her 87 descendants, after her peaceful departure in the Lord.
Her five children are: Knud Omodt, Houston, Louis Omodt and Wm. Omodt both 
near Money Creek station, Mrs. Gesina Benjamin, Hastings, Minn., and Mrs. 
Lottie Wigdale, Winona.
Rev. Louis S Marvick conducted the funeral services at the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Wm. Omodt, where her pastor's sermon was based on Philippians 1, 21: 
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Blessed be her memory.
There was special singing by the St. Peter's church ladies' quartette, 
Miss Pauline Nelson at the piano.
Undertaker A. Rowland had charge of the funeral. The pallbearers were: 
Adolph Omodt, A. P. Omodt, F. M. Omodt, O. H. Omodt, Hans Larson and 
Peter Thompson.
There was a large procession to the Omodt cemetery where her husband 
also has been buried.

LSM		Houston Signal, Houston, Minn., Aug. 24, 1911