Obituary - Mary Louise Traasdahl Pence Devey

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.

--Daily Herald, April 20, 2008

Learn more about Mary on the Traasdahl Family History site:

https://sites.google.com/view/traasdahlfamilyhistory/families/traasdahl/mary-louise-traasdahl.

Obituary - Osborne Otto 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/view/traasdahlfamilyhistory/families/traasdahl/osborne-otto-traasdahl.

Obituary - Anna Omega Traasdahl Swenson Fackrell

Ann Swenson Fackrell

Standard-Examiner Sunday, June 26, 1988

OGDEN – Ann Swenson Fackrell, 72, of 1519 23rd St., died Saturday, June 25, 1988, at her home of heart failure.

She was born Oct. 7, 1915, in Lago, Idaho, a Daughter of Otto B. and Anna Erickson Traasdahl.

She married Maynard J. Swenson June 1, 1934, in Preston, Idaho. He died Nov. 21, 1958. She married Elton D. Fackrell Nov. 22, 1960, in Logan. She was raised in Grace and Preston, Idaho, and moved to the Ogden area in 1940. She moved to Lewiston in 1958, returning to Ogden in 1975.

She graduated from Preston High School. She was an active member of the Ogden LDS 35th Ward, and had served as Relief Society. She was Mutual president and had been active in religious service over the past 50 years. She was a member of the Lewiston Literary League, chairman of the Fourth of July celebration, and an active Democrat. She enjoyed gardening.

Surviving are her husband of Ogden, two sons, Max Swenson, Pasco, Wash.; Ron Swenson, Salt Lake City; one stepson and one stepdaughter, Alan Fackrell, Logan; Sharon Bischoff, Orinda, Calif.; Nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers and two sisters, Carl Traasdahl, Las Vegas, Nev.; Ted Traasdahl, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Irene King, Lewiston, Utah; Mitze Pence, Eldora, Iowa. She was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Ogden LDS 35th Ward, 1475 Cahoon, with Bishop Darwin J. Brimhall of the Ogden 35th ward officiating. Friends may call at Lindquist and Sons Colonial Chapel, 3408 Washington Blvd.; Ogden, Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church Wednesday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in Ogden City Cemetery.

Learn more about Ann Swenson Fackrell on the Traasdahl Family History site:

https://sites.google.com/view/traasdahlfamilyhistory/families/traasdahl/anna-omega-traasdahl.

Otto Birger Traasdahl Photographs

Otto Traasdahl with baby Angela and Judy kneeling.




Osborne (Frosty), Otto B., and Carl Traasdahl


Taken July 9, 1941-Dad (Otto) and LaRee, Ogden, UT


Otto, Anna and LaRee-Ogden 1946

Otto Birger Traasdahl and Karl Bernhardt Traasdahl 1910 Norway Census Records

Karl Bernhardt Traasdahl
Otto Birger Traasdahl

Otto Birger Traasdahl Comes to America

Otto Birger Traasdahl immigrated to the USA "by way of Canada" beginning March 19, 1913. He sailed from Trondheim to England on the SS Irma (part of the Allan line), and then from England to North America on the Victorian (also part of the Allan line). Information about these two ships is available online: Irma and Victorian.


The Victorian

Also see: http://www.norwayheritage.com/ or http://www.theshipslist.com/ and Norwegian Immigration Records

*Note: According to Norwegian records he left on the Irma (which was part of the Allan line) from Trondheim to Liverpool. From Liverpool he went to Halifax - St. John. He is on the Victorian manifest leaving Halifax, St. John, NB on April 5, 1913. His record states that he was born in Striden, Norway, age 23 years, married and a fisherman. His last permanent address was Trondhjem, Norway. It states that his wife, Anna Trosdal is his nearest relative in the country where he came from and her address is Strandvt (it looks like) 43 Trondhjem. He's never been in the US before and he paid his own passage. He is headed to Lago, Idaho - with $25 - never been arrested or deported or excluded from admission - paid his head tax already - he's 5' 11", fair complextion, fair hair, blue eyes and no distinguishing marks to report. --Renee Pence

Otto Birger Traasdahl--Canadian Passenger List

Library and Archives Canada

TRAASDAHL, OTTO B (1920 U.S. Census)
IDAHO , BANNOCK, GRACE
Age: 30, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: NORW
Series: T625 Roll: 288 Page: 70

Death Certificate Otto Birger Traasdahl.

Irene Marie Traasdahl King

ST. GEORGE - Irene Marie Traasdahl King, 84, died Thursday Jan. 25, 2007 at the home of a daughter in Hurricane, Utah.

She was of Norwegian ancestry, the sixth of eight children born to Otto Birger Traasdahl and Anna Pauline Erickson who immigrated to America in search of religious freedom. Irene was born in Thatcher, Idaho on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922.

Irene attended school in Grace and Preston, Idaho and graduated from Ogden High. She married Newel L. King in the Logan LDS Temple on June 6, 1941.

Irene dedicated her life to the loving service of her family. The life she lived was an example of her love of Christ. Surviving are four daughters, Sonja Ann Freeman and husband Ron of Hurricane, Judy Larsen and husband Scott of Santa Clara, Utah, Angela Meyer and husband Val of Oroville, Calif., Lana Carlson and husband Brad of Phoenix, Ariz.; and son, Ted King and wife Cindy of Lewiston, Utah. Irene is also grandmother to 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are one brother, Edward (Ted) Traasdahl of Phoenix; and a sister, Mitzi Pence of Pleasant Grove, Utah. Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Newel Lavere King; three sisters, Beverly, Elin and Ann; and two brothers, Osborne (Frosty) and Carl.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday Jan. 30, at 12:30 p.m. in the Lewiston Fourth Ward chapel, 16 S. Main, in Lewiston, with Bishop Donald Baldwin conducting. Friends and family may call from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Lewiston City Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Cranney Mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family at Allen Mortuaries.