Clara STENSLAND ODLAND

Clara
Birth: Jan. 7, 1891
Death: Oct., 1985

Ole
Birth: May 15, 1889
Hurley
Turner County
South Dakota, USA
Death: Aug. 4, 1955
Sioux Falls
Minnehaha County
South Dakota, USA

Rev. Ole M. Odland Died Thursday, August 4

Served Dell Rapids Lutheran Parish Since 1937; Retired Due to Illness

An 18 month illness preceded the death at a Sioux Falls hospital Thursday morning, August 4 of the Rev. Ole M. Odland, 66, of 1100 S. Grange Ave., Sioux Falls. Rev. Mr. Odland had served Lutheran Churches in Yankton and Dell Rapids before retiring in 1954. He had lived in Sioux Falls for 11 months.

Active in Evangelical Lutheran Conference activities, Rev. Odland was former district league president. He was mission secretary of the South Dakota Home Mission Board for many years; was a member of the Bethesda Children's Home and Old Peoples Home Board for 12 years; served on the national Parish Education Board of the ELC for 12 years (was chairman of the board for six years.); broadcast a Sunday evening Lutheran Church service over radio station WNAX from 1929 until 1936, and was active in the Luther League, Bible Camp and the circuit office.

Born in Hurley, May 15, 1889, he was graduated from South Dakota State College in 1911. He then worked on his father's farm and served as a county surveyor before entering Luther Theological Seminary in 1915.

He completed a year's course before being called to serve on the Mexican border with the National Guard.

While in the service, on June 4, 1917, he married Clara Stensland.

He returned to the seminary in 1917 and was graduated and ordained in 1919.

Rev. Mr. Odland then served the Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton for nearly 18 years. While at Yankton, he served the Elme Grove and Elim Lutheran Churches, (Later church for 12 years) located in the vicinity, and was a chaplain at the State Mental Hospital for two years.

In 1937, he accepted the call to serve the Dell Rapids and Willow Creek Church. He remained here until ill health forced his retirement last September.

Funeral services were held at the Dell Rapids Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Monday, August 8. The Rev. Howard Blegen officiated. Music was by a Pastors Chorus, directed by Rev. E.W. Rossing of Garretson. They sang "Abide with Me" and "Behold a Host" with Rev. O.A. Syverson, Sioux Falls, as soloist. Rev. Rossing also sang the "Lord's" Prayer at the close of the service. Miss Madeline Lerdal was accompanist and organist.

Appropriate remarks were made by Dr. L.A. Pierson of Sioux Falls, president of the South Dakota District; Rev. Ernest Nelson, president of Madison Circuit; and Rev. A.E. Moe of Dell Rapids - Willow Creek Parish. Rev. P.B. Stensland, DeSmet, S.D. and brother of Mrs. Odland, spoke on behalf of the family.

Pallbearers were Rev. Ernest Nelson, Madison, Rev. Richard Nelson, Flandreau; Rev. David Halbakken, Volga; Rev. Ralph Christopherson, Madison; Rev. Arnold Blom, Colton; Rev. M.E. Ranheim, Howard.

Internment was in the Dell Rapids Cemetery, Hermanson Funeral Home was in charge.

Survivors are his widow; three sons, Dr. Olin, Granite Falls, Minn.; Dr. Paul, Janesville, Wis., and Dr. Donald, Luverne, Minn.; two daughters, Mrs. John P. Muller, Dell Rapids, and Mrs. Don G. Aucutt, Garretson; six brothers, Lewis, Beach, N.D.; John G., Sioux Falls; Dr. Henry, Seattle; Lawrence and Harvey, Hurley and Wilbur, Menno; two sisters, Mrs. Clemens M. Granskou, Northfield, Minn., and Mrs. Henry Thompson, Cambridge, Wis.; his step mother, Mrs. Christine Odland, Sioux Falls, and 14 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Andrew Holland and a brother, Arthur.

Contributed on 5/26/09 by dellsfig68
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Record #: 10651

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