O.G. BLAKESTAD, LYLE FURNITURE
DEALER DIED SUNDAY.

A large number of relatives and friends attended the funeral service for Oliver Blakestad Wednesday afternoon. He who had helped to lay away scores of persons, passed on, and was carried to his last resting place in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Thus again, the community was warned of the brevity of this earthly life. The deceased had reached the three score and ten years allotted to man, but even these are but a step from the cradle to the grave. Rev. Torvik averred that the "grain" is ripe when God harvests it, whether the person be a child, youth or adult. "Are we all ripening for Heaven?" was one of the challenging queries.

Supt. Oscar Miller sang "My Faith looks up to Thee" and "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling" during the service.

The business places were closed from 1:30 to 3:00 in respect to one who for nearly half a century had been identified with the business interests of Lyle.

Among those who attended the funeral from away were Mr. and Mrs. W R Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. H O Anderson and daughter, Mrs. Schurmire and Mrs. B J Ropertson of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Herman son of Northwood.

Oliver George Blakestad was born in Otranto Township, on the old Blakestad homestead on October 19th, 1871.

He was a member of the Mona Lutheran congregation until the Lyle Lutheran church was organized, of which he was a charter member.

On May 26th, 1897 he married Lona Williams of Bode, Iowa.

Mr. Blakestad was in the hardware and furniture business in Bode, Ia., and Adams for several years. Since 1904 he had been in the furniture and undertaking business in Lyle.

He leaves to mourn his death, his wife and eight children: Raymond of Albert Lea, Minn; Mrs. Mable Reistad of San Francisco, Calif., (Myrtle,) Mrs. Luther Tollefson of St. Ansgar, Iowa; Mrs. Lenore Ryan of Lyle, Minn; Mrs. Geo. Greiner of Winnebago, Minn. (Esther) Mrs. LaVern Falk of St. Ansgar, Iowa; Lewis of Osage, Iowa. (illegible: Lena?) Mrs. Marion Schmidt of Albert Lea, Minneasota.

There are twelve grandchildren, also a brother, Edward Blakestad of Mena, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Sophie Olson of British Columbia, Canada; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

The family wishes to thank the relatives and friends for their many kind expressions of sympathy, memorial and floral offerings