Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-12-18
Death OF MRS. LAWSON.
The Wife Of tho Editor Of the Tribune
Passed TO Her Heavenly Home
Last Saturday Evening.


Last Saturday Evening.
Mrs. Ida Wilhelmina Lawson, wife
of Victor E. Lawson, the editor of the
TRIBUNE, and sister of j. Emil Mel
son, the business manager, died at
her home at Willmar last Saturday
evening after long and painful ILL
ness, at an age of % years, months
and % days.
The deceased was the Oldest daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. S. M. Nelson of
New London township. She was born
at the home on the Nest Lake prairie
on April 20, 1873. She was baptized
by Rev. Lundblad of the Swedish
Lutheran church when three weeks old.
Five other girls came to the house.
hold and with the three boys they
made a Aourishing family. Health
and vigor seem to bless them and
childhood and youth passed quickly
and merrily, even if there was hard
work to do at times. Minnie attended
Sunday school and was confirmed in
the Lutheran faith by Rev. L. G.. AL
men May 20, 1888. The time came
when the family roof ceased to shelter
all. The older boys and girls went
out into the world to make their own
way. In 1898 the second sister, Em.
ma, contracted typhoid fever at the
cities and came home to die after a
week . illness. 1t was d hard blow,
and the hitherto so happy family was
Frustrated with grief. Sept. 20, 1894,
Minnie was married to Victor E Law
son, then editor of the New London
Times. With youthful strength and
hope as their only capital they faced
the future. The following year they
moved to Willmar, Mr.. Lawson &C.
quiring an Interest in the Willmar
Tribune, then but eight weeks old. In
the struggle during the first years of
the papers existence Mrs. Lawson
was the unfaltering help of her hus-
band. Her careful management of
domestic affairs, her inspiring con-
duct in the facing of disapr ointments
anu failures, not to mention the as
sistance at Office work and case, made
success possible. Then as the pro-
spects seemed to brighten and the
future promised less of worry and
care, her real troubles began. Being
denied children, her motherly instincts
found expression in tender solicitude
for her younger sisters. Their hopes
and aspirations were hers, their
I troubles were her troubles. That
dread enemy of mankind, the con-
sumption germ, fastened we'll it's dead
ly contamination upon two of the
sisters, before even it was recognized.
The struggle against fate began.
Nothing she could do was left undone.
But here her efforts and care availed
not. She accompanied her sisters in
to the mountains Of Colorado to try
change of climate for. them. Her
sister Amanda died at Aspen, Colo,
Jan. 5, 1899. In the spring of the fol-
lowing year her sister Esther returned
from New Mexico to die at Willmar.
In December q year ago her sister
Ellen passed away at the New London
home. Weakened by an attack of
lung fever, Mrs. Lawson's q. strong ply
sique was attacked insipiently by the
fatal disease. A siege OF the .preva-
lent epidemic last winter followed by
90 attack of peritonitis last spring
left her helpless prey OF the bacilli.
The cause Of death was tuberculosis
Of the stomach. She suffered intense
pains during the last year and death
came as welcome relief. :
Besides the husband and parents
who survive her, the deceased leaves
three brothers, France, J. Emil and
Ernest, and one sister Anna, and 1