Born: 29 Jul 1870, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Died: 15 Feb 1946, Minneapolis, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City, Douglas Co, MN
PETER SOGAARDEN
Peter Sogaarden, a son of Ole and Oline Sogaarden, was born July 29,
1870 in Holmes City Township, Douglas County, Minnesota.
He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed by the Rev. Martin
Saterlie at Trysil church. He was brought up by parents who taught him
that the most important thing in life is to serve God. From his early
years he was much interested in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. He
gladly held different church offices from time to time. He was the
first president of the Trysil Young People’s society and served in that
capacity for 12 years. In Sunday school, too, he was active and served
as superintendent and teacher for many years. He was a member of the
public school board and held the office of treasurer of his district for
37 years.
In Holmes City Township where Peter’s parents had homesteaded, he
lived throughout his whole life except for a few years when away
attending the Glenwood Academy and Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis.
After his father’s passing in 1899, Peter and his brother, Martin, who
passed away one year ago last May, worked together very harmoniously in keeping up the family home. Upon mother’s departure in 1929 they
purchased the farm. They prospered, were neighborly and held the
respect of the community. Peter was a faithful son, a kind and loving brother who will be sadly missed by those closest to him in life.
In late years he suffered an ailment which made walking difficult but
he bore it very patiently. This ailment, however, developed and finally
claimed his life.
Last fall he went to Minneapolis with the intention of coming back in
the spring. During his last illness he was cared for by his two sisters living in Minneapolis until the last week when he was taken to the Fairview
hospital, where he passed away Feb 15, 9:20 pm at the age of 75 years, 6 months. At his bedside when the end came were all his sisters, his
brother-in-law, O. Finstad and his nephew, Marcus Reece.
Peter Sogaarden is survived by four sisters: Christine (Mrs. H.O.
Helseth) Minneapolis; Olive (Mrs. H.L.Femrite) Lowry; Alberta (Mrs. A.A.
Reece) Farwell and Marie (Mrs. O. Finstad) Minneapolis. Also a number
of nieces, nephews and other relatives mourn his passing. He was
preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters.
Services were held Feb 17 at 10 am at the Albin Funeral Home,
Minneapolis, with Rev. O. Weltzin officiating. A solo, “Jesus Savior
Pilot Me” was sung by Mrs. O. Weltzin and a duet, “The Old Rugged Cross”
by Rev. and Mrs. Weltzin.
The remains were then taken to the Hoplin Funeral Home at Lowry, Minn.
Funeral services were held Feb. 21, 1 pm from the Trysil church with
Rev. A.J. Sheldahl officiating. The hymns, “I Know of a Sleep in Jesus
Name” and “Oh Happy Day When We Shall Stand” were sung by the audience. Priscilla Myhr sang a solo, “Behold a Host Arrayed in White” in
Norwegian and Mr. and Mrs. David Anderson a duet, “He the Pearly Gates
Will Open”. Rev. E.S.Solheim spoke in behalf of the family.
The following bequests were made by the deceased: $1000 to be used as
a permanent fund for Trysil Congregation, $200 for the cemetery fund;
$500 to the Foreign Missions of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and $500 to the Foreign Missions of the Free Lutheran Church.
Besides beautiful floral offerings, memorial gifts amounting to $94
were given to missions and other benevolences.
Pallbearers were five nephews, Murville and Harvey Femrite, Oliver and
Marcus Reece, Arthur Solheim and Harold Myhr. Interment was made in
Trysil cemetery.
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-from Olea Jensdtr Østby and Peder Paulsen Grambo history, p 375
Peter was the first of Oline’s and Ola’s children to be born in America. Early in life he learned to help at home on the farm, and this was to influence his entire adult life. But during his early youth he was involved in church work and preached the gospel on different occasions in church. He also taught Sunday school, and was the first President of the Trysil Young People’s Society and worked with this for 12 years. He was involved in the district’s school system for 37 years.
Peter lived his entire life in Holmes City twp, except for the years he spent at the Glenwood Academy and Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis. When his father died in 1899 he took over the farm together with his brother, Martin. They carried on very well with the farm operation and were able to put to use their experience from earlier childhood years. Peter didn’t have any children during his brief marriage.
Sickness weakened his health the last years of his life, and he died in 1946 at Fairview Hospital in Mpls, MN. He is buried together with his family at the Trysil Cemetery in Holmes City twp.