Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
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Historical features
West Ullensvang Cemetery
Section 28, Norway Township
The West Ullensvang Cemetery is
located in Humboldt County, Norway Township, Section 28, one and 1/2
miles south of Thor on land once owned by Jacob Opheim.
This cemetery was
established at the time of the founding of the first Lutheran Church in
this community, namely, Ullensvang Lutheran Church. It was so named
because many of the first settlers in this area came from Ullensvang in
Norway.
Many of the charter
members of the first church are buried here. Ole Johanneson has the
oldest stone, February 22, 1804-August 1 1874. Carrie (Kari) Olson is
also buried here. It was in her home that the first Ullensvang services
were held.
The cemetery was laid out
on the open prairie with nothing to break the starkness of the site. So
upon the death of his wife, Mararete, in 1908, N. M. Johnson planted a
Black Hills Spruce near her grave, where it stood for 67 years. Many
tender inscriptions are found on the earlier tombstones, especially when
death came early in life.
Lars Midnas was the first
one buried out of the new church in 1942. He was to ring the bell when
they dedicated the new church, but passed away in the winter. The new
Ullensvang Lutheran Church was dedicated May 10, 1942.
Beginning at the
west end, the rows run from north to south. The Norway Township
Cemeteries census was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Opheim, Mr. and
Mrs. Johan Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Gilman Holtan, Mrs. Hazel Halgrim, Mr.
and Mrs. John Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Lothe, and Rev. and Mrs.
Marion Blake in 1876.