Oscar W. Nystuen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 822-823 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				OSCAR W. NYSTUEN. 

	Oscar W. Nystuen, manager for South Dakota for the Union Central 
Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, was born in Valders, 
Norway, September 14, 1880. He is a son of K. K. and Marian 
(Wangenstein) Nystuen, both of whom were also born in Norway. With his 
parents, brothers and sister he came to the United States in 1882. The 
family settled in Worth county, Iowa, where they remained until 1891. 
His father then purchased land in Freeborn county, Minnesota, within a 
mile of Albert Lea, and upon this property he still resides. He has 
survived his wife since March, 1903. 

	Oscar W. Nystuen acquired his early education in the public 
schools of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and later attended Luther Academy in 
that city. He turned his attention first to the newspaper business, 
acting as a reporter and rising from this position to be editor of the 
Times-Enterprise at Albert Lea. Following this he spent eighteen months 
as confidential agent for a large wholesale house in Chicago and then 
in April, 1910, came to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as general agent for 
the South Dakota branch of the Scandia Life Insurance Company. He held 
that position for three years and then on the 19th of March, 1913, was 
made state manager for the Union Central Life Insurance Company of 
Cincinnati. He has accomplished a great deal of capable work in this 
responsible position and is regarded as one of the leading and 
successful business men of Sioux Falls. 

	On the 21st of June, 1905, at Albert Lea, Minnesota, Mr. Nystuen 
was united in marriage to Miss Alice Lillian White, the ceremony being 
performed by the bride's father, Rev. F. E. White, assisted by Rev. G. 
H. Patterson. Mr. and Mrs. Nystuen have become the parents of three 
daughters, Dorothy Marian, Harriett Annabel and Lois Lillian. Mrs. 
Nystuen is regarded by critics —as criticisms from authorities and 
newspapers from Boston to Los Angeles, Spokane to Minneapolis disclose 
—as the possessor of one of the most wonderfully beautiful voices in 
the country. 

	Mr. Nystuen is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his 
political allegiance to the republican party. He is a Scottish Rite 
Mason, belonging to the Shrine, and holds membership also in the 
Knights of Pythias and the Elks Club of Sioux Falls. The duties of his 
position with the Union Central Life Insurance Company have always been 
discharged in a capable, far-sighted and progressive way, and in both 
business and social life he occupies an enviable position.