Daughter of Sven Jorgenson Udgaren and Margit Margret Swenson Udgaren

Obituary:

Northwood Anchor
Thursday 03/07/1935
Page 6, Columns 4&5

MRS. A. BERGESON DIES AT AGE OF 93
PIONEER RESIDENT OF NORTH DEER CREEK SUCCUMBS AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS.

Mrs. Anne Bergeson, 93, one of the pioneer women of the north Deer Creek community, passed away at her home in the southern part of Freeborn county near the Deer Creek settlement last Friday, March 1, at 12:45pm. Her death followed a brief illness. She had lived in Freeborn and Mower counties for 80 years.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at 11 o'clock am at the Bergeson home, at 12 o'clock noon at the Deer Creek church, and at the Six Mile Grove Church at 2 o'clock pm. The Rev. Hans Fosness, of Northwood, conducted the rites, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Langehough, of Lyle. Burial was made in the Six Mile Grove cemetery. The Deer Creek church choir, the Six Mile Grove church choir, and a male quartet gave special numbers. Mrs. Peter Hanson and Miss Dahl sang solos at the services.

Mrs. Bergeson was born in Siljor Parish, Upper Telemarken, Norway, on August 12, 1841. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith shortly after her birth. She was at her death 93 years, 6 months, and 17 days of age.

As a child she came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Svend Jorgenson, in 1853. They located first at Long Prairie, Ill., where they remained about one year. They then came across country to St. Ansgar, Iowa. Mrs. Bergeson was about 13 years old at the time and with a few others walked the distance of several hundred miles from Long Prairie, Ill., to St. Ansgar.

After remaining at St. Ansgar for a day of two to rest, they continued their journey to Six Mile Grove a short distance east of Lyle in Mower County, Minn., where they settled. There Mrs. Bergeson grew up to womanhood. She was confirmed at St. Ansgar in 1856 by the Rev. C.L. Clausen, one of the earliest ministers of the gospel in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.

She was married July 11, 1866 to John Bergeson of Six Mile Grove. The wedding was held at the bride's home with the Rev. Mr. Clausen officiating. In 1875 they moved to the place in the north Deer Creek community where the family has lived for the succeeding 60 years.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bergeson, 3 sons and 8 daughters, of whom all three sons, Johnnie, Svend and Almer, and four of the daughters, Adeline, Mrs. Harold Rohne, Mrs. Carl Gran and Mrs. John Martin, have preceded their mother in death. Mr. Bergeson passed away several years ago.

The four surviving daughters are Mrs. Conrad Birkeland, Maynard, Minn.; Mrs. Nels Hanson, Douglas, N. Dak.; Mrs. Peder I. Hendrikson and Mrs. Albert Leidal, who live close to the home farm. There are 42 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren living. One brother, Jorgen Swendson, and one sister, Mrs. Gunhild Volstad, of Lyle, also survive.

Mrs. Bergeson was known as a kind and loving wife and mother, God fearing and industrious. Her manner of life was quiet and unassuming and as she had lived so she also passed away. She was taken ill on Thursday morning, Feb. 28, and her death occurred on the following day. The large number of relatives and friends who gathered at the services to honor her memory testifies to the high esteem and affection in which she was held by her neighbors and associated of the past decades.