Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-10-26
DIED SUDDENLY.
o. j. Beck, The We11-known
Wi11mar Citizen, Is No More.

The people of Willmar were shocked
and panied last Thursday morning to
learn of the sudden death of Ole J.
Beck, the veteran hotel man of Will
mar, which occurred at five o'clock q.
m. of that day. He WAS taken sick
early in the night, but was able to
walk 10 his room and talk to his peo-
pie, aud his condition was not alarm
ing, but at about five o'clock in the
morning he was taken with an apo
plectc stroke in which he passed away.
In Mr.. Beck the community loses d
man of sterling qualities, whose pleas
ant manners, quiet and modest ways
and kind heart will long be remem-
bered by a host of friends who had
learned to love and respect him.
Ole johnson Beck was n native of
Norway, and was born June 10, 1888.
His parents were John and Ingetorg
(Engebretson) Beck. They emiyrated
to the United States in 1868, and loca-
ted in Michigan where they remained
until their death. The father died in
1872 and the mother III 1888. They
were the parents of six children, name
ly, Caroline, Ingeborg, Ole j., John
j., Andrew and Borne, later Mrs. Odin
Anderson, Ole J. acquired a modest
education in the schools of Norway
and in 1862 married Miss Nikolina
Hanson, a daughter of Hans Hanson,
q sailor by occupation. In 1869, when
thirty-one years of age he emigra-
ted to this country and settled in
Kandiyohi county where he took
tract of Government land of eighty
acres in the Town of White6eld. He
remained engaged there in farming
AND stock-raising operations until in
1880, when he moved to Willmar and
rented the NARROW House for one year.
At the expiration of that time he pur-
chased that hotel property in which he
has since been interested. In 1886 he
builded the Merchants Hotel at total
cost of over $26, 600, which building
was the pride of the town, and one of
the first substantial improvements of
Wi]lmar. He could not long remain
in possession of this splendid product
OF his enterprise however, and shortly
afterwards sold the same, and re-
sumed the management of the NARROW
House, which he continued to manage
until his death. His first wife died on
the 9th of December, 1888. He married
again in January, 1893, when he chose
for life partner, Miss Rebecka Olson,
who survives him. He had no chill
dren by either marriage. He leaves,
however, an adopted infant. He also
leaves in life his brother Andrew, of
Willmar, brother John j., residing
at Chicago, sister, Mrs. O. Ander-
son, of Des Moines, a., and sister
at Trondhjem, Norway, beside num-
Der OF nephews and nieces.
The deceased was an active member
OF the United Norwegian church of this
city, and was always to be found fore
most in church work and in acts of
kindness and charity. The pastor,
Rev. E. E. Gynild. was absent at the
time of the death, being on a visiting
tour in some of the remote settlements
in Beltramie county, where no tele-
graphic communication was possible.
Therefore the Rev. M. A. Peterson,
Of St. Paul, was secured to officiate at
the funeral exercises, which occurred
from the United Lutheran church Sun
day afternoon. The attendance at the
services was very large. The large
seating capacity of the church was en-
tirely inadequate. After the impress
sive remarks of the Rev. Peterson,
the people were given an opportunity
to view the remains, and a throng of
people who had been unable to gain
entrance during the services passed
through the church to cast a last look
at the features of the deceased. The
remains were taken to the church ceme-
terry for interment and procession of
carriages and vehicles filled with griev-
ing and sympathizing friends nearly q
mile long followed the remains to their
last resting place. The surviving
widow has the profound sympathy of
al in her deep affliction. The memory
OF Ole Beck will live long in the minds
OF those who knew him as kind, up
right conscientious Christian gentle
man. .. .s@% -
Rest in Peace.'' .......< !. f..
~ anted, to exchange good improved
farm in Swift County for good resi-
dence property in Willmar; or will
trade for acres near town. .l5. Z !. .sss