Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-08-13
o BITuAR Ry.
IVER ASPAAS.

OBITUARY.
IVER ASPAAS.
liver Aspaas, the old Lake Lillia1
pioneer and prominent citizen of tn.
county, died at his home in the Mrs
Albert Larson residence at 3l7 It'll
St. So., last Sunday morning, at l2:.
20 o'clock, after an illness of si1
weeks, the cause of death being ole
age.
1ver Christian Aspaas was born ir
the city Of Trondhjem, Norway, July
%, 1926. His father, Peder Aspaas
was born at Aspaas, Klabo, Jons-
vandet, Norway, and was sailor by
occupation. He died on the sea
while Iver was yet a child. The
maiden name Of Iver's mother was
Stine Vidding, a native Of Trond-
hjem. She lived to the advanced age
Of eighty eight years. While but g
years of age young Iver had to leave
his mother and 60 out into the world.
He left for the northern part Of Nor
way, and at the age Of fifteen, hav-
ing had no opportunities to attend
school of any kind, entered upon the
life Of the sailor. He first took ser
vice with some Of the smaller fishing
vessels from Troms0. Later he be-
came an expert in the sealing fish
cries, accompanying annual expedi-
tions to the Spitzbergen islands for
nine successive years. During sew
en- Of these Mr.. Aspaas was foreman
of one Of the boat crews, and with
his unerring aim dispatched many a
polar bear and walrus. One season
he made daring trip with three
companions on their own account in
to these high northern latitudes in
search Of bears, walrus and seals, in
a small boat not over six feet abeam.
They returned safely after a pros
porous trip, much to the surprise Of
the people Of their home city, who
had predicted that they never would
return. He at one time killed pol
ar bear which was sold to member
of the Swedish court, who had the
same mounted and presented to the
museum at Gothenburg. On one Of
the expeditions he reached so de-
grees north latitude. Mr.. Aspaas
continued the life Of a sailor for
twenty-one years. During this time
he visited many of the leading ports
Of Europe.
With his family he emigrated to
America in 1862 = He came to Chi
cago, and sailed upon the great
lakes between Chicago and Buffalo
the first season. He then entered
the employ Of Doolittle & Hallcut,
working as ship carpenter in the
shipyard at the foot Of Polk street,
Chicago. In the fall Of 1865, Mr..
Aspaas moved to Kandiyohi county,
and took homestead in Lake Lill-
ian, some friends and acquaintance
having located in that vicinity dur
ing the previous year. Here Mr.. AS
paas built a dugout, with roof of
hay and sod and a small window on
each side of the door. All the hard
ships Of the early pioneer fell to his
lot, but by perseverance and hard
work he added to his lands until he
became the owner Of over 700 acres
In 1849, Mr.. Aspaas married Miss
Hanna Hanson, born in Ibestad par.
ish, Norway, March 13, 1919. Three
children were born to them, all born
at Troms0. The son, Peder Simon
now resident Of Lake Lillian town.
ship, is the only child to survive his
father. A daughter, Hanna Bergita
was born Dec. "a, 1858. She be-
came Mrs. Hemming Anderson o1
East Lake Lillian, and died % year:
ago. A daughter, Johanna Marie
born in May, 1856, died in 1862. Al
adopted son, l6 years Of age, Henr!
Iver Osgard, lives at the Odd Eel
lows Home at Northfeld.
Mrs. Aspaas died about four years
ago. Shortly after her death, Mr.
Aspaas moved to Willmar, where h
has made his home with Mrs. Alber
Larson. Besides his son he is mourn
eu by several grandchildren an,
great-grandchildren.
The funeral occurred Tuesday a
2o'clock from the Mrs. Larson home.
The members Of the Masonic Blu
Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter, Th
Eastern Star, The Odd Fellow an
Rebecca Lodges, Of which the de
| ceased had been an honored mem
ber, marched in a body. Rev. J. L
Parmeter Of the First NJ. E. chnrc
of6ciated assisted by Rev. Palmer
| Supt. Of the Odd Fellows Home a
Mortified. The active pail bearer
were A. E. Rice, S. B. Qvale, W. {
Johnson, H. S. Peterson, G. P. Ka1
wand and C. w. Odell. The honor
ary pail bearers were John Will lam:
H J. Ramsett, M. D. Manning, j. v
Kent, c.. Ackerman and Samuel Os
mundson. There was a large al
tendance Of people who wished t
show their respect for the departed
The floral tributes were fine. Tt
interment took place at Fairview.