Owen Maurice GAASEDELEN

Notes:

St. Olaf, ‘55

He graduated from Faribault High School in 1951.

Lutheran pastor (ELCA) in Iowa. Ordained in 1959 or late 1958.

Owen Maurice Gaasedelen, Jr., was born July 25, 1933 to Owen and Nora Gaasedelen in Faribault, Minnesota. He was baptized by the Rev. Adolph Egge in Wangs Evangelical Lutheran Church near Dennison, Minnesota. Early Christian training was given to him by his parents and the church. When he was thirteen years old he was confirmed by the Rev. Chester Olson at Valley Grove Lutheran Church, Nerstrand, Minnesota.

He graduated from Faribault High School in 1951. During his years in high School he was very active in many extra-curricular activities. His senior year he was elected president of the student body.

In the fall of 1951 he entered St. Olaf College. He was somewhat undecided what his life’s work was to be at the time. But by the time he had reached his junior year he had definitely decided to enter the Seminary after graduation. He graduated from St. Olaf College in June 1955.

In the fall of 1955 he began his work at Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul. He married Kay Ford of Faribault on May 19, 1956. They spent that summer at Remer, Minnesota, where he served as an assistant. During the summer of 1957 he participated in the Pastoral Clinical Training Course and then served his year of internship at Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. His experience in the Pastoral Clinical Training course and his internship further convinced him of the great need for the ministry of Jesus Christ.

In the fall of 1959 his first call was to Columbus, North Dakota. During this time he brought three parishes together under one building. His wife Kay called these years the Camelot years. In 1965 his next call was to Rushford, Minnesota. It was there that he helped build a new parish hall, remodeled the interior of the sanctuary and preserved the stained glass windows. It was during these years that he was trained in Bethel Bible Studies and he taught this series for his remaining ministry. In the fall of 1980 he moved back to Washburn, North Dakota whereupon he called for new windows to be designed. In 1993 he moved to Garner, Iowa and it was there he would finish out his career in 2005. In all these parishes he was first and foremost a preacher of the people.

Owen is survived by his wife Kay, a son Owen William and his children Owen James and Summer and their children – Estes, Eden and Lars, Tiina Milja, and Markus William; a daughter, Mary Kay Gaasedelen Higgins and her children Elise Florence and Kate Ann; a daughter Ann Gaasedelen and her daughter Jessica Renae; sister-in-law Virginia Gaasedelen Olson and a niece Kristi (Bruce) Ponto.

Owen married Kay Ann FORD on 19 May 1956 in Rice County, Minnesota. Kay was born on 26 Aug 1934 in Rice County, Minnesota; died on 17 Nov 2022 in Rice County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Owen was manager of the Farmers Mercantile Elevator, Nerstrand, for many years.

He owned 1 share of the Nerstrand Farmers Mercantile and Elevator Company as of January of 1959.

Owen married Nora C RODEAR on 4 Jun 1932. Nora (daughter of Peter RODEAR and BUECHNER) was born on 26 Dec 1906; died on 25 Oct 1994 in Freeborn County, Minnesota; was buried in Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1953-MN-011546

Notes:

He is probably the Knut Gaasedelen who attended, but did not graduate from, St. Olaf Academy starting in the year 1886-1887.

Knute and Maria and family live next door to the Neseths in Holden Twp in the 1905 state census.

In the 1920 census, Knut is a 52 year-old widower in Holden Twp. All six of his children are still living with him.

Knute was Treasurer of the Nerstrand Farmers Mercantile Elevator Co. for over 30 years between 1921 and 1953.

Knute married Maria NESETH on 29 May 1897 in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Maria was born about 1872 in Wisconsin; died on 22 Sep 1917 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is called Marie Ingebrigtsdatter in the ELCA record for her daughter Karen’s baptism.

Peter married BUECHNER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1875 census he is Ole K. Gaasadelen, living with his family in Holden Twp.

He is probably the Ole Knutson, 58, and apparently a widower, living in Holden Twp, Goodhue County, in the 1885 census. Living with him, all born in Minnesota, were Sarah, 20, Knut, 18, Ole, 16, Nels, 14, and Peter, 9.

Died:
other sources say died 1892

Ole married Karen Olsdatter QUAM. Karen (daughter of Ola Olsen GRIHAMAR and Sissel Persdatter HAUGEN) was born on 15 Sep 1836 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 11 Nov 1877 in Minnesota; was buried in Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown in the church book as the daughter of Ole Olsson Qvam and Sissel Pedersdatter; sponsors Christopher Qvam, Gulbrand Berge, Karen Olsdatter K, Berith Gulliksdatter Qvam, Marith Anfinsdatter.

Birth:
Kvam 32/4 Nørre