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| Torger Gulbrandson Gronseth Britton, South Dakota Torger Gronseth was born March 10, 1858, on the Øvre Gronseth farm in Grenskogen, Sigdal, the son of Gulbrand and Marthe Gronseth. His father was born on Gronseth and his mother on the Havigen farm in Sigdal. He came to America in 1872. Then he went to what was then called "Dakota Territory", now Marshall County, South Dakota. He still lives on the homestead he took. He is now a prosperous farmer, and does mixed farming. Sigdalslag 1914. Pioneer Community .... is Laid to Rest Many Gather to pay last respects to Friend and Neighbor Torger (Tom) G. Gronseth, pioneer resident of Pleasant Valley township, passed away at his home last Thursday noon, following an illness extending over most of the past three years. He had, however, only been confined to his bed the last few weeks before his death, which resulted from dropsy affecting the heart. Mr. Gronseth was born in Sigdahl, Norway, March 10, 1858, and was 74 years, four months and nine days old. The funeral services were conducted from the home Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. Rev. Stensby, of the Pleasant Valley Lutheran chuch, of which the deceased had long been a consistene and influential member, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Martin Lien, of Boyd, MN for many years a pastor of this church and an intimate friend of Mr. Gronseth. Pleasing features of the funeral services were a duet by Rev. Lien and Mrs. Engelhard, two songs by the Rolsrud sisters and two songs by Rev. Lien. Interment was made in the Pleasant Hill cemetery, just a short distance from the Gronseth farm home. The four sons and two sons-in-law acted as pall bearers. Mr. Gronseth was a typical descendent of the sturdy Vikings who sailed the uncharted seas in search of new countries. At the tender age of fourteen he left his home in Sigdahl, Norway, and set out for America in search of a new home. He first came to Dodge County, MN, where he joined his brother, Charles. He remained there eight years, moving from there to Wilkin COunty, MN where he lived for three years. In 1882 he came to Marshall county to look over the land with a view of making a home for himself in true pioneer fashion. When he reached what is now known as Pleasant Valley township, nothing but the bare prairie greeted his eye in any direction he looked, except the claim shack of Frank Ford, who had preceeded him. The land was still unsurveyed by the government and those who staked claims, did so by guess. Mr. Gronseth selected what he felt was a good location, left his mark and departed for Minnesota, returning in the spring to make permanent settlement. By that time the land had been surveyed and he filed on his homestead very close to the site he had selected the previous year. On March 4, 1888 he was united in marrige to Miss Bertha Karine Lea, of Hatfield, MN, and to this union were born six children. Gilbert, Mrs. George Fiegel, Marvin, Obert, Thomas of Pleasant Valley Township, and Mrs. Charles Wilson, of Nordland township, all of whom are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving father. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and two brothers, Andrew of Britton and Torsten, of Black Duck, MN. With the splendid and whole hearted aid and cooperation of his faithful wife, Mr. Gronseth started on the difficult trail which finally led to their ownership of one of the finest farm homes in that county. Few can realize the hard work and frugality, the many hours of planning and maneuvoring which went into the home which they built and which resulted in the fine family of young people left to carry on the traditions of life which they set up in their home. Where they found the unbroken prairie they left a well cultivated farm with beautiful groves and fine buildings, a monument which will long stand as a testimonial to their lives in that community. Mr. Gronseth took an active part in the life of his community and held numerous positions of trust and responsibility from time to time, evidence of the faith and respect which he held in the hearts of his fellow citizens. During his lifetime he made three trips back to the old home in Norway but was always glad to return to the home he had built in his adopted country. The hardest blow of his life came in 1912, when death took his life companion. In the words of Rev. Lien, "Mr. Gronseth's creed seems to have been: 'To thine own self be true and it must then follow as night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man,' together with a reverence for all things fine and sacred." Each year until this, Mr. Gronseth attended the meetings of the Sigdahlslaget, an organization of people from his home in Norway, which met this year at Detroit Lakes, Mn. He was for many years a contributor to the fund for the support of the Old Folks in Norway, of which he was one of the charter members. The following friends and relatives came from a distance to attend the funeral: Dr. and Mrs. James McDonnaugh, Chicago, niece; Albert and Anna Gronseth, Dexter, Mn, nephew; Mrs. Chas Wood, Rothsay, Mn., niece; Mrs. Ernest Jacobson, Pelican Rapids, MN, niece; Andrew Anderson, Dexter MN; Carl O. Hagen and son, Decorah, IA; Christ Syverson, Miss Mathilda Braatelien, Mrs. Alice Rand, Mr. and Mrs. M. Skugrud, Chas. Skugrud, Peter Braatelien, Peter Peterson, all of Rothsay, MN, and Rev. and Mrs. Martin Lien of Boyd, MN. | ||||||||||||
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| Last Modified 7 Feb 1998 | Created 19 Feb 1999 by Reunion for Macintosh |
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