REV. ADOLPH O. ALFSEN

The Rev. Adolph Odin Alfsen, 89, who served the Gjerpen-Valders Lutheran congregation for 44 years before retiring, died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elias Lund at Moorsetown, Mich.

The Rev. Alfsen's last visit to the county was in 1935, when he came here from Chicago, to visit members of his old congregation. The body will lie in state at the Berge funeral home, Valders, until Tuesday at 10 a.m., when it will be moved to the Gjerpen-Valders parsonage to remain until the time of services. A short service will be held at the parsonage at 2 o'clock Tuesday followed by services at the Gjerpen church. The sermon will be deliverd by the Rev. D.G. Ristad city, acting president of the eastern district of the Lutheran church. Other pastors will assist. Interment will be in the Gjerpen cemetery.

The Rev. Alfsen was born in Troudhjae, Norway in 1848, the son of Ole and Henrikke Alfsen. The parents with their children emigrated to America in 1860 and settled in Waushara county, Wis. In 1863 Rev. Alfsen entered Luther college from which he was graduated. He studied for three years at the Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and before the close of his term was called to assist the Rev. E. Jensen, Trempeleau county, who was ill. He was ordained March 21, 1872.

In July of that year he married Hillborg Sophie Nelson of Ridgeway, Iowa, who preceded him in death in 1916.

The Rev. Alfsen was called to the Gjerpen-Valders congregations in the summer of 1873 and remained until September 1917. From here he went to Battle, South Dakota and later he was located at Spring Grove, Minn. and Rockdale, Wis. For 19 years his home has been in Chicago where he has lived a retired life. He spent his summers with his daughter, Mrs. Lund, where he died.

Two daughters, Mrs. Lund and Mrs. H. Hovde, North Dakota, and two sons, Arthur and Joel Alfsen, Chicago, survive.

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Published in the Manitowoc Herald Times, 30 Aug 1937, Page 2.

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