Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-04-05
FORMER SEN. GRuE
HAS PASSED AWAY
Prominent Citizen Answers Last
Summons at His wiIImar
Home.

Hon. o. N. Grue, pioneer citizen and
an ex-senator of the county, passed
away at his home on East Litchfeld
avenue last Saturday. The cause Of
death was diabetes. For year he had
experienced gradual decline of
health and during the past two months
he failed very rapidly.
Obey Nelson Grue was born April
"a, 1856, at ShebOygan, Wisconsin,
hence he failed a few days of attain
ing sixty years of age. In the fall
Of the year of his birth the parents
moved to Carver county in this state,
where they lived for twelve years.
The father, Nils Olson Grue, enlisted
for the Civil war and served as SER
geant in the Ninth Minnesota. In
1868 the family came to Monongalia
county and located north of Eagle
Lake in Dovre township. In 1881 Ole
N. Grue bought some land in Green
Lake township not far from the old
parental home, where he led the life
of a progressive farmer for thirty
years. In the fall of 1911 he moved
to Willmar and engaged in the monu-
ment business. Mr. Grue was an &C.
tive man in public affairs. He was
one of the organizers Of the Dovre &
Mamre insurance company in 1880,
became it's first secretary and served
as such practically all the time he
lived on his farm. He held the posi-
tions of chairman Of supervisors, as
SCISSOR and justice in his township for
several terms. He was clerk of his
school district for many years. In
1898 he was elected to represent the
county in the State Senate for four
years. He was the first treasurer of
tn Bethesda Homes at Eagle Lake.
On Dec. %, 1879, Mr.. Grue was unit
ed in marriage with Miss Anna Skat-
aas. Seven children were born to
them, of whom two sons died in in
fancy. The deceased is mo,lrned by
his wife and the following children:
Mrs. A. N. Olson, of Stanley, N. D.;
John L. Grue, of Willmar; Mrs. A. w.
Hanson, Peever, S. D.; Mrs. L. S. Mel
son, Clearbrook, Mimi; and Miss Al
ma Grue, who resides at home. There
are three grandchildren.
The funeral services were conduct
ed at the Lutheran Free church yes
terday afternoon. In spite of the al
most impossible roads there was a
large attendance of old friends and
neighbors of the deceased from
Dovre and Green Lake townships, as
we'll as other parts of the county, and
the church was filed to it's capacity
Rev. Michaelson spoke in Norwegian
and English. The church choir sang
two selections, and Miss Lille Nor
en- sang a solo. A long line of friends
passed the bier to cast last look
at the well known features Of the de
parted. There were many beautiful
floral tributes testifying Of love an6
esteem. The pail bearers we're Messrs
William Hengstler, P. H. Frye, S. s
Glarum, o. A. Jacobson, A. o. Bor
gan and Magnus Olson. The caske
was placed temporarily in the receiv
ing vault at Fairview, and the inter
ment will be made at the Long LAX
cemetery later.
Among those attending the funera
from a distance were Mrs. Johann;
Nelson and Mrs. Charles Nelson o
Hoffman,; Mr.. and Mrs. A. w. Hanson
of Peever, S. D.; Mrs. Alfred Olsol
of Stanley, N. D.; Mr.. and Mrs. vii
liam Nelson Of Sptcer: Mr.. Hugh No
Manus and Miss Anna McManus o
Spicer; o. r. Sletten of Irving.
In the passing of Ex-senator o. n
Grue, his family loses a devoted hus
band and father, the community
good neighbor and loyal friend, tn
city one of it's business men, tn
county one of its honored citizens an
the State one Of it's Territorial pic
neers. A good man has passed fron
our midst, whose memory will be re
verelk and honored among those O
the pioneer founders of our local II
StitutiOns.