Obituary - Osborne 'Frosty' Traasdahl

Osborne "Frosty" Traasdahl, 74, of Boulder City, died Friday in Las Vegas.

He was born March 10, 1912, in Grace, Idaho. A 52-year resident of Boulder City, he was a building contractor and had served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was preceded in death last week by his son, Roger of Scottsdale, Ariz. He is survived by his wife, Edith of Boulder City; son, Michael of Boulder City; daughters, Madeline Morris of Boulder City, Kareen Bybee of Orem, Utah, Debra Bowman of Pahrump; brothers, Carl of Las Vegas, Edward I. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters, Ann Fackrell of Ogden, Utah, Irene King of Lewiston, Utah, Mary Louise Pence of Eldora, Iowa; 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Tuesday at the LDS Chapel, in Boulder City. Interment was at Palm Boulder City Mausoleum.

Learn more about Osborne 'Frosty' on the Traasdahl Family History site: https://sites.google.com/site/traasdahlfamilyhistorysite/families/traasdahl/osborne-otto-traasdahl.

George and Nora Pence Reunion 1979

1979 George Corner and Nora Pence Family Reunion

From Left: Wilbur and Georgie Wheat, Harvey and Mitze Pence, Lawrence, Howard and Alice Pence, and Melvin and Dora Pence

Mary Louise Traasdahl Pence Devey -- June 1990

Smith-Boyer Family Reunion--Eldora, Iowa, 1948

What I Remember of the Farm

The hole in the floor.
The clawed bathtub.
Taking a shower in the basement (Scary!).
The back porch/patio, going in through the screened patio, passing the freezer full of corn into the kitchen. The stairs to the right led up to the bedrooms. The kitchen was organized so that the sink and counters were to the left and past them was the washroom with washer and dryer and then the bathroom was off of the kitchen. Past the stairs and into the hallway and then into the living room. Adjacent to the living room was Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom. Cupboards on the south wall were full of puzzles and toys.
Toy trains and hot wheels.
Indian and cowboy dolls.
We would stay in the bedroom with the hole, there were Tiger flags on the walls. A plant usually hung in the hole in the floor and we would call down to each other through the hole.
Catching fireflies.
Stool with steps.
Playing baseball in the back of the house and football in the front.
Crossing the bridge to the mailbox.
Going up into the barn loft to see where my dad and uncles played basketball. There were a lot of tools and machines.
I remember crawling into the corn crib hoping that we wouldn't get caught and in trouble.
I remember seeing the milking machines.
I remember the well and little building/toolshed?
Swinging on the big trees in the front of the house.
--Matt Pence

Otto Birger Traasdahl Obituary, Mary Louise Traasdahl Wedding Announcement, and More

4th Ward Chapel

Ogden, Utah
4th Ward Chapel
Harvey and Mary Louise Pence
were married June 6, 1946
Mother-Dad & Laree and Lawrence

Mary Louise and Harvey Alonzo working in the Chicago Temple, 1987.

Mary Louise Traasdahl

Learn more about Mary Louise on the Traasdahl Family History website:
https://sites.google.com/site/traasdahlfamilyhistorysite/families/traasdahl/mary-louise-traasdahl.

The Farm

The Farm (Melrose Township, Grundy, Iowa, USA)

Mary Louise Traasdahl Pence Devey
Grandma cherishes her Norwegian heritage!

Grandma Pence

I am going through some old letters and found this one from Mom. They were getting ready to return home after serving in the Chicago Temple. Thought you would all enjoy her testimony and words...

"We leave with mixed emotions and grateful hearts to have had the opportunity in learning and progressing through our journey in life. Being worthy to stand at various posts in His Holy House.

"Indeed it is humbling to lay my hands upons sister's heads saying - having authority - and pronouncing the most beautiful blessing of all given in the Initiatory Ceremony.

"Or presenting a sister at the veil as she shed's tears for a loved one or family member.

"Sitting in those two special chairs in the endowment room as your companion officiated and together administer those sacred covenants and tokens.

"Or standing at the celestial doors looking upward to the most beautiful chandelier, with its thousands of glass prisms glittering and shining in all its glory.

"Or kneeling at the alter in the robes of the Holy Priesthood as families are sealed for time and all eternity.

"Or witnessing a father hold his crippled daughter tenderly in the baptismal font as she is baptized over and over again for sisters who have been dead hundreds of years.

"Hearing the beautiful scriptures and prayers given each day in our prayer meeting. Just being one of those dressed in white called and set apart to assist in this glorious work is the ultimate and most gratifying of our life's experiences.

"Dad and I thank all our children from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make this possible. For your love and support. For the daily prayers of all our dear grandchildren and our sons and daughters.

"We will be eternally grateful!"

--Letter from Grandma Pence posted by Christie

Otto and Anna Traasdahl Family Reunion 1948

Traasdahl Family Reunion 1948

Back Row: Edith with Kareen Traasdahl, Harvey with Jerry Pence, Mary Louise with Mike Pence, Newell King, Irene King, Jeanne Traasdahl, Carl Traasdahl, Maynard Swenson; Middle Row: Sonja King, Laree Stewart, Frosty Traasdahl, Anna Pauline Traasdahl, Otto Birger Traasdahl, Ann Swenson, Judy King, Rick Traasdahl; Front Row: Max Swenson, Madeline Traasdahl, Roger Traasdahl, Michael Traasdahl, Ron Swenson


August 1948 Traasdahl Family Reunion Boulder City


Otto Birger and Anna Pauline Traasdahl Family

Harvey - Mitze: 5 Sons

Merry Christmas! I had a chance here in Iowa during Christmas break to do some family history work. I have scanned several images to add to the blog and website. Some are family pictures and others are of individual grave markers.

“How very much I love our family-each and every one-
Dad and I shared a wonderful life on our Iowa farm.
I couldn’t have a better companion, or more choice sons
than Jerry, Michael, Steve, Gary, Rick-and then five
beautiful, talented, special daughters-Gayle, Renee, Christie,
Debbie, Kris. Also 25 healthy beautiful grandchildren-
Dad and I take great pride in our family. See you in heaven.”
Mom-Mary Louise Traasdahl Pence Devey

Harvey Alonzo Pence

Some old Pence family pics with Grandpa in them.

Mary Louise Traasdahl Pence Devey

We were happy to be able to go to Utah and to Iowa to celebrate Grandma Pence. We love her and will miss her. We are grateful for the wonderful legacy and example that she left us. The funeral was beautiful and all the Uncles did a great job describing the life of this amazing lady. I felt privileged to be part of it, Claire de Lune was Grandma's favorite. She always wanted me to play it for her whenever we would visit her and Ranald. She really loved beautiful things. And most of all, she loved her family and she loved God, and hoped in a glorious resurrection; it is great to know that she is with Grandpa Pence again.

It was great to see so much family, and to catch up on everything that has been happening. Hopefully we can get together again soon.

This was the obituary printed in the Daily Herald in Utah:

Mary Louise (Mitze) Pence Devey passed away April 18, 2008 in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Mitze was born on December 13, 1924 in Grace, Idaho. She was the seventh child born to Otto Birger and Anna Pauline (Erickson) Traasdahl. She was always pleased to tell people that her parents had immigrated from Norway. Her family moved when she was a little girl to Ogden, UT where she grew up and graduated from Ogden High School. Mitze married Harvey Alonzo Pence on June 6, 1946 in Ogden, UT following an extended letter-writing courtship while Harvey was stationed in England during WWII. They spent their married life together on a farm near Eldora, IA where they raised their five sons. They were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 18, 1953. Mary Louise was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions throughout her life. Harvey and Mitze also served a mission to the Chicago Temple. She loved being the wife of a farmer and was thrilled to be the mother of 5 boys. She was especially pleased to be a Grandma and was very proud of all her family. Her interests included music, cooking, and gardening. Her yard was always beautiful and very colorful in the summertime because of all the flowers she would plant (especially her four o'clocks). She moved to Alpine, UT following the death of her beloved companion, Harvey. While living there she met and married Ranald Devey, also of Alpine, on September 16, 1995. Mitze is survived by her five sons: Jerry (Gayle) Story City, IA; Michael (Renee) Kalispell, MT; Steve (Christie) Eldora, IA; Gary (Debbie) Waukee, IA; and Rick (Kristine) American Fork, UT, 25 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Howard and Hazel Pence of Eldora, IA, sister-in-law, Dora Pence of Newton, IA along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, her parents, her brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove. Friends may call Tuesday evening from 6-8 at the mortuary and on Wednesday one hour prior to services. Interment will be in Eldora, Iowa. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinfamilymortuary.com. The family extends a special thanks to Sharon, Brittney and Justin Niswander at Lakeview Elderly Care Estate for their kind and loving care for our dear Mother and Grandmother during her last 4 years. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be given to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Published in the Daily Herald on 4/20/2008.